![]() But Banjo-Kazooie was more than a Mario clone: While it took inspiration from Mario, it also anticipated where Mario was going to go. Inevitably, contemporary critics continued to compare it to Mario after its release, and some of them even praised it as a more polished product, if a less innovative one. It garnered rave reviews, won awards for graphics, music, and overall quality, sold more than 3.5 million copies worldwide, and spawned four sequels or spinoffs. Banjo lived up the impossible billing, or at least came as close as any game could.Īfter many months of build-up, Banjo-Kazooie came out on Nintendo 64 in June 1998, 20 years ago this month. For the most part, though, the hype proved to be a blessing. In light of its look, timing, and gameplay, Banjo was destined to be scrutinized as a successor to the genre’s reigning king, with its most memorable moments measured against Mario’s and all its flaws laid bare. Super Mario 64, which had debuted in North America less than a year earlier, was one of the most acclaimed and momentous games of all time, a title that the same magazine - granted, not an unbiased source - had proclaimed “nothing less than a revolution” and “the new gold standard in video games.” Labeling Banjo as a platformer that performed like Mario 64 was akin to comparing a Ball brother to Steph Curry before the kid’s first professional field goal. ![]() It was simultaneously one of the most encouraging comparisons that the publication could have made, and one of the most intimidating. “The first thing you have to know about this game is that it behaves a lot like Super Mario 64,” Nintendo Power told its hungry readers in August 1997, in the magazine’s first hands-on preview of Banjo-Kazooie. Our series continues today with Banjo-Kazooie, the beloved platformer from renowned game developer Rare that built on Mario’s model for 3-D design and, in retrospect, helped set the stage for the long-neglected genre’s recent resurgence. Throughout the year, The Ringer ’s gaming enthusiasts will be paying tribute to the legendary titles turning 20 in 2018 by replaying them for the umpteenth time or playing them for the first time, talking to the people who made them, and analyzing both what made them great and how they made later games greater. ![]() It should also be noted that in many conversions of the original coin-op game for early 1980's consoles and computer-systems, Donkey Kong only used two or three of the original levels, with the cement factory most often omitted.Art may largely be a matter of taste, but one conclusion is close to inarguable: 1998 was the best year ever for video games, producing an unparalleled lineup of revolutionary releases that left indelible legacies and spawned series and subcultures that persist today. Additionally, Mario can also find Pauline's hat, purse and umbrella for additional bonus points.ĭonkey Kong is also notable for being one of the first complete narratives in video game form, told through simplistic cut scenes that advance the story. Although not as powerful as in other future games, Mario can find a hammer which allows him to destroy the barrels and fireballs for a limited amount of time. From there, the levels start over at a higher difficulty.Īlong the way, Mario must dodge a constant stream of barrels, "living" fireballs, and spring-weights. Once the rivets are removed from the final level, Donkey Kong falls, and the two lovers are reunited. ![]() Released in the arcades in 1981, Donkey Kong was not only Nintendo's first real smash hit for the company, but marked the introduction for two of their most popular mascots: Mario (originally "Jumpman") and Donkey Kong.ĭonkey Kong is a platform-action game that has Mario scale four different industrial themed levels (construction zone, cement factory, an elevator-themed level, and removing rivets from girders) in an attempt to save the damsel in distress, Pauline, from the big ape before the timer runs out. ![]()
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