Overview
- Number of Players
- 1 (Single Player)
- Genre
- Release Date
Nintendo 64
29th Jun 1998
17th Jul 1998
6th Dec 1998
Nintendo Switch (Nintendo Switch Online)
- 20th Jan 2022
- 20th Jan 2022
Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack (Subscription)
- Available Now
- Series
- Tags
- Wikipedia
- en.wikipedia.org
Reviews
Review Banjo-Kazooie - Peerless Platforming Perfection, And Now Available On Switch
Kazooie, we're home
This review originally went live in 2009, and we're updating and republishing it to mark the long-awaited return of Banjo-Kazooie to a Nintendo console, available as part of the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack N64 library. Back in the days of the N64’s prime, there was one firm that managed to stand out from the rest:...
Screenshots 9
Banjo-Kazooie Guides
Guide Every Nintendo Switch Online N64 Game Ranked
All the N64 games on NSO
Updated with Banjo-Tooie, Turok 2, and Shadow Man. The library of Nintendo 64 games on Switch boasts some of the system's heaviest hitters - a great selection of quality 64-bit games easily accessible to anyone subscribed to the 'Expansion Pack' tier of the Nintendo Switch Online service But which of the N64 games o
Guide Best Nintendo Switch 3D Platformers
Workin' the Z-axis
Revised and updated with Sonic X Shadow Generations. Enjoy! <related ids="173708"> Ah, the 3D platformer. Ever since Super Mario 64 landed and showed everyone just how good three-dimensional platforming could be, there have been developers hoping to capture just a smidgen of that game’s magic. It was a tough act to...
Guide Best Nintendo 64 Platformers - Every N64 3D Platformer, Ranked By You
Golden years
The launch of Super Mario 64 ushered in what is now commonly referred to as the Golden Age of 3D platformers. In the years before the arrival of online gaming when first-person shooters came to dominate the console landscape for a period, these colourful solo experiences represented the medium's adventures into a new frontier, with...
Feature 14 Classic Nintendo Winter-Themed Levels to Play This Christmas
Winter wonderlands
It's Christmas, which might mean snow wherever you are in the world. However, not all of us are that lucky, and sadly have to settle for rain or – gasp! – ghastly sunshine instead. Fear not, though – there is a solution: playing winter-themed levels in your favourite games. Christmas is the best time for it too, as you're...
Banjo-Kazooie News
News Banjo-Kazooie Is The Latest N64 Game To Be Fully Decompiled
Tick tock PC
Fans and coders have been working on decompiling multiple classic Nintendo 64 games over the years, with Ocarina of Time, Super Mario 64, Perfect Dark, and Majora's Mask just being a handful of titles they've managed to revert to source code. Now, a Nintendo Life favourite is joining the roster of decompiled N64 games (thanks to CM30...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (3rd August)
It's the weekend, thank goodness!
Good grief, is that August already? The passage of time may have left us spooked, but the promise of a more densely-packed Switch release schedule in the months to come is exciting! Anyway, back to this week. We saw a rather dry Nintendo financial report with declining year-on-year software and hardware sales after...
Random Another Banjo-Kazooie Funko Pop Is On The Horizon, But It's Still Pretty Horrifying
Pre-order, if you dare
If you cast your mind back to earlier in the year, you might remember the horrors of the GameStop-exclusive Banjo-Kazooie Funko Pop. With its big head and soulless, staring eyes, the figure was... well, a Funko Pop, but it was also an acknowledgement that the Rare pair still exist, so we'll take what we can get. Now, Funko...
Feature Best Underwater Levels On Nintendo Switch
Making a splash
We're fast approaching summer, and there's no better time of year to go for a dip in the ocean. Of course, if you're reading this on 2nd May 2024, then you probably know that Nintendo is offering its own virtual "dip" in the ocean in Endless Ocean: Luminous, the surprise new game in the Endless Ocean series. And while we might not...
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...
Talking Point Which Xbox Games Would You Like To See Come To Switch?
Halo, is it me you're looking for?
After what felt like months of rumours, Microsoft and Nintendo finally put us out of our misery during the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase by confirming that, yes, select Microsoft-published Xbox games will be making their way to the Nintendo Switch to join the likes of Banjo-Kazooie on NSO, and the Ori duo...
Feature From Banjo To Mario - Grant Kirkhope Talks Big Huge Troubles And Composing For Massive IPs
Part Two: "How the f*** am I going to write music for a Mario game!?"
Last week, in celebration of Banjo-Kazooie's 25th anniversary, we published the first part of our career-spanning interview with Mr. Grant Kirkhope, composer extraordinaire and the man responsible for some of our favourite music ever, video game or otherwise. Part One covered his...
