A lot of characters get invited to Super Smash Bros. because they're relevant in the current state of the game industry in one way or another. For instance, Byleth joined Super Smash Bros. Ultimate after the overwhelming success of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, while Sephiroth's inclusion points toward the impact of the Final Fantasy 7 remakes. Other characters make their way into Smash for the opposite reason, however; they may no longer be commonplace in the game industry, but they're important parts of video game history. That's why Mr. Game and Watch is a Smash mainstay, and that's why the titular protagonists of Banjo-Kazooie showed up, too.
A lot of Smash veterans spent years holding on to hope that Banjo and Kazooie would get an invitation someday, in spite of their franchise's complicated relationship with Nintendo in the wake of Microsoft's acquisition of Rare. Nevertheless, Banjo and Kazooie made the cut as DLC characters for Smash Ultimate. However, while some fans have held out for Banjo-Kazooie for years, a lot of younger Smash fans may never have had the chance to experience the platformer for themselves. Now that Banjo-Kazooie is coming to Nintendo Switch Online, Smash fans have the perfect opportunity to play an important piece of platforming history.
Why Banjo-Kazooie Matters
Banjo-Kazooie may be more than 20 years old, but it's still extremely relevant as a piece of video game history. Rare developed Banjo-Kazooie during a time when platformers were going through major changes thanks to experimentation with the N64's 3D capabilities. When it released, Banjo-Kazooie was frequently compared to the acclaimed Super Mario 64, and some critics even said it improved on Super Mario 64 in some departments, like with its use of textures and its deep action-adventure aspects. Rare had already produced solid games such as GoldenEye 007 by the time Banjo-Kazooie released, but the platformer really exemplified Rare's potential.
Smash fans should also consider playing Banjo-Kazooie because it represents one of Nintendo's most lucrative creative partnerships. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Nintendo and Rare were a powerhouse team, producing huge games like Donkey Kong Country and Perfect Dark alongside Banjo-Kazooie. Unfortunately, that flourishing era came to an end when Microsoft bought Rare in 2002, and since then, many of Nintendo and Rare's joint ventures have gone dormant. Banjo and Kazooie joining Smash Ultimate represented Rare finally reconnecting with Nintendo after nearly twenty years, but Banjo-Kazooie's NSO debut is an even more concrete reunion of a former dynamic duo.
Banjo-Kazooie's Return
Not every game on Nintendo Switch Online's N64 expansion ported to the Switch gracefully, and Nintendo received some criticism for graphical rendering problems, input lag, and other issues, so word of Banjo-Kazooie's port would naturally make some longtime fans nervous. However, it looks like Banjo-Kazooie hasn't run into any issues on its way to the Switch, instead delivering the N64 experience that fans remember. While that's great news for Banjo-Kazooie loyalists, it's also good for young Smash fans who first confronted the property through the Banjo and Kazooie DLC. These potential fans now have a convenient way to experience a faithful rendition of Banjo-Kazooie on a modern Nintendo console.
It's a major relief that Banjo and Kazooie made it into Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in the wake of news suggesting that Smash's future is uncertain. Banjo-Kazooie remains a hallmark game in Nintendo's archive and deserved recognition in Nintendo's multi-franchise fighting game, even if the Banjo-Kazooie IP lives under Microsoft's roof now. Bringing Banjo and Kazooie into Smash only offers a glimpse of the franchise's history, though; playing Banjo-Kazooie is the best way to understand Nintendo and Rare's former relationship and the influence that Rare's work had on platforming. NSO's N64 expansion has lots of solid games, but Banjo-Kazooie is a particularly important inclusion.
Banjo-Kazooie is available now for Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack owners.
