Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts

Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts is a Banjo-Kazooie title released on Xbox 360 in 2008. It is a direct follow-up to Banjo-Tooie. The game was announced at Microsoft's X06 in 2006 at Barcelona, Spain and was released on November 11, 2008. The game is backwards compatible with Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, and was included in Rare Replay and Xbox Cloud Gaming (Project xCloud) service.

In early 2009, L.O.G.'s Lost Challenges, a DLC for the game, was released for 400 Microsoft Points.

Story
Eight years after the events of Banjo-Tooie, Banjo and Kazooie became lazy and fat due to the lack of adventures. Gruntilda's disembodied skull then reappears after finally reaching Banjo's house to settle their rivalry. Right before their fight starts, an entity known as the Lord of Games pauses the game and unpauses it to offer a way to decide who shall be the owner of Spiral Mountain and starts a game where many "pointless collectibles" appear throughout Spiral Mountain and the three must race to see who collects them all. Right after this starts, however, he states that this is "painful to watch" and instead takes them to a brand new Game World "considerably more impressive" than what they've seen before, but not after putting the duo in shape, giving the witch a new body and gifting both the duo and Grunty vehicles. Once they arrive in Showdown Town, L.O.G. explains how the game will work: Banjo and Kazooie need to enter the Game Worlds through the Act Doors scattered throughout town to obtain Jiggies to open more Acts until they can enter Spiral Mountain again, where the final battle shall take place. To collect what they need, however, they need to use vehicles they can build themselves in Mumbo's Motors with the parts they obtain along the way or buy pre-made blueprints from Humba Wumba. Gruntilda also obtains a new sidekick, Piddles, and builds herself new minions, the Gruntbots.

Once in Spiral Mountain, Banjo and Kazooie win against Gruntilda once again, forcing her to work forever in L.O.G.'s Video Game Factory and becoming the legal owners of Spiral Mountain. The witch, however, states that she will secretly make a "devious game" while there.

Gameplay
The gameplay of Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts largely differs from the previous games. As Banjo and Kazooie have forgotten their moves and the bird's wings have been "clipped," they need to use vehicles in order to complete challenges and win their prizes. Outside a vehicle, they can use the newly-acquired Mumbo's Wrench to lift objects up or attack enemies. They can also climb things and swim.

Inside a vehicle, Banjo has many more possibilities. He can build them inside Mumbo Jumbo's garage in the Town Square of Showdown Town with parts acquired from Mumbo Crates such as engines, wings, propellers, wheels, fuel, ammo and weapons among other things, making for a wide variety of possible creations to complete objectives in multiple different ways.

Collectibles from previous games also return, although now having different functions. Throughout the Game Worlds, Musical Notes can be found and collected to be used as currency in Showdown Town. They can be spent to buy Humba Wumba's blueprints, work out in Boggy's Gym, bribe Pikelet or buy Jolly Dodger's black market Jiggies, among other things. Jiggies are used to open Act Doors and obtain even more Jiggies in order to reach Spiral Mountain and face Gruntilda. T.T. Trophies, the highest rewards in regular challenges, are used to obtain even more Jiggies at Trophy Thomas' Jig-O-Vend. Jinjo Tokens are used to obtain Musical Notes and vehicle parts in King Jingaling's Bingo Palace.

Multiplayer
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts features a multiplayer mode where players can compete in various games using both custom and pre-made vehicles.

List of multiplayer race tracks

 * Air Straights
 * Drag Kings
 * Egg 'n' Spoon Race
 * G-Zero
 * Hurdles
 * Nutty Airways
 * Nutty Cruises
 * Pool Prix
 * Short Circuit
 * Small Spiral Circuit
 * Speedway
 * Super Spiral Circuit
 * Triathlon

