To this date, it has been almost eight long years since a new Banjo-Kazooie title has been released on a home console. When Banjo finally does make his triumphant return this fall with Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts on the XBox 360, you will notice some rather big changes from his previous titles.

As you are probably aware of by now, many of Banjo and Kazooie’s past moves and abilities have been scraped for this title, and instead players will be able to build and modify vehicles to help them progress through the game. This implementation of construction mechanics into the core gameplay gives Nuts and Bolts a fresh, dynamic feel, and helps revialize the franchise as a whole.

The demo that was available on the floor this year at E3 shows off exactly how these vehicles will make an impact on gameplay. If my first impressions of Nuts and Bolts hold true for the entire final product, then those of you who worry that the vehicles will hinder core platforming can breathe a sigh of relief. The best way to describe this game is an action platformer on wheels.

The vehicles found in Nuts and Bolts are quite unique. They essentially serve as new method of playing through a classic 3D platformer. In the demo I tried out, my car was equipped with a spring mechanism underneath it, which allowed me to leap high into the air so that I could pass through various targets on the map. One other mechanism allows players to rotate their car in mid-air. These tools, when incorporated into the vehicles,  provide a revolutionary new take on the classic Banjo games you have grown to know and love.

One other aspect of the game that really stood out to me was the style. The game world that I played in was vibrant and colorful, and the level itself included many features that referenced previous Banjo titles. These included a miniature Clanker’s Cavern, Freezeasy Peak, and even Cheato the spellbook was built into the landscape.

All in all, the game is fun, pure and simple. Although you are technically behind the wheel, you still feel as if you are playing a platformer. And, of course, the game is loaeded with the Rareware charm and style that fans have come to expect. Be sure to look out for Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts this fall exclusively for the XBox 360.

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