This is a cute little game that is blatantly inspired by Banjo-Kazooie for the N64. That said, it’s lacking in length, quality, plot, and challenge compared to Banjo. Still, for $2.99, you could do worse. I waited for a sale price and paid maybe a little more than a buck after taxes. You go from world to world, collecting gizmos (I can’t be bothered to look up what the game calls them), and if you collect enough, you can repair your airplane and fly it to an island to drink tea with your friends. That’s the plot. The game does a good job of hiding the gizmos, but whatever you can’t find on your own, you can easily find watching a YouTube walkthrough (which is how I played). There are no boss battles. There is essentially one enemy, who can very easily be avoided. I lost all my health only once, but then I just had to start at the beginning of the level, with no changes to the number of gizmos or gears I already collected. Collecting all the gears in a level results in getting a gizmo.
The graphics are intentionally retro, but Banjo-Kazooie tried to make the best of limited hardware on the N64. This game’s retro vibe is decidedly bland. I’ll take Banjo-Kazooie’s graphics any day. The music is actually a bright spot, although there are hardly more than four tracks. Something that’s really commendable, though, is the lack of bugs. I never had the game crash. Anytime I decided to enter or exit a level, I did so without having the game freeze or break. There’s remarkable consistency with how the game scores you. It’s really A+ quality assurance for a game made mostly by one guy. When your character, the Kiwi, collects a Gizmo, he turns around and does a happy glance at the camera. I found this to be… uninspired. Whenever Banjo in Banjo-Kazooie collects a puzzle piece, he busts out the banjo and plays a little song, and sometimes the plot progresses after that. There’s no real nemesis in this game. You’re just collecting gadgets to make your airplane fly.
The game is okay, but don’t expect something spectacular. I played for only 69 minutes to get to the end. I hope the developer’s next game has more plot, more music, and better animation. Also, beyond just making a game that looks plausible on the N64, make a game that looks like it’s trying to look great on N64. The price is about right (wait for a sale), but I’ve been getting marvelous games from Amazon for the low, low cost of free. Still, for about half the cost of twelve ounces of coffee, it’s fun enough. If you really want to borrow from Banjo-Kazooie, look at the old gaming magazines (which are all uploaded to the internet now), and see what the reviewers really liked or found charming about that game. This game is fine as it is, but it could have been so much more.
3/5
Blimps Go 180 