Added with L.O.G.'s Lost Challenges

 * Don't Lose Your Nuts
 * Iced Prix
 * Terrarium Tussle

References to other games

 * Donkey Kong franchise: During Gruntilda's challenge in LOGBOX 720, Banjo also says he remembers a "similar situation with a genie and a giant pig," referencing his appearance in Diddy Kong Racing. Diddy Kong Racing is later directly mentioned during L.O.G.'s quiz in Spiral Mountain, appearing as the right answer for when he asks which game featured Banjo despite not being a Banjo-Kazooie game.
 * Mario franchise: During the introduction sequence, L.O.G. states Banjo and Kazooie have not been featured in as many games as a certain Italian gentleman, referencing Mario. The achievement "Super Banjo Galaxy," unlocked by putting the Terrarium of Terror's Game Globe in its plinth, also references Super Mario Galaxy.
 * Jetpac: Various destroyed rockets, referred to as "1980s space junk" can be found throughout the Terrarium of Terror. They have "U 1" in them, referencing the rockets from Jetpac.
 * Alien 8: Various deactivated robots with the number 8 in them, referred to as "1980s space junk," can be found throughout the Terrarium of Terror, referencing the protagonist of Alien 8.
 * Captain Skyhawk: "Captain Skyhawk" appears as a wrong answer for a question in L.O.G.'s quiz in Spiral Mountain where he asks which videogame is featured on the largest disc in LOGBOX 720, with the right answer being "Banjo-Kazooie."
 * Time Lord: "Time Lord" appears as a wrong answer for a question during L.O.G.'s quiz in Spiral Mountain, when he asks which game featured Banjo despite not being a Banjo-Kazooie game.
 * Battletoads series: A game called "Battletoads 2010" appears inside L.O.G.'s Video Game Factory during the ending.
 * Killer Instinct series: Fulgore's Fist appears as a vehicle part. Killer Instinct 3 is also mentioned several times in the game. Bottles says that he heard rumors he might be featured in it, and is considering buying a bandana for the occasion. Several copies of the game are also inside Jolly Dodger's briefcase in Showdown Town. "Killer Instinct" also appears as a wrong answer for a question during L.O.G.'s quiz in Spiral Mountain, when he asks which game featured Banjo despite not being a Banjo-Kazooie game. A game called "Cake Filler Instinct" also appears inside L.O.G.'s Video Game Factory during the ending.
 * Banjo-Kazooie: In Spiral Mountain, the garbage besides Banjo's house contains some objects from Banjo-Kazooie like the Ice Key. Several Banjo-Kazooie characters also appear to run shops in Showdown Town. In LOGBOX 720, a large Banjo-Kazooie disc can be found, being the largest disc in the Game World. Banjoland has several references to Banjo-Kazooie, with several Information Points directly mentioning the game and its events and many exhibits of characters, objects and locations from it. In this Game World's second Act, during a Jinjo Hurling challenge, the Jinjo also mentions he was reading old stories of the Mighty Jinjonator. In the Jiggosseum's scoreboard, many Banjo-Kazooie characters are mentioned, said to have participated in various matches against each other. A flying billboard outside the Terrarium of Terror advertising "Snacker's Loans" can be seen. A Jinjo in this Game World also has a Jinjo Fetch challenge where he wants Banjo to get him his lost Ice Key. A vehicle part, the Freezeezy, is also named after Freezeezy Peak. Almost every Game World's theme also has segments from Banjo-Kazooie songs.
 * Perfect Dark series: Joanna Dark is pictured in some pamphlets throughout Showdown Town.
 * Banjo-Tooie: In Spiral Mountain, the garbage besides Banjo's house contains some objects from Banjo-Tooie like Glowbos and Tickets. Bottles' Grave, referencing the fact he died in Banjo-Tooie, is also seen in front of the house. Several Banjo-Tooie characters also appear to run shops in Showdown Town. In the third Act of Nutty Acres, a Jinjo in a Jinjo Fetch challenge asks Banjo to retrieve his lost Glowbo. Banjoland has several references to Banjo-Tooie, with several Information Points directly mentioning the game and its events and many exhibits of characters, objects and locations from it. In the Jiggosseum's scoreboard, many Banjo-Tooie characters are mentioned, said to have participated in various matches against each other. A flying billboard outside the Terrarium of Terror advertising Witchyworld can be seen. A Jinjo in a Jinjo Fetch challenge also asks for his Witchyworld ticket to be retrieved. Multiple Game Worlds have themes with segments from Banjo-Tooie songs.
 * Conker's Bad Fur Day: The music that plays from the radio in the introduction sequence before Jamjars starts talking is Windy's theme. Conker himself is also pictured in the newspapers of Showdown Town, wearing a solider outfit.
 * While in front of his factory in Showdown Town, when L.O.G. says he regrets making the first first-person shooter, he states that he expects "even a space marine in this game somewhere," possibly referencing the Halo franchise. In his arcade, Klungo also says that he is a "bigger ssstar than ."
 * Grabbed by the Ghoulies: In the introduction sequence, when L.O.G. claims to have created every video game, Kazooie asks if he made "even the ones that don't sell well like Ghoulies," with a small segment of the Grabbed by the Ghoulies theme playing when she says that. Some boxes of the game, Bonus Books and Mr. Ribs' skull are also seen in the garbage in front of Banjo's house, the latter two later being used as Jinjo Fetch items in the Terrarium of Terror and Banjoland, respectively. Ghoulhaven Hall can be seen in the background of Showdown Town. While in front of his factory, L.O.G. states he is very good at disguising himself, then proceeds to say "pet my piglet," one of Fiddlesworth's many "fiddlerisms" he says throughout the game. Various shops in Showdown Town are also run by characters from the game. In LOGBOX 720, a disc of the game is seen among many others. In Banjoland, inside the Rubbish Bin, multiple copies of Grabbed by the Ghoulies can be found and even grabbed with the wrench. Some characters from the game are also mentioned in the Jiggosseum's scoreboard. "Grabbed by the Ghoulies" appears as a wrong answer for a question in L.O.G.'s quiz in Spiral Mountain where he asks what's the game that had a Banjo appearance despite not being a Banjo-Kazooie game, but as the right one in a question that asks "in which game could the dumbster outside Banjo's house in Spiral Mountain be previously seen." A game called "Grabbed by the Ghoulies II" also appears inside L.O.G.'s Video Game Factory during the ending.
 * It's Mr. Pants: A disc of It's Mr. Pants can be found in LOGBOX 720. A small model of Mr. Pants, called the "Spirit of Pants," also appears as a vehicle part.
 * : "Dr. Klungo's Brain Draining," a parody of "Dr Kawashima's Brain Training," appears as a wrong answer for a question in L.O.G.'s quiz in Spiral Mountain where he asks which videogame is featured on the largest disc in LOGBOX 720, with the right answer being "Banjo-Kazooie."
 * Kameo: Elements of Power: Kameo is pictured in some pamphlets throughout Showdown Town. The Wotnot book appears as an item that needs to be retrieved during a Jinjo Fetch challenge in LOGBOX 720. "Kameo: Elements of Power" also appears as a wrong answer for a question during L.O.G.'s quiz in Spiral Mountain, when he asks "in which game could the dumbster outside Banjo's house in Spiral Mountain be previously seen."
 * Viva Piñata series: During the introduction sequence, L.O.G. transforms Banjo into a Lickatoad. The Papery Pal vehicle part is also a Lickatoad, and Mumbo states that "Trouble in Paradise is good game" and that he recommends "player buy it tomorrow" in the accessory's description. In the description of the Spike, Mumbo says that the weapon turns whichever vehicle it is attached to into a Fudgehog, and in the description of the Super Fuel, he mentions that the tank contains enough fuel to "drive whole way to Pinata [sic] Island." Viva Piñata and Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise discs are also found at LOGBOX 720. During a Jinjo Fetch challenge in Banjoland, a Jinjo also asks for Banjo to find his lost Fergie in the Click Clock Wood Tree. One of the matches listed in the Jiggosseum scoreboard is of Franklin' Fizzlybear against Professor Pester. One of the Jinjo Fetch challenges in the same Game World has a Jinjo ask for Banjo to retrieve a joy candy he lost. A game called "Viva Piñata Kart" also appears inside L.O.G.'s Video Game Factory during the ending.

