Footage of an early Banjo-Kazooie prototype has emerged, and it has a number of major differences compared to the final version of the beloved Nintendo 64 platformer.
Spotted within the 12 hours of footage recently obtained by the Video Game History Foundation (VGHF), which features various Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) events, the Banjo showcase is shown at Nintendo’s press conference at E3 1997.
The full video, clocking in at almost two and a half hours, is available to watch on VGHF’s archive. The Banjo segment has also been uploaded to YouTube by speedrunner TSR Stormed, available below.
There are many notable changes in this version compared to the final game, which launched a year later in 1998. As the game launches, the opening animation of the Nintendo 64 and Rareware logos are different, now featuring Banjo running from a herd of bulls.
Designer Ken Lobb, who showcased the game and narrated the presentation, described a different plot setup that seems to exclude the final game’s main antagonist, Gruntilda.
“Some major giant dude has stolen your girlfriend, and you’re gonna try to work your way up into his castle in the clouds,” Lobb said.
The “giant” is mentioned again later again in the video, with Banjo and Kazooie exploring the “giant’s dining room.” This area made it into the final game in the Mad Monster Mansion level, which was a room that happened to have oversized furniture.
The opening level, Mumbo’s Mountain, looks different and has different music. The world features an unused enemy that looks like Mumbo Jumbo, there’s an extended animation when Banjo obtains a Jiggy, and Kazooie has the ability to extend her legs (which was likely later replaced by the Wading Boots power-up).
There are also different versions of Treasure Trove Cove, Gobi’s Valley, and Spiral Mountain, as well as a brief look at a temple-based stage that was later cut. Different music tracks are used throughout many areas.
Near the end of the presentation, a monkey is seen running around in Spiral Mountain.
“Hey, who’s that guy? We know him. I think I’ll let him run off to his next game,” Lobb teased.
Considering Rare also developed Donkey Kong 64 a year later, this may be a hint that the monkey is actually Diddy Kong.
For more newly unearthed E3 materials, VGHF has shared hours of footage, thousands of document pages, high-quality VHS rips, and much more on its dedicated E3 history page. And make sure to check out our previously covered content about the recently discovered E3 that the VGHF has generously shared, which includes games like Conker and Star Fox.
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Written by Reece Heather
A veteran Zelda Universe editor and First-class journalism graduate, Reece emerged with a Nintendo 64 and a lifelong obsession after a narrow escape from Santa’s Naughty List in 1998. Outside of games, he’s reading Punisher comics, being bossed around by his cocker spaniel, and cornering innocent bystanders to rant about the importance of game preservation.
