Banjo-Kazooie Review & Analysis (Part 1 of 2)

Part 1 of my review and in-depth analysis of Banjo-Kazooie for the Nintendo 64. Split into two parts to make it a little easier to digest.
Part 2 can be found here: • Banjo-Kazooie Review &...
Banjo-Tooie video should be out in around a month or two, but it might be longer than that.
Twitter: / veegie_
Special thanks to my good friend Kit Sovereign for script editing assistance and help with the music analyisis. / kitsovereign
Also, special thanks to the person whose awesome videos inspired me to try my hand at game analysis, Matthewmatosis. / matthewmatosis
This dude seriously deserves your views. (He also has a way better voice than me, just sayin')

[@koalanectar9382]

Banjo: Where should we build our house? Tootie: Probably under that gigantic witch head.

[@DimetappWUT]

The XBLA version of the game doesn't require you to recollect the notes if you've left the level. It was a very welcomed change.

[@ThotdFan127]

I just noticed this, THANK GOD!

[@tylerjohnson6378]

If I remember right, the note recollecting was initially due to the N64 cartridge not having sufficient memory to remember which notes had been taken and which hadn't in all the worlds simultaneously, it only had enough to remember one world at a time, and then remember the total collected. The XBLA version made the game closer to the developer's original intent, and took out a mostly frustrating mechanic.

[@j2enna10]

The worst part of the N64 version.

[@ISoloYouRelax]

I personally don't like the change and wish that they gave an option for that. There have been a few times where I've missed notes and unable to find them. If the notes respawned then it'd be easier to find them since they pretty much lead you where you need to go.

[@dissonanceparadiddle]

@@ISoloYouRelax for me it was about tedium not difficulty

[@lobsteros]

Holy hell, this is the most in depth review of this game I've ever seen. This is amazing, you really deserve more views. Keep it up!

[@John306x]

i blindly clicked the link, took me a long time to realize this wasn't Matthewmatosis, if this doesnt sound like a compliment, it is

[@1gnore_me.]

this is excellent. reminds me of matthewmatosis, in a good way.

[@arandomguy1600]

Banjo's in smash people!!!

[@ArafuraMusic]

I've seen a lot of (Banjo-Kazooie) review and analysis videos and this really is something quite special! Kudos for going so in depth!

[@Rubberman202]

Three years later, Lobodestroyo basically fell off the face of the Earth (well technically it's still around, but making VERY slow progress), Yooka-Laylee ended up being good yet somewhat disappointing to a lot of fans, and A Hat in Time... well actually, I've heard nothing but good things about it, though I've yet to play it myself. The only bad things I heard about it are it's length (it's really short), the JonTron debacle (they kept JonTron in the game even after the ridiculous stuff he said in that Destiny debate), and the fact that the creator seemed to adamantly refuse the possibility that the game will come to the Nintendo Switch... Which, as it turns out, was just a lie they told so as to not get people's hopes up that there will be a Switch release, since at the time it was unknown, a tactic which blew up spectacularly in their face. Anyway, I recently revisited Banjo-Kazooie, and in doing so realized it's kind of masterwork and probably one of my favorite games of all time, so much so that I'm looking up analysis videos like this to see other people's thoughts on it.

[@ECL28E]

Lobodestroyo recently updated. It's still happening

[@3030sonic]

This is AMAZING. I salute you, sir, for this is the most in-depth review/analysis of BK I have ever seen. Props to you.

[@Treyworld]

12:37 - 13:34 Good job calling out Super Mario World's cheap cape problem. XD

[@CeeMarshall]

Extremely well done.

[@Thirteen13551355]

You cannot actually skip the intro cutscenes when you've never had a save on your game cartridge. Found that out yesterday.

[@SxVaNm345]

One of the best critical analysis and examination I have seen and heard for this game! Keep up the great work!

[@Rareware]

Nice job on the video. I'm eagerly awaiting the dk64 one.

[@hotdragonfire]

ThatRareGamer has it been released yet? I can't find it

[@Rareware]

Yes you just need to go to his videos.

[@greent26tube]

Incredible points made my friend. Great work and fantastic analysis of a great game. Love these videos and the amount of attention put into them. Thanks!!!

[@evil_yami]

You should team up with matthewmatosis.

