When you start this game up for the first time, you will automatically know that THIS GAME IS GONNA ROCK. Never have I seen such a well-done and out of the ordinary musical intro, even with all the latest video games on newer systems. This initial promise of great music and quirky humor holds true. This game has some of the coolest and wackiest tunes and shenanigans you will ever see on the Nintendo 64, and it has given me a lot of good childhood memories.

As far as the gameplay goes, this is, in my opinion, one of the best 3D platformers on this console, and is right up there with games like Super Mario 64. The controls are excellent, and the gradual addition of new moves and items lets you try out new techniques as you master the earlier ones. The flying mechanic is excellent, and allows pinpoint control while in the air. You will most likely appreciate this little fact when you try to obtain a certain Jiggy in the fifth area (no more spoilers! Play the game and you will see what I mean!). The various puzzles and mini games you have to complete provide a decent challenge, but nothing is head-splittingly difficult. That is, unless you try to solve a puzzle that requires a move from a later level. However, you'll usually know when you need a new ability to progress. Moving along to the game depth, you will need to explore every single corner of every single world if you want to complete this game in its entirety. And believe me, you will. The complexity and range of the various worlds are definitely worth scouting out, if for no other reason than, say, scaring a nervous walrus, taunting the local shark, or taunting termites from a safe distance.

The bodacious aesthetic effects complement the already excellent game created by the general gameplay. Every single one of the worlds are staggeringly different, and not a single detail is left out (not even glare on the portholes or the piles of leaves). All the textures are among the best that you will get out of an N64 game, and the animations in the game are smooth and flow well. The background music in each level will probably have you tapping your feet within seconds, and might even convince you to take up the banjo just so that you can play these musical masterpieces. I mean, I tried to learn a little piano for this reason.

Just a few last little notes about this game. This game has a good helping of laugh-out-loud moments, a decent amount of which come from a certain skull-faced sorcerer. The dialogue is full of wisecracks, some at the expense of "Chicken Legs." These taunts might give you a few insults to throw at your bear or bird archrival (just saying). I would recommend this game to anyone who wants to try a classic, quirky platformer that delivers in all the necessary categories.

Oh wow, I LOVE this game. It's excellent. I'm glad to see you agree. Rare did a really good job on games in the N64 era.

the_casualty : I really liked this game too, though I preferred the sequel. This was the second hardest game to complete 100% that I actually did complete 100% too. That last note was evil. Good times. ¬_¬

I think I remember that 5th world jiggy. ¬_¬ I also remember missing. A lot. This game is great, though personally I think the end is a harder difficulty level than a 5.

So what you are saying is that I HAVE to play the game?
Well, I probably will today, I played Banjo-Kazooie on the GBA, I LOVED it.
(Why am I replying to the oldest review on this site? :o )