If you were gaming during the ‘90s, then it is likely you were playing with power—Nintendo power. However, Nintendo didn’t become a powerhouse all on its own. I mean, sure they had Mario, but they couldn’t survive on the plumber’s income alone. They needed fresh titles, and Rare delivered, giving us gems such as the insanely difficult Battletoads, the iconic GoldenEye, the awe-inspiring Donkey Kong Country, and, of course, Banjo-Kazooie.
Banjo was built upon a foundation of shattered dreams—Dreams: Land of Giants to be exact. After being forced to cancel the project, Rare salvaged as much of the game as they could, re-using many of the game’s assets in Banjo. Upon its release in 1998 on the Nintendo 64, Banjo-Kazooie was an instant hit. Many even felt it surpassed Super Mario 64, which came out nearly two years earlier. You know you are doing something right when you are able to beat Nintendo at their own game.
After nearly 20 years, you might consider yourself a Banjo-Kazooie expert. You know all of the developer stories and scrapped features. You have the Wishy Washy Banjo cheat memorized and have found uncovered every secret in the game. What else is there? Well, when you are dealing with a company as creative and humorous as pre-Microsoft Rare, there is plenty left to learn. Trust me, the inside jokes and hidden gems are endless. So join us as we countdown 15 things you may not have known about Banjo-Kazooie.
Let’s get started.
15 The Characters Were Originally Going To Sing Their Intros
If you are a Banjo-Kazooie fan, then you definitely have fond memories of the game’s intro. You can’t help but smile as Banjo gently knock on the screen, give you a thumbs up, and starts strumming away. One by one, the other characters reveal themselves, forming a band as they play along to the upbeat song Banjo started. Of course, Banjo eventually gets frustrated when Mumbo steals his thunder—and temporarily one ups him by playing multiple instruments—but eventually decides to keep playing and shine in his own way.
Well, all of this nearly played out differently. According to Grant Kirkhole, as they were creating the music for Banjo-Kazooie, they thought it would be a great idea to have the characters sing to introduce themselves. However, during development, the idea was left on the cutting room floor, and we received the lovable, vocal-free intro we all know and love.
14 Recycled Assets From Dream
Dream: Land of Giants was an unreleased RPG that Rare was developing for the Super NES. The project was moved to the Nintendo 64 and eventually became Banjo-Kazooie. Naturally, since the game was redeveloped, assets from Dream were repurposed in Banjo. For instance, the ghost that chases Banjo in Mad Monster Mansion owes his existence to the N64 version of Dream. The artists used the head of a troll from the ill-fated title, and simply added a body to it.
A similar method was used to create the door knocker at the top of Grunty’s Tower. The door knocker evolved from the gargoyles in the Temple Test Level used by the developers, and they came from the trolls in the Super NES version of Dream. With all of those great assets lying around, it didn’t make sense to waste time and money creating new ones.
13 How “Ooh Me Knackers” Became “Oomenacka”
Many of the iconic noises and phrases that Banjo-Kazooie characters uttered were often based on various members of the team working on the game. If there was humor to be found in their coworker’s predicament, then it was likely to find its way into the game—which developed into a mountain of inside jokes for the developers.
One shining example of this practice is found in the origin of Mumbo Jumbo’s iconic phrase, “Oomenacka!” The phrase comes from Greg Kirkhope, who was worried he might have a serious health problem. He often showed up late to the studio after leaving the doctor. As he walked up the corridor, he would shout “Ooh me knackers!” (Fun fact: “knackers” is British slang for “testicles.”) The team found his exclamation humorous and collapsed the phrase to form “Oomenacka.”
Mumbo Jumbo might want to see a doctor about that.
12 Nintendo Thought A Grave Stone Said Cursed At Players
Oh, Nintendo. You are so sweet and innocent. We get it. You are the sole game company known for putting kids first. Parents trust you. However, sometimes you can go a bit overboard when it comes to saving the kids.
