We Finally Know When Banjo-Kazooie Is Coming To Nintendo Switch
Tell Bottles to put his goggles on because we finally know when Banjo-Kazooie is coming to the Nintendo Switch. The already impressive lineup of Nintendo 64 games continues to grow, but now, a legend of the '90s has found a new home on the Switch.
Ah, the '90s. Back when home consoles were really taking off, the N64 showed the PS1 how it's done. When we weren't saving Princess Peach or the kingdom of Hyrule, it was Rare that was delivering the console's best games. With Diddy Kong Racing, Conker's Bad Fur Day, Perfect Dark, GoldenEye 007, and Banjo-Kazooie, Rare helped define the N64.
When Is Banjo-Kazooie Coming To Nintendo Switch?
One of 2021's big gaming stories was that Nintendo was finally embracing the potential of the N64 by adding another classic console to its online store. Alongside all the usuals like Super Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time, others were over the moon that Banjo-Kazooie was making a return to Nintendo hardware for the first time in 20 years.
Nintendo has now confirmed Banjo-Kazooie will land on the Switch tomorrow (Thursday, January 20). It comes in the wake of Paper Mario in December, teasing that Nintendo will release about one legacy title a month. It's hardly Game Pass or PlayStation Plus, but it'll do for now.
Why Does Everyone Love Banjo-Kazooie?
A glossy trailer shows off what's new for Banjo-Kazooie, and it's pretty much the same as ever. Teaming up as the intrepid bear and bird combo, the dynamic duo takes on the rhyme-spitting Gruntilda to save Banjo's sister. Effectively Rare's answer to Super Mario 64, the 1998 game let us explore imaginative worlds like Rusty Bucket Bay, Gobi's Valley, and Mad Monster Mansion.
Banjo-Kazooie was a universal hit and led to Banjo-Tooie that helped the N64 bow out in 2000. Since then, we've had various handhelds and the disappointing Nuts & Bolts on the Xbox 360. With no signs of a new mainline entry, let's go back to where it all started.
The fact Banjo-Kazooie is coming back to Nintendo is even more of a big deal when you remember Rare now sits under Microsoft. The OG Banjo-Kazooie was previously remastered for the Xbox 360 in 2008 and included in the Rare Replay collection in 2015. Still, there's a sense of justice it's coming back to its home. All we need now is GoldenEye 007 - here's hoping.