Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts

Giant Bomb

And even after spending nearly 20 hours amassing enough jiggies to take down the final boss, I'm compelled to get back in there and keep playing new missions, unlocking new vehicle parts, and exploring more of the game's beautiful world. I had no affection whatsoever for the Banjo-Kazooie franchise or characters going into Nuts & Bolts, but its list of great qualities quietly won me over to make it one of my favorite Xbox 360 games of the year.

1UP

The combination of a surprisingly lengthy single-player game and a robust multiplayer mode make this one game that just about anyone can enjoy. While the challenges get a little repetitive, the ability to create and operate custom vehicles -- both online and off -- make Nuts & Bolts a unique, entertaining spin on the everyday platformer.

X360 Magazine UK

Nuts & Bolts is a fantastically fun game. It may threaten to overcomplicate itself from time to time, but it’s impossible to play and not come out with a smile on your face.

NZGamer

With so many vehicle parts, places to go and people to see, Nuts & Bolts is going to be a game you keep going back to. Just getting to the end will require hours of commitment, but, it’s not like you need an excuse, right? Apart from a confusing premise (the story is a little bit weak) and the small text, this game is a massive success.

VideoGamer

Nuts & Bolts offers true next-gen gameplay, with user created content being core to the experience. Simply making vehicles is good fun, and with the ability to instantly test them out you can sink hours into one creation alone. It certainly won't be for everyone, but with spectacular presentation, highly entertaining Robot Wars style multiplayer and a lot of good hearted humour, the bear and bird are back.

LEVEL (Czech Republic)

The new generation Banjo game is the flagship platformer for Xbox 360 – similar to Super Mario Galaxy for Wii. One of the best games this year offers an extreme amount of fun. [Dec 2008]

Da Gameboyz

Quite simply Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts is not a renter, but a must buy in my eyes!

Gamestyle

It's a shame that Nuts & Bolts is so overlooked and undervalued, as it it genuinely brilliant, and shows that Rare does have what it takes to make a classic, even if they misjudge their audiences a little bit.

AtomicGamer

The story's specific games and challenges are not always innovative, and some can get darn right repetitive and frustrating, especially if you can't quite beat the clock. But the ability to craft mind-blowing vehicles provides an endlessly addictive experience that'll keep this title in your 360 longer than it probably has a right to be there.

Pelit (Finland)

An excellent combination of platforming, racing, combat and freeform vehicle building. [Jan 2009]

MEGamers

After years of keeping Banjo fans waiting RARE successfully delivers the goods. The new direction works well and you owe it to yourselves to give it a shot.

Extreme Gamer

Rare is a one-of-a-kind developer that can make a new game look and feel new while keeping an old feeling at the same time. Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts fits into this familiar spot creating an experience that is extremely fun and definitely RARE.

MS Xbox World

Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts acts out its premise. It takes an old game, disassembles it, and puts it back together in a new package.

GameSpot

An excellent vehicle creator and a variety of fun missions make Banjo's return to gaming a blast.

BigPond GameArena

Soon I found myself scouring the hub world obsessively looking for cool new bits to add to my machines; larger engines, lighter wings, better weapons.

PALGN

Rare took a huge risk by giving the franchise a new direction, but thankfully it paid off. Nuts & Bolts is easily one of their best titles in recent years.

Armchair Empire

So, if you’re looking for “bang for your buck” this is it – near limitless vehicle creation, interesting levels, mini-games and multiplayer outside the main story, a light-hearted sensibility and mostly optional items to collect make this a good game and worthy of attention.

Xbox World 360 Magazine UK

[Jan 2009, p.69]

Gameplanet

This is no ordinary platformer, with a strong focus on racing wacky vehicles that you create yourself from more than a hundred different parts that you find. The ability to build these vehicles - planes, helicopters, submarines, boats, racing cars and more - is truly amazing. Overall a huge amount of fun at a very low price point!

Game Informer

Annoying collect-a-thon aside, Nuts and Bolts is a rare delight that offers up big laughs and inventive gameplay. It also ends up being the closest thing there is to a virtual LEGO set.

3DJuegos

Despite its quality Banjo Kazooie is a videogame very difficult to locate, especially because it refuses the legacy of the previous games and because it's friendly looking masks a gameplay deep and sometimes even complex. Brainless car racing, engaging vehicle creation and plenty of fun are its main values.

Meristation

Banjo is back. A whole new adventure featuring several old friends and some new characters, but in a completely new world. It's great to see Banjo this well, as Nuts & Bolts is really funny, but the new gameplay is something users must get used to. Vehicles are fun, but not as much fun as they should be.

Games Master UK

An original but flawed concept - it doesn't quite live up to expectations but it's still fun. [Jan 2009, p.62]

Planet Xbox 360

Once you’ve accepted the imaginative environment and characters for what they are, then you’ll be able to cruise easier, with the wind blowing in your fur, and a vast, exciting world to leave in the dust.

