Mario beheaded by Banjo, everybody freaks
by Chris Greenhough 
{ May 14th 2008 at 5:00PM }
Rare unveiled a trailer yesterday for its forthcoming Xbox 360 vehicle-based platformer Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts. It looks very lovely, as Rare games often do, but discussion about the video now seems to be less about the game, and more about a brief cameo from Mario.
Towards the end of the two-minute trailer, the bear and the bird are seen flying a customized plane towards a huge model of Mario, before blasting the revered plumber's head clean off! The cheek! Later versions of the same footage have had the decapitation edited out (there is an unedited version after the break), which suggests that Rare got a slapped wrist over the (hardly scandalous) "scandal."
Anyway, with grim predictability, this scene resulted in the entire internet getting its panties in a bunch. Everywhere one looked, people were speculating boringly over what this could possibly mean. And now, Rare has enlightened us: it means nothing. Zilch. It was all a bit of light-hearted fun. Haha.
MTV's Stephen Totilo spoke to lead software engineer Salvatore Fileccia about the cameo, and came away with the impression that some rascal at Rare had constructed the Mario figure using the game's vehicle editor, and that the scene had been added to the trailer at the last minute, with Microsoft none the wiser. But before you all grab your pitchforks, know that Rare still has tons of respect for Mario, with Fileccia himself commenting at the presentation of the trailer: "Action platformers have gotten a bit stale, except for Mario."
Crisis over, then. Now back to praying for a Banjo game on the Virtual Console.
Towards the end of the two-minute trailer, the bear and the bird are seen flying a customized plane towards a huge model of Mario, before blasting the revered plumber's head clean off! The cheek! Later versions of the same footage have had the decapitation edited out (there is an unedited version after the break), which suggests that Rare got a slapped wrist over the (hardly scandalous) "scandal."
Anyway, with grim predictability, this scene resulted in the entire internet getting its panties in a bunch. Everywhere one looked, people were speculating boringly over what this could possibly mean. And now, Rare has enlightened us: it means nothing. Zilch. It was all a bit of light-hearted fun. Haha.
MTV's Stephen Totilo spoke to lead software engineer Salvatore Fileccia about the cameo, and came away with the impression that some rascal at Rare had constructed the Mario figure using the game's vehicle editor, and that the scene had been added to the trailer at the last minute, with Microsoft none the wiser. But before you all grab your pitchforks, know that Rare still has tons of respect for Mario, with Fileccia himself commenting at the presentation of the trailer: "Action platformers have gotten a bit stale, except for Mario."
Crisis over, then. Now back to praying for a Banjo game on the Virtual Console.
Do you think the original Banjo-Kazooie game should be on the Virtual Console? Well, each week, we talk about one game that needs to be represented on Nintendo's download service in Virtually Overlooked. To catch up with the feature's first year of entries, start right here. After that, keep an eye on the Virtually Overlooked category for a new entry every Thursday.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Roto13 @ May 14th 2008 5:18PM
This kind of annoying showboating is the boil on the anus of the video game industry.
TheCoats @ May 14th 2008 5:23PM
second'd
HellsHammer @ May 14th 2008 5:24PM
Haha, what gratitude and class. Especially coming from a Mario 64 clone...
What would Nintendo be without Mario?
and What would Rare be without Nintendo?
Nothing.
Aaron @ May 14th 2008 6:18PM
I like how the person who uploaded this trailer to youtube silenced the original music from the trailer and put over top of it, music from a ratchet and clank game. (obvious sarcasm)
rhoffer21 @ May 15th 2008 5:31PM
this kind of crying is why people dont like gamers. it was a fun little easter egg type thing, get over it.
Roto13 @ May 15th 2008 5:36PM
Please. It's a message and it's a stupid one. There's too much of this crap. It's like the fucking WWE. I'm half expecting a video where Cliff Bleszinski beats Shigeru Miyamoto with a chair to pop up.
skittens @ May 15th 2008 9:30PM
I disagree. I think that kind of annoying showboating is what makes this industry fun. The videogame industry is pretty unique and full of highly competitive trash talking asses.
