Super Mario 64 Vs. Banjo Kazooie

In the late 90s, platformers were king as the genre captivated a generation new to the flashy three dimensions presented to them. Super Mario 64 stormed out of the gate, with plenty of imitators not being able to capture the same magic. Then came Banjo Kazooie, a platformer developed by Rare, with heaps of polish and playful ideas executed well enough to become an instant classic. So, which one is the top-dog on the 64?

One main thing to consider is that Super Mario 64 came out in 1996, whereas Banjo released in 1998. With the advantage of time, it’s something to consider, as the former was a launch title. It’s obvious that Banjo would take cues from the former but how would it improve upon it? It’s rare that launch titles contain a firm grasp on the system’s intricacies, but being a first-party title, Super Mario 64 has a long-standing legacy.

The most critical aspect of a platformer is its controls. Both games have fairly fluid movement but are structured to necessitate precision, which wasn’t always easy on a Nintendo 64 analog stick. Banjo has tons more special moves and utilizes them more frequently within both the levels and overworld. There’s actually a decent amount of course-correction needed in tighter jumps though, so it’s a pretty even split between each game.

Speaking of the overworld, both are mind-blowing for the time. Princess Peach’s castle is expansive and jumping into paintings is exquisite but Gruntilda’s Lair is a spooky trek. Super Mario 64 gets the edge here, as even with teleport pots, Banjo‘s lair starts you at the beginning each time you boot it up, requiring several minutes of traversal to get to late-game stages. Peach’s castle’s well-hidden secrets are a joy to discover.

One thing Banjo has in spades is humor. Rare had lots of laughs to offer in this outing, as Kazooie’s quips to Bottles are always fresh, while Grunty berates the player in the overworld with a clever rhyme every now and then. You won’t get as much charm within Mario, as characters don’t get the iconic voice treatment like they do in Banjo. Hearing inanimate objects come to life and have bright personalities is super conducive to the imagination and Banjo wins there.

The soundtrack for both games is impeccable. Koji Kondo crafted several memorable tracks like the theme that plays when a Piranha Plant sleeps and the creepy carousel tune, but Grant Kirkhope’s work on Banjo Kazooie is consistently a smash-hit from start to finish. Songs bring the levels to life and are things I connect directly with nostalgia as, even as a kid, I thought they were catchy as heck.

So, which game is the better overall experience? Both have some detractors, like steep progression blockers, antiquated graphics by today’s standards, and some particularly tough levels, but both provide stellar playthroughs even in 2020. Personally, my edge goes to Banjo Kazooie as the more well-aged, nostalgic game but that’s not to say Super Mario 64 is a bad game by any stretch. What is your preference between the two?