Game Boy Advance

Banjo Pilot

Rare has an illustrious track record and has just added another gem to its crown in Banjo Pilot. The best racer of the GBA? Not quite, but it is a strong second behind Mario Kart: Super Circuit, which is definitely no mean feat...

Banjo Pilot isn’t anything new or original but it’s still one of the most addictively enjoyable racing games you’ll find on your GBA this year. The game shines as a single-player game, but the multiplayer mode will knock your socks off so do share this one with a friend or three. So if you like Banjo and you love kart-racing games, you’ll love this one.

Assai ridimensionato rispetto alle iniziali promesse, Banjo-Pilot rimane un gioco di guida capace di divertire tutti. Alcuni difetti come la monotonia dei tracciati o la bizzarra curva di difficoltà, iperbolica nelle battute finali, gli sbarrano la strada verso i classici. Nulla di grave, ma dispiace che il potenziale di cui era carico si sia così perso nel tempo per molteplici ragioni. Rimane un validissimo racing game, tra i migliori per la piattaforma, nonchè un must per gli ammiratori dei suoi padri.

While I would always rather pick up a Mario Kart game, it’s great to have something that feels fresh in what is inherently a narrow genre. When it comes to multiplayer matches, this one will be the reigning king in my Gameboy for a long time to come, though I admittedly won’t be popping it into my link port-less NDS again. If you’re still playing on your SP and you have a friend to throw this game in with, get Banjo Pilot ASAP.

Banjo Pilot definitely had quite a ride from concept to creation, from its branding change to an extreme switch in technology and back again. The final product definitely plays it safe, but at least Banjo Pilot offers a lot of challenge in its design. Mario Kart: Super Circuit remains king of the GBA character racing genre, but Rare's game can sit a comfortable second place in the handheld line-up.

Banjo Pilot’s biggest problem is the simplicity of its design. It feels like you are flying the same tracks over and over (and often you are, though in reverse), and there is no feeling of connection to the physics because it doesn’t really matter what kind of level you’re racing on. The gameplay mechanics are only superficially different from other games of this type; even the weapons stick to basic shell/banana/mushroom rip-offs. Most of what was great about Diddy Kong Racing, and even going as far back as RC Pro-Am, is missing or understated in Banjo Pilot. It is a well made game and can be fun for a while, but it just doesn’t feel special.

Banjo Pilot est un titre tout à fait sympathique qui vous tiendra en haleine un moment. Plutôt amusant, il devrait satisfaire les adeptes du vieillissant mais toujours excellent Mario Kart Super Circuit, car le jeu de RareWare s'en rapproche sur bien des points, trop dirons certains. Seul problème, sa durée de vie un peu réduite et un certain manque de variété dans les courses.

Like most kart racing games, Banjo Pilot's multiplayer leaves its single-player counterpart in the dust. The single-player has its moments, but ultimately, Banjo Pilot is best served for those who have three friends who also want to do a little airplane racing.

Banjo Pilot est un jeu de courses sympathique. Bien réalisé, disposant d'une jouabilité plutôt originale grâce à la gestion de l'altitude (dû au fait que l'on conduise des avions), les épreuves s'enchaînent sans qu'on voit le temps passer. C'est certes moins fun et moins abouti qu'un Mario Kart : Super Circuit mais c'est tout de même fort distrayant.

Originally titled Diddy Kong Pilot (and based on the flying sequences of Diddy Kong Racing for N64), Rare retooled the game following its split with Nintendo, replacing Diddy and co. with characters from the Banjo-Kazooie universe and inking a publishing deal with THQ. The game is a graphical masterpiece, especially considering the limitations of the hardware. Its very advanced Mode 7 scaling effects do a great job of creating the illusion of true 3D. Kudos to all involved.

Banjo Pilot is a decent alternative to Mario Kart but although a lot of the game mechanics are practically identical it doesn't end up being quite the same experience. The biggest disappointment is the lack of support for single pak multiplayer gaming. Mario Kart gave you the option to have 4 player races with only one game pak whereas with Banjo Pilot everyone will need a copy of the game. As a single-player experience Banjo Pilot is quite enjoyable but with games of this nature it's the multiplayer options that keep gamers coming back for more. That said though if you already have Mario Kart and want something similar you should be pleased with Banjo Pilot.

All in all, Banjo Pilot is a fun game, but at the end of the day it feels like a Mario Kart clone (albeit a good clone). The gameplay is similar, the weapons are extremely similar (something to make everyone else stop? Yup, we've got that. Homing missile? Sure.), so if you already have a game like this, there's not really much point to picking this up. If you don't have one, and fancy trying something different, then I advise you to give it a go - you may be pleasantly surprised.

As long as you’re able to enjoy the Banjo-Kazooie elements, you’ll be pleased with the graphics and music Banjo Pilot puts forth. The game boots up with a familiar jingle from the franchise as well as what must be Banjo’s “Yahuck!” mating call. It really stays cutesy through the game, especially with colorful visuals that light up the Game Boy Advance screen quite nicely. It’s just a shame that the level design is flat because a flying game like this could have used some flashy environmental touches to keep me amazed while in the air.

It's hard not to like Banjo Pilot simply because it manages to be maintain a fun factor, even given the fact that the game is far too easy for its own good. Graphically, the game is wonderful, the controls are quite user-friendly, and the dogfighting is incredibly entertaining. However, if you're looking for a challenging kart racer, one that will have you cursing the computer out time and time again, than this is certainly not the game for you. The AI lacks any real challenge and the track layouts are somewhat poorly thought out. Overall, the game is entertaining, but the longevity and competition just aren't enough to keep you on your toes for an extended period of time and that leads me to think that the game is only worth a purchase if you're a die-hard Banjo fan.

Fun and good-looking, Banjo Pilot isn't exactly original. Then again, finding a game like this on a handheld isn't a common occurrence, either. While it doesn’t have the panache or shine of Mario Kart, it’s a fun alternative for GBA race fans.

And that, ladies and gentlemen is about all we can reasonably tell you about Rare's latest, and by no means greatest handheld title. Overall not a bad attempt to move the Mario Kart formula into the skies by any means, but one that's initially far too easy, then bizarrely too tough, and chock full of fairly irritating and unavoidable shoot-'em up-boss encounters that simply take you away from what you'd rather be doing. For racing nuts it might be enough to fill the void for a while, but it's no match for Mario Kart Super Circuit, if only because its learning curve is all over the place. As far as by-the-numbers MK clones go Banjo Pilot is probably the most polished and entertaining rival offering out there, but it's still one that you should probably try before you consider buying.

For all the delays and retooling, Banjo Pilot ended up being a perfectly moderate kart racer. Sure, there are a few extra goodies, but these additions aren't nearly as much fun as you would think. When the far superior Mario Kart Super Circuit and the mildly obscure but also awesome Konami Krazy Racers already exist on GBA, there's no reason to get this. Unless you're a hardcore Banjo-Kazooie fan (you people exist?), this really wasn't worth the near half-decade wait.

You won't need a university degree in "Banjo" to understand the incredible depth of Banjo Pilot. Let's face it, the gameplay and the characters are about as generic as can be. The only people who are truly jumping for joy at this release are the true blue Banjo the Bear fans and Rare, who have finally delivered this one and can move on. I'm betting Rare is jumping just a little higher....

Overall, Banjo Pilot is a game that should be avoided. Single players beware; there is little fun to be had here. Playing with a friend might provide you with a little more entertainment, but with Mario Kart already available on the GBA, you'd be in much better hands with Mario and Co.