Banjo-Kazooie

Banjo-Kazooie may be more of an homage to Nintendo’s first 3D romp through the mushroom kingdom than a pioneer of the same genre, but that doesn’t make it any less satisfying.

Banjo Kazooie shows that even the beginnings of 3D-Jump ’n’ Runs have to offer a lot. The different levels still make a lot of fun because of the motivating gameplay.

Despite being ten years old the original Banjo-Kazooie has aged remarkably well. The game is a must for anyone who loved the N64 outings or simply wants some classic platformer action.

With a solid level design, unique transformation mechanic, and plenty of loveable charm, Banjo- Kazooie still holds up well to the stringent of today's gaming market.

Smooth moves like this are paramount for a platformer, which probably explains why Banjo-Kazooie, even ten years after its release, is still a solid player for both the pick-up-and-play crowd as well as the serious jumpers out there. There’s enough comic relief and clever level design surrounding the slick team-up moves and animations of Banjo-Kazooie’s leading animals to pull it all together into one of the better classic console platformers to grace Xbox Live Arcade.

Banjo-Kazooie is a great game for a kid to play around with, something that the 360 library is often lacking, but many people will find this style of gameplay outdated by modern standards.

Varied controls, unique challenges, and kooky characters make this old-timer a worthwhile blast from the past. [Holiday 2008, p.73]

1200 MS Points might seem a little steep for a game that originally came out ten years ago, but this is a true classic and a game that stands up very well today. Visually it's certainly showing its age, but the HD spruce up means it's by no means ugly and the core gameplay is just as universally appealing as it ever was.

A real nostalgia blast, if you enjoy Mario you will love this. Now I just hope RARE release Banjo Tooie, the ultra rare sequel.

If there's one genre the 360 is short of it's platformers, and Banjo is still one of the best within it. [Issue#41, p.113]

The closest to Mario we'll ever get, and instantly the best classic platform game on the Xbox 360. [Feb 2009, p.103]

Even though it's been over ten years since Banjo and Kazooie made their triumphant debut on Nintendo 64 their adventure still holds up very well when released again on Xbox Live. Everything from gameplay to level design is ingenious and this game is still one of the best in it's genre. A few flaws mar the experience though, such as aged presentation and an unwieldy camera, but overall this is a must buy on Xbox Live.

Banjo-Kazooie remains a solid resurrection of a classic game whose influential nature can still be appreciated and enjoyed today. Unfortunately, it is hampered by some bad camera glitches and could have used a few more enhancements, given the price tag.

Even as I come to the end of the review, I’m still pondering whether Banjo-Kazooie is worth the 1200 Microsoft Points tag. Yes you get a fun-filled adventure which many players will enjoy, but the lack of replayability is an off-putting factor.

Fans have here the best version, without any flaws to point to. Still, those who aren't familiar with the game should think before buying because if some things were acceptable in 1998, today they give frustration. Problems - transited from the original - don't stop it from being among the best XBLA has to offer in the genre, but may leave you questioning the high price.