We store cookies, you can get more info from our privacy policy.

Ex Rare Staff Considering Banjo Successor

by Nicholas Bray - September 26, 2012, 9:01 pm EDT
Total comments: 35 Source: (Mingy Jongo), https://twitter.com/MingyJongo

Former Rareware members have some tasty ideas cooking.

Ex members of Rareware have banded together to form Mingy Jongo, a Twitter account expressing an interest in creating a spiritual successor to their acclaimed Banjo-Kazooie series. The intention thus far is simply to gauge public opinion and build developer interest in the potential project.

Core members of the original Banjo team including music composer Grant Kirkhope and 3D artist Steven Hurst are already invested in the group's activities. The game they're pondering proposes to be a 3D platformer in the vein of Banjo-Tooie, with the same kind of humour, silly characters and fun adventuring gameplay that the series was known for, while still being a new project with a new cast.

If this idea garners enough popularity, a Kickstarter could be initiated to make the game a reality. So far over 5000 followers have gathered. If you want to check out the buzz, head on over to their Twitter page and join in!

Talkback

the asylumSeptember 27, 2012

Shame that Microsoft won't let Rare make an actual Banjo-Threeie instead of more Kinect garbage

TJ SpykeSeptember 27, 2012

Quote from: the

Shame that Microsoft won't let Rare make an actual Banjo-Threeie instead of more Kinect garbage

Whether you liked the game or not, they already did make it (and it apparently bombed).

I liked Nuts & Bolts quite a bit, but it really wasn't Banjo Threeie. Which, in my opinion, is a good thing, since I wasn't really a fan of the first two.

S-U-P-E-RTy Shughart, Staff AlumnusSeptember 27, 2012

Quote from: NWR_insanolord

I liked Nuts & Bolts quite a bit, but it really wasn't Banjo Threeie. Which, in my opinion, is a good thing, since I wasn't really a fan of the first two.

Unpopular opinions up in here. Is your Pokemon team all Zubats?

To be fair, I never played them on the N64 and started with the XBLA versions, and the games really don't hold up.

EasyCureSeptember 27, 2012

I've be happy for them if they can make it happen but I probably won't buy it..

Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who played both games when they were first released but didn't like them. Maybe I hussy wasn't starved for N64 games like everyone else, but I instantly disliked the game when I realized it was.a massive collect-a-thon. I was only interested because most reviews compared it to Mario 64 with more polished visuals, but collecting stars in Mario never got tiring or stagnant. Even today its still a fun game to play, but I'll probably never go back to the Banjo series. Yes the graphics were nice and vibrant, the worlds were much grander than what Mario offered at the time, but it just never clicked for me. Even as a young gamer then, the colorful world and bubbly characters were off putting to me and traversing the levels felt as tedious as collecting everything.

I was saddened that I spent the money on Donkey Kong 64 when I realized too late that it followed the same path as Banjo. While I'm at it, I never could get in to Jet Force Gemini either, but I still want to give that one a shot again someday.

Anth0nySeptember 27, 2012

They need to put that damn Kickstarter up and take all my money.

famicomplicatedJames Charlton, Associate Editor (Japan)September 27, 2012

I loved the original, but could never afford the sequel back in the day.
By the time I did have enough money the GameCube was just around the corner so I saved my money for that...
I don't intend getting a 360 just to replay them, but I might just get the carts if I can find them cheap. It's just I'm worried about the slowdown in Tooie, even back then it was supposed to be bad!


I'm all for this project though, hope it works out! :D

CaterkillerMatthew Osborne, Contributing WriterSeptember 27, 2012

Loved Banjo Kazooie and all it's collecting. It was DK 64 that just made all of it intolerable.

Banjo Tooie was ok, not as good as the first, but oh god... Canary Marry! Yuck!

I really hope this goes somewhere, would be great to see these people work on a modern game with little to no meddling from a publisher..

Everyone be sure to follow that Twitter feed!

roger6106September 27, 2012

I hope this is more like Banjo-Kazooie and not Tooie. Banjo-Kazooie was excellent, but Banjo-Tooie was just annoying. There was way too much running around huge, nearly empty areas. Banjo-Kazooie levels were still big, but they managed to put the items closer together, making the game much more enjoyable. There was less wasted time going half way across a level for something like a split-up pad, just to go back to where you were.

You'll have so many bafmadadds!

FOUR HUNDRED BAFMADADDS!

S-U-P-E-RTy Shughart, Staff AlumnusSeptember 27, 2012

I would kickstart hundreds or more for a new Killer Instinct.

the asylumSeptember 27, 2012

I would give my left testicle for new Killer Instinct made by old Rare. Then I'd undergo stem cell therapy to re-grow it and give that one too.

tendoboy1984September 27, 2012

Why would Rare go behind Microsoft's back just to Kickstart a Killer Instinct game? They wouldn't be able to do it anyways, since the series is owned by Microsoft (they'd have to get their permission to work on it).

