A non-conventional and entertaining flyer/shooter... If the gamer has a save pack.
One of the things that I enjoyed most about this game was the control scheme. Unlike traditional fighter games that always keep the player's fighter in motion (like in Starfox 64, for example), Buck behaves much more like an Apache helicopter; he has the ability to stop completely, rotate a quick 360 degrees, and fly straight up straight and down. When the occasion calls for it the character can even land and walk around like a miniature tank. Excepting water and a few other surfaces Buck can touch down almost anywhere, even on plants. All this amounts to good feeling of versatility, and the player is not subject to the sensation that s/he is flying a Starfox jet with a bee exterior.
Story
The plot is minimal--just a series of mission objectives, sometimes two or three per level. It's well done, though... Haloesque in that the player knows things are happening on a grander scale although s/he is focused on the current fight. Sometimes the player must simply eliminate all enemies in one area, but usually things are more complicated. "Destroy the four power generators for the enemy's radio beacon!" is an example of the typical mission objective. Be prepared to do some hunting for the various hidden bad-guy facilities.
Guns
There are a variety of weapons to choose from, ranging from the standard pistol, to an arching mortar shell, to guided missiles (the camera switches to the perspective of the ballistic and it can be controlled by the character as long as there is fuel and it doesn't come into contact with any surface), and others. Often the player is made to select select a specific weapon for dealing with enemies (those tanks can be a **** without a mortar), but ammunition is scattered throughout the course and the player wont feel lacking, at least until the later levels. Take the time to explore the world around you, sometimes hidden under a leaf or behind a rock is just the gun you need to make that mini-boss fight easier.
Flaw
The game requires a memory pack to save. A game over means that the player starts again from his or her last save. You'll have to purchase a pack to progress all the way to the end, unless you can guarantee you wont die. Which you can't. On the plus side, the Nintendo 64 is now two systems behind the next-gen (Woot for Wii) so supplies will probably be cheap.
Multi-player
The multi-player is limited to Versus Mode, but the maps are numerous and all of them have a little secret that can help a player get the edge. Both players are Buck, fast and nimble, so be prepared for a lot of dodging and weaving, and being grateful to land a few lucky shots.
Buck Ball is a hoot and a half, and a great way to break the monotony of constant fire fighting.
Conclusion
For those in search of an oldschool flier game, Buck Bumble is an excellent choice. It's one of the few games I'll replay whenever I find myself drawn back to the 64-bit world. Besides all this, the theme music is a catchy techno song, and no matter how high the next-gen goes that will never get old.