Banjo: "Wow, real live aliens!" - Kazooie: "Are any of you by any chance called Elvis?"
Article by: spajjder
Pictured from: Banjo-Kazooie
Created by: Rare
First appearance: 1997 (Banjo), 1998 (Kazooie)
Bio
Banjo & Kazooie are the famous Honey Bear and Red-Crested Breegull duo from the game series named after them. Banjo is a gentle, cheerful soul who likes to swim, climb, and play. In contrast, Kazooie is a loudmouth who likes to insult whoever she meets and brag about her accomplishments. Despite her abrasive nature, she sees Banjo as her adoptee, and has taken up residence in his backpack.
The story begins when Gruntilda Winkybunion, a hideous green witch who speaks in rhymes, becomes jealous of Banjo's little sister Tooty's beautiful looks. As part of a plan to switch their looks, the witch kidnaps the cub, prompting Banjo and Kazooie to set out to rescue her.
Alone, Banjo can throw punches and unleash rolling attacks against opponents, but it is with the help of Kazooie that most of the duo's advanced moves become possible. These include jumping higher and farther, midair attacks, and even firing eggs from her beak or out of her rear. Humorously, the bird is often the one carrying the bear, whether by hauling him on her back, which is actually both faster and more versatile than the other way around, or by letting him hang glide under her wings as she flies him around.
As the protagonists make their way through Gruntilda's lair, occasionally accompanied by her rhyming taunts, they traverse mountains, deserts, and the very seasons themselves in their quest to find Banjo's sister. Along the way, they meet such characters as Mumbo Jumbo, the voodoo priest who turns them into various animals; Bottles, the mole who teaches them new fancy moves; and Brentilda, Gruntilda's better-looking sister, who gives them all manners of gossip of Gruntilda's disgusting habits.
The clock is ticking. Will Banjo and Kazooie save Tooty in time, or will Gruntilda finish her "makeover" and doom the cub to hideousness?
Selected game appearances
Nintendo 64
- Diddy Kong Racing¹ (1997)
- Banjo-Kazooie (1998)
- Banjo-Tooie (2000)
Xbox 360
- Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (2008)
- Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing with Banjo-Kazooie (2010)
¹ Banjo only
References
- The Banjo-Kazooie Wiki - "Banjo"
- The Banjo-Kazooie Wiki - "Kazooie"
- Wikipedia - "Banjo-Kazooie"
- Banjo-Kazooie instruction manual