I find it refreshing to see that even though some of these companies are worth hundreds of millions, they still sometimes act just like their customer base. It makes them seem like one of us and not some lumbering faceless corporate giant. Besides, it gives us something to talk about.
That being said, that was pretty low class on Rare's part to disrespect their roots like that.
Roto13 @ May 15th 2008 9:32PM
Correction. Just like YOU. Not like us. Not like me. The industry seriously needs to grow the hell up. This crap is embarrassing.
T Elms @ May 14th 2008 5:32PM
It might be trivial to Rare, but it still sends a message. It's implies that Rare trashes Nintendo, the very company that helped them rise to the height of their popularity and creativity. Now, they are just a shadow of their former selves. It's garbage.
AzaMcWazza @ May 14th 2008 6:31PM
I hate it when they take a cute platformer and make the graphics all shaded out the wazoo. It's like they wanted to do the photorealistic thing (Cause that's the only real defining factor of this gen) but keep it Banjo'ish.
Also, it looked damned boring and nothing like B&K games of the past. A Creation mode for fucks sake.
Haohmaru @ May 14th 2008 8:55PM
I wouldn't say the "photorealistic thing" is the ONLY defining thing about this gen. Tales of Vesperia's cel shading looks absolutely phenomenal from what I've seen. With that being said, I agree with your thoughts on this new Banjo's art style.
joel.ms1 @ May 14th 2008 5:58PM
This just in: The sky is falling!!!
SWAT Kats are back! @ May 14th 2008 6:07PM
I figure it's a sign of respect, if not it would've been something more degrading, or they just would've used one of their own characters
Fact is that the 8-bit mario design is much more noticeable, so they figured they'd go with it
Aaron @ May 14th 2008 6:21PM
Oh wait.......I had itunes going in the background with the soundtrack going from ratchet and clank (How stupid am i?????). I feel pretty dumb...
Roto13 @ May 14th 2008 6:24PM
That's the best comment I've ever read.
Chris Greenhough @ May 14th 2008 7:10PM
Me too, actually.
WiiMakesMeWant ToDie @ May 15th 2008 1:32PM
You guys need to start reading more
CubeGuy @ May 14th 2008 6:43PM
Is it too much to ask for a straight up sequel? I don't want to spend half my playtime building cars.
Jeff @ May 14th 2008 7:13PM
i could care less about the mario thing (outside of the slight bitterness at MS buying the good shit up, like Bungie, and wasting it) but that game looks incredibly clunky and unappealing.
maybe it's just me.
SWAT Kats are back! @ May 14th 2008 7:17PM
too vehicular, i agree
I would almost say: "What platformer? More like a cartoony GTA" (in the open-world free-roaming mission-based vehicle game sense)
Greg2k @ May 14th 2008 7:38PM
I remember a time when Rare was concerned about making their games technically sound. Since Banjo Tooie the average framerate of Rare games has been around what...10fps? And then there's this. FRAMERATE HITS FROM A FUCKING SQUARE-JOINTED BEAR AND 12-POLYGON BIRD??!! O·M·G what the hell happened to all the PROGRAMMERS?
You know what they could do with all the time they spend making two games per generation of consoles? Stop doing Mario and concentrate on making some goddamn decent games.
Yeah, like they used to do.
phantomexe @ May 14th 2008 9:14PM
I know this is sad to bring up ,but the good programers rare had during the goldeneye days left and made the company free radicals which did the game timespliters.
jorgiex @ May 14th 2008 10:50PM
Everyone is so sensative..boo hoo..You don't own Nintendo and I don't think that Nintendo will stick up for you if someone picked on you or your best friend(s)..lol
Grow Up..?
I take from this video that Rare is not Nintendo so don't compare us to them. They do not want to make the same'ol
platformer that has been done over and over again by Nintendo and even themselves. This a new direction for thier platformer. So please just stay on your Mario Galaxy side and leave me on the side of HD graphics next gen physics and online co-op with user created content. This is a TRUE next (this) Gen platformer.
Well IMO anyways...!
