I just feel like BK has always been very cartoony.  I don't think that has changed at all.  I think you have probably grown up and your tastes have changed.

It seems to me that the thing to get upset about is the addition of the vehicles.  That seems like it is a major departure from past gameplay.  I haven't played it or really seen it in action much though, so I could be wrong.

I wish this wasn't a Microsoft game because then it most likely wouldn't be scrutinized as much. Like MS is bullying Rare to make a game that will piss off fans or something. The original BK team is making the game and they felt they should change up a bit and now the game will suck according to most. I bet if they didn't change anything we would still be hearing these complaints.

i have the new banjo already paid off and cant wait too get my redeem code for the original banjo. i like the fact that rare is trying something new the platform genre has been sorta stale for awhile, i still think they will bring a regular platform banjo for all the purists out their, this game might be a way to bring new ppl into the series and then release a regular banjo afterwards.

i you are seriously asking and you have no idea what you are talking about, then maybe you ask in a nicer way because right now it looks like you are trying to discredit me, and to anyone who has played B+K, there is a LOT of innuendo, both violet, sexual, and the like. it was a T game that made it into an E+ game.

that was the thing about B+K and later the same team who made Conker. it was a cartoony looking game with adult-ish humor. so again instead of

"what difference does it make"

you can write

"what is the difference?"

because you obviously don't know.....

however, if the game includes this same kind of stuff, then I will stop talking right here... but it doesn't seem like that is the direction they are pursuing.

"Banjo's original template, there are going to be some pretty disappointed purchasers come the game's release if those expectations aren't significantly realigned."

Nice cherry picking you troll!

Without playing the game, how do you know that the same sort of innuendo in the first two is not present in this one?  I would guess that they tried to keep the writing similar.

It was not a "T game that made it into a E game".  The original two games were both E rated.  Innuedo is allowed in because it goes over the heads of the little kids.  Think about something like Shrek.  Kids like it because it is a slapstick cartoon/fairytale, and the adults appreciate all the little jokes.  All this while maintaining a kid friendly rating.

Also, it has been awhile since I've played these games, but I don't remember that much innuendo.  Of course there is violence as you said.  You are constantly fighting enemies, but that is in every game.  And the violence in this game is cartoon violence.

(Because I couldn't resist a Scrubs referance:  Inyourendo)

I don't think the game could have ever become a big hit with the veichle aspect of the game , which happens to be most of it.

Vehichles in platformers should only ever be part of the game , not the game itself.

Doesn't that mean exactly the same thing? People are going to be disappointed unless they lower their expectations?

Would this game come out on a Nintendo-console, IGN would go crazy.

I predict it will sell 1 million units. This should be bundled with the Arcade for 229 USD. That would be something.

Except people in these forums and Rare themselves have tried to convince us that it will still be a Banjo platformer the long time fans will recognize. IGN is just saying that is not the case.

Speaking of cherry picking, you make it sound like the OP was mischaracterizing the perception of the article. Well, you left some of their reactions out:

"There are significant concerns with the game, too. Aside from the very obvious point that a lack of substantial variety in challenges is likely to get wearisome very quickly"

"Banjo's undulating environments really don't suit a physics model that's clearly more comfortable with flat surfaces and we found the driving precision the game demanded to be utterly exhausting."

"Technically, yes it's very clever, but clever doesn't always equate to fun and the lack of concessions to the arcade nature of the game made for an incredibly frustrating experience."

"Nuts & Bolts feels like two promising concepts shoe-horned awkwardly into a single, unsatisfying whole."