Banjo-Kazooie in a bite-sized package! Whether you are a fan of collect-a-thons or goofy cartoon bears, Banjo-Kazooie is a series that, more often than not, delivers an enjoyable experience. Grunty's Revenge is no exception, being the third entry into the series and serving as the iconic duo's foray into the handheld world. As a fan of the series, finding out there were more Jiggies and Notes to collect left a smile on my face. Other fans will share a similar grin, but if the franchise is not one of your favorites, sadly, the game will be mediocre in terms of length and difficulty. Not every Gameboy Advanced title needs to be 10+ hours long, but coming in at a whopping 5 hours of playtime on the first playthrough, even a hardcore Banjo enthusiast will want more.
Rareware efficiently captures the core mechanics of the original and sequel, culminating in an isometric 2.5D platformer that takes place between the games. Gruntilda's lackey Klungo has created a giant mech suit capable of being inhabited by the witch's ghost for her to travel back to the past to prevent the events of the first game. The hag even kidnaps Kazooie! An inspired plot to say the least. Banjo has to travel back to the distant past to save his feathered friend, but during the trip, he loses his memory regarding the repertoire of moves learned from the titular N64 title. Some abilities stay forgotten, like the ability to fly once the brash-beaked companion makes her return, and others get altered somewhat, like Wonderwings requiring a designated pad along with golden feathers to use.
This change is disappointing since an iconic move does not appear until World 4 of a five World game, with the other omitted. Maybe the developers had hardware limitations, but regardless, the move pool felt shallow. Truthfully, most of the game is beatable by utilizing a mixture of the roll and the Talon Trot between moments of forced mechanic implementation. There were never times when the other moves felt necessary.
Equally shallow were the minigames - reskinned versions of either fishing, sliding, or keep away, none of which are overtly enjoyable. Spotty controls tend to make these games, along with some platforming sections, outright agitating. However, the most frustrating element of the entire game is learning that a max rank requires a player to defeat the final boss while finding all collectibles in under 2 hours and 20 minutes. A reasonable goal for the well-informed but ultimately compels a casual completionist into a forced second playthrough.
Issues aside, Grunty's Revenge is a pleasant addition to a beloved franchise long since left to the annals of gaming history (besides the Smash Ultimate DLC). Every quip and rhyme harkened to halcyon days spent nabbing Jiggies in front of a buzzing CRT. Even the music elicits memories of Grant Kirkhope's iconic soundtracks, even without his inclusion. It may have gotten released in 2003, but in 2023 it was a nostalgic surprise and simultaneously a disheartening cap end to an era of Rareware titles on Nintendo consoles, one that evaded this longtime fan's radar far too long. Seek this title out, core fans of the series (casuals, best to pass), and enjoy a brief reminder as to why the bear and the bird hold a special place in the hearts of thousands of players.
Rareware efficiently captures the core mechanics of the original and sequel, culminating in an isometric 2.5D platformer that takes place between the games. Gruntilda's lackey Klungo has created a giant mech suit capable of being inhabited by the witch's ghost for her to travel back to the past to prevent the events of the first game. The hag even kidnaps Kazooie! An inspired plot to say the least. Banjo has to travel back to the distant past to save his feathered friend, but during the trip, he loses his memory regarding the repertoire of moves learned from the titular N64 title. Some abilities stay forgotten, like the ability to fly once the brash-beaked companion makes her return, and others get altered somewhat, like Wonderwings requiring a designated pad along with golden feathers to use.
This change is disappointing since an iconic move does not appear until World 4 of a five World game, with the other omitted. Maybe the developers had hardware limitations, but regardless, the move pool felt shallow. Truthfully, most of the game is beatable by utilizing a mixture of the roll and the Talon Trot between moments of forced mechanic implementation. There were never times when the other moves felt necessary.
Equally shallow were the minigames - reskinned versions of either fishing, sliding, or keep away, none of which are overtly enjoyable. Spotty controls tend to make these games, along with some platforming sections, outright agitating. However, the most frustrating element of the entire game is learning that a max rank requires a player to defeat the final boss while finding all collectibles in under 2 hours and 20 minutes. A reasonable goal for the well-informed but ultimately compels a casual completionist into a forced second playthrough.
Issues aside, Grunty's Revenge is a pleasant addition to a beloved franchise long since left to the annals of gaming history (besides the Smash Ultimate DLC). Every quip and rhyme harkened to halcyon days spent nabbing Jiggies in front of a buzzing CRT. Even the music elicits memories of Grant Kirkhope's iconic soundtracks, even without his inclusion. It may have gotten released in 2003, but in 2023 it was a nostalgic surprise and simultaneously a disheartening cap end to an era of Rareware titles on Nintendo consoles, one that evaded this longtime fan's radar far too long. Seek this title out, core fans of the series (casuals, best to pass), and enjoy a brief reminder as to why the bear and the bird hold a special place in the hearts of thousands of players.