THQ didn't have any Rareware GBA games on main display, although we were invited into a meeting room where we got to grips with Rareware's new bear/bird adventure on a GBA running a flashlink cart.

"Two years have passed since Gruntilda the witch was defeated by Banjo and Kazooie. After falling from her tower she was buried underground where she remains waiting for her sisters to rescue her until this very day." Those were the new intro words that we're greeted with when we start a new game. This tells us that the timeline for the beginning of the game is indeed in direct replacement of Banjo Tooie's storyline. Poor Klungo is still there trying to free his mistress to no avail. Mumbo however is obviously just strolling to visit Banjo and Kazooie when he spots Klungo wheeling his new invention (HAG1) over to Grunty's resting place. Again he hides behind a bush to spy on the happenings. Klungo tells Grunty she must cast a spell to finally release her spirit from the rock and into the control centre of HAG1. When Grunty is in HAG1 she finally reveals her plan to Klungo. "Will kidnap Kazooie. Banjo without his bird will be no match for us." Mumbo runs back to warn our heroes of Grunty's plan. "Too late, here comes HAG1," shouts Mumbo. The mechanical monstrosity comes around the corner and going to plan grabs Kazooie and promptly disappears, warping back in time.

Banjo is now stuck in his current timeline without Kazooie to aid him with any of the moves, which if you bear in mind that the moves learnt in Banjo Tooie's are not available, leaves Banjo with only a jump. Mumbo is quick to respond to Grunty's evil behaviour. "Mumbo send Banjo back in time to chase after Grunty." After a quick spell and with Banjo swirling through time and space we resume play back in Spiral Mountain in the previous timeline. This is obviously quite far back because Mumbo tells you that you must go back and meet with the ancestors of Bottles and himself. Also, Bozzeye (Bottles' ancestor) tells us when we arrive that Grunty's castle is still being built. People are still materialistic back then because Bozzeye wants notes before he'll even think about telling you of a new move. You would have thought Banjo would still have the roll attack, but it seems that move was also dependant on Kazooie and all Banjo can do is run and jump. After collecting the required 10 notes, which incidentally seem to be scattered singly over the worlds, Bozzeye tells us of the Pack Whack. You cannot perform this move in midair unlike the Banjo Tooie counterpart, instead you just have to execute it while running or standing still. While we were roaming around we heard the familiar Jinjo whistle which meant one of our little friends was nearby. After a quick scout we found him waving his hands like mad. Upon collection, Bozzeye pops up to tell us that we just rescued a Jinjo and that we should go and see the Jinjo Oracle, who will tell us all about the tribe of jinjo's. While this is to aid beginners, it's also there for seasoned players who will now learn about the history of the Jinjo, and presumably about life before King Jingaling. Maybe we will see "JimmyWiggy" before he is the king of Jinjo's. We never progressed past this level in our first sitting with Grunty's Revenge, but we'll be giving the game a thorough inspection tomorrow.

On a general note, the game seems to have made the transition to GBA quite smooth. After a brief familiarisation period you soon feel as if you putting on a familiar pair of shoes, although the fixed top down diagonal view can sometimes confuse as you go behind stuff that is higher or in the foreground of the shot. Without the familiar c button to swing the camera around, it just takes a little while to get to grips with the way the engine handles.

Rare have once again included a humorous script into the game. In one instance we can recall, Banjo is transported back to the timeline that Grunty escaped to. Bozzeye is already expecting you. How, you ask. Well, Mumbo also sends a letter back in time, to a few minutes before Banjo will arrive. It outlines what has happened and that Bozzeye should help Banjo. The ageing mole tells Banjo of this letter and informs him that someone called Mimbo Jimbo had sent it back. Banjo corrects Bozzeye by telling him it's Mumbo Jumbo, to which the wise mole replies, "No, it really happened. Honest." Not side-splitting humour, in fact more like cringe worthy, and at times chucklesome.

We can't wait to get back tomorrow for the final day to play this game to death.