After a little slice of something Super Mario 64 flavoured? Perhaps with a side of Banjo-Kazooie collection? Well, Kero Quest 64, a new Kickstarter project, might have you covered (thanks, GamesRadar).
This N64-inspired platformer comes from Stratobox, a team of modders and game devs, turning from the modding scene to create something new (albeit, something that looks immediately familiar). Zelda modder MelonSpeedruns takes on lead programming duties here, with Mario 64 ROM Hacker BroDute joining on level design. The modding pair are joined by 3D modeller/animator TheRidiculousR and composer Jamphibious. In short, this is a team that knows their '90s platformers.
So that's exactly what they've made. Kero Quest 64 is a 3D platformer/collectathon, where you play as a polygonal blue frog, complete with a long-jumping, side-flipping, ground-pounding moveset that will likely be familiar to all those who graced the Mushroom Kingdom in decades gone by. According to the Kickstarter page, the team was "inspired by other games in the genre, especially those from the late '90s", and after looking at the above trailer, we can totally see it.
The game has already sped past its initial Kickstarter goal, securing a GalaxyTrail-published Steam release which is currently eyeing an August 2026 launch date. "But surely something so clearly inspired by Nintendo classics belongs on a Nintendo console?" you might ask, and the devs agree! At the time of writing, the game has just sneaked past the 25,000€ Kickstarter stretch goal, securing plans for a future Switch port — whether that ends up being on 'Switch 1' or 'Switch 2' remains to be seen.
Admittedly, the Switch is home to a fair number of N64-inspired platformers at this point, but it's hardly surprising given the console's nostalgic flare. If Kero Quest 64 looks up your street, the Kickstarter page will remain live until 20th January and a free demo is now available on Steam.
What do you make of Kero Quest 64 so far? Will you be patiently waiting for a Switch release? Hop down to the comments and let us know.
[source kickstarter.com, via gamesradar.com]
Comments 24
Demo was great! Controls feels good, graphic is cute, music is catchy... I backed right in time to make it reach Switch port!
Impressive stuff! The vibrant use of color and smooth animations are very easy on the eye, so here's hoping a competent Switch port isn't too far away.
Ok it is called 64 but it's not even on a Nintendo platform? Sorry but no backing for me until it is, and i know it's reached the stretch goal, but there has been no announcement on their news and Switch key is not a backing option. To be honest I probably wont back it anyway as no physicals
Wow this looks amazing, count me in!
Interesting, will keep an eye on this.
This is one of the reasons why I hope we'll see less and less instead of more and more of (big) companies stopping modders' endeavors other than of course their mods being so cool in themselves - by the way, have already supported this on Kickstarter myself and I'm so glad that it has just passed the Switch port stretch goal!
Played the demo on the steamdeck, such a great game and a good fit(obviously) for switch.
This kinda reminds me of Chameleon Twist, looks pretty cool!
Brodute has been one of the most consistent SM64 hackers for years now so I'm already very excited to see what they're cooking with this, but the fact that GalaxyTrail (Freedom Planet, Petal Crash) is publishing it too is just icing on the cake. This definitely has the potential to be something very special.
@chipia Oh, i remember playing Chameleon Twist years ago when my friend brought it over to play since I had a N64.
It was quite fun to play.
Inject it into my veins, I love this stuff
I'm all for more 3D platformers. Can't wait to get sick of them, tbh.
Support for modders is an issue I’ve never engaged with. Idk it’s just hard to care when there is also gestures to the world
But this is the avenue I always hoped they would pivot to. Clearly they have great talents and are capable of creating amazing games, why limit yourself to using Nintendo assets? I’ll be looking out for this one!
the Scrimblo Bimblo genre is largely expanding and it makes me happy
YOU CAN PLAY AS A FROGGY BOI, IM SOLD! take my money indie devs-slash-mario modders!
@ScalenePowers People just like modding a game for joy. There's no greater goal other breaking down a game and seeing how the insides work and what you can do.
The level design itself looks really polished and fresh!
Not to downplay what these devs have done, but I think that's what's really appealing to me about the n64 era right now. It's achievable by small teams! So you know there is heart and soul poured into the game, and not just something off an assembly line.
My one nitpick here is I feel like the main character could use some, like... sunglasses... or guitar... or something to make him feel more iconic and like a player character instead of an NPC
Gosh, gimme it now please!
Honestly I feel like modders would make good game devs. Actually when will kaze emanuar make his own game? (For those who don’t know he’s responsible for stuff like sm64 last impact and the waluigi’s taco stand rom hack.)
@Greatluigi he says he's a game dev as well alongside being a modder. But that's about all I know about him.
@Greatluigi A lot of us do both.
Both fields are incredibly similar, except ROM hacking usually requires a bit of reverse-engineering, which is half of the fun, really.
@Arkay @Asaki Wow really? The more you know.
Modders and fan fiction writers are all the same, brilliant creators in-waiting who just need that push to do something original and exciting. Bravo I say, and from the comments, controls and plays like a dream too, can't wait!
Looks good, still has movesets that are pretty typical and the reason I won't buy these Indies platformers, the level design and movesets are just so typical, or the tasks aren't fun if it's a Banjo/Spyro 2 & 3 kind of game yet they don't have the skill to make minigames or tasks on par with those just more safe modern game design or empty levels and boring tasks that aren't even fun let alone clear what to do.
So to me it's a pass.
If Mario Galaxy can have planetoids and ice flower used differently, or other games doing things, why are these Indie platformers so weak of ideas? Nintendo just thinks differently HOW to use things and these Indies don't. Same with old gen devs.
5th/6th gen had a lot of experimentation and I don't expect minigames or other stuff that's fine, I don't expect Indies/Modders to make them at all. But they could at least try something then how safe these Indie ones look and play.
But my problem is these games are 'too' 1st party or big games inspired, I want other mechanics or even inspiration from the AA/B grades or original ideas, I don't want tracing or recreations of favourites, that's boring, putting a spin on it or being original just doesn't seem to happen here and i find it sad, I don't want the same safe ideas we see all the time it's why I refuse to buy them.
it doesn't have to revolutionize I don't expect that but it's HOW they pace things, WHAT mechanics are used, as to why to me they are still boring and safe these days, it's so disappointing.
It's not like I don't compliment their efforts but I also don't think their efforts are that exciting I'm not seeing 100 others with the same inspiration and the same detail and just as boring or comparable of quality in passable. I can even get pass jank that's fine or how visuals look even but if the flow/abilities/test of level design is boring I'm not excited.
I can play many old games and have inspirations that are new and still different from what I was playing or researching because I think what the game has, what you can apply to a random material even, where is THAT prototyping, I don't se it, actual out of the box thinking of creativity a random animal and random materials and random functions.
These games aren't real world logic safe but they are just as boring in my mind of execution, yet everyone else seems to go oh make another Mario, Banjo, Crash, Spyro like. I don't want that I want NEW not safe inspiration/favourite game and similar ideas to them that's boring. I don't play 5-6th gen platformers for that. But their differing ideas.
Use them as a base, not for too much of the whole game, too much nostaglia or same blueprints or favourite game logic.
So I just go, well why would I want more of the safe or that when I can play that anyway or already did. Standing out seems to just not be a thing these days.
I don't expect like the biggest thing ever but the executions always disappoint me even with a Indie/Modders type skill set they still disappoint with the same safe execution I find boring.
It looks good sure, but mechanically unexciting. I'm going to be waiting years for a mechanically exciting platformers from any Indies, Modders, etc. aren't I, yep...... Sigh.
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