Video: Here's A Graphics Comparison Of Banjo-Kazooie Running On Switch, Xbox And Nintendo 64

never played this game when it was first released on the N64 so I’m excited to experience for first time

Now I want an Xbox.

I think I'll just pay it on gamepass.

The Switch and Xbox versions ruin Banjo, the old N64 version and its CRT make Banjo looks more fluffy cause he had furs, the hq filter on the Switch and Xbox versions makes Banjo look like less a bear and more a claymation. I'll just stick to the original for this one.

Both the switch and the Xbox versions look about the same to me, in many instances I thought the switch looked better, but in others I liked the Xbox better. If u play the game I’m playing it on gamepass because I’m not paying for the expansion tho

@nessisonett I bought one just for Rare Replay and have no regrets. If you get game pass when they are doing a good promo deal it’s even more worth it.

@nessisonett I want one just for rare replay alone, its a better value then the garbage nintendo is selling.

@OFFICIALMichi You can almost always buy discounted Xbox Game Pass cards too.

Looks identical to the cleaned up Xbox version. Definitely checking this out when it hits NSO.

Despite it not being the greatest port ever, I’m just so happy to finally see the bear and bird back on Nintendo platforms. Gives my 90s soul joy.

The Xbox version actually changes the game and makes it significantly easier to collect notes. Stick with the original if you can for the developer intended way to play the levels.

@Aurumonado
So the fact it doesn’t make you recollect notes after you die makes it the worst version? Sounds like nostalgia talking.

Doesn't matter where you play it, how you play it, or when you play it. Banjo-Kazooie is one of the best games you can play and one of my personal favorite games of all time.

@blindsquarel not really. The Notes were placed in a way were the challenge was getting all of them in one go. I never understood this complain.
They're like the 100 coins star of Mario 64.

In Tooie they changed it only because you keep going in different levels and you can't get all the notes immediately.

Got rare replay on my Xbox for a fiver it includes all 3 banjo games & I get to keep them

@nessisonett if that’s a joke of slight sarcasm against the fact that they bought activision but this is what triggered you to want Xbox, may I say well done sir.

Well I know what I'll be playing this weekend, OK well the next two days leading up to the weekend as well.

I never played this, or well most N64 games, since we went from a SNES to PlayStation when I was growing up. Admittedly, I have played a few N64 games at a cousins house here and there, Banjo-Kazooie just wasn't one of them.

Ill try this out. Hopefully a pirated rom can be downloaded somewhere

Where is it. It's not on my expansion pack yet. I've been pressing the update button all day.. edit. 21st of January for us Australians

They’re finally coming home!

Both the Switch and Xbox versions look a lot cleaner, will be having a go on the Switch online expansion pack.

@KnightsTemplar,

Same here, is it released today on all regions.

@johnvboy just done some digging... if ya live in Australia.. comes out on the 21st... cheers nintendo for letting us no.......

I'll stick to my launch day copy with my real expansion Pak 😜

@KnightsTemplar,

Thanks for the heads up, I am in the U.K so perhaps it's the same for us too.

The Xbox version have smoother edges, higher resolution and is in 16:9 Widescreen.

@Specter_of-the_OLED
You think blur caused by a resolution difference makes Banjo look like he has fur? I don't see it, but if you really want to believe that, then go ahead. Just to let you know, that fuzz is not just affecting Banjo, but everything you see on the screen. It's caused by a 240p resolution simply being heavily stretched as hardware back then was never intended to be displayed on modern screen resolutions. The Switch and Xbox versions are what the games always intended to look like, but we just couldn't see before due to the tech of the time. That blur is straight up ugly and is the main reason why I have no intention of playing the original hardware versions again.

Widescreen on the Xbox version makes it much better.

But looks better than I expected. I’ll smash through it again

@Dringo The biggest win is frame rate on Xbox in my eyes. A locked 30 fps versus 20 fps with drops in the original N64 version on real hardware and via emulation.

But definitely crisper visuals as well (I assume the folks that can't see this watched the video on their smartphone) and widescreen are added perks.

Huh. The Xbox version is a lot less... Different than I expected.

If the Expansion Pak turns out to be a flop, will Nintendo bring back the virtual console, perhaps even release a Nintendo 64 Classic Edition?

I traded in my original Switch after getting an OLED and got an Xbox Series S so already played through this on Game Pass. Going to play Banjo-Tooie next, a game I never played originally.

@KnightsTemplar Yes, we always have to wait for the rest of the world to catch up to us.. “Hurry up slowpoke!” 😆

At 1:02 look at the subtitles, why use blurry/scaled font?

Very much looking forward to playing this for the FIRST time!! Please could anyone tell me, is it a difficult game? i.e I found Mario 64 to be very difficult/frustrating (but amazing too, of course!)

@Dethmunk Ever thought the people who want it exactly as it was "back in the day" including every issue and people who want a few modern inclusions such as widescreen or HD text are probably two different groups of people?

Nawh, couldn't possibly be that...

@Link-Hero But if you were to have an original copy and hook up an N64 to a CRT, that "fuzz" would look just right.

@Dethmunk The XBLA ports to Xbox 360 never promised authenticity. Improvements were front and center like 60 fps in Perfect Dark.

Nothing wrong with either approach. Authentic emulation or an improved port.

Have they fixed the controller problems yet

@Nick2054 Thanks, friend

At long last it has arrived.

