News Articles
Thursday18th Apr 2024
Random Latest Fan-Made 'Banjo-Threeie' Trailer Very Nearly Had Us Going
It ain't real, folks!
For years decades now, Banjo-Kazooie fans have been clamouring for a new entry in the dormant platforming franchise, and while 2008's Nuts & Bolts was certainly likeable in its own way, there's just no escaping that niggling thought in the back of our minds: we need 'Banjo-Threeie'. We're not sure what Microsoft is...
Saturday2nd Dec 2023
News Xbox Acknowledges Fan Requests For New Banjo-Kazooie Game
Phil Spencer: "Banjo fans, I hear you"
Rare's famous bear and bird duo Banjo-Kazooie made a return via Nintendo's Switch Online service last year, and ever since then, fans have been calling for a proper comeback. There have even been some rumours doing the rounds about a possible revival, so what are the chances of something like this ever...
Tuesday7th Nov 2023
News Pre-Orders For A Stunning Banjo-Kazooie Statue Are Now Live
Another gem from First 4 Figures
Toy and model company First 4 Figures has launched pre-orders for a new product called 'Banjo-Kazooie Duet'. Based on the 1998 N64 classic Banjo-Kazooie from developer Rare, the statue comes in three flavours, each accompanied by a rather eye-watering price tag. The first is the standard model showcasing the two...
Friday11th Nov 2022
Random No, The Flower Pots In Banjo-Kazooie Weren't Swearing At You
Composer Grant Kirkhope has the proof
One of the most bizarre, yet enduring myths regarding the N64 classic Banjo-Kazooie is one that's perhaps a little NSFW. While developer Rare has certainly flexed its more cheeky side in the past with the likes of Conker's Bad Fur Day, many fans have mistakenly believed that the flower pots found within Mad...
Monday26th Sep 2022
Random A Look Into The Birthplace Of Banjo-Kazooie Developer Rare Ltd
Or 'Ultimate Play the Game', as it used to be known
As that weird android from Ridley Scott's Prometheus once said: "big things come from small beginnings". Or was that Lawrence of Arabia..? Anyway... It's a quote that can be attributed to the creation of many of our favourite game developers, but is perhaps most valid when describing the early days...
Wednesday31st Aug 2022
Random Rare's Unreleased Game Boy Rival Is A True Handheld Marvel
Meet the "Playboy"... No, not that one
British video game developer Rare is undoubtedly best known for its close relationship with Nintendo back in the '90s and early '00s, before Microsoft outright acquired it in 2002. Indeed, games like GoldenEye 007, Banjo-Kazooie, and Perfect Dark have all cemented themselves as icons in the industry; games that...
Monday15th Aug 2022
News Banjo-Kazooie's Gruntilda Gets Stunning Statue, Pre-Order Now Or Else She'll Catch You
Update: Early bird pricing ends soon
Update: Early bird pricing on First 4 Figures' Banjo and Kazooie statue ends at 9am BST tomorrow, 16th August. If you've been tempted to pick one of these up, we'd suggest doing so before the prices jump up after that time! Original Article (Wed 27th Jul, 2022 16:30 BST): Known for her devilishly wicked...
Thursday14th Jul 2022
Random Fake Nintendo Soundtracks Are Apparently Being Sold At Rip Off Prices
Banjo would be so disappointed
Nintendo hasn't had the best track record when it comes to making music readily available to the masses, with the publisher issuing strikes against multiple YouTube users for using (or even just covering) its music online. This latest piece of news, however, signals more than ever that it to make some huge strides in...
Sunday12th Jun 2022
News Rare's Banjo-Kazooie Is Rumoured To Be Making A Comeback
"Something's happening with Banjo"
Rare's Banjo-Kazooie - starring the bear and bird who made a name for themselves during the Nintendo 64 generation - is rumoured to be making a return. In the latest episode of the Nate the Hate podcast, game developer Modern Vintage Gamer suggested a revival could be on the way, based on some things he had been...
Monday30th May 2022
Video Fans Create Stunning Trailer For The Banjo-Kazooie Sequel We Never Got
Oh my guh-huh!
For many N64 owners back in the day, Rare was at the top of the game. Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie were two of the best platformers on the system and the bear and bird combo became iconic figures in the platforming mascot era. Fans were desperate for what they dubbed 'Banjo-Threeie', and that desire still lingers today. Before we...
