After reading this interview that Jim linked to in his latest front page post, I have changed my mind about Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts. I suggest that everyone read this interview with the lead developer for the original BK games, and the new one, Gregg Mayles. I want to take a few excerpts from the interview, and show you what he said that made me go from hating the new gameplay in Nuts and Bolts, to thinking its freaking sweet.
First off, I have to state that I am a huge fan of the original BK games. I have played Banjo Kazooie more times than I can remember, and in the last few days I went through and replayed the whole freaking game again... and it was still wicked fun. But anyway, on to the interview, and my opinions:
Gregg Mayles: At the moment [the max vehicle size] is 19 'blocks' high, wide and deep. So that's pretty big. We've built some real monsters. I made a nuclear sub the other night but it was too heavy and underpowered, so it sank! You can make a mix, yes ... We've had old fashioned galleons with jets. There are around 100 different types of blocks, with numerous examples of each. So around 1600 in total, but a 19x19x19 area is 6859 blocks! So don't worry about not being able to build something
This just sounds fun, regardless of the Banjo Kazooie IP. Building giant flying submarines, or other absurd vehicular combinations sounds like loads of fun. I'm a sucker for games that let me build huge things and customize them. I love the idea of building absurd vehicles and seeing if they work or not.
Banjo gets in and out of the vehicles all the time, but the traveling is done in the vehicles. A lot of the tasks require Banjo to get out and either do something to the vehicles, put something in the vehicles and so on. So you aren't in them all the time, but once you play the game and realize the freedom the vehicles have you will forget that they are vehicles and simply a different way of having abilities, albeit ones that you choose and combine
So it sounds like there will be some platforming, but not much. The idea that vehicles are what govern your "ablities" or "moveset" is a different turn for the series, but one I can get behind. The best part about this statement is that it makes the game not a Cart Racer... god I hate Cart Racers. I look at it as an opportunity for RARE to come up with fun challenges that aren't just "win the race to get a jiggy!" On the other hand, if thats what it turns out to be, I'm going to be pretty damn pissed. But from the looks of it, it seems that this will not be the case.
I know it is going to be tough for people to accept that vehicles, especially the old fans, but I believe they make the old games look limited and very outdated. People are always afraid of change. But change for the better is great, which is what I believe this game to be
As much as I still find the original Banjo Kazooie games to be fun, he does have a point. If the gameplay was directly pulled out of the original BK, it would get bashed for being "archaic" and "unoriginal". Unfortunately, in this day and age, games are always expected to innovate and go above and beyond. Even if there is a group of people that want the game to be Banjo-Threeie ( a direct sequel with exact same gameplay, which I would LOVE TO DEATH), it doesn't matter because the industry is different than it was 10 years ago.
All the 'major' characters (Mumbo, Bottles, Humba, etc) have multiple roles. One in the 'real world' of Showdown Town and 'acted out' ones in the game worlds
This is some nice reassurance that we get to see all the excellent characters from the old games.
(In relation to Online Multiplayer) Roysten's Fishbowl: Mayan kickball? Gregg Mayles: Ah yes, kickball for modern day! But this time you can cheat by picking up the ball and flying in the air where no one can reach you! Or building a giant box and hiding the ball in it. Lots of ways to play
Now that just sounds like fun. Building crazy vehicles and then screwing around with friends, while showing off your crazy designs... freaking epic.
Ok, this is getting kind of long... but I want to leave this as the last point. This quote is what has sold Nuts and Bolts to me:
Say there is a object that needs to be taken from A to B. How do you do it? Do you make a vehicle with prongs to push it? Do you make a vehicle to carry it? Do you try and take it via water? Do you fly it there? Do you whack it as hard as possible and send it flying? Do you try and pick it up? That's without deciding how the terrain and the baddies will come into play. Do you go for speed? Do you arm yourself to the teeth and crawl your way there? But remember, the 'better' you complete the task the better your reward. So it's not just a case of 'complete the challenge and get a Jiggy' anymore. Each challenge has been designed to offer multiple approaches (and some we probably haven't thought of). Even with simple races (which there are some, but nowhere near as many as everyone seems to think) you choice of vehicle is key. There's nothing stopping you using a plane on a water based race. Some races require you to go on land, in water and in the air. Try building a vehicle for that!
