As part of Microsoft’s recently announced acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Xbox will soon own development studio Toys for Bob. While the deal isn’t going through for a long while yet, this should excite fans ofRare’s old franchises. With both studios under Xbox, once the deal goes through there’s a chance Toys for Bob could be tasked with bringing back classic titles such asConker’s Bad Fur Day, or evenBanjo-Kazooie.
Many fans ofBanjo-Kazooiehave been hoping for a revival, as many people may have missed out on the original title, butBanjo-Kazooiewas one of the top 3D platformers of the Nintendo 64 era and is fondly remembered by those who grew up with the game. The last time Banjo and Kazooie starred in a brand-new game wasBanjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Boltsin 2008, which has been criticized as the weakest point of the franchise for several reasons. AfterNuts and Bolts, Rare, Xbox has seemingly shelved the platforming duo outside guest appearances. Recent patterns suggest that could change.
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The Potential For a Toys for Bob Banjo-Kazooie Remake
The idea of Toys for Bob having a hand in aBanjo-Kazooierevival seems like a perfect pitch. Toys for Bob has made a name for itself developing the critically acclaimedCrash Bandicoot: N. Sane TrilogyandSpyro: Reignited Trilogy. These remakes focused on capturing how the games played and felt in terms of aesthetics and controls, and that hard work has paid off with fans.
Banjo-Kazooieis another game that fits the niche Toys for Bob has worked on reviving withSpyroandCrash. Between its colorful worlds and characters, cartoon googly eyes on every object, and overall the scope of Banjo and Kazooie’s adventures, it’s easy to imagine Gruntilda’s Castle and Spiral Mountain in the art style seen with Toys for Bob’s past works. Picturing Tootie, Bottles, Mumbo Jumbo, and more re-designed in the same fashion as theCrashcast andSpyro’smany Dragon Eldersseems like a dream come true for series loyalists.
The timing of a Toys for BobBanjo-Kazooieremake would fit current demand as well. WithSuper Smash Bros. UltimateincludingBanjo and Kazooie as a DLC fighter, the bear and bird are once again in the spotlight. Many fans were ecstatic about their inclusion, but others had never heard of them due to missing out on the N64 era of gaming.Smash Bros. has helped games likeFire Emblemfind their audiences abroad in the past, andBanjo-Kazooieseems to be growing in popularity in the same way. The original game also recently released onto the Nintendo Switch Online - Expansion Pack service as one of its most anticipated titles, helping to prove that this series still has many fans hoping for more.
While letting Toys for Bob work inBanjo-Kazooieseems like a great idea, there’s a strong chance this team-up might never happen.Banjo-Kazooiehasn’t seen any sort of revival since 2008, and Toys for Bob has stopped work ongames likeSpyroandCrashto help Activision withCall of Duty: Warzone. Even though many fans might agree that letting Toys for Bob work on another remaster such as this would be an easy choice to make, there may be other options out of Xbox, Rare, or other possible development teams that may keep it from happening. Still, if the chance presents itself, the resulting title would surely be a success with many fans.
Banjo-Kazooieis available now on Nintendo Switch Online’s Expansion Pack tier.
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