Banjo-Kazooie are Raring to go.
- Release Date: 5th September 2019
- DLC For: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Developer: Bandai Namco, Sora Ltd.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Platforms: Switch
- Version Played: Switch
After the launch of Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Nintendo decided to add some DLC characters based on third party franchises, even hosting polls where people can vote for their suggestions. Banjo-Kazooie were second on the list of most wanted characters, and Microsoft allowed Nintendo to use the characters for Super Smash Bros, and he became the third challenger character in Ultimate. This also makes their first appearance since Sonic All-Stars Racing, so it’s a reunion with both Diddy Kong and Sonic.
Banjo’s moveset is heavily inspired by Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie, utilising many of their attack moves in their normal attacks. The specials are egg firing (holding the button lets you activate gun mode from Tooie for quicker firing), a Wonderwing dash, a spring jump and pooping out a grenade egg, which to me is odd as two of the special moves are egg ones. He’s very nice to play as, though, and looks and sounds great.
His stage, Spiral Mountain, is a good one. It’s a lovely rendition of the area (resembling its Nuts & Bolts layout but set during the start of Banjo-Kazooie), and the camera spins round to different angles, giving you different layouts as the match progresses. Gruntilda flies past, Bottles pops up and Tooty runs around in the background – which is her first appearance since the original Banjo-Kazooie – she’s finally been found.
With this being added after launch, Banjo misses out on any proper contribution to the main story, although you can still use him in it. There are a few spirit fights to do, unlocking a few stickers (Ultimate’s poor replacements for trophies), so the only other things are some fantastic renditions of some classic Banjo music.
Fun
