There are a lot of things going on this nation. The events that happen on a daily basis can just overwhelm a person. It’s good to some times take a break from it all and just dive into a video game. A game that will suck you in and divulge you, a game where you won’t want the controller to leave your hand. There is perhaps no game better then Banjo Kazooie. It doesn’t matter if you are sad, mad, or just looking for a good game, this game will make you happy. This game has so many great qualities, from its silly atmosphere to its challenging game play and loveable characters. Banjo Kazooie has been on my gaming shelf since I as 5. Actually the first game that I bought with my own money. Games come and go, but Banjo Kazooie stays on my shelf and there are many reasons why.

You pop the game cartridge in and you power on your N64… the N64 logo walks across the screen with a trombone type sound coming from its feet, a dragon fly glides on by and slams in to the Rare logo. Then a band starts to play, they play an up beat tune and who is in this band? There are two bears playing instruments, one has a bird coming out of his back pack playing a kazoo ( and his name is Kazooie how about that!), and a strange skeleton man magically changing out instruments. If you have never herd it before, you simply must. Click here for the intro. This is actually my favorite intro to any game. It sets up the mood of what the gamer is about play so well. Its very silly and fun, just like the game that is about to be played.

Now real quick here is a quick run down of the plot. Banjo is a bear who has a bird named Kazooie in his back pack.. They live in this place called: Spiral Mountain. The mountain is located right outside of an evil witch’s lair. Her name is Gruntilda and she is very jealous of the beauty that Banjo’s sister posses. So she steals her and if you live right next to a witch, you are really pushing your luck if you don’t think something is going to happen. She steals your sister and you know that you have to get her back! So you take control and you set off to save your sister, off into Gruntildas lair. The lair is filled with all sorts of different worlds, in these worlds you must collect different puzzle pieces to try and get to the final fight with you that mean old witch.

So now you actually start playing the game. One of the first things that is easily noticed, is the amazing overworld that this game incorporates. Spiral Mountain/Gruntilda’s lair is one of the most spectacularly crafted overworlds in any game. Spiral Mountain acts as the tutorial area and does a very good job of teaching the player through finding mole hills and doing a challenge to learn and practice your new moves. The mountain is very bright and vivid and is a perfect foil for what Gruntilda’s lair is. The lair starts off a dark and gloomy place. The music that plays here is literally the definition of witch music, by that I mean this is the music I think of when I hear the word witch, give it a listen here. As you progress through the oveworld you meet with the new zones and levels, which you have to unlock. You unlock the levels and move into new zones that all have different variations on the original lair music. Each new zone follows the theme of the level that it holds, like: Ice, desert, pirate, ghost, ect. All of these unique world designs and the absolutely fantastic music, makes this overworld so stunningly great. Its just a place that gives you this feeling of wonder, it really is great and not many other games pull this off so well.

The levels are what really takes the game to the next level. (Beautiful writing right there) They follow a similar pattern each time, but each one adds new challenges and teaches the players new moves.The new moves are essential to beating each level, they make it able for each level to have different varieties of exciting and challenging puzzles. The puzzles are really what makes the levels great, they manage to stay fun and challenging at the same time, without being so hard that they become annoying, but just the right amount of challenge.

There are little things that take this game from being a good game to a great game. Banjo Kazooie’s special type of humor is really hilarious. Banjo and Kazooie make jokes through out the game and characters are known to break the fourth wall. The game doesn’t take itself too seriously. One thing that I always loved doing was, to find Gruntilda’s sister, she always told these rhyming little jokes that always made me laugh. She would say things along the lines of her sister smelling like a hog or her favorite food being boogers or something disgusting like that. Kazooie will make fun of the games various characters and that is what a lot of times gets him and banjo into trouble. Without the little jokes and generally funny atmosphere this game wouldn’t be nearly as good.

With these games that I love so much, I always find myself wanting to write a thesis paper about them. I simply have to much to say about them. Banjo Kazooie is my oldest game and is very near and dear to my heart. I will keep these games tunes with me through out my life. The music is so great, the game play is amazing, and the characters and levels keep me coming back again and again. Banjo Kazooie; it just makes me smile to hear the name. Its really a game that, once you start, you can’t put it down. Not only is it one of the best games on the N64, but one of the best games of all time. If you are a serious gamer, you have to play Banjo Kazooie. There is no doubt in my mind that this game deserves 5 out of 5 stars.