New Banjo-Kazooie Title Unlikely According to Developer

Ah, yes, I remember Banjo-Kazooie. It was a breath of fresh air when video games didn’t offer much personality. Sure, we had Mario and Sonic. But, no mascot was as outspoken as Banjo and Kazooie. So, what about a New Banjo-Kazooie title?

Banjo-Kazooie introduced players to quirky and witty protagonists. The title was a fantastic merge of great platforming and humor. It was a major step in getting us to today’s memorable video game characters.

The latest we heard about it, it was coming to Switch. Other than that, it’s failed to keep up with Sonic’s comeback. Today, it’s just a memory of a simpler time, without Xbox and Sony’s war.

But, why shouldn’t we wait for a new Banjo-Kazooie? Let’s find out.

Not the right era for a new Banjo-Kazooie title

I’m sorry, dear reader. We’re in for a bit of a downer. (Image credit: Banjo-Kazooie Wiki | Fandom)

Earlier today, IGN covered a recent interview with a former Banjo-Kazooie developer. According to Grant Kirkhope, there aren’t enough people wanting it. He writes it off as being a product of “a bygone era.”

In his word, you’d have to replicate the team’s humor back then. That’s already difficult enough. But, you also need the right audience to play it. Unfortunately, he doesn’t believe that such an audience exists. Or, at least, it’s not big enough.

Banjo-Kazooie missing from the mascot platformer renaissance

This is the closest we ever got to a Banjo-Kazooie comeback. (Image credit: Banjo-Kazooie Wiki | Fandom)

That would explain why Rare hasn’t worked on a new Banjo-Kazooie title. After all, Kirkhope believes they’d be open to the idea. Yet, it would be unwise to develop a game no one will play. Plus, getting the right team together is a comparable challenge.

That said, it’s interesting to see it that way. After all, “mascot platformers” have seen a renaissance. Sure, Mario never left. But, Sonic, Spyro, and Crash Bandicoot have. And, they’ve come back since the late 2010s.

As you can see, Banjo-Kazooie is missing from that picture. He only appeared in 2010’s Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing. But, that was just a character in a video game with dozens of them.

Was Banjo-Kazooie only a product of its time?

I mean, the Gameboy Advance was the rage back then. We’re getting old. (Image credit: Banjo-Kazooie Wiki | Fandom)

Kirkhope says that Banjo-Kazooie is simply a product of a bygone era. Today, we lack the player base and the development team necessary. And, that might have a smudge of truth. Nonetheless, it’s not in the way you think.

Banjo-Kazooie was a major hit because of its characters. It combined solid gameplay and quirky protagonists. Plus, it did so at a time when no one had done it before. So, players loved the innovation.

Today, we’ve seen hundreds of memorable video game personalities. That’s why the spiritual successor, Yooka-Laylee, wasn’t as big. People are already used to what made Banjo-Kazooie different.

At least, that’s my opinion. What do you think?

 

Featured Image Credit: Banjo-Kazooie Wiki | Fandom.