References in other games

 * Killer Instinct: L.O.G.'s head appears as a backpack in Rash's "Rarewear" costume.
 * Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing with Banjo-Kazooie: Banjo and Kazooie use their designs from Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts. Their vehicle, the Bolt Bucket, was also seemingly built using various parts avaliable in Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, such as Small Fuel tanks and Monster Wheels. Mumbo's Wrench also returns, and is used to perform the Jiggy Rain.
 * Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Banjo & Kazooie's up taunt, in which Banjo stretches his arms and Kazooie pops out of the backpack, is based on the duo's idle animation from Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts. The design of Banjo's House in the Spiral Mountain stage appears to be designed after its appearance in Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, albeit more renovated. Mumbo Jumbo's animation in the Spiral Mountain stage, in which he juggles his eyeballs, also originates from Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts.

Reception
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts was, upon release, harshly criticized for straying away too much from the formula used by its predecessors, Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie, but was praised for its vehicle building system and inovative gameplay. The game's reception was, as stated by Rare Ltd., "expected," having sold over 140,000 in the by the end of 2008 and surpassing 100,000 units sold in the.

Trivia

 * To promote the release of the game, the Lunchables included small models of its vehicles in boxes.
 * Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts is the only Banjo-Kazooie game to be translated to Polish.
 * In the third episode of ', "God Bless Her Rotting Soul," a character can be seen playing Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts in the LOGBOX 720 Game World. The gameplay is taken from a video by the channel XCageGame, as seen by the watermark.