HellsHammer @ May 15th 2008 12:23AM
I don't know about this. I watched the whole 2:01 minutes of tanks, cars, cycles, helicopters, and planes only to see a HD customizable Diddy Kong Racing game. Re-inventing your sequels is always important, but this looks like a poor attempt to add GTA/NMH elements to DK racing.
"This is a TRUE next (this) Gen platformer."
I'm sure most of us still have fond memories of the previous Banjo installments but let's be realistic, there was less than 5 seconds of ANYTHING besides racing around in vehicles...TRUE platforming? WHAT PLATFORMING?!
SoshiKitai @ May 15th 2008 12:53PM
**agree with HellsHammer**
And er... why do we want a "(this) next gen platformer" with a dopey looking furry?
It's like asking Mario to pick up a gun and rampage through a futuristic city full of robot-masters...
Cartoon-ish characters should really look their part, and stay in their genre.
WiiMakesMeWantToDie @ May 15th 2008 2:14PM
Just think of the vehicle customization as "Pimping up my Yoshi" and then you should be happy... I think it brings innovation to a stale genre.
Hybrid @ May 15th 2008 8:06AM
There is a reason that rare now suck. MicroSpaff bought them. all the lead developers left for better jobs, rare is just a way for MicoSpunk to try and control the licences for games like Goldeneye, hence why you dont have the best N64 game ever on the VC yet, they are trying to get it on xbox live, but nintendo and rare are at a stalemate and will be for a long time.
Bibbly53 @ May 15th 2008 10:11AM
Take some free-roaming like concepts, mash in some lego-land like kart destruction fun and an out-of-the-box approach to show love for how far video games have gone and you get a gold story scroll with increased miracle storm./|_|\
I was thinking of Rare the other day and wondering when they will change their logo and become the powerhouse they were once famed to be.
magiclava @ May 15th 2008 12:12PM
Honestly the game doesnt look that fun to play anyway.
I'm old enough to say that my first ever game was PSSST for the Sinclair Spectrum by Ultimate, and i have the greatest respect for Rare, but can anyone name a classic game produced by them since they left Nintendo?
snu183 @ May 15th 2008 12:41PM
as i have fond memories of playing golden eye n a hate love relationship with proximity mines, rare was a special company to me. since that time thought i havent played any of their games (besides perfect dark). why? mostly because they suck n they wish they were still on the wii where their target audience. but who knows maybe itll be a good game, though previous record says no n microsoft wishes they didnt spend as much money buying them as they did.
-d
Matthew @ May 15th 2008 12:42PM
This trailer looks horrible, I'm glad no Nintendo characters are tied to this. Rare is allowed to do whatever it wants but I'm curious what happened to the relationship? Why did they defect? Anywho, I can assure you the sales for this title will be poor, how many ppl do you know with a 360 are even considering this? Granted they do not make up the entire demographic of 360 owners, I am confident that the only ppl looking at this title will probably pirate it.
Samuel @ May 15th 2008 6:08PM
Maybe this is a sign that Rare hates nintendo and wants to sue. . .? O.o
Dr. Andy @ May 16th 2008 2:28PM
Wow...
I own both a Wii and a 360 and would not consider buying this for a moment if it lacks platforming so much as it does on the trailer. On another note, I expect better from Rare, like grass, good lighting and colour scheme, this game looks bland. Even the new art style blows, and I'm not anti rare as I own and enjoy both Kameo and Perfect Dark Zero, but this game has me stumped from the god awful trailer.
As for the Mario 'Insult' thing, meh it's a bit of fun. Besides, if it was done in a serious manner, Nintendo can chuck out a far better platformer than any of the ones rare can do. Even Mario 64 and Sunshine whipped the 2 previous banjo games in terms of gameplay.
Ego @ May 17th 2008 1:08PM
Too many idiots wanting to cry about nothing. It's not a big deal and Rare would have been a big thing with or without Nintendo. They paid Nintendo to make their game on their system not the other way around. Nintendo should thank them for having such successful and noteworthy games on their system and sticking with them for so long.
This was all in fun, if you can't/won't or don't get that then you're just a typical overreacting idiot that we have to deal with on a daily basis.