Spak-SpangSeptember 27, 2012

You know to me...I thought Banjo and Kazooie was a poor substitute for Mario 64.  I couldn't get into the game.  I thought the locking away of abilities until you earned them didn't work in a platforming game.  I loved how Mario I could just use all his abilities all at once.  The game also felt slower and the overall level design less interesting...but again, part of that was the fact abilities were locked and I couldn't get to where I wanted to go.


That being said...I know many people loved the game, and my opinion is the minority opinion, so I welcome any project that gets the original Rare designer together to work on a project.  If I was Nintendo I would be willing to drop some money on a project like this...


Now hopefully, they can get some better character designs this time around.



Spak-SpangSeptember 27, 2012

Well...Killer Instinct is a dead franchise...however I wonder how much of that combat system could be copied and made into a new game...honestly NONE of the characters are memorable or worth keeping around.  Though, I will admit that they were fun.

I would think getting a good team to make a spiritual successor to KI could be done...and I think it would be an easier project in a lot ways to developing a good 3D platformer.

SarailSeptember 27, 2012

Quote from: EasyCure

While I'm at it, I never could get in to Jet Force Gemini either, but I still want to give that one a shot again someday.

*GASP* It's only the bestest game ever.

Quote from: S-U-P-E-R

I would kickstart hundreds or more for a new Killer Instinct.

Ditto, good sir. A million times over. A MILLION.

EDIT: Spak, I disagree with you, man. When I think about Killer Instinct (granted, it's not a series that stays fresh on my mind like JFG does), I immediately think of three characters that stand out the most - Jago, Orchid, and Fulgore. With that said, along with my reply to Ty above, I'd kill to see a new Killer Instinct. There's so much that could be done with reinvigorating that series. Hell, if Street Fighter can keep modifying and adding more and more on top of what it already does so well, then KI has only just begun.

It's just a shame that Microsoft doesn't care about Rare's IPs. I wish Nintendo would swoop in and buy them all up. I wonder if ex-Rare employees would then seek out jobs working for Nintendo if that were to happen? ;)

Quote:

And a question for you. I love googly eyes on everything, I 'm hoping you're the same #secretofgoodcharacterdesign

I had a Rare character of my own design as an icon for a while. People kept calling the wooden spoon a worm so I had to change it.


So I have no created the MOST Rare-est character ever.

Ian SaneSeptember 27, 2012

So the guy who doesn't like Super Mario World or A Link to the Past also doesn't like Banjo-Kazooie?  That is the same guy, right?  I'm not mixing up my forumers with horrible taste, am I?

Making a spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie is a funny idea because I always saw the N64 games as spiritual successors to Super Mario 64.  So this is a spirtual successor to a spiritual successor?  The Banjo games exist because we all wanted more Super Mario 64 and EAD wasn't going to give it to us so Rare gave it to us instead.  These days Nintendo is so willing to release new Mario platformers that the value in a new Banjo game just isn't there.

DK 64 was the only "bad" 3D platformer Rare made on the N64 (it's really not bad; just a chore to 100% on).  The Banjo games and Conker were all fantastic.

Yeah, that's me. The difference is when I'm not trying to upset people I'll admit that World and LTTP are well made games that I just could never get into, but I'd argue Rare's overemphasis on collecting that began with Banjo Kazooie is straight up bad game design.

broodwarsSeptember 27, 2012

I said as much on Twitter already, but I'd much rather this team were interested in making a spiritual successor to Jet Force Gemini, especially given how far the 3rd person shooter has progressed since the original game.  3rd person 3D platformers have kind of plateaued over the years by comparison, so I'm not as interested in another Banjo game.

Ian SaneSeptember 27, 2012

Jet Force Gemini's controls would benefit greatly from dual-sticks.  It feels like they're trying to do it with the C buttons and it just isn't working too well.  I'm not one to call for remakes but a remake of that game with more conventional controls is something I'd be all over.  They need to remove the Tribals requirement as well and just make that collecting crap a bonus to get 100%.  There's a great game hidden away in there.

Screw dual sticks, the game's controls would really benefit from the Wii remote pointer.

CericSeptember 27, 2012

Quote from: NWR_insanolord

Screw dual sticks, the game's controls would really benefit from the Wii remote pointer.

Preach it Brother Corbran!

Anyway,  Didn't like Mario 64 or Banjo and those style of games.  Like Sunshine though.
I rather see a Jet Force Gemini as well.

Spak-SpangSeptember 27, 2012

Jet Force Gemini would have been better with better controls and better camera system.