That was kind of a trippy music video

I was hoping we'd eventually get a 'Rare Replay -Nintendo Games Edition' on Switch. It would easily sell millions but guess Nintendo wont allow this now so to drip feed Rare n64 games gradually on the Expansion pass instead.

@Specter_of-the_OLED

The coping on this.

You're literally saying the crappy quality gave an illusion that was never intended thus makes it better?

Objectively, both modern versions look better. Subjectively, that N64 fuzz warms my soul.

@Don

And then maybe they'll put legend of zelda breath of the wild on the ps5 and someone will invent diet pizza with all of the flavor of regular pizza and none of the calories.

Keep on dreaming.

Virtual console aint coming back and honestly I'm okay with it being replaced with this netflix like service.

I'd rather pay 10 bucks a year and get access to this boatload of games than pay 10-15 bucks for a n64 port that I'll have to rebuy when the next nintendo system drops.

And yes, the expansion pack is only 10 bucks a year if you have a social life and split it with a bunch of your friends.

I can't bear to play this on the Switch!

GA-HUH!

I think what's interesting about Banjo-Kazooie (and most 64 games on the service) is, whilst it still has blurry textures and pixelly text, it actually looks far more vibrant on Switch than it does on Xbox. The colours really POP a lot more comparatively and I think it looks very nice.

Well Xbox looks better. Maybe in 5 years when COD becomes a Xbox exclusive and next Elder Scrolls is out i will consider getting one

People complain too much, while it's true that Microsoft was terrible for the Banjo-Kazooie franchise, at least the Xbox ports of Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie are better than the original N64 versions.

Especially for Banjo-Tooie, which has severe slowdowns and frame-drops on the N64, while the Xbox version runs at locked 30FPS, that alone made the original cartridge obsolete, and when Tooie comes on Nintendo Switch, we will probably get a version that runs even worse than on original hardware since it's just emulation.

Xbox and Switch are similar enough for me not to care. It's a shame about the text (though I'd be very shocked in Nintendo gave it that level of attention)

Rare's games look awesome on Xbox. Just because of the smooth frame rate, the resolution upgrade and the widescreen support (very few N64 games have widescreen support), Banjo-Kazooie is much more enjoyable to play on Xbox. It's worth mentioning how incredible Conker's Bad Fur Day looks on Xbox. As a late N64 game, the more advanced techniques used are much more obvious in the Rare Replay collection to the point that it doesn't even look like it's a N64 game. It's a technical masterpiece and probably the best-looking N64 game ever made.

@Aurumonado The "disadvantage" of the Xbox version is that it allows you to save the collected notes, which is an advantage in my opinion but to each their own.

@nessisonett ooo... blasphamy

Is it on the app yet?
I want to update it but it says it's already updated. There is no Banjo though.

I feel like the lighting and colors look better on the Switch version while some textures look better on Xbox version. Is a though choice but overall, I think I prefer playing this game series on a Nintendo the most.

The N64 has the best game library! The graphics may not be up to today's standards but the creativity and gameplay is like no other. If I had to pick one system out of them all, (Nintendo, PS, XBOX, etc.) I would pick the N64 without thinking twice.

@GoldenSunRM
I could see that but still seems like a very nonexistent complaint and I have seen people on this site saying it was a good change. Really just personal opinion I guess.

@nessisonett I have this on my Xbox Series S, but I'm still happy to have this on my Nintendo Switch OLED

@dimi I have an Xbox Series S, and I highly recommend it. It goes great with Nintendo Switch! It's like Salt and Pepper.

@Specter_of-the_OLED Real shame when this happens. It's why advancements in emulation are important too. Did you ever see the CRT-royale shader on an old game? Wild stuff

@Link-Hero It's not just the resolution. The CRTs these old games were designed for have an intended and tangible effect on the visual experience because those games were designed with those TVs in mind.

Look up @CRTpixels on Twitter if you want good examples. They do some great work demonstrating the difference between the raw graphics on modern displays and the way they actually looked on their intended displays.

@Specter_of-the_OLED actually the fact that you retain your notes even after you die in the Xbox version makes it the definitive version of playing the game, as this cuts down on backtracking tremendously, especially in later stages like Rusty Bucket Bay where players keep dying in the engine room's infamous bottomless pit.

@nessisonett rare replay is your game!

@AugustusOxy
My main gripe against the Switch Online/ Expansion Pak is the slow pace of new releases and one day all my save files will probably be gone once this service is discontinued.

Widescreen support on Xbox makes it feel like the superior pick if you have the hardware to play it.

What is the resolution of N64 games on switch?

The Xbox version looks best, but only by a little bit. It's looks good on Switch.

If it's playing a game on Switch or Xbox Series then I am going to play on Xbox Series. Quick Resume is an massive reason alone, controllers last longer (I've replaced TWO joycons in the last year but my Xbox controller still has no issues and I play that the most), I don't get games crashing, games play at a good framerate, Games Pass means I spend less money on games...I love that Nintendo don't follow trends and all that but I would like them to have a compentent online infrustruture, good online service and hardware that isn't *****. Man, Nintendo was the best at hardware.

Best version still on Xbox… too bad that this is even hard to beat for Nintendo

@nessisonett Walmart has the all access available.

Sorry but the n64 version is the definitive version. All others are remasters that take away from what the original game was like