Banjo and Kazooie Nuts and Bolts Initial Gameplay (2008, Rare/Microsoft)
10Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts is an action-adventure video game developed by Rare and published by Microsoft Game Studios. The third instalment of the Banjo-Kazooie series, it was released for the Xbox 360 worldwide in November 2008. The game takes place eight years after the events of Banjo-Tooie, and marks the return of series antagonist Gruntilda, who plans to take over Spiral Mountain. In order to defeat Gruntilda, series protagonists Banjo and Kazooie must compete in a set of vehicle-based challenges.
Development of the game first began as a remake of the original Banjo-Kazooie, although a game which involved "more traditional platforming" was conceptualised. Eventually, the project evolved into a construction-orientated game which was inspired by connecting Lego blocks.
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts received mixed reviews upon release. Critics were largely divided over the concept of vehicle-orientated gameplay, however some critics praised its mechanics and innovation. The game sold a total of 140,000 units by the end of 2008 in the United States. The game has also achieved "Platinum Hits" status, which means it sold at least 400,000 units during its first nine months of release. In 2010, the game was included as one of the titles in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die. The game is also included in the Rare Replay retrospective compilation, released for the Xbox One in 2015.
The game takes place eight years following the conclusion of Banjo-Tooie, in which Gruntilda's body was destroyed and vapourised by Banjo and Kazooie. The two have become obese since their last adventure, and have since spent eight years overeating, playing video games and listening to the radio. They soon discover Gruntilda's detached head returning to their home, Spiral Mountain, who is planning revenge on Banjo and Kazooie. They are about to fight when they are stopped by the sudden appearance of the Lord of Games (L.O.G.), the creator of all video games. He decides to settle the conflict between the two by devising a series of worlds and challenges. He uses his powers to give Gruntilda an artificial body and to restore the duo's physical fitness, but not their moves from previous games, claiming that they will not need them.
L.O.G. transports the characters to Showdown Town, his headquarters, and starts the contest. The winner would be set to own Spiral Mountain; the loser must endure eternal hardship at L.O.G.'s video game factory. While Banjo and Kazooie seek to win by completing the challenges, Gruntilda uses her powers and abilities to try to stop the duo, with a cat named Piddles and an army of mechanical robots assisting the witch in her goal. The game ends with Gruntilda and Banjo participating in a final duel in Spiral Mountain. Banjo and Kazooie destroy all of Gruntilda's vehicles and prepare to fight back as she gets back up, but L.O.G. returns and declares Banjo the winner. After L.O.G. sends Gruntilda off to work at his video game factory, he rewards Banjo and Kazooie by giving them the deeds to Spiral Mountain and restoring their moves, while Banjo's friends reveal that they have restored his house after its destruction in Banjo-Tooie. Meanwhile, Gruntilda declares that bringing her to the factory was a mistake and vows that she will make her own video game.