Synopsis
Nasty witch Gruntilda has stumbled upon the perfect invention: a machine to transform ugliness into beauty. Since mirrors shatter whenever she draws near, Gruntilda was looking for a new makeover, especially after years of watching her sister get all the choice warlocks. Alas, before the transformation could begin, she first needed a volunteer: the hopelessly cute Tooty, beloved sister of a banjo-strumming bear.
Thus begins the story of a dim-witted honey bear named Banjo, a rambunctious breegull named Kazooie, and the rhyming witch Gruntilda. All characters play crucial roles as you explore the colorful worlds of Mumbo's Mountain, Treasure Trove Cove, Clanker's Cavern, Bubblegloop Swamp, Freezeezy Peak, Gobi's Valley, Mad Monster Mansion, Rusty Bucket Bay, and Click Clock Wood. Your goal is to defeat the wily witch and rescue Tooty from a makeover most extreme.
Before players can enter these lands, however, they must first find the requisite number of jigsaw pieces or musical notes, both of which are found scattered throughout the worlds. If this seems daunting, keep in mind Banjo is not alone in his journey. Since Kazooie rests inside Banjo's backpack, players can swap between the two at any time to make use of each character's special abilities.
As Banjo, you'll be able to climb, punch, jump, swim, and somersault to reach new areas or to defeat enemies. As Kazooie, you'll be able to fire eggs, perform beak barges, run up steep slopes, glide through the air, and perform beak stomps. Together, Banjo and Kazooie can fly, flip, and perform other aerial acrobatics. Rare's first platform game on Nintendo 64 also supports the Rumble Pak accessory to let you "feel" each move with vibration feedback.
Screenshots
Features
- Two characters in one: press a button to control either Banjo or the bird in his backpack
- Find the 10 jigsaw pieces and 100 notes on each level to open up locked areas
- Master the daring duo's 24 moves while exploring such offbeat areas as the belly of a mechanical shark and more
Similar Games
Extra Credits
It doesn't take very long to see the Super Mario 64influence in the design of Banjo-Kazooie. Many moves are the same (jumping, swimming, flying and back flips) and the worlds have more than a few similarities. Both games have you exploring a desert, winter wonderland, haunted house and water-based areas while you collect a certain amount of objects. While Super Mario 64 has you gathering stars to open up new areas within a castle, Banjo-Kazooie has you gathering jigsaw pieces. Other elements in common include racing boss characters for a reward, activating multiple switches, and a camera system influenced by the user.
