Banjo-Kazooie from N64 is back on Switch! Dive into this thrilling adventure as you join Banjo and his unlikely buddy Breegull as they take on Gruntilda!
Rare’s entertaining duo and impressive platforming stand as an exemplar for what 3D gaming can become in hindsight.
It’s a slam switch
After over 20 years away from our hybrid consoles, Rare’s iconic duo of Banjo and Kazooie is back! Now available through Nintendo Switch Online libraries – accessible only to members with a membership to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack memberships – Banjo and Kazooie returns today to give fans another Nintendo experience!
Banjo-Kazooie 2 continues the series’ classic gameplay experience with incredible level design and characters that bring its worlds alive. Our beloved bear and bird must work together to stop Gruntilda and her sisters from wiping out all inhabitants in each realm they inhabit, indulging their ambition. Just like its predecessor, this sequel offers stunning visuals as you become immersed in Banjo and Kazooie’s worlds!
Gameplay in Switch Blast involves activating various environments by using switches. There are four kinds of switches, each with their own special properties: Slam switches must be hit with the Beak Buster; pressure switches need to be pressed by weighted characters; heavy switches may use explosives as power sources or be hit using Beak Barge vehicles or wall switches can only be hit using Beak Barges; for wall switches a Beak Barge will suffice.
This game’s most striking characteristic is its level design. The sprawling overworld is full of hidden passageways to explore, each one filled with secrets, collectibles, challenges and puzzles to solve. Each aspect of each level is carefully considered; from hidden musical notes to steps needed to raise Rusty Bucket Bay’s water levels.
As well as exploring new worlds, players will also have plenty of exciting minigames to enjoy – these include traditional N64-themed activities such as kart racing and tennis as well as newcomers such as mine cart riding and water polo from previous installments.
Cheat codes can help speed up gameplay. For instance, if you’re having difficulty in Gruntilda’s Lair and need to break through an obstacle using Pumpkin Banjo before switching back into Mumbo in order to raise water levels again as Mumbo, simply enter CHEAT followed by UPYOURWATERLEVELSWITCH as it will do just the trick.
It’s a pressure switch
Banjo-Kazooie Switch marks Rare’s return to Nintendo after Microsoft acquired Rare in 1998, when their iconic bear and bird duo first debuted as guests of Super Smash Bros. Although Rare was acquired by Microsoft several years later, many had thought the platformer wouldn’t ever return after all this time had passed.
Banjo-Kazooie stands the test of time after nearly 24 years on the market. With pitch-perfect platforming, gorgeous visuals, and charming characters like BoJack Hathaway that draw players in to his world. A huge success at launch and still an essential staple today.
Though the series continued with some titles on Game Boy Advance, its final major entry was 2008’s Nuts and Boltz. While not a complete failure, this title experienced many issues, such as delayed button presses and bizarre visual anomalies.
Rare will be releasing its original N64 title Banjo-Kazooie on its online subscription service in January 2022, running at 720p and 30fps with support for suspend and resume so players can create multiple save points at any point and quickly hop back into gameplay at any point.
It will feature the same controls and graphics from its classic predecessor, so players can enjoy a seamless gaming experience without worrying about missing features or glitches. Furthermore, fans have come to expect music and cutscenes that they remember from that classic game.
Anyone without access to a Nintendo Switch can still enjoy playing GoldenEye on Xbox, where it is available in its native resolution and supports achievements and 4K gaming – making it a much better option than its emulation in Nintendo’s own N64 titles, which may cause lag and other issues. In fact, there have been rumors of more N64 titles being added soon, including GoldenEye itself!
It’s a heavy switch
Banjo-Kazooie Beak Bomb makes its triumphant return to Nintendo consoles after nearly 20 years! Rare’s original was an instant classic and helped usher in an era of incredible 3D platformers; Banjo-Tooie stands as an unparalleled standard for its genre, boasting gorgeous visuals and unique gameplay – one of its biggest selling points at launch was its adorable protagonists and eye-catching visuals; making for one of its greatest titles to date!
Banjo-Tooie 2 picks up where its predecessor left off, with Gruntilda seeking revenge over her demise. Banjo and Tooie travel across an expansive and more varied series of worlds than in its predecessor; including ice and fire worlds, photo-snapping pigs, shipwrecked aliens and an underwater temple – not forgetting 14 multiplayer mini-games which add an irreverent flair.
The worlds are opened through the power of the Crystal Jiggy, revealed at Bottles’ house. Here, the mole and Kazooie meet their friends Mumbo Jumbo who provide magical powers needed to defeat Gruntilda; Humba Wumba who can turn them into different forms like submarines or front-loading washing machines; as well as Drill Sergeant Jamjars who provides new moves when collecting enough Musical Notes.
Banjo-Kazooie remains an enjoyable and challenging game despite its age, with low polygon models giving it an authentic charm that few other games from its time could replicate.
Rare Replay is the perfect way to experience classic N64 titles on Nintendo Switch for just $20/PS20, providing access to Banjo and 28 other Rare classics like Conker’s Bad Fur Day as well as Nintendo Switch Online exclusive content like Banjo-Kazooie on-demand and without needing discs!
It’s a wall switch
Banjo Tooie was always darker than its predecessor. From Bottles’ death as well as Brother Grimm-influenced darkness, this game seemed more dangerous and less forgiving than its predecessor.
Switches can be found throughout the game and activated with explosives or using the Beak Barge, with different kinds of switches including slam switches, pressure switches and heavy switches for different purposes and strategies. Find Banjo Kazooie Switch-inspired apparel such as t-shirts, stickers, wall art or home decor designed and printed by independent artists that purchase directly benefits them by each purchase bringing money directly into their pockets!