On the verge of the release of the mighty PlayStation Portable (PSP) and
merely a few weeks after the launch of the incredible NintendoDS, I decided to look at
another handheld’s releases – does every game have to be big and flashy? A call
to the fans of the Mario Kart series, Banjo Pilot has arrived on the Game Boy Advance.
Plotting the pitfalls of Mario Kart in a style
reminiscent of Diddy Kong Racing on then
Nintendo64, fans of either should not look away.
The object of the game is quite obvious, race around a selection of sixteen tracks
(plus mirror versions) collecting power-ups and hitting boosts.  The game offers a
variety of modes including; Grand Prix – the usual four-track league, where
collecting musical notes and “pages” will allow you to challenge a Boss, Time
Trial – a race against the clock to beat your best times and Jiggy Challenge –
in which you race against the rather stodgy Bottles, winning will earn you a Jiggy. The
title features nine characters from the Banjo-Kazooie
heritage, and collecting the familiar HoneyCombs during a race will bestow you with a
randomly selected weapon, ranging from the usual array of projectiles to boosts. Each
track contains plenty of replay value – collecting Musical Notes will add to your
Cheato Pages earnt for the race and hidden boosts can be found by shooting
“Glowbos”. The effect seen when boosts are executed is very pleasing and leaves Mario Kart: Super Circuit’s boost effect in
the dust, but it remains beyond me why travelling across mud seventeen feet below you
would hinder your progress in an aeroplane…
The graphics featured in the game are up to Nintendo’s own standard for the
system. Having previously been a Nintendo second-party development firm, they have been
thought of in as high regard as the big N themselves on occasion, and since the two have
parted, RARE obviously haven’t let their standards slip. There’s no pop-up to be
seen and obtaining a Super Boost offers an impressive auto-pilot 360-degree pan of your
character before plotting you back in control. The Sound effects and music mimic that of Banjo-Kazooie on the Nintendo64 and will be
instantly recognisable to fans of the series.
 For fans of either Banjo-Kazooie, Diddy Kong Racing or Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Banjo Pilot is an essential purchase. While the
title doesn’t particularly offer anything new, the game itself is totally enjoyable
experience. With plenty of tracks and a wide variety of game modes, Banjo Pilot is a title that will take a place of
pride in your Game Boy Advance collection. |
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archive here.
Each of these articles has been written either
independently of Electronic Theatre or by an external viewer. The opinions
discussed in these articles in no way reflects the opinions of Electronic Theatre.
If you wish to enquire about pricing of any titles
for these formats not listed on this site, drop me a line at kjoyce@electronictheatre.co.uk |