Thursday19th May 2022
Random Banjo-Kazooie's Gruntilda Returns In Fan-Altered She-Hulk Poster
Grunty's revenge revenge
Just recently, Marvel Studios showcased a first-look at the upcoming Disney+ series, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Fans got a glimpse at a new trailer for the series alongside a promotional poster showing off Tatiana Maslany's Jennifer Walters in full Hulk-mode whilst wearing very high heeled shoes (as if she needs to boost her...
Monday18th Apr 2022
Video Switch Games That Just Make Us Happy
Well, Alex specifically
Speaking about games that make us happy is a lot more satisfying than talking about games that are disappointing or just plain bad. It just makes sense, right? Who needs more negativity in this world? Our charming video host Alex Olney found this out first hand over the weekend. After initially wanting to talk about the most...
Wednesday30th Mar 2022
Rumour Could We Be Getting New NES And SNES Games This Week?
Update: Three more classics have been added!
Update [Thu 31st Mar, 2022 02:05 BST]: It's official, Nintendo has expanded its SNES and NES service with three more titles. Nintendo Expands Its Switch Online SNES And NES Service With Three More Titles Original story [Wed 30th Mar, 2022 13:45 BST]: New games for the Nintendo Switch Online service...
Friday11th Mar 2022
Video This Fan-Made Banjo-Kazooie Remaster Trailer Looks Absolutely Stunning
Unfortunately, you can't actually play it...
Even if Banjo-Kazooie is now Microsoft-owned, the bear and bird duo will always have a special place in the hearts of Nintendo gamers around the world. And although Rare re-released an improved version of the original title during the Xbox 360 generation, many fans are still left wondering what a proper...
Saturday22nd Jan 2022
News Xbox Studio Rare "Immensely Pleased" About Banjo-Kazooie's Arrival On Switch
We've waited almost 24 years...
It was a bittersweet moment yesterday when Banjo-Kazooie arrived on the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack service. As fantastic as it is to see the UK developer's iconic duo return to a Nintendo platform after so long. It's now been nearly 20 years since Rare was acquired by Microsoft, and almost 24 since the...
Friday21st Jan 2022
Video We Have A Lot Of Feelings About Banjo-Kazooie On Switch
Good ones, too!
Banjo-Kazooie on a Nintendo console in 2022. It's mind-blowing! Not just because Rare and Nintendo parted ways long ago, or because we still haven't got our hands on Rare Replay, or because there will most likely never be another Banjo-Kazooie game, but because it actually looks really good. There were a few concerns, especially...
Random 'Grunty's Mansion' Is The Banjo-Kazooie X Luigi's Mansion Hack We Didn't Know We Needed
Banjo-Luigee: The Bird, The Bear, And The Brother
It's a match made in hell: The surprisingly creepy Banjo-Kazooie, a game in which you have to fight a witch and all her minions in order to save your sister from... getting very ugly; and the very creepy Luigi's Mansion, a game in which you have to fight a horde of ghosts in order to save your...
News Banjo-Kazooie Is Available Now On Switch Online's Expansion Pack
Rare's iconic duo return
Update [Fri 21st Jan, 2022 01:45 GMT]: Banjo-Kazooie has now been added to NSO's N64 Expansion Pack service. Enjoy! Original article [Wed 19th Jan, 2022 01:30 GMT]: Xbox isn't the only one that has some exciting announcements to share this week. Nintendo (with the cooperation of Rare and Microsoft, we guess...) has just...
Thursday20th Jan 2022
Video Here's A Graphics Comparison Of Banjo-Kazooie Running On Switch, Xbox And Nintendo 64
The bear and bird are back!
Banjo-Kazooie is being added to Nintendo's Switch Online 'Expansion Pack' service this week, and if you were wondering how it compares to past releases, YouTube channel GameXplain has uploaded a side-by-side comparison of the Xbox, Nintendo Switch and original Nintendo 64 version. Although there are fewer differences...