GameShark

Although platforming may not be the key gameplay mechanic here as it was in previous games, Rare has obviously grown with the current state of gaming and brought a breath of fresh air to the genre as a whole with the whole vehicle system.

IGN

A game that never stopped being fun for me. It's an odd duck that doesn't fit into any conventional game genres and probably isn't right for everybody. Despite its friendly appearance, Nuts & Bolts isn't exactly easy to pick up and play and might be over the head of some small children. There's a lot of depth here and the vehicle creation tools allow you to flex your mind and your fingers at the same time.

Worth Playing

Rare has done a great job of revamping the gameplay in order to provide a fresh experience while still preserving the core elements that made Banjo and Kazooie a hit in the first place.

WonderwallWeb

A really enjoyable game, especially so when it comes to the vehicle creation system.

Game Over Online

Overall, Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts is an excellent game that gives the series a long-overdue overhaul.

AceGamez

Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts is distinctively different from the norm - and from what we were expecting - but this is by no means a bad thing. Visually it's stunning, with a cartoon style that's closer to Pixar quality than I've seen in a game before, while Rare's brave move away from traditional, platform-based gameplay is definitely a success and the flexibility and simplicity of the vehicle creator makes it a joy to use.

Thunderbolt

It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, and I feel like it could be forgotten in the winter rush, but Nuts & Bolts is an excellent game - and original as well, even for a sequel.

Impulsegamer

Good graphics, sturdy gameplay options and a great soundtrack, this is definitely for the younger gamer, however more mature gamers will still get a blast or a blast from the past out of this.

DarkZero

Like Jurassic Park, Rare have revived a long extinct franchise, taking the DNA of the originals but mixing in new elements. Unlike Jurassic Park, however, N&B doesn’t end with everyone getting eaten by the revived bear and his bird sidekick.

GameZone

Joyous and hellish. Delightful and disgraceful. Too frequently annoying yet capable of compelling the player to see it through, Nuts & Bolts is more of a disappointment than it is a reward for an eight-year wait. But it's a disappointment that, for all the good it does, is actually worth playing.

Console Monster

One of my most-enjoyed titles of this year.

Kikizo

A gleeful, gaudy soup of physics sandbox, vehicle creator and action adventure.

games(TM)

The N64 predecessors are, whether we like it or not, relics of a time when everyone seemed happy just to riff on Super Mario 64, but Nuts & Bolts is a long-overdue move away from that style and a great one at that. [Christmas 2008, p.84]

Gamervision

Nuts & Bolts appeals to an incredibly small audience; one that I’m not sure exists. To get the most of the game you must know a good deal about Rare’s past titles and their sales records, as well as being a Banjo Kazooie fan that has no problem seeing the past two games sh.t on and ignored in favor of a new, strange gameplay mechanic.

ZTGameDomain

Decidedly low on platforming and high on the fumes of self-deprecating humor, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts is a playful addition to the series - though perhaps not what fans were clamoring for.

Official Xbox Magazine UK

Rare's best game in years is quite obviously intended for a younger audience, one that will almost certainly love every minute of it.

Official Xbox Magazine

There's a big difference: instead of hopping and bopping on one foot, you spend most of your time in tricked-out vehicles you make yourself. [Holiday 2008, p.72]

GamePro

The game's new vehicle-based emphasis will probably turn off some long-time fans, but I really enjoyed the game's premise. [Dec 2008, p.95]

IGN AU

The game is thoughtful in design, mostly clever in its handling of pacing, upgrading parts and keeping you on track as you work your way towards the final encounter. But it's just not as fun or interesting as it should be.

G4 TV

Nuts & Bolts has solid single player, but multiplayer has even more potential, making this Banjo-Kazooie game worth a buy.

Computer and Video Games

While falling short of hand-break turning, spring-bouncing and rocketing the series into a whole better direction, Nuts & Bolts will be remembered as a unique and enjoyable - if sometimes repetitive - spin-off to Banjo's platforming routes. It'll be interesting to see where Rare takes him next.

D+PAD Magazine

Nuts & Bolts is a country mile away from being the instant classic that the original was, even though it can often be hugely charming, tremendously entertaining and filled with a bucket-load of humour. But it strikes us as having hit a brick wall midway through development, with its lack of ideas resulting in a clever concept falling somewhat short of the level it deserves.

Total Video Games

Perhaps the only viable way to bring Banjo and Kazooie onto the Xbox 360, Nuts & Bolts is nevertheless a thoroughly entertaining and rewarding video game, deserving of its place in the popular series despite its apparent changes.

Cheat Code Central

If you can get past the cutesy visuals and enjoy creative and time-consuming games with lots of challenges, you should probably give it a try. On the other hand, if you're looking for a fast-paced, adventure-filled experience, this may not quite meet your expectations.

GameFocus

I love(d) the Banjo-Kazooie series for years and they were the best reason to keep your N64 around for many gamers. But while this new Banjo-Kazooie title is one game I liked, I found it to be a bit boring to play at times and it honestly lacks or feels that it lacks a true identity to be either a game for kids or for adult gamers. Highly recommend it as a rental, but make sure this is a game for you before buying.

