The Final Word game review

Banjo Kazooie -- Rare

R.I.P.
While on the surface this would appear to be a kids game, I can't really recommend this game for children. Much of the atmosphere of the game is really heavy and gloomy as you progress farther on in the game. This game also gets a strike against it on two counts. The extraordinary ramp-up of difficulty in later stages that makes them not very fun to try and solve, and the ending where you think you've finished the game but instead find you have to open "one last door" that you can't open unless you go back and solve every last damn puzzle in the game. AHHHHHHHHHHH! No... No thank-you. Not going to do it. That stupid puzzle at the end of the game, just to get to the witch was enough for me, I'm sick of the game now and I will not go back and try to finish the last parts of any stage areas I didn't finish.

Sure the game was visually engaging with interesting level design, artwork, and colorful NPCs (non-player characters). Play control was decent... but took a little bit of time to master. The sound was appropriate, but nothing amazing or memorable to speak of.

I did like the game, and I would recommend it to most adults, or teenagers looking for a decent 3-D platformer. I did not like the ending, but... that's what Rare does. Sigh... I guess I'm doomed to never see the complete end sequence of a Rare title... Oh well. This game works out ok as a rental, and as a cheap used purchase. I don't think I would pay new price for it though. In fact, if you are price or time limited, but really want to spend your time on a Rare game, check out Jet Force Gemini instead.

(10/2002)