1UP writes:
"Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts -- specifically, the "Nuts & Bolts" part -- came as a surprise. But, really, who knows what to expect from an all-ages, mascot-driven adventure at the moment? Ratchet & Clank has the action angle covered, you can't very well compete directly with Super Mario Galaxy, and Rare's last foray into the genre -- Xbox 360 launch title Kameo: Elements of Power -- received a mixed reception. So what's left? With LittleBigPlanet on the horizon and user-generated content being pushed harder than ever to casual consumers, it's not really a surprise that Nuts & Bolts is taking a more...creative approach.
Or, what they were known for. Ever since Microsoft's $377 million 2002 takeover of the company, Rare's been saddled with cobbling together last-generation leftovers (Perfect Dark Zero, Kameo) for a very discerning "next-gen" audience. Even Viva Piñata -- as great as it turned out -- started life on the Pocket PC platform. Nuts & Bolts represents Rare's first true from-the-ground-up entry into the current gaming landscape, and the result is a very, very interesting direction for the series..."