Many gamers have fond memories of the retro 3D platformer Banjo-Kazooie, a game that helped define the Nintendo 64. Banjo-Kazooie has stayed in the hearts of gamers even three decades later, with its music, world, characters, and gameplay that helped define a generation of platformers. After many years, fans are able to play the original game on a Nintendo console once again, thanks to the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack.
Last year, Nintendo revealed several N64 games that would be coming to its online service, including Banjo-Kazooie. With Banjo-Kazooie now available on through the Expansion Pack add-on, many players are celebrating this re-release on a Nintendo system, reporting the emulation has been a huge improvement in comparison to its rocky start. The original developers and studio from Rare also joined in the festivities, posting a few congratulatory messages for this accomplishment.
One of these can be seen with a detailed blog post on Rare's website, written by veteran designer Leigh Loveday. She noted that classic Rare games coming back on the Switch was a question that has been asked for a very long time, and the studio was immensely pleased to work with Nintendo in order to bring Banjo-Kazooie to the console. She also mentions that the version of the game available through the service is the exact same one from the N64.
Other key members of Banjo-Kazooie's development team took to social media to post their messages about the bear and bird's adventure on the Nintendo Switch. Greg Mayles, the character designer and self-proclaimed "father" of Banjo, posted a piece of new art in celebration. Veteran Rare composer Grant Kirkhope also posted a message celebrating the game's return to a Nintendo console. Another designer from Rare, Ed Bryan, also celebrated Banjo-Kazooie's release, showing off a piece of rendered artwork that was intended for magazines.
Needless to say, many fans are happy to be playing Banjo-Kazooie again through Nintendo's service. The momentum for this service isn't slowing down either, as there are even more N64 games coming to the Expansion Pack in the near future. For example, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is the next game that will be arriving to the service that subscribers can play. Fans won't need to wait long for it either, as it will be coming next month to boot.
Banjo-Kazooie is available now for all Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack owners.