Information

Originally titled "Project Dream," Banjo-Kazooie is Rare's one of a kind platformer for the Nintendo 64 video game system. The game features a unique cast of characters and gameplay very similar to that of Mario 64's, without ever seeming like a Mario 64 clone.

When it came time to name the Project Dream game, Rare decided upon Banjo Kazoo. The main enemy was a giant who had kidnapped Banjo's girlfriend. However, the title Banjo Kazoo was already copyrighted, so the name become Banjo-Kazooie, hyphinated to avoid any other copyright conflicts. The logo seen to the left was the original Banjo-Kazooie logo.

With the name change came several other changes. Among them, the giant turned into a witch, Gruntilda, and Banjo's mission changed to rescuing his sister from the hag.

Story
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At last, the dirty green and blue smog was beginning to clear. Gruntilda the witch stood at the topmost window of her Lair, grinning wickedly down on her newly discovered world like a thundercloud before a storm.
"Tiny creatures far below," she cackled, "which of you'll be first to go?" The witch rubbed her hands in glee at the prospect of becoming even more lovely than she already was. Landing somewhere new was always exciting - and judging by all the puffing and clanking coming from the next room, it seemed as if her greatest invention felt the same way. And what an invention it was! A machine that could suck out the physical beauty from its victims, ready for Gruntilda to absorb like a sponge!
The witch rubbed the graceful curve of her chin with pride. Nobody else would even have dreamed of creating such a marvellous thing, she thought. Least of all her pretty sister, Brentilda. How dare that interfering do-gooder inherit the family good looks and not her? How dare she be born with a face so angelic when Gruntilda had always been... well... slightly disadvantaged in that department?
Thanks to her mechanical pride and joy in the next room, though, Gruntilda knew that all that would soon change. Hah! At last she could become beautiful beyond her wildest dreams!
Picking her nose in a particularly smug manner, the witch turned her attention away from the window to the bubbling cauldron nearby, and began to cast the truth spell - a spell which, she thought, would confirm her place as the most wonderfully attractive creature on this latest world of hers...

Meanwhile, Tooty was enjoying the warmth of the sun and the happy birdsong all around as she skipped home through the deep green fields of Spiral Mountain. The young bear had spent a carefree couple of hours out piping amongst the woodland animals, and now she was heading back to have another try at waking that big lazy brother of hers.
Just as the cosy little house that she shared with Banjo and Kazooie came into view up ahead, Tooty slowed down to watch a nearby molehill tremble, splutter and sprout a pair of blurry eyes that could only belong to her good friend Bottles.
"Hi there, Bottles!" beamed the young bear.
"Morning, Tooty," blinked the mole as his round little body came up out of the hole with a pop. "And what are your plans for this lovely day?"
Tooty jumped up and down excitedly as his words reminded her of Banjo's promise. "Oh! I'm going to get my lazy brother out of bed, and we're going on an adventure!" she squealed. Bottles smiled absent-mindedly at her. "That'll be nice," he said, then squinted up into the sky over her shoulder. "Hey, isn't that your brother up there?"
Tooty turned to look, and saw an odd shape swooping down towards them at high speed.
"No, I don't think that's Banjo," she said, frowning. "I wonder who it could be..."

Sweeter than me? Prettier than me?
Impossible! Gruntilda was so furious at the cauldron's words that she wasn't really concentrating on flying her broomstick, and had to pull up sharply as her boots clipped the top of a fence. This only made her even angrier than before, and she found herself screeching abuse at thin air.
"As cute as me, you stupid pot? For her own sake, I hope she's not!" The witch zoomed recklessly on through the skies until her intended target came into view: the unnecessarily cute young bear shown to her by that treacherous cauldron, staring up now from the field far below.
Gruntilda snorted. "I need those looks far more than she, and finally perfect I shall be!" With a loud scream and a cackle, the witch took aim and sent the broomstick into a dive.

Kazooie popped out of the backpack in alarm as noise erupted just outside the window.
"Banjo! Banjo!" she squawked, recognising two of the three yelling voices as those of Tooty and Bottles the mole. "Banjo, wake up!" The Honey Bear groaned and pulled the pillow over his head. "Aww, leave me alone, Kazooie, it's too early," came his muffled voice.
"This is no time to be lazy, Banjo!" trilled the Breegull, her anxious fidgeting causing the backpack to swing to and fro on the hatstand it hung from. "We've got trouble! Pull yourself together!" Banjo groaned again, rolled over, and was about to say something else when Kazooie's struggles proved too much for the supporting stand, toppling it onto the floor with a crash and an undignified squawk.
The Honey Bear jumped out of bed in surprise, just as the curtains flapped open with the backlash from something launching itself at high speed from his front lawn. And beneath the manic cackling that reached him on the wind, he heard the helpless cries of a voice he recognised... Tooty's! Banjo gulped and searched the room for his feathered friend, realising that this was definitely going to be one of those days.
"Uh, Kazooie, what are you doing down there?" he said in confusion, snatching up the backpack as he bolted for the door. "This is no time to be lazy - we've got trouble!"

