Rare: Saviours.

[Norrin Radd]

If, like me, you think Rare should be idolised for giving us such games as Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, Banjo-Kazooie, Conker's Bad Fur Day, Banjo-Tooie and other such true gaming greats, then listen...like a curious mole.

In England, at least, Play.Com are doing a deal whereby if you pre-order the sure-to-be-amazing Banjo-Kazooie 3: Nuts and Bolts, you get a free code to download the ORIGINAL Banjo-Kazooie from Xbox Live when it's released.

I'm not entirely sure if it's happening elsewhere, or if they do overseas shipping, but you should look out for it.

Because if there's anything more amazing then one Banjo game, it's two.

That said, if you have a 360 and haven't yet downloaded the Banjo 3 demo, do so, because it's blinding. The level of imagination and detail in the levels is amazing. Even the first world you get to go to is just so much fun. In keeping with the ability to build vehicles out of any useable parts you find, they've got a test track/warehouse in Mumbo's workshop, housing every kind of terrain to test every kind of vehicle you could make (Air, land and water).

Personally, I don't know anyone who didn't love the original game, so definitely check this game out.

[shadowsworn]

Not to mention Donkey Kong Country :]

I've never actually played any of the Banjo Kazooie games. There are already two up on xbox live though, I believe, so eventually I'm sure to get round to it.

[Norrin Radd]

I'm pretty sure Banjo-Kazooie was to the modern platformer what Goldeneye was to the modern FPS, and they both came from Rare.

Mario 64 gave it the basic engine of course, but what Rare did with it is above and beyond, you should really get around to it. They're some of the best game ever made, especially the first one. This new one is going to be amazing.

I just spent a good while messing around on the test track, it's so much fun. You can make your own vehicle from scratch or use a ready-made chassis and add bits to it.

Definitely download the demo, it's free.

[BoundByHonor]

You're missing the common factor of those great games-- Nintendo.

[Norrin Radd]

You get out what you put in.

Whilst Nintendo obviously leads the way in terms of this sort of thing, Rare haven't messed around. Microsoft clearly just let them go wild and do what they want.

Trust me, I'd be the first to be calling bullshit if they compromised the game, but they haven't from what the demo shows.

If they release it on the Wii, it will probably feel at home, but I'm just glad Rare are back on form after Perfect Dark Zero.

[Ronin]

Goldeneye and Banjo Kazooie are completely wicked games.
I wouldn't wana know how the old Banjo Kazooie looks nowadays though, cause it would be a real WTF experience and probably ruin my uber memories about playing it.

On a side note, I loved to play Glodeneye split-screen with my friends, with spiking the whole level with mines, lol.

[Norrin Radd]

I don't care how it looks, personally.

I still play Duke Nukem 3D. Nevertheless, Banjo 3 looks jaw-droppingly amazing. So imaginative.

[MarchoftheBlackLions]

Sweet, this is the first I've heard about the download.

Thanks for the heads up.

I would pretty much give Rare my first born

[Norrin Radd]

I dunno if the deal with Play.Com is just UK, but I know for sure than Banjo 1 is up on Xbox Live Marketplace.

I think Portal is too, but that's not on topic.

[Oisterman]

Now I want an Xbox D:

[Manic]

My 360 is downloading 2 gigs in demos at the moment (Mirror's Edge and N&, so hopefully they'll be done when I get back from class in 6 hours.

I must admit that I never liked your sister in Banjo-Kazooie, and always enjoyed the scenes following your death where the witch would steal her youth.

[power_gamer_6]

My 360 is downloading 2 gigs in demos at the moment (Mirror's Edge and N&, so hopefully they'll be done when I get back from class in 6 hours.

I must admit that I never liked your sister in Banjo-Kazooie, and always enjoyed the scenes following your death where the witch would steal her youth.

I love lamp.

Seriously though, I wish I had a 360. I love Banjo Kazooie.

[MrTingTing]

There aren't many FPS that have surpassed Goldeneye to this day, in my opinion.

Bioshock's single player is the only game I can think of that has. Nothing touches Goldeneye multiplayer. I don't know if anything ever will.

They're called Rare for a reason.

indeed X] goldeneye is still my alltime favourite console multiplayer game
+ rep

[Croix]

Gah, things like this make me wish I had gotten a newer gen console.

But as said, Rare is an awesome game company. They have about 3 games on my top 10 game list.