Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts

The N64 may not have been the most popular console of its generation, but it did leave behind a lasting legacy of games, especially those created by Rare. Banjo Kazooie (1998) and Banjo Tooie (2000) remained loved by gamers today, so much so that the former was re-released as an Xbox Live Arcade game, with the latter on the way later this year. Not content to rely on past glories, however, the bear and bird duo are also back for a brand new adventure.

Save for the usual Disney fare, platform games are something of a rarity on the 360, especially those that can cater to gamers of all ages. Nuts and Bolts fits into that category, however, with graphics that might be considered cute and cuddly, couple with a whole lot of referential humour that people "in the know" about video games can raise a smile from.

The game takes place 8 years after the events of Banjo-Tooie, and with Gruntilda the Witch vanquished, our heroes haven't really had anything to do other than sit around and play video-games (which sounds like heaven to me). As a result, they've piled on a fair few pounds and aren't quite as agile as they once were. As such, it's a perfect time for Gruntilda to make her return. Return she does, and unlike Banjo and Kazooie, she's lost weight. The only trouble is, that's because all that's left of her is her skull.

Enter the Lord of Games (or L.O.G, as he becomes known), with an exciting offer for the gang. A world full of challenges, a new body for Grunty, and instant liposuction for the bird and bear (though Kazooie doesn't get her abilities back, much to her chagrin). And so, they travel to Showdown Town, ready for a brand-new adventure. To get there, they'll travel in a cart that looks like a glorified shopping trolley, the first of many vehicles that you'll utilize during the course of the game.

Vehicles play a big part in the game, and you'll spend a lot of time using them to fulfil your goals. As you progress you can buy and unlock blue-prints and parts, which in turn will allow you to create customised vehicles. These can make success in certain later sections come faster, or simply come where failure might otherwise have been the only option.

The key to victory in the game is collected Jiggies (jigsaw pieces). Upon arrival in Showdown Town, you will collect your first Sphere from L.O.G, which when placed on its rightful pedestal will open up the first act for the opening game world. Entering here then takes you to a free-roaming area, where you can roam around picking up musical notes (the in-game currency) or talk to the characters present in order to take part in a Jiggy challenge.