Take Banjo-Kazooie, for example. The gravestone in Mad Monster Mansion, voiced by the lovely Grant Kirkhope, says “Thank you” when the player places an egg in an empty pot (which causes flowers to grow). Unfortunately, all Nintendo heard was “F*** you!” Poor Kirkhope was forced to re-record the sample multiple times until Nintendo finally decided the phrase was spoken clearly enough.
I guess you really can’t blame Nintendo for being so wary of Rare. In fact, perhaps they should have been more diligent. I mean, “Oomenacka” made it into the game with no problems.
11 The Extended Ending That Never Happened
After defeating the witch Gruntilda at the end of Banjo-Kazooie, she falls off a tower. Before she dies, she casts a final spell that misses Banjo, hitting the ground instead. With the day saved, our heroes take a well-deserved break before the sequel. However, the original plan for the ending didn’t wrap up so nicely. At least, not right away.
In the extended ending, Gruntilda’s final spell hits Banjo, turning him into a frog. Of course, even with the boss defeated, that’s no way to end a game. With Banjo incapacitated, it would be up to Tooty to save the day. Players would then guide Tooty through all of the levels again to collect items to reverse Gruntilda’s frog spell. But, alas, this extended ending never came to be.
10 Banjo Made His Debut In A Donkey Kong Title
It is only fitting that Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong had a lot in common. I mean, they were both developed by the same studio and starred anthropomorphic wild animals. However, you may be surprised to learn that Banjo—despite taking the lead role in a game already in development—made his first appearance in a non-Banjo title.
That’s right. Our furry protagonist made his debut in Rare’s 1997 title, Diddy Kong Racing, on Nintendo 64, and he wasn’t just in the background either. He, along with Tiptup and Conker (Conker’s Bad Fur Day), is a playable character, and one of the heaviest in the game. Diddy Kong Racing, outside of being a fun game, also served to introduce Banjo (and other playable characters) to gamers before starring in his own title.
9 The Original Energy System Didn’t Involve Honeycombs
The current energy system used by Banjo-Kazooie makes a lot of sense. Banjo is a honey bear. Honey bears like honey. It is only natural that Banjo would have to collect honeycombs to replenish his health. After all, collecting health items is a platforming staple. However, this was not the plan during early development.
The early energy system utilized a “three strikes, and you are out” design. Instead of honeycombs, Banjo was given more clothes. With each hit, he would lose an article of clothing. The first hit would send his hat flying. The second hit would cause him to lose his shoes. The third and final hit would result in his death.
Let’s all be grateful they didn’t implement such a harsh energy system.
8 Not Every Banjo-Tooie Character Was Named By Rare
With the level of creativity and the sheer number of inside jokes present in the studio, it is a wonder Rare allowed anyone beyond their four walls to get involved in the franchise. Well, in the summer of 2000, a few lucky fans got to leave their mark upon Banjo-Tooie. Nintendo Official Magazine in the UK held a contest giving British fans of the game a chance to name three characters in the game.
There were three winners, and they came up with the names Old King Coal, Chris P. Bacon, and Bullion Bill. The winners each received an original piece of artwork signed by the coders at Rare and a copy of Banjo-Tooie. If only we had contests like that today. Oh well, I guess we will have to settle for Kickstarter if we want to have a say.
7 Jinjos Are Based On A Rare Employee
Like so many other things that found their way into Banjo-Kazooie, Jinjos, the tiny bipedal creatures found throughout the series, drew their inspiration from inside joke. And, yes, if you haven’t already figured it out, Grant Kirkhope played a part in this one as well.
So here is what happened. Ed Bryan, one of the game’s artists, has noticeably red hair. As a result, Kirkhope—perhaps seeking retribution for “oomenacka”—called him “Ginge,” which was short for ginger. The developers, inspired by the nickname, decided to name their teddy bear-like creations Jinjo. The name was especially fitting because the first Jinjo they created was orange.
You’ve got to love a studio that doesn’t mind making fun of itself. After all, happy employees make great, memorable games.
6 Banjo’s Spiritual Successor Is Out Now
With no Banjo-Kazooie Threeie in sight, fans looking to satisfy their Banjo itch were forced to turn to dust off their original copies or play the remastered version released on Xbox Live. After Microsoft purchased Rare in 2002, their success waned as they failed their newer titles failed to impress audiences as much as their predecessors did. Finally, nearly ten years later, a title has risen to the challenge.
