Whatever they do, Rare make it look effortless. Their ascendancy over the N64 format as prime developer has been breathtaking, as they are able to match the quality of Nintendo's own efforts, but with a enviably better work rate: Banjo Kazooie is their fifth N64 release in 18 months.
The plot is simple: use Banjo bear and Kazooie crow to rescue Banjo's sister Tooty and defeat evil Gruntilda.
The structure is similar to that of Mario 64: a series of 3D platform worlds set in Gruntilda's lair.
The worlds are accessed by finding golden jigsaw pieces and using them to complete pictures. 10 pieces are found on each level. Players can enter and leave worlds at will, allowing them some freedom to move to later worlds without discovering every secret on the earlier levels.
A second mechanism to prevent the levels being rushed through is the note doors. These bar later sections of the game, and can only be opened when the player has collected enough of the 100 notes on each world to breach them.
The worlds themselves use broad-brush themes, colourful and often kiddie in style: there's a beach level with a pirate ship and lighthouse, a swamp, a snow level with all the paraphernalia of christmas trees and presents.
The level design is superb - players have the freedom to wander where they will, but certain areas require skill to access, and specific tasks present themselves as mini-quests or subgames. The player is never left wondering what to do, but at the same time is not channelled so obviously as Mario 64. Some levels appeal more than others - Freezeezy Peak is fantastic. The player can choose to escort a set of fairy lights to a Christmas tree, play aerial bombardment with a set of snowmen, or challenge a polar bear to a sled race.
The landscape is bigger and better in every sense than Mario. The best way to experience this is from an aerial viewpoint. Once you have learned how to fly, Banjo Kazooie is played on a whole different level. The technical performance Rare have achieved is truly awesome.
The depth of field is vast, allowing players to survey huge sections of the world from the equivalent of thousands of feet in the air. The frame rate and detail are never sacrificed. Yet, even at ground level the textures are smooth and gorgeous. Finally, MIP mapping used to the betterment, not detriment of an N64 game's appearance.
Superficially, BK may look too childish for you, with its bright colours, pantomime cast and lame gags. But a truly exquisite control mechanism makes it absorbing and rewarding for all levels of player. The initial quotient of moves is good enough, but one or two new techniques are unvealed on each level. And although you are controlling one character, the game successfully creates the illusion that you're actually using two characters in partnership.