Characters [Back to Top]

Banjo is the honey loving bear, the legs in this adventure. His nature's lazy while adventure craving at the same time. Banjo's got the social skills in the duo of he and Kazooie, and always extends a helping hand to those who need it.

Kazooie is one sassy bird, this adventure's right up her alley. Although cooped up in Banjo's backpack, she'll occasionally spread her wings or feet to give Banjo a little boost. Kazooie always prefers insulting people over helping them.

Tooty is Banjo's kid sister who is captured by the evil witch. She's got a zest for life, and beauty as far as animals are concerned.

Bottles is the mole who will pop his head out of his hole every once in a while to teach Banjo and Kazooie new and helpful move, dispite all the insults Kazooie hurls at him. If it weren't for his bad vision, he might even have come along with Banjo on this adventure.

Gruntilda is the witch who's jealousy started it all. The ugly hag envied Tooty's beauty so much she was willing to risk it all to steal it with a machine she built. Grunty's got a massive lair decorated with none other than pictures of herself, and she has a knack for speaking in rhymes.

Brentilda is Grunty's good sister. She got all the family beauty, and she's as sweet as she looks. Brentilda can't wait to give Banjo and Kazooie tips on how to defeat her ugly sister, and nicely enough, she'll heal any of their wounds whenever she sees them.

Mumbo Jumbo is the shawman throughout Banjo-Kazooie, who for a certain amount of his tokens will transform Banjo and Kazooie into beasts or fruit. However, this akward relationship soon leads to friendship by the end of the adventure.

Cheato is Grunty's spell book. She abandoned him on her rush to kidnap Tooty, and to get his revenge, Cheato will tell you a secret code to help you every time you find one of his manifestations.

Worlds [Back to Top]

Spiral Mountain is Banjo, Kazooie, Tooty, and Bottle's home. This world is used as a training pub in the game. Banjo and Kazooie can get a whole lot of experience here.

Mumbo's Mountain is a small world with rolling hills and a shimmering lake. Mumbo Jumbo, the best shawman in the game, as he calls himself, resides here.

Treasure Trove Cove is a beautiful tropical island filled with sandy beaches and tide pools of various depths. The waters are enhabited by a bear eating shark, and the skies are blue and perfect for flying.

Clanker's Cavern is in sharp contrast to Treasure Trove Cove. Clanker's Cavern is an underground maze of tunnels flooded by dirty water and a mechanical trash compactor that feels alone and forgotten.

Bubble Gloop Swamp is a giant marsh, filled with treasures and pirhanas that want to take a bite out of Banjo. The swamp is filled with wildlife and plants alike, and Banjo must explore this huge world inch by inch to uncover it's treasures.

Freezeezy Peak is a jewel of a world, covered by ice, the peak is just an adventure waiting to happen. Slipping and sliding and launching arial attacks on evil snowmen is all part of the fun of the peak, along with a box of Christmas lights needing protection.

Gobi's Valley is a hot, sandy world filled with mysteries and magic of the anchient dwellers. Banjo must explore anchient pharroh's tombs and rescue a enbittered camel before his work in Gobi's Valley is done.

Mad Monster Mansion is Gruntilda's huge home, filled with monsters and eerie pictures. The goblins and zombies wonder 'round the hedge mazes and wine cellars, and flower pots patiently wait for someone to plant in them seeds. The giant chapel's doors will only open for someone who's fast, and don't forget treasure ontop of the steeple.

Rusty Bucket Bay is Gruntilda's huge cargo ship complex. The water is completely polluted, and the huge ship's inner parts are a hazard to navigate. The sheds and toxic pools of acid surrounding the ship are all hazards waiting for a victim.

Click Clock Woods is a world of years. A single tree, towering above the surrounding forest is home to a series of challenging obstacles, a hungry bird baby, a nest of bees, and a lonesome squirl. Banjo must explore this forested habitat all four seasons, observing the tree grow, a club house being built, and a nest of Zubba Bees failing miserably.