The first screenshots for Rare's new Banjo game have started to trickle onto the internet.

Some guy at the GameRadar forums posted them this afternoon, and do they look impressive or what?



The style looks utterly fantastic. The level we see here, which appears to be called Nutty Acres (this sure sounds like Rare) has patchwork grass which is stitched to hessian pathways, and the walls look like they were created by slapping on a brickwork material which has since started to peel off. I don't know whether this look is restricted to just this particular level or it's a global look. I'm hoping for the latter.

In the screenshots we see Banjo piloting a plane, and taking to the waters in a boat, so I think it's a fair bet that you can drive anywhere in the level. Is that a Mumbo Droid in the back, 'doing an R2-D2' ? One thing's for sure, that plane doesn't look too stable, but at least it can fire stuff!

With just two days left until the press embargo is officially lifted, it's a shame to see their plans thwarted at such a late stage. Nevertheless, this is great news for the hordes of fans who have been waiting for just 1 pixel of of screenshot.

Stay tuned people, this is just the beginning.