Oi! So, if you're not a total knob or weren't born yesterday or aren't living under a rock with googly eyes, you probably have fond memories of playing Rareware's Banjo-Kazooie! The Nintendo 64 console, starting with Super Mario 64, was defined by collect-a-thon 3D platformers that usually involved a hubworld, collecting power-ups/abilities, and trying to save someone or some place from some baddy. They usually involve cartoon characters, a lot of zany music and comedy. The king, in my opinion, of these platformers was the Banjo Kazooie franchise.
And, after Microsoft has bungled away the goodwill and reputation of both Rare and Banjo Kazooie, in a landscape where these types of platformers are all but nostalgia of retro gamers, it seems less and less likely we'll get a proper Banjo sequel anytime soon.
So, when I found out that Playtonic, a studio comprised of a lot of old Rare vets, was finally making a spiritual successor to the Banjo franchise... I was a little excited. After seeing the gameplay footage, the folks involved, and just the general presentation of their kickstarter, I'm a lot excited.
And you should be too! You play as delightful duo, Yooka the Chameleon and Laylee the Bat, as you battle baddies, collect coins, and gain useful abilities along the way, in your quest to, presumably, save the day!
3D platforming is your style of retro gaming? Then how about, as we witness Konami flush their credentials down the toilet by cutting ties with Hideo Kojima, canceling the new Silent Hill, and making the statement they will be focusing on mobile games, we look at something beautiful, dark, and CASTLEVANIA-ish!
Led by Koji "IGA" Igarashi, one of the godfathers of Metroid-vania style platformers and specifically the co-director of legendary Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night clearly seeks to be the spiritual successor to the 2D Castlevania games.
With rich gothic art style, haunting music, and the collective will to make a proper Castlevania style game, in a world that needs it, I can't wait to see how IGA and his team at Inti Creates deliver.
I hope you will pledge your sword or at least your coin to this cause.
Maybe the future of gaming isn't in the hands of multi-billion dollar entities. Maybe the future of gaming is in the hands of small studios like Playtonic and Inti Creates. Only time will tell, but you can speak up and contribute with your wallet today.