Feature From Bon Jovi To Banjo - Grant Kirkhope On The "Complete Fluke" Of His Rare Musical Journey
Part One: Mr. Banjongles
Grant Kirkhope is an interviewer's dream, and not just because he's responsible for some all-time great video game soundtracks. He’s great company — frank, funny, and loquacious. We spoke to him most recently for our Nintendo Life VGM Fest back in 2021 and only ended up publishing a small fraction of our chat in our...
Talking Point What Are The Worst Parts Of Your Favourite Games?
Ugly ducklings
When we talk about some of our favourite games of all time, it's natural to focus solely on the positives. After all, we love them for a reason, right? Yet no game is perfect. If there's one thing we can agree on, it's probably that. Even the very best of the best are likely to have something that doesn't look or feel quite right,...
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...
About The Game
Banjo-Kazooie is comprised of several non-linear 3D worlds in which the player must gather jigsaw pieces, or "Jiggys", to progress. Banjo and Kazooie are aided by Bottles, who teaches them new abilities, and Mumbo, who uses magical powers to transform them into other creatures, such as a termite or crocodile.
The player progresses in the game by finding Jiggys, Musical Notes and Mumbo Tokens. Jiggys open doors to new worlds by collecting enough to complete the corresponding jigsaw puzzle. There are ten in each world; nine must be found, and one is granted by finding all five Jinjos on each world. Musical Notes open note doors that allow Banjo and Kazooie to progress further into Gruntilda's lair. There are 100 notes in each world, and 900 total in the game. Mumbo Tokens grant the player magical transformations at Mumbo's hut when the player collects a sufficient amount.
Besides these primary items, the player can also collect items which are used in performing certain moves. Bottles must teach Banjo and Kazooie the move before the item can be used. Items include blue eggs, red feathers and gold feathers, which can be held in quantities of up to 100, 50 and 10, respectively. Blue eggs are fired as projectiles or ejected from Kazooie's rear, and bounce slowly until they either hit an enemy, or break on their own; red feathers are used in flight and flying attacks; and gold feathers are for the most powerful attack, Wonderwing, which uses Kazooie's wings to make her and Banjo invincible and can kill almost any enemy, or at least protect the bear and bird. Rarer, temporary items can be found which have specialized use in puzzle-solving, namely wading boots, which enable the crossing of hazardous terrain, and turbo trainers, which grant extra running speed, often as part of a race or a time-based puzzle. Other items include extra lives and honeycomb energy, which respectively increase the player's lives and health, and extra honeycomb pieces, which give the player a permanent increase of one honeycomb of health for every six collected.
Comments 17
Why is this exactly on the site, haven't rare and Microsoft kinda said no way to letting Banjo come to VC? I hope it does.
I think it's just part of the Retro section of this website and they put it on the "Coming Soon" list by mistake.
Yeah sorry about my first comment, that was when the WiiWare World/VC-Reviews/Nintendo Life merger had just started and it was accidently in the VC section! Also this and Goldeneye keep my N64 busy even almost 15 years after its release!
The visuals, the music, the puzzles. . This game is in my opinion a masterpiece and one of the best games ever made. For me its the best platformer I have played so far (in feeling) I like it even more than Galaxy.
I will never forget the first time playing it on the N64 in 1998, and yes I know the camera critics, but what early 3d game didnt have that flaw ?
I hope they will release this on VC some day, though Microsoft owns Rare now, that means the chances are very slim.
my first ever N64 game that i got when i was young
I own an N64 and have this game.
It was said that this was the best platforming game for N64. Im a HUGE Banjofan. Not to lie and this isnt just the best platforming game ever its also the most mysterious game ever. How is it well its a mystery called Stop 'N' Swop and no Im not about to explain all of it. Its way to much to explain. Go online and read about it. Its a huge theory and takes place with banjo tooie transferring data with the Banjo-Kazooie catridge. And you can find these mysterious as references in other banjo games and other random rareware games.
One of two N64 games that I ever got new. I found a brand-new, unopened copy in a thrift shop one day a few years ago, and, well, the rest is history.
this is one of the best game in the library of all time.
This game is the epitome of perfection.
Banjo Kazooie is my all time favorite game i have played it since i was a kid, it beats most games these days i hope they make banjo kazooie 3!!
Just want to remind you all that Banjo won't be in Smash purely due to licensing issues.
Banjo-Kazooie is a CLASSIC! bought the game first time at CEX in the early 2000's great memories I still own it.
@N00BiSH IDJHK SHUT UP PAST SELF
@N00BiSH you got that one wrong! Banjo kawrongy 👏😂😂
@ryobi85 read the room
This Game Is A Future NSO Game PEEPS
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