Friday10th Dec 2021
News Banjo-Kazooie Is Getting Jiggy With Nintendo Switch Online In January
That's it, that's the tweet
Update: Nintendo of Europe and Nintendo of America have now tweeted the news, too. Guh-huh! Nintendo's official Japanese Twitter account has confirmed that Rare's N64 classic Banjo-Kazooie is joining the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack in January 2022. There's no exact date giv
Friday29th Oct 2021
News Guh-Huh! Grant Kirkhope Has Released A Banjo-Kazooie Remix Album
And you can stream it right now
Banjo-Kazooie composer Grant Kirkhope has revisited the score for the N64 classic in a new album entitled Banjo Kazooie Rejiggyed. Comprised of 10 tracks, the album puts a new spin on classic tunes from Rare's 1998 3D platformer. You can listen to it on Spotify, Deezer,
Friday24th Sep 2021
News Banjo-Kazooie Is 'Coming Home' To A Nintendo Console Via Switch Online
Bayonetta's great and all, but B-K's back baby!
You could be forgiven for missing the biggest news buried in the latest Nintendo Direct — the real megaton that turned it into the finest 40-minute presentation Nintendo has ever assembled. No, we're not talking about a gameplay reveal for the elusive Bayonetta 3 or the long-awaited
Thursday19th Aug 2021
Video Check Out This Fan-Made Remaster Trailer For Banjo-Kazooie
It looks good enough to play
Although Rare technically re-released an improved version of Banjo-Kazooie during the Xbox 360 generation, there are still many fans out there who have been wondering for many years now what a full-blown remaster of the first title would look like. YouTuber Project Dream has been working on a video series called...
Wednesday12th May 2021
News F4F Reveals Banjo-Kazooie Mumbo Jumbo And Crocodile Banjo Statue
Pre-orders are now live
Update [Wed 12th May, 2021 04:55 BST]: Following on from last week's teaser, First 4 Figures has now officially revealed its Mumbo Jumbo statue and a Crocodile Banjo one. Pre-orders are now live on the official F4F website. The Mumbo Jumbo statue will be available as a standard and exclusive edition. Crocodile Banjo can be...
Tuesday16th Feb 2021
News Youtooz Is Releasing Official Banjo-Kazooie Figures, Pre-Orders Open Next Week
Tooty and Bottles, too
Banjo-Kazooie hasn't been sighted since Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, but that hasn't stopped the famous bear and bird from getting merch and more on a regular basis. If you've not already got a collectible based on this iconic duo sitting on your shelf, you might be interested in the Youtooz creation of this character dating...
Monday25th Jan 2021
News New Letter Details Why Donkey Kong 64's Innovative "Stop 'N' Swop" Feature Was Removed
"We must ask that you remove this feature"
Stop 'N' Swop was undoubtedly one of the N64's biggest mysteries, and even now, we're still learning new things about it decades later. With six coloured eggs and an ice key scattered across Banjo-Kazooie, it was designed as a means of unlocking special content in the sequel, Banjo-Tooie. It was never used...
Wednesday30th Dec 2020
Random Dust Off Your Wii U, It's Time For Some Banjo-Kazooie And Blast Corps
Update: Maybe not...
Update [Wed 30th Dec, 2020 10:00 GMT]: Nintendo has updated the release schedule on its Japanese website and sure enough it was a mistake. Sorry folks! "Banjo-Kazooie's Adventure" and "Blast Dozer" have been posted as Wii U software delivered on December 30, 2020, but they will not be delivered. We apologize for the...
Friday30th Oct 2020
News Banjo-Kazooie Composer Posts Remixes For Halloween, With A Full Album Coming
Banjo-KazooiEP
There are myriad spooky levels throughout the history of video games, although one of the best has to be Mad Monster Mansion from Banjo-Kazooie (officially known as The Best Video Game Of All Time™ around these parts — when this writer's around, at least). Composer Grant Kirkhope recently put out a remix of that level's creepy...
Wednesday29th Apr 2020
News Banjo-Kazooie's Classic Box Art Gets A Fantastic Pokémon Makeover
The most ambitious crossover event in history?
We do love a good bit of fanart here at Nintendo Life, so it felt only right to share this wonderful take on classic N64 platformer Banjo-Kazooie's box art. Twitter user @Petey_Pariah has transformed the game's famous cover, replacing all of its box star characters with the Pokémon which most closely...
Thursday9th Apr 2020
News Playtonic Games Isn't Working On A New Banjo-Kazooie Game, Despite The Rumours
"They're rumours."
Ever since Banjo and Kazooie were officially confirmed as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fighters last summer, rumours and speculation surrounding new games and remasters for Rare's legendary series have been doing the rounds online. One such rumour suggests that Playtonic, a studio housing plenty of ex-Rare staff, is helping Rare,...
