Banjo-Kazooie

 Nintendo 64
User Score
9.2

Universal acclaim- based on 627 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 587 out of 627
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 627
  3. Negative: 20 out of 627
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  1. Untitled94
    Nov 5, 2016
    7
    This is one of the best N64 games on the system. Solid gameplay and funny characters. This game took what Super Mario 64 did, and made it better. Though I do like the Xbox 360 version better for one reason. When you die on there, you don't have to collect everything in the level again. But the N64 version is still worth playing.
  2. TaniaT.
    Nov 11, 2002
    7
    This game has its own description but it's also like Mario 64! The 1 word I would call this game is action packed!!
  3. Tikur
    Jan 31, 2022
    7
    I have just completed the Version on Switch Online and in my opinion this game doesn't aged well.
    The graphic looks still great and the soundtrack throughout the game is still fantastic, sure.
    However this game has a strange difficulty curve. The first seven worlds are perfect in line. Every world is a bit more challlenging than the world before. The jiggys itself become more and more    I have just completed the Version on Switch Online and in my opinion this game doesn't aged well.
    The graphic looks still great and the soundtrack throughout the game is still fantastic, sure.

    However this game has a strange difficulty curve. The first seven worlds are perfect in line. Every world is a bit more challlenging than the world before. The jiggys itself become more and more challenging to collect and from world three there is the first one annoying or frustrating jiggy per world.

    At this point, the game is still today a great and fun experience.
    Unfortunately the world that now follows is Rusty Bucket Bay. A world full with troublesome enemies, an tiring boss battle. Seriously Boomer Boom Box needs in total 130 eggs to defeat, thats ridicolous.
    The Jinjos are hidden in the most annoying places and the notes are difficult to find.

    However Click Clock Wood is even worse. For eight of the ten Jiggys you have to climb up that big tree multiple times and the enemies and some of the quests itself are so designed that you easily fall off and have to climb up again.

    The Quizshow is a surprisingly exciting and funny experience, which test your skills and your memory. I like it.

    But the biggest flaw in this game is the final boss fight against Grunthilda. This fight has in total five different phases and none of them is really fun to play.

    The first one is easy, the second one is boring and stupid designed, the third one is a poor dogfight with clunky controls and the fourth and fifth are simply unnecessary. In the last two phases the fireballs that Grunthilda shoot at you become unpredictable. It is so frustrating when you try to shot in the holes of the statues and get hit out of nowhere.

    At last I must say that, although the transformations are being a nice and funny addition, especially the pumpkin, they do not give the game that amount of variety you might think it would.    … Expand
  4. Birdo7
    Jun 12, 2022
    5
    This game is very overrated the whole game is just wandering around until you figure something out why do you think Mario 64 gives you hints sure the hints are vague but it’s something and the movement and the camera is awful but the dialogue is funny this game has a lot of charm
  5. sebastianali
    Jul 29, 2019
    7
    El juego esta muy bien! Es muy divertido! O lo seria, si no fuera por la p... cámara que tienen todos los juegos en 3d de N64, los controles y la curva de dificultad. Además, el juego no va anotándote los movimientos que vas consiguiendo a lo largo de la aventura, asi que tenes que acordártelos de memoria! Que vergüenza!!!
    Seria muy bueno... si no fuera por esas mierdas.
  6. edxtan
    Jun 19, 2023
    5
    Using Banjo-Kazooie's wide array of mechanics to explore new worlds is fun, but collecting the notes every time you die is tiresome.

Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best N64 Game of 1998
2
#2 Most Discussed N64 Game of 1998
2
#2 Most Shared N64 Game of 1998

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
92

Universal acclaim - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. Nintendorks
    90
    Unfortunately, the sound is pretty much a mix of "Mario 64" and "Diddy Kong Racing" leftovers. A grunt here, a guffaw there, it's all been done to death.
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  2. Cincinnati Enquirer
    80
    Banjo-Kazooie isn't going to win any awards for originality, but who really cares? If you have to borrow a little to make a fun, absorbing adventure, so be it.
    Read full review
  3. IGN
    96
    Features the best graphics we've seen on the console, it one-ups Mario 64 in terms of gameplay, it sounds astounding and it may just be the most clever title we've ever played.
    Read full review
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