Banjo Threeie

[Asher]

A new Banjo Kazooie game was just announced...looks like a platformer, but apparently there are some twists.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/xblah/other/i_467431-1.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/xblah/other/i_467430-1.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/xblah/other/i_467432-1.jpg

From one of the attendees of the conference where it was announced:

Anyone expecting a traditional platformer will be severely disappointed. Personally I think it looks better and more interesting than any traditional platformer ever could...

It looks gorgeous. Love the art style.

[asleepathewheel]

It does look amazing.

there is a rumor that it comes with/requires/uses that wii-mote knock off....no idea how legit that one is.

[Asher]

More pictures:

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/xblah/other/i_467424.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/xblah/other/i_467425.jpg

Love the lighting

[Asher]

Looks even more innovative than I first though:

Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts

• Rare says they didn't want to make a hi-res version of the old Banjo platformer.
• You create vehicles with parts you find around the levels.
• GI says their first vehicle was a 4 wheeled kart with a spring attached to the bottom that allowed them to jump things. They later found a helicopter blade that allowed their kart to fly. Later they added balloons to the vehicle and put the blade on the back and created a hovercraft.
• Rare showed them a vehicle that was a monster truck that was able to detach its chasis to become a mini bike. When the bike ramped off a cliff it revealed collapsible glider wings and started flying.
• There will be 1,600 parts including weapons that you'll be able to attach to the vehicles.
• Fans of the original title shouldn't worry that Rare is forsaking the series' roots altogether. While vehicles are a large part of the game, Banjo's Hub world, Showdown Town, will still contain more traditional platforming trials, such as tightrope walking and jiggy piece collecting, to help break up the action.
• Showdown Town is 16 times larger than anything Rare has created before.
• Every level has a different intro. Nutty Acres begins with a credits spoof of 80's soap opera's like Dallas.
• Note collecting is back and will act as currency that'll allow you to buy vehicle blueprints.
• Rare says there are 15 different challenges spread across 6 different levels. There will also be side missions.

More

• Banjo (slated for November)
• Building vehicles is basically like playing with LEGO. You can always jump in and out of the vehicle editor and come right back to the game with the new design.
• Parts are easily placed and moved around. You don't have to worry about connecting the motor with the wheels for example. Just place everything so they stick together and don't get in the way.
• Vehicle designs can play a large role in missions. We saw one where you had to collect coconuts from a field and got a small truck that could suck them up. Unfortunately you couldn't fit all the coconuts in the truck and had to back and deliver them in a large barrel. We were then shown how you could create a helicopter with a hook, that could pick up this large barrel, fly to the coconut field and fly low to scoop the coconuts in the barrel.
• Physics are awesome in this game and everywhere! With one design I placed the foot-in-a-box weapon behind a propella, and when I tried to use it, the foot/boot couldn't get past the propella... well, until I used it enough times to actually kick the propella off the vehicle!
• Pixel art... imagine the possibilities (Rare already had an example of this, paying homage to a certain plumber)
• Multiplayer is great fun with the ability to either chose from pre-fabricated or own vehicle designs. It still needs some polish here and there, but showed great promise.

Also: Video: http://gamevideos.com/video/id/18831

Also: IGN's preview: http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/872/872701p1.html

Also: 1UP's preview: http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3167777&p=4

[DrSpike]

Looks like a Wii screenshot. Not that I would base my opinion of the game on that, but there are those here that would if it wasn't an Xbox game.

[Asher]

It's one of the best looking games I've ever seen. You are as blind as you are British.

[DrSpike]

This is what the best game I've seen looks like:

http://apolyton.net/forums//showthread.php?postid=5294846#post5294846

[Asher]

Technically, I think Gears of War 2 is best.
Artistically, I think Banjo is best.
Overall, I love the vibrant style of Banjo. The style is just excellent.

As luck would have it, Banjo is the kind of game that isn't really possible on the Wii, technically. With custom vehicles that's a lot of dynamic, realtime calculations that the Wii CPU couldn't keep up with.

[Verto]

I've never played any of the Banjo Kazooie series, but this one looks like a lot of fun.

[Kuciwalker]

That looks gorgeous.

[Verto]

The style reminds me of their other project, Viva Piñata.

[Verto]

[Asher]

Is that VP1 or VP2? VP was graphically underrated, extremely pretty.

[Verto]

The second one, Trouble in Paradise.

[Asher]

Now I'm very interested...