Banjo-Tooie

About Banjo-Tooie (N64)

Banjo-Tooie is a 3D platform game developed by Rare and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It launched in North America on November 20, 2000, in Japan on November 27, 2000, and in Europe on April 12, 2001, as the sequel to the hit Banjo-Kazooie. Much of the original team returned, building bigger, connected worlds and giving Banjo and Kazooie a wider set of moves, transformations and split-up abilities.

Two years after her defeat, the witch Gruntilda is dug up by her sisters Mingella and Blobbelda, who plan to use the Big Evil Machine to drain life from the Isle o’ Hags and restore her body. Banjo and Kazooie must collect Jiggies, rescue King Jingaling and stop the machine before the island withers.

Detailed Gameplay

Banjo-Tooie keeps the first game’s collectathon heart but links its worlds together, so actions in one world can change another.

Connected worlds and Jiggies

• The Isle o’ Hags hub connects nine worlds, from Mayahem Temple to Gruntilda’s industrial lair.
• Worlds link directly to each other, letting you cross from a mine into a volcano or a theme park.
• Each world hides ten Jiggies, earned by puzzles, races, minigames and boss fights.

Moves, split-up and transformations

• Banjo and Kazooie learn new moves from Jamjars, the drill-sergeant mole who replaces Bottles.
• The duo can split up, letting Banjo carry heavy objects alone while Kazooie flies and glides solo.
• Mumbo Jumbo transforms Banjo into a washing machine, a snowball and a T-Rex.

Notes, eggs and combat

• Musical notes return as collectibles, now in nests of five, and they unlock new moves at Jamjars.
• Kazooie fires eggs from her rear and beak, including fire, ice, grenade and clockwork kazooie eggs.
• Clockwork Kazooie eggs walk into tight spaces and explode, reaching switches Banjo cannot.

Multiplayer and minigames

• Multiplayer lets up to four players compete in shooting, racing and arena games.
• Many minigames from the main adventure, like the dodgem challenge, return as party modes.
• Cheato sells cheats that change gameplay, from infinite eggs to big heads.

Game Highlights

• Interconnected worlds: Actions in one world affect another, making exploration one giant puzzle.
• Split-up gameplay: Separating the duo opens solo moves and puzzles the pair cannot solve together.
• Wild transformations: Mumbo and Humba turn the heroes into a T-Rex, a washing machine and more.
• Classic Rare humor: Gruntilda’s rhyming taunts and Jamjars’ drill routines keep it funny throughout.

Controls

On the Nintendo 64 controller, the stick moves the duo and buttons trigger their many moves. - Analog Stick: Move Banjo and Kazooie, swim, fly and steer vehicles and transformations. - A Button: Jump, double-jump with Kazooie’s wings and perform context moves. - B Button: Attack with Banjo’s pack whack, Kazooie’s pecks and the duo’s roll. - C Buttons: Aim and fire eggs, switch camera angles and use first-person view. - Z Button: Crouch, use the Wonderwing invincibility and trigger ground moves. - L and R Buttons: Center the camera behind the heroes and strafe in shooting sections. - D-Pad: Navigate menus and select options in most screens. - Start Button: Pause the game and check Jiggies, notes and your current objective.

Tips and Strategies to Win

Banjo-Tooie rewards exploring everywhere and revisiting worlds with new abilities. - Learn every move from Jamjars early, because later Jiggies often depend on split-up play. - Revisit earlier worlds after gaining new moves, since many Jiggies are locked behind them. - Stock up on eggs and feathers before boss fights, and save grenade eggs for armored enemies. - Use Mumbo’s transformations to reach hidden areas, and talk to every character for clues.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Do I need to play Banjo-Kazooie before Banjo-Tooie? A: No, Banjo-Tooie explains its story on its own, but playing the first game makes its returning characters and jokes more rewarding.

Q: What is the goal in Banjo-Tooie? A: You collect Jiggies to open new worlds, rescue King Jingaling and stop Gruntilda’s sisters from draining life from the Isle o’ Hags.

Q: Can I play Banjo-Tooie online for free? A: Yes, you can play Banjo-Tooie online for free in your browser here, with no download or installation needed - just open the game and join Banjo and Kazooie on the Isle o’ Hags.