[@stephenweir9768]

damn, this is just as good as matthewmatosis. good job, man!

[@dotcomGone]

This is very well done, will look forward to future uploads!

[@Zafarnama111]

Why has it taken eight years for me to find this top tier content of my childhood?

[@thegoodplace1234]

Great video. Subbed. Looking forward to more content like this!

[@insanelyheinousbeefer]

hey dude just wanna say this is really great series you put together. really should have more views.

[@shorolay]

Awesome analysis and review. Nice work , i already watched another ones but this is the best by far (sorry for my english) kudos to you man !

[@ISoloYouRelax]

I love banjos dance when he gets the jiggies. I don't care how any times he does it.

[@Youcifer]

Terrific review. Absolutely marvelous. Subscribed.

[@BananaMana69]

I think thr mumbo token thing In Mumbos Mountain is because they figured people wouldnt do everything in Mumbos Mountain their first time in and expected to maybe get a few in Treasure Trove Cove or Clankers Cavern before they came back to finish up Mumbos Mountain. We may find it easy to compete these levels our fist go in but your first time playing you may duck out at 5 jiggies to go explore more of the lair, or even right after you get talon trot and the required notes for the door.

[@alexhong2639]

Great review!

[@alexhong2639]

You really went over the top with this awesome review. Is this a theme in your life

[@VenusHeadTrap2]

I can't concentrate on your voice over the sound of this game's incomparable charm

[@swizard]

Your style really reminds me of super bunnyhop. That's not a bad thing though!

[@AlistairIRL]

I'll subscribe if you promise to do an excessive fake irish accent in all your videos from now on.

[@ThrillingDuck]

this comment made my night, thank you

[@tbana2396]

But isn't DK64 technically just Banjo 1.5ie?

[@Vmac1394]

I don't think the lack of a preemptive warning for the damaging floors is much of an issue considering they never do more than a single honeycomb of damage and the game is generally very generous with health restoring items.

[@ganontice3518]

This is very useful!

[@wiardzijlstra5905]

This game is a masterpiece

[@_miteo]

I think that learning some things are harmful by trying it out is totally ok Imo, a lot of games nowadays treat the players like kids by telling them everything they should or shouldn't do

[@nostalgiaworks5999]

The whole note score problem is why I only play this game on the Xbox 360.

[@spaghettiioassassin8151]

God I fucking love this game. 20 years later and I still play this game every other year as well as Majora's Mask and DK 64. Does anyone know why DK64 was never remastered for 360 like BK and BT were?

[@y2commenter246]

Spaghettiio Assassin Nintendo owns dk.

[@Wahaller]

Because DK64 is shit. Nah that's just my opinion, what Josh S said is correct.

[@BeeBumper]

To be young again... You forget most games back then came with a manual and I am pretty sure the fact that notes were discarded when you leave a level and a high score obtained would have been in it. A minor gripe that is not present in the rerelease on xbox. The fact is the only level that is a major issue was Rusty Bucket Bay, some notes were a real b1tch. There in lies the challenge as well as it had 3 lives that could be increased to 9. When gone they are gone.

[@CoNteMpTone]

I like that someone else mentions rusty bucket bay. Its only really an issue in the engine room, which has an instant death fall. I feel like changing this instant death to a simple respawn would possibly be the only positive change this game could use. Fixes the note issue at the same time. Other than that im a big fan of the note highscores.

[@ArthurAugustyn]

This video has good editing and direction but you could pick up the pace a bit. Is a drawn-out explanation of how the game is necessary for every example? Or could you weave in your analysis along with the summary to save time? I realize this video is old as hell but hope you're still doing good work.

[@HyveMindsGames]

Fantastic video. I subscribed to you because of ECCH grumps and this video is a nice surprise

[@klarissa726]

This was an awesome game back in the days. My cousin had the Super Nintendo with Donkey Kong Country 1-3 but I never had a console for my own. Later I played this game in the supermarkets. I must have been quite addicted at that time. Especially since I pissed in my pants at one point because I wouldn't want to go to the bathroom.

[@Maceyoshiman]

Will we ever get that DK review? ??

[@Veegie]

Yes, eventually! I still have every intention of finishing this. Some other things have to come first, though. Thanks to any/everyone with the patience to stick around here.