XboxAddict

Overall, Nuts and Bolts is a fairly fun platformer that most folks should enjoy.

Game Revolution

Despite a few rough spots, Nuts and Bolts is a great adventure game that manages to mix the best elements of the Banjo and Kazooie mythos with a fresh take on the series. It's not a game that you can just pick up and play, but for those willing to make the time investment, Nuts and Bolts provides a very rewarding single-player experience. Not to mention, it's also a good value for the money.

Kombo

It's a shame that the game falls into some decidedly old-school design traps, but there's still plenty of fun to be had here.

TeamXbox

The main issue is that there are a ton of games out this holiday season that are fun from start to finish, while Nuts and Bolts will probably take most of you up to a point before you lose interest in the Lego-like construction projects and the pursuit to beat all of the challenges.

Xbox360Achievements

A fun game that is let down by dubious vehicle controls and a design system that soon becomes tiresome. There is plenty to see and do though and the variety of challenges, for those that stick around, will keep you happily entertained.

Edge Magazine

Nuts & Bolts is a clever, colourful and witty game – one which deserves better than to be hidden behind stodgy tutorials, flabby interfaces and a host of loading screens. [Christmas 2008, p.84]

Level7.nu

In this third iteration, Rare has morphed the platforming roots of Banjo-Kazooie into a racing game where player imagination is the main tool of the game. You build your own vehicles and in that process you decide how to tackle an obstacle. The main problem with this game is that a lot of the challenges simply aren't that much fun and there is too much emphasis on building vehicles. Nevertheless, this is a solid title.

Gameplayer

It breaks our Rare-loving hearts to type it, but Banjo Kazooie is a game that is best rented and demoed extensively first, rather than bought on an impulse.

Eurogamer

Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts is not a platform game. The game it has become instead demands thoughtful, exciting challenges that inspire the player to pitch in and help get the most out of each level, but it fails to provide them, and even though it's worth persevering with for the occasional hurdles race, egg-and-spoon and a game-world in aptly Rare form, ultimately it's a brilliant shell with a mostly hollow centre.

GameSpy

It's a shame, then, that vehicle handling feels so clunky and awkward, since it's such an integral part of the experience. It's also quite possible that the tutorial and construction will be too complicated and frustrating for younger gamers. Those are two major issues, but if you can look beyond them, there's fun to be found in Nuts & Bolts.

Gamer.nl

Rare hasn't succeed in making use of the ambitious prospect of being creative in putting together different parts to make good vehicles. The missions are too much alike and way too short, but everything outside of the main missions is fun to play.

GameDaily

The customization shop is one of the game's biggest features, letting you create cars and planes any way you see fit. The gameplay is quite entertaining, even though the steering controls aren't as tight as we expectedare loose.

Eurogamer Portugal

If this whole concept sounded interesting to you and if you can already see in your mind the endless hours of fun you will spend tuning up projects to the last bit there is no shadow of a doubt that this is a quintessential game. With this said Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts is such a broad experience as you could hope for and the dark humour that seems to scrape on the surface of childish wont amuse everyone.

Destructoid

Regardless of how you feel about the game, give Nuts & Bolts a rent, and who knows -- you may end up purchasing the game with the desire to see it to the end, and then some.

Electronic Gaming Monthly

This is one game that everyone should be playing long after it comes out, both online and off. [Dec 2008, p.83]

Gamer 2.0

Like their previous resurrected titles, Nuts & Bolts serves as nothing more than a failed attempt by Rare to blend something "fresh" into an already winning formula.

GameTrailers

It's hard to recommend Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts. It's too complicated for kids, and too convoluted for adults, If you're the creative type, you'll enjoy fiddling around with all the parts, but if you're looking for an accessible game that you can play in short bursts and make headway, then steer clear.

IGN UK

There’s a great idea at the core of Nuts & Bolts and, from superb construction tools right through to lavish presentation, there are plenty of individual elements worthy of praise. When it fails though, Banjo fails badly and the lack of any fundamentally engaging framework to support the game’s creative elements renders the game pretty much obsolete for anyone looking for something to appreciate beyond the incredibly flexible building component in isolation.

GamingExcellence

Mediocre graphics, mediocre music that seem to be remixes of older themes from previous titles and, well just general mediocrity make for a title that’s hard to recommend.

Telegraph

All the charm in the world can’t hide the fact that Nuts & Bolts is a wasted opportunity. In the building there is the seed of a classic title here, but skittish handling and tedious tasks means that , disappointingly, Nuts & Bolts fails to blossom as it should have.

Totally360

All in all, if you had no love for Banjo Kazooie before, this won’t be the game to change your mind – and if you’re new to the characters and are looking for something creative to exercise your imagination on, this doesn’t quite cut the mustard.

Wired

Banjo is what you get when you put a lavish coat of polish on nothing: A beautiful, funny game with a clever concept that is utterly lacking in fundamentals.