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Foil Gruntilda's Plans Twice In Xbox Live Marketplace Banjo-Kazooie Bundle
For those itching for some classic 3D jumping action this summer, Microsoft has released a collection of two N64 classics on the Xbox Live Marketplace. Titled the Banjo Games Bundle, both the original Banjo-Kazooie and its sequel, Banjo-Tooie, are now available for download together for the discounted price of $15.
Released in 1998, Banjo-Kazooie puts you in the shorts of Banjo the bear and Kazooie the bird in an adventure to save Banjo's sister, Tooty, from the clutches of the evil witch Gruntilda. The game came to the Xbox Live Marketplace back in 2008, reviving the egg-shooting and high-flying gameplay with cleaner visuals.
Banjo-Tooie continues the story of the original, bringing new additions like playing as the friendly shaman Mumbo Jumbo and controlling Banjo and Kazooie individually. The pair are now tasked with facing Gruntilda once again, this time joined by her sisters Mingella and Blobbelda.
For more on all things Banjo, watch our Replay episode of Banjo-Kazooie and read our story on the spiritual successor project that got canned very early in development.
[Source: ComputerAndVideoGames]
Our Take
With no plans for anything new with Banjo-Kazooie in sight, this deal is the best excuse to revisit these 15-year-old games or try them for the first time. Though definitely guilty of the "collect-a-thon" game design mentality that pervaded the era, both games have enough charm and personality in their power-ups and soundtracks to warrant checking out.
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