Many fans of the 90s can point to Banjo-Kazooie to being one of the most iconic platformers of the Nintendo 64 era. The original game saw critical and commercial success, making the title one of the games that put its developer, Rare, on the map. The sequels didn't see as much success after this game released, and even less games were produced for the franchise after Rare was bought out by Microsoft. Despite this, Banjo-Kazooie was always a nostalgic franchise that some hoped could be brought back onto Nintendo consoles. That wish is finally fulfilled thanks to the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pass.
Last year, Nintendo revealed several N64 games and Sega Genesis games were coming to its online service, under the fittingly titled Expansion Pack. While some fans were rather irate with regard to the Expansion Pack's quality and price, there were still some fans who were excited about these classic N64 games being available to play through an official service. This includes the inclusion of Banjo-Kazooie, which despite being owned by Xbox, it's a surprise addition to say the least.
A trailer for this release of Banjo-Kazooie was released a few days ago, which outlined a release date several months after its initial showing in 2021. It gave a sneak preview to what fans can expect in the game, which are retained from the N64 original. This includes the game's incredibly reverent humor, vibrant worlds, as well as platforming and collect-a-thon elements that the game was built upon.
With Banjo-Kazooie now added to the Switch, many newer Nintendo fans are able to experience this nostalgic platformer for the first time, while older ones can relive what made the originals such beloved classics. Despite the reputation that the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack has regarding its emulation and controls, fans are reporting the experience through the service is responsive and is much better than the other ports currently on the add-on.
With this release of Banjo-Kazooie being well received, it's evident that Nintendo is pushing for the service to succeed. Despite the rough start, new N64 games are gradually being added, with Paper Mario being added last month. The next wave of content for the Expansion Pack doesn't seem to be slowing down, as Nintendo confirmed that The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask will also be added to the Nintendo Switch Online service. Fans won't have to wait long either, as they can expect to play this iconic Zelda title next month.
Banjo-Kazooie is available now for all Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack owners.