There you go. Thats the reason I am completely changing my opinion on Nuts and Bolts. Its may be different from the original BK games, but it looks like a hell of a lot of fun.
Pic unrelated, as always.... Anyways, I just wanted to take a minute to make my own little "Happy Birthday" cblog, so here I go
Niero, I dont think I could ever thank you enough for Destructoid. I can think of so many ways Dtoid has affected me, I thought I'd just list a few of them:
Without Dtoid, I would actually get things done at work, which of course would go against everything government employees stand for. Seriously, we're a lazy ass bunch.
This afternoon, a group of people are coming over to my place to play Brawl... people I met on Destructoid. Without Dtoid, I never would have met these awesome Portlanders, and the greatest Rock Band band of all time, Pacific Dick, would not exist.
I never would have gone to PAX '07, one of the most fun vacations I have ever taken. I wouldn't have met all of you motherfuckers in persons, and I wouldnt already be saving up money and vacation time so that I can to go to PAX '08.
There would be no Failcast (I know, I know, shameless plug). Doing a podcast has always been something I wanted to do, and I couldnt think of a better way to spend my Tuesday nights then talking with other Dtoiders about the community we all love.
The last 2 years have been fucking awesome, and I can't wait to see whats next in the life and times of destructoid.com. It amazes me how much the site has changed since I first discovered Dtoid (ironically, from a post on Kotaku). Of course, I also have to give mad props to the editors and people in the background. You guys have made the site what is today, oozing with win and awesome.
Here's to another year of epic win! And now, the first pic that shows up in Google Images when you type in Destructoid:
And the first thing to pop into your head is this:
Then you begin to laugh histerically inside of a Borders bookstore, only to be asked by an employee: "Do you need any sort of help sir? You're freaking out the other customers"
I love this community so much, words cannot express. Out of the blue the great Lark Ohiya sent me this picture... I didn't ask for this at all, just out of the blue.
Things like this make me realize why I spend so much time with this community. You guys all fucking rule.
Normally I am against posting something on the cblogs if it has been on digg, but this is just too good to pass up. The beginning is kind of extra, just buffer and start it at 1:20.
I just wanted to say HAPPY CHRISTMAS FELLOW ROBOTS! Also, my parents kick ass because they got me a brand new Dark Side of the Moon LP (and it cost them a pretty penny, Im sure)
The ongoing feud with my fellow Failcaster continues... and now my rant:
MWA HA HA! I come back from a night of rampant drinking (Flaming Dr. Peppers FTW!!!) and what do I see? I BEAT YOU NECROS! BOO YAH! Take that you dirty hippy! CUT YO HAIR!
...does being drunk make this post any less amount of fail? I think not... I shall now facepalm myself
Thats right sucka, here I come. THE TRUE KING SHOWS HIS POWER
...god if my boss new how much time I spent on Dtoid at work, well, I wouldnt be working no more. Good thing I'm IT, so he will never know MWA HA HA HA
god this blog fails, but if Wiisucks can do it why not.
Attached photos:
Sup noobs? This be the blog of your king. No, not Necros. The true king. The king3vbo.
STATS:
Strength: Higher than you might think
Agility: Same as a pregnant cow
Intellect: Varies depending on alcohol consumption
Stamina: Not very...
Spirit: Go beyond the impossible and kick reason to the curb! (FUCK YEAH GURREN LAGGAN)
king3vbo is now part of the Failcast, the officialy unofficial community podcast for Destructoid. If you have questions for the show or wish to be a guest, please email "failcast" at Gmail
Feel free to contact me:
EMAIL: evanburkey at gmail
MSN: add the email address juevos_de_muertos at hotmail
Gtalk: same as email
I'm also on Ventrillo in the evenings (PST) and on the weekends as much as I can
Consoles I Own:
Sick Gaming PC, NEEDS MOAR RAM
NES
SNES
N64
Gamecube
Wii
Xbox (Modded FTW!)
Xbox 360
PSX
PS2 (Two of dem)
PS3
Dreamcast
