Banjo: Difference between revisions

|species={{wp|Honey bear|Honey Bear}}<ref>{{cite|url=www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Nintendo-64/Banjo-Kazooie-269415.html|title=Banjo-Kazooie {{!}} Nintendo 64 {{!}} Games {{!}} Nintendo|publisher=Nintendo of UK|author=Nintendo|accessdate=May 11, 2024}}</ref>

'''{{wp|Banjo & Kazooie|Banjo}}''' is one of the two protagonists of the {{wp|Banjo-Kazooie|''Banjo-Kazooie'' franchise}}, along with his best friend, [[Kazooie]]. However, his first appearance is in ''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'', in which he is a playable character to promote his then-upcoming title, ''{{wp|Banjo-Kazooie (video game)|Banjo-Kazooie}}''.{{ref needed}} He is a honey bear with light-brown fur, tan skin, blue eyes, and a black nose, and he wears a shark-tooth necklace, yellow shorts, and a blue backpack that houses Kazooie. Banjo is owned by [[Rare Ltd.]] In 2002, Rare was sold to {{wp|Microsoft}}, and the rights of Banjo, Kazooie and [[Conker]] were transferred to the company in exchange for Nintendo keeping Rare's ''[[Donkey Kong (franchise)|Donkey Kong]]'' additions.

==History==

In ''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'', when [[Wizpig]] invaded [[Timber's Island]], [[Timber]] calls for [[Diddy Kong]]'s assistance. In turn, he sends [[Squawks]] to contact his friends, one of whom is Banjo. All the characters compete in a variety of racing challenges to liberate the island and decide who would race Wizpig. Eventually, the eight racers, with the help of [[Taj]] and [[T.T.]], drove Wizpig back to his home planet, [[Future Fun Land]]. However, Wizpig returns, and the racers go to his homeworld. At the end of the world, the winning character races Wizpig again, who rides on a rocket missile for the rematch. On the character selection screen, Banjo's theme instrument is the banjo. The menu's theme is re-composed in a banjo when the player highlights him. Like the other characters, Banjo says his name when he is selected. As a heavyweight racer, Banjo has slow acceleration, which is compensated for a high top speed (57 MPH without [[Banana]]s). His handling is below average but still exceeds [[Krunch]]'s.

Banjo, alongside Kazooie and the [[List of fighters debuting in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate#Hero|heroes]] of ''Dragon Quest'', were announced as playable fighters in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' during the E3 2019 Nintendo Direct on June 11 (PDT). This marks their first non-cameo appearance in a new game since ''[[sonicretro:Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing|Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing with Banjo-Kazooie]]'', which was released for the {{wp|Xbox 360}} in 2010, as well as the duo's first appearance on a Nintendo console since ''[[jiggywikki:Banjo-Pilot|Banjo-Pilot]]'' for the [[Game Boy Advance]] in 2005. Banjo & Kazooie were released on September 4, 2019 (PDT) as part of Challenger Pack 3.

The reveal trailer for the duo heavily references [[King K. Rool]]'s original reveal trailer, with [[Donkey Kong]], [[Diddy Kong]], and King K. Rool looking outside the window of DK's tree house and seeing a silhouette of Banjo & Kazooie. It is then revealed to be [[Duck Hunt (character)|Duck Hunt]] playing a prank, much like how the K. Rool reveal trailer had [[King Dedede]] pretending to be King K. Rool. Banjo & Kazooie then appear from the sky and knock Duck Hunt out of frame, with Banjo holding his namesake instrument. Banjo and Kazooie appear in [[Sephiroth]]'s reveal trailer, where they are shocked to see him descend from the sky.

Banjo & Kazooie's moveset and appearances are directly pulled from their two Nintendo 64 titles, ''Banjo-Kazooie'' and ''[[jiggywikki:Banjo-Tooie|Banjo-Tooie]]'', though they also sport a few original attacks. [[Spiral Mountain]], the location of their home, serves as the representation for their stage. Regarding weight, Banjo & Kazooie are collectively a heavyweight, being heavier than [[Link]], [[Yoshi]], [[Captain Falcon]], [[Mii Gunner]], and [[Min Min]], but lighter than Wario, [[Ike]], [[Ridley]], [[Simon Belmont|Simon]], and [[Richter Belmont|Richter]], while having the same weight as [[Solid Snake|Snake]] and [[R.O.B.]]

Carbanjo.png|''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]''