[@cosmickirbster7996]

Veegie Any updates?

[@mikewolsen22]

Lol

[@philshen1899]

Needs to be on switch

[@CoNteMpTone]

It is now!

[@cheezemonkeyeater]

I feel like this is the Rare game that holds up the best over time. A few elements haven't aged well, like the camera controls, but the levels are still well designed, it's got a fun vibe, and it's enjoyable to play even with the elements that haven't aged well.

[@jonahandrews456]

he bit mathewmatosis whole swag

[@betorockmetal]

Most of the levels cannot be completed the first time you enter them. These games are a lot about backtracking, specially Banjo Tooie. What if you can't find all the tokens in Mumbo's mountain? Dude! There are 40 fucking extra mumbo tokens in the whole game....

[@CoNteMpTone]

Well the actual amount of backtracking is fairly minimal. Just feels like it sometimes but in kazooie the time you ACTUALLY backtrack is far below 5 minutes and in tooie its like 15-20 minutes if you 100% the game. And its not even always a negative but can even be cool and connect you to the world more.

[@mossex4447]

Good review, but the appropriation, for lack of a better word, or Matthewmatosis' delivery was very distracting for me.

[@Veegie]

Hey, thanks! I'm not going to deny that I sometimes felt my "inspiration" bled a bit too much into "ripoff", but the more I thought about it, it occurred to me: In a style as "no-frills" as this, how exactly does one differentiate their delivery? I'm not about to add any artificial inflections/affectations to my voice, or start cracking jokes every other line, so this is one of the surprisingly more difficult aspects of making these videos. The cadence I go for feels pretty natural to me, so if I'm aping his delivery to the point of being distracting, I suppose all I can say is that it certainly isn't my intention. I'll concede the point if I start developing an Irish accent, however. =P

[@mossex4447]

The thing is, at times your delivery is so similar, it starts to sound like you DO develop an Irish accent, if only for a brief moment. This is obviously just subconscious, and probably something not many people will notice. I'm an aspiring voice actor, so I have a very sharp ear for certain inflections. Not telling you to change your style, I'm just saying that the delivery is so uncanny it sounds unnatural to me. If it comes naturally to you though, I suppose I can't stop you form just being you. Keep up the good work!

[@yoshiswagdust]

dk64 never

[@yoshiswagdust]

dk64 is real

[@Nay089]

Man I really enjoy your analysis but this is a complete ripoff of matthewmatosis. All that's missing is the accent. Please switch up your delivery and style.

[@Veegie]

youngcreamMakeEmScream I've thought about this a lot, both while I was making this video and in the years (ugh) since. And at the risk of sounding blunt, I don't think I care anymore. This "style" is just a no-nonsense, no-frills presentation. To that end, anyone who provides straightforward commentary over game footage without falling all over themselves to add jokes, live action segments and fancy editing could be said to be "ripping him off". Just about anything I could do to really differentiate myself would just be adding unnecessary fluff. As an example, since someone else also complained about this in particular: How many different ways are there to say "welcome, this is a series of reviews of [x] games", and what benefit is gained from rewording simple straightforward language into something else for the sake of style? My goal here isn't to establish my own distinct online brand; it's to discuss games and the things I value in those games. I can barely manage one of these review projects per year, I don't make any money off of them, *and* I credit matthewmatosis as an inspiration in the description of every video. With all that in mind, if a few stylistic similarities arise due to the barebones nature of the presentation, and if those similarities are utterly unacceptable to you, I'm not sure what to tell you at that point. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Thanks for the compliment and your viewership, at any rate.

[@Nay089]

My comment came across a little more contentious than I intended. for that I apologize. Seriously, this is an excellent video and I do enjoy and appreciate your work. I was just giving critical feedback, and it looks like many others noticed what I noticed as well. But it sounds like you won't be doing any more of these which is a shame.

[@Veegie]

youngcreamMakeEmScream No worries. The extent of my response was probably a bit uncalled for as well, so, sorry for that. It was more of a general statement since I've seen a number of people make the same claim that I'm trying too hard to ape matthewmatosis when, in my mind, those similarities are sort of inevitable. I'm still working on the last part of this review series, actually! It's just slow going since this work is a lower priority than pretty much everything else I have going on.