Banjo-Kazooie has long been one of Rare’s most beloved titles, earning itself several sequels and spin-off titles over its 15 year lifespan. The game follows Banjo as he travels along his adventures alongside Kazooie.
Together, they attempt to rescue their kid sister from Gruntilda, an evil witch. Players must collect jiggies and notes along the way in order to unlock secret worlds within Gruntilda’s lair.
Release Date
Banjo-Kazooie, the classic N64 title featuring Banjo and Kazooie is making a return in an entirely new format: streaming service Nintendo has revealed. As part of its Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack subscription tier. This month will mark its release.
It will also mark the first time the game has been available in 3D since its initial release back in 1998.
Rare’s platformer game, developed for Nintendo 64, is widely considered one of the greatest ever made, rivaling even Super Mario 64 for popularity and quality. Furthermore, this was one of the very first titles to take advantage of its 3D capabilities, leading to many similar titles coming later.
Banjo-Kazooie inspired two sequels and two spin-offs – Banjo-Tooie and Nuts and Bolts, as well as Grunty’s Revenge and Banjo-Pilot – with each game boasting unique visual style, colorful characters and memorable music.
Banjo-Kazooie will feature more than just its traditional gameplay when it re-releases next month, adding features that make the experience even more pleasurable – such as HD graphics mode, the ability to pause and save progress, customizable controller layout, as well as multiplayer option which enables players to compete against one another in various challenges.
Re-releasing of this game will provide a wonderful opportunity to see how well it holds up in modern times, with gamers on YouTube already discussing their thoughts about it and some even claiming it may even be better than its initial release. Nintendo hopes the re-release will prove popular, allowing more people to experience one of the most beloved video games ever.
Nintendo should work to add more classic N64 titles to their Nintendo Switch Online library in the future, in order to preserve them for future generations and prevent their disappearance altogether. Video game preservation is of utmost importance these days and it is vital that more classic N64 titles are preserved for posterity.
Trailer
Banjo-Kazooie, created by Rare in 1998 for Nintendo 64, is a classic 3D platformer beloved classic that has inspired numerous other games since 1998. It stars a bear and bird who help each other navigate its various challenges together. Its colorful world brims with humor; making Banjo-Kazooie one of the most beloved classics ever.
The story of this game starts when Gruntilda kidnaps Banjo’s sister and sets them on an adventure to rescue her. Their journey takes them through jungles of Spiral Mountain to shark-infested Treasure Trove Cove to even Freezeezy Peak with occasional disagreements and conflicts but eventually they succeed in saving their sister from this gruff hag.
Banjo-Kazooie eventually triumphs against Gruntilda and reduces her to a mere skeleton; however, she has amassed an army of followers with plans of draining life energy from Isle O’ Hags in order to restore herself; Banjo and Kazooie must gather eggs, objects and even an icy key if they wish to stop this plan from going ahead.
This week, Nintendo surprised players by offering Banjo-Kazooie back online through its Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack – making this first appearance since 2000 on any Nintendo console! This marks an eventful 20 years for those longing for some old school action!
Banjo-Kazooie marks the latest classic video games to join Nintendo and other developers’ efforts in preserving video game classics by joining their online library, joining titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, Super Mario 64 and Star Fox 64. This is great news for video game fans who can now experience these iconic titles again on a modern platform while Nintendo works to maintain and preserve these treasures of gaming history – hopefully further classic titles will join!
Characters
The Nintendo Switch is an innovative hybrid handheld/home console developed by Nintendo. Featuring Joy-Con controllers that can be attached to either side of the console for use as a portable system or connected via docked mode (TV display mode), its image appears on screen when docked with TV docking station (‘docked mode’). Furthermore, multiple ports provide external input devices while compatibility exists with many existing controllers such as Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong Country classics are among its many titles available for playable gaming pleasure!
Gruntilda the Witch abducts Tootie from Banjo and Kazooie and forces them into an adventure against her by collecting Jiggies and notes for Gruntilda to defeat. Similar to N64 titles, Banjo and Kazooie must collect Jiggies and notes in order to defeat Gruntilda and rescue Tootie from imprisonment in her castle. Play resembles N64 titles with large worlds to explore and collect items reminiscent of those in its console predecessor; characters include an eccentric bear and smart-alec bird as well as original music composed by Grant Kirkhope himself!
Since 2008’s Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, Banjo and Kazooie have mostly been dormant; however, their characters can occasionally be found appearing in later crossover titles, including Sega All-Stars Racing and Super Smash Bros. Nintendo’s own amiibo line also contains Banjo/Kazooie figures along with other N64 icons.
Banjo and Kazooie differ from most fighters due to their large hurtbox and slow falling speed, leaving them weak in the air due to a combination of their large hurtbox and slow falling speed. While capable of performing combos and juggles, their low jump height makes them susceptible to knockback attacks from opponents; furthermore they possess poor run speed as well as being tied for having the lowest traction score within the game.
Mumbo Jumbo can be found in Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie for Nintendo 64, where he plays an unclear but possibly beneficial role as the witch’s teacher of magic; she later rejected him, cursing him with changed appearance. Furthermore, Mumbo hosts his own radio program called Spiral Mountain FM in Isle O Hags.
He often engages in comical banter with Kazooie and is responsible for creating shortcuts throughout the game. His silos serve as platforms on which to hop over obstacles, and he can perform an elaborate side taunt similar to that used by Duck Hunt.
Platform
Banjo-Kazooie was one of the most beloved games ever released for Nintendo 64 and went on to inspire two sequels and several spin-offs, such as Banjo-Tooie. Today, this classic collectathon game returns on Nintendo’s streaming service via Nintendo Switch Online premium subscription tier; marking its second appearance there since 2016.
The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid handheld/home console designed to offer portable game playing on-the-go or docked in to display images on a television screen (known as docked mode). Running its proprietary operating system known as Nintendo Entertainment System OS, this platform supports various input methods including touchscreen controls and traditional controllers while being capable of HDR graphics display on compatible displays. Furthermore, its vast library includes classic as well as modern titles.
Nintendo’s streaming service gives its users access to an ever-expanding library of titles available to be streamed at any time, from newly released titles and classics being updated with modern features and improvements, all the way through to classics being brought back from retirement – meaning fans of older characters will see more of their favourite characters appear in future titles!
Banjo-Kazooie has been remastered for the Nintendo Switch and Xbox Series X platforms, boasting enhanced resolution support and Xbox Achievement support as well as a revamped main menu, three save files, improved audio/visuals (the original Nintendo 64/Rareware logos have been restored, as is its opening music syncing seamlessly with video), music improvements (original Nintendo 64 logo restoration, enhanced opening music synced to video etc), revamped main menu navigation/main menu design/structure, revamped main menu/three save files/main menu revamps/three save files/revamp all boasts are just part of their overall transformation!
Banjo-Kazooie should be on any Nintendo fan’s playlist. Not only is it one of the most beloved titles from the Nintendo 64 era, it stands as proof of Rare’s fine work on their flagship franchise – now streamable via Nintendo Switch or Xbox series X and available as part of Rare Replay compilation (both Banjo-Kazooie & Banjo-Tooie: Nuts & Bolts included!).