In 2015, Playtonic Games, a studio comprised of former Rare employees, announced they were working on the spiritual successor to Banjo. The new title, Yooka Laylee, released earlier this year to mixed reviews after being successfully funded on Kickstarter. However, the open-world platformer starring a chameleon and bat, may be as close as we’ll ever get to a true Banjo sequel.
5 Banjo’s Stuffed Head Appears In Other Titles
Who doesn’t love a bit of dark humor? There is nothing quite like spotting your favorite childhood video game character in another game. With so many titles under its belt, it was not unusual for Rare’s diverse cast of characters to make cameos in each other’s games. However, when they do, you kind of expect them to be alive.
If you pay close attention to the intro to Conker’s Bad Fur Day, you will find Banjo’s stuffed head mounted about a fireplace in the tavern. Yikes! That’s not all. Later on, we see Kazooie’s head at the base of an umbrella. If that wasn’t creepy enough, both of their stuffed heads are seen mounted on a wall in Rare’s 2003 title Grabbed by the Ghoulies.
No wonder there haven’t been any new Banjo games.
4 Gruntilda Is A Mash-Up Of Several Witches
If the final boss of Banjo-Kazooie feels familiar to you, that is because she is a mixture of the witches you grew up. Just take a look at the witch from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. In the film, the Evil Queen (often referred to as the Evil Witch in her hag form) fears that Snow White’s beauty has surpassed her own. In order to remain the most beautiful in the land, the Evil Queen tries to kill Snow White. Gruntilda kidnaps Tooty for a similar reason—to steal her beauty so she can become the most beautiful woman in Spiral Mountain.
Even Shakespeare had a hand in shaping Gruntilda. In the game, she uses a cauldron and has two sisters, an obvious reference to Macbeth. In addition, she owes her green skin, pointy chin, and black attire to the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz.
3 Mumbo Jumbo’s Voice Comes From A Football Chant
Greg Kirkhope, the man behind the music of Banjo, and Gregg Mayles, the game’s designer, often joked about the way young people from Leicester would say, “Come and have a go if you think you’re hard enough.” The saying is a popular chant during English football matches. They wanted to use it in the game and decided that it should be Mumbo Jumbo’s talking voice.
I know what you are thinking. You played Banjo-Kazooie and know for a fact that he doesn’t say anything close to that. Well, you are partially right. Kirkhope, instead of just using the phrase as is, decided to remix it. He cut up the samples and played them at random pitches to create his speaking voice. Oh, and Kirkhope, of course, did the voice work as well.
2 The Soundtrack Wasn’t Available to Everyone
From Banjo-Kazooie to Goldeneye to the upcoming Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, Grant Kirkhope will go down in gaming history as a legendary composer able to score a wide range of games. There was no Spotify back in 1998 when the Banjo-Kazooie soundtrack dropped. The only way for fans to get their hands on a legal copy of the limited edition CD was to either buy a Nintendo Power catalog or pick up a copy at Best Buy (it was included with Banjo games sold there). Of course, this was back when exclusive still meant exclusive.
The first game wasn’t the only one with a limited release soundtrack. The sequel Banjo-Tooie, also scored by Kirkhope, released in 2000 with 14 tracks that were only available to Nintendo Power subscribers. If you weren’t playing with power, then you weren’t playing the soundtrack.
1 The Intro Was Originally Going To Be Motion Captured
As we discussed earlier, Banjo-Kazooie rose from the ashes of Rare’s never released title, Dream: Land of Giants. Many assets and design elements, such as levels and characters, from the scrapped game, found a home in Banjo. So it isn’t surprising that for a time, Rare thought it best to base Banjo’s intro on Dream’s, which was fully motion captured.
They had one of their designers dress in a motion capture suit and pretend to play the banjo, piccolo, and other instruments present in the intro. Unfortunately for the suited up designer, the team decided to hand animate the intro instead. However, they did leave one small morsel of mo-cap goodness behind—Banjo’s swaying hips as he strums the banjo!