I remember playing the game and getting frustrated with classic shooter bad design.  Like being snipped at in open areas with no quick and easy way to find the enemy....horrible camera design, and very bad controls.


Did the game have promise hell yes...and with a better controller it would be great...but if I was going to choose I wouldn't want JFG I would prefer a Earth Defense Force made by the proper team. 



CyrianSeptember 27, 2012

Quote from: Spak-Spang

Well...Killer Instinct is a dead franchise...

Maybe (hopefully) not...  http://playxbla.com/killer-instinct-trademark-renewed/

the asylumSeptember 27, 2012

That just means that they've renewed the trademark, allowing them to port the games to XBLA sometime, if ever. Even the current Rare team says Microsoft wont entertain the idea of KI3.

Besides, Microsoft has better things for Rare to work on. Like more Kinect garbage.

CericSeptember 28, 2012

Quote from: the

Besides, Microsoft has better things for Rare to work on. Like more Kinect garbage.

Brilliant!  Rare Introduces...

Kinector Instincts.

famicomplicatedJames Charlton, Associate Editor (Japan)September 28, 2012

All the ex-Rare staff should just make a new studio called "Rarer" or maybe even "F**k Kinect Studios".

tendoboy1984September 28, 2012

Quote from: Ceric

Quote from: the

Besides, Microsoft has better things for Rare to work on. Like more Kinect garbage.

Brilliant!  Rare Introduces...

Kinector Instincts.

Killer Kinects

Chozo GhostSeptember 28, 2012

Nintendo should hire up the old Rare staff and create a new studio called "Scarce" and put them to work on "War Frogs", "Lethal Instinct", Silvereye 006, Guitar-Zakooie, Flawless Dark, and so on.

Ian SaneSeptember 28, 2012

Microsoft relegating Rare to Kinect is a pretty dumb decision.  We know Rare is a shell of their former self but such a move ensures that in perpetuity.  No talented game designer wants to make casual Kinect games.  Kinect is something you get STUCK doing like annual sports titles, games based on licenced IP and handheld versions of Western console games.  No one dreams of making such games.  So to assign Rare to such a role ensures that the only people sticking with Rare are those that can't find work anywhere else.  It ensures that any talented person worth a shit will not stick around because if they have real talent they'll find a job with a company that will make games more in the style they want to work on.  Or if that person is stuck at Rare their motivation turns to shit so they cease to have any real value to MS.

That's something Nintendo has kind of learned the hard way with the Wii.  They pushed motion control with Wii Sports and thus associated the concept with casual gaming.  They thought developers would want to work with motion controls but the association with casual gaming prevented that because no one wants to make casual games.  Anybody who grew up playing videogames is going to be inspired by the games they played.  They didn't dream about making games where you lose weight.  They dreamed of making games where you're fighting aliens and exploring dungeons.  So the third parties mostly only gave the Wii shovelware, which makes sense.  That's the stuff you assign to your lesser devs.  That's the stuff the lesser guys get "stuck" with.  The better devs that can hire the better talent and have more clout in regards to what games they make will not choose to make some casual title.

That's a good approach for headhunting talent.  Find the talented dev that has its spirit crushed by a publisher and grab all the best guys who will be all to willing to leave.  Just make sure to not then create the same situation where other companies can do the same to you.  Nintendo would be dumb for example to grab these guys and then assign them to work on Wii Swim or something like that.

ThePermSeptember 28, 2012

Quote from: Chozo

Nintendo should hire up the old Rare staff and create a new studio called "Scarce" and put them to work on "War Frogs", "Lethal Instinct", Silvereye 006, Guitar-Zakooie, Flawless Dark, and so on.

very good idea

EasyCureSeptember 30, 2012

Quote from: Racht

Quote from: EasyCure

While I'm at it, I never could get in to Jet Force Gemini either, but I still want to give that one a shot again someday.

*GASP* It's only the bestest game ever.

Does it make you you feel better if I told you I thought of you when I made that comment and felt slightly bad?

Fully agree about KI thought. I never got KI Gold but I remember being blown away by the arcade version back in the day. On SNES I instantly preferred KI over SFII: SUPER ULTRA  ALPHA BETA OMGZ Tournement Edition Turbo. It's such a shame that the series didn't prosper.

Quote from: Ian

So the guy who doesn't like Super Mario World or A Link to the Past also doesn't like Banjo-Kazooie?  That is the same guy, right?  I'm not mixing up my forumers with horrible taste, am I?

Thought that was directed at me for a second...

Quote from: NWR_insanolord

Screw dual sticks, the game's controls would really benefit from the Wii remote pointer.

Quote from: NWR_insanolord

Screw dual sticks, the game's controls would really benefit from the Wii remote pointer.

Yeah!

Got a news tip? Send it in!
Advertisement
Advertisement