Banjo Kazooie | Recompiled
Today, we’re diving into Banjo-Kazooie.
For those who may not be familiar, a recompilation of old games involves an interesting process. Some dedicated individuals have taken it upon themselves to decompile the code of beloved classic games, primarily focused on the Nintendo 64 but not limited to it. This decompilation translates the game back into high-level, human-readable source code. A recompilation, on the other hand, converts the original code designed for outdated hardware directly into native code for modern systems, all without needing the original source code. Essentially, it creates a port that operates from an executable on contemporary machines, eliminating the need for an emulator. The advantages are impressive, including high-resolution graphics, improved framerates, ultra-wide display support, and the ability to accept mods. Titles like Super Mario World 64, Star Fox 64, and both Zelda games have already made waves in this scene, which has become a hotspot for gaming enthusiasts.
What is recompilation?
Banjo-Kazooie is the inaugural game in the Banjo-Kazooie series, developed by Rare and released in 1998 for the Nintendo 64. In this adventure, Banjo and his feathered friend Kazooie must rescue Banjo's sister Tooty from the evil witch Gruntilda, who plans to steal Tooty's beauty. This game was a standout during the Nintendo 64 era. The recompilation revitalizes this dynamic duo in stunning high resolution and ultra-widescreen glory, free from the slowdowns or glitches often experienced in emulators. However, it’s worth noting that the introduction features characters who would typically be off-screen, waiting to make their entrance. This isn't a glitch; it’s simply how the game was originally programmed. Regardless, experiencing this on an ultra-wide display is nothing short of amazing. There are several mods available that can enhance the experience even further, but honestly, Rare did a fantastic job with the bright and colorful textures. The game looks great as is. I used an Xbox controller, and I must say, it played like a dream. I even found myself considering purchasing a third-party N64 controller to recreate the nostalgic experience I remembered.
How does it compare to emulation?
In all honesty, there’s no comparison. Our memories often embellish the past, and this game is no exception. Playing it on an emulator, with its inherent limitations, made it less engaging than I remembered. However, these new recompilations breathe fresh life into these classics! They feel like they've received a brand-new coat of paint, bringing them closer to our nostalgic memories of playing them as kids.
To get this running on your computer, you’ll need to provide your own ROM of the game and follow the steps outlined here: https://github.com/BanjoRecomp/BanjoRecomp. It’s not overly complicated to set up, but having some computer knowledge is definitely helpful.
I rate the recompilation a solid 5 out of 5.
Check out WiseGuy's trailer below. Happy gaming!