Featured Image Credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Topics: PlayStation, PlayStation 5, Dreams, Retro Gaming, Nintendo
Topics: PlayStation, PlayStation 5, Dreams, Retro Gaming, Nintendo
Banjo-Kazooie launched in 1998, with a sequel shortly following in 2000. A traditional third game was teased but never made it to market, but this worthy successor will do for now.
When I say a "traditional third game” by the way, I mean one in the style of the first two games, as while Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts is technically a sequel it’s in my opinion more of a spin-off than anything else.
For those that want an experience more in-line with Rare’s best platformers though you’ll find it in the most unlikely of places, the PlayStation Store.
There’s a game called Dreams which some might have heard of before and it’s basically a game about making games. Users can create their own experiences and upload them allowing others to play and it features some surprisingly impressive tools.
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One player made their own Banjo-Kazooie game called Banjo-Kazooie: Mumbomania, and it’s playable for free right now.
While not a 1:1 recreation of Rare’s style and flair it’s remarkably close, and looks very pleasing on the eyes.
In this fan-made title the bear and bird are followed by a floating Mumbo Jumbo skull, exploring remade levels from the first Banjo-Kazooie game, like Treasure Trove Cove for instance.
It’s very impressive, and an excellent example of the creativity you’ll find on Dreams on the whole. Some very impressive creations have been built and shared there so it’s worth checking out if you haven’t already.
Like I said before Banjo-Threeie was in the works with Rare at some point in time, or at least on the cards. That tongue-and-cheek tease at the end of Banjo-Tooie felt like the developers telling us that they knew we wanted more and they’ll deliver it one day.
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts is believed to have been Banjo-Threeie at one point before pivoting towards a customisable kart racer, and unfortunately before of how poorly received that game was it killed additional chances at creating an actual successor.
However Banjo-Kazooie has made a bit of a comeback in recent years such as the character’s return in Super Smash Bros Ultimate and rumour has it that Xbox greenlit a proper third game a while ago, but there’s nothing to prove that just yet.
I’d settle for a remaster of the first two games at this point with some updated visuals, but there’s no denying that a third game would sell like hotcakes.