I completely agree with Starcraft on this. Most of the time the object of platformers is to get to various platforms that have objects on them or that lead to another part of the game. Sometimes the player does not have all of the requirements to get to a certain platform(ie, a new jump ability, but in this game a new part). The game is still about maneuvering around your environment trying to solve puzzles and complete tasks. The only difference here is that the majority of the time you will be platforming in a vehicle not using a character's legs.

New Banjo "around 80% vehicles"

Platforming stale? Why did no one tell Mario?

I think most people are pissed off because they don't expect a franchise to change that much.

I kind of agree with people who complained... If you're going to use a franchise's name, you should stay more or less true to what the franchise is about, although you can still make smaller innovations.

If you want to make a truly innovative game, why not create a new name for it? Otherwise, it looks like you're just using the name as a commercial tool.

In my opinion, the only reason why someone could claim that platforming has become stale is because so most of the developers who can produce great platforming experiences are no longer producing platformers ...

Now, there is nothing wrong with producing a Banjoo-Kazooie game that is in a different genre than platforming; in fact I think Microsoft should have been capatalizing on the Banjoo-Kazooie franchise in a similar fashion to how Nintendo uses Mario and the Mushroom Kingdom's characters in so many games. The problem is that Microsoft promised the release of a Banjoo-Kazooie Platformer and released some sort of car game; had Nintendo promised a new Mario Platformer and then demonstrated a game that was 80% Mario Kart with 20% platforming most people who were excited about the platformer would be pissed.

@HappySqurriel: Precisely. To clarify what I wrote above, I also think it's OK to make offshoots of a franchise in a different genre, not many people will be pissed off about that. Making an offshoot pass for a game in the main series is another thing though, and it will put your name on a lot of blacklists.

Ah, we'll see. Rare has screwed up pretty much everything they tried their hands at since being bought by Microsoft, so I won't expect much of this game 'till it's out.

It may be 20% platforming, 80% of vehicles, but by platforming they meant on foot, but they are doing some in vehicle platforming.

@ NJ5, i agree, though people should not just dismiss the game immediately

I betting it will be crap and nothing like the old BK games which were good. Rare have done nothing great since Nintendo sold them.

The only thing the current Rare has in common with Rare that made awesome games on the N64 is the the name, Rare. All the talent from that studio is long gone.

I´ll reserve judgement for when this game is released.

As far as I´m concerned. this could be either Rare´s big step back to greatness or the truly final nail in their coffin.