A Rare Gem | Banjo-Kazooie (Banjo-Kazooie Series Retrospective)

One of the finest 3D platformers ever released, Banjo-Kazooie is a bonafide Nintendo 64 classic. Not only was it incredibly successful, but it was also the start of Rare's most popular franchise. Now, on the original game's 21st anniversary, it's time to look back at the entire series and explore just what makes the bear and bird so appealing to this day. #BanjoKazooie #RareReplay #SmashUltimate

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[CloudConnection]

What are some of your favorite Rare games or 3D platformers/collectathons? Do you have any Banjo-Kazooie memories?

[PrinceMeowmers]

"Grunty isn't too tough of a boss"

Tell that to my 8-year-old self. Many tears were shed over that battle

[packdaddy]

The way that the main lair music changes to fit the level theme when you get to the entrance is just amazing!

[PotrzebieConolly]

It always strikes me as weird that a bird carrying a bear can run faster than a bear carrying a bird.

[ECLE]

"Now that Banjo-Kazooie are in Smash, we may see a rebirth!"

Yeah! Just like those revivals for Earthbound, F-Zero, Metal Gear, and Castlevania!

[lscarlett]

The notes made the fear of dying real. If you died, you would lose your note count for the world. Knowing you needed the motes, you would do your best to find most if not all of the notes in each world. Losing your notes was a consequence of dying. Now you can just run around carefree and die as many times as you want without worrying. There is no longer a consequence for it. Being afraid that a fall was gonna kill you or you were low on health, made the game seem a little more real to me. I loved and hated the note system at the same time lol

[correctopinion]

Banjo Kazooie is a timeless masterpiece, the people at Rare really deserve a round of applause. They came up with a new & advanced idea, like seriously. Who can ever think of a Bear with a Bird sidekick stuffed in his backpack. Plus, for a game released during the N64 Era, the graphics are pretty solid. 10/10 in my opinion.

[frosted_glaceon]

Honestly, I love the challenge that comes with collecting all of the notes in one run. It makes you think carefully about how you want to approach a level, and which parts do do first. I know it's a pain if you die, especially in Rusty Bucket Bay, but it makes you need a strategy, and I like that.

I usually cheat for Rusty Bucket Bay anyway, so I mean...

[smintili]

Funny you should say that you don’t like Click Clock Wood, it’s always been one of my favourite areas in the game, especially because of the soundtrack changing with the seasons. Exploring the changes in the four sub levels from season to season was also great and I always enjoyed buzzing around the area as the bee.

[finalbreath]

I'm on the opposite end, I loved Click Clock Wood! It reminded me of being in the hundred acre wood in Winnie the pooh lol so cheerful and happy. And I always loved seeing the squirrel family! The variations in the music track for each season was a great touch too.

[pederherlofsen]

I just found this, and how is this channel not bigger? This is great, man. Keep up the good work, cause you've got talent

[thatyoutubechannel]

Banjo Kazooie, to me, is an adventure game that first and foremost. It uses platforming, collectables, puzzles and enemies to make it into a game, but none of that would matter if the adventure aspect had been neglected.

[EnderElectrics]

I like how the talen-trot is a pretty gimmicky move. You only have to use it if you want to go up a steep slope, right? Seems very situational. But no, the added mobility of the move makes it one of the best ones! You can learn so much from this game design-wise.

[JWStreeter]

I've never understood why people dislike or hate Click Clock Wood. It's probably my favorite level, I love the theme, soundtrack, and seeing the changes each season. It doesn't feel like much of a slog or too difficult either.

[LuigiRocks]

Fantastic video! Banjo Kazooie is hands down one of my favorite series off all time, with Tooie being one of my favorite games of all time. I look forward to the rest of your videos on the series when they come out. Keep up the amazing work!

[jdswift]

Rare doesn’t have many rare gems, because they’re all Rare Gems

[MartinT]

I loved playing this game as a 13 year old on my N64 with my brothers, the sense of achievement when completing it finally was great. My favourite level was the tree level as it had the 4 variations for the seasons ☺️

[adriangutierrez]

I'm Okay playing the N64 version even with the notes issue, I am used to it. I also don't own any xbox consoles. But this game is really fun.

[Okla_Soft]

I’ve been re-visiting my childhood with the N64 lately and after burning myself out on Mario and Zelda, I kinda had forgotten about Banjo-Kazooie. This video brought back a flood of memories. I got this game in the summer of 98 or 99, bought it at Toys R Us and beat the whole thing (with a strategy guide). I had forgotten what a masterpiece this game was. This was an incredible video, you really did the story of this game and it’s developers justice. Fantastic work!

[mcelus]

Grateful for recently stumbling upon this video🙏 True story…as a kid, Nintendo Power had me so hyped for this game that I called my local Blockbuster everyday around release day to ask if they had this game in to rent. I did this so much that my mom, seeing how much this game meant to me, went ahead and bought it for me instead. Along with Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, Star Fox, Goldeneye and Ocarina of Time, these games defined my childhood and are all absolute classics.