Thanks everyone for the comments and support thus far! If you enjoyed this video, please consider subscribing, it really helps a ton! Also, if you haven't already, make sure to check out Every Banjo Kazooie World RANKED: th-cam.com/video/J3UmWPBWtEs/w-d-xo.html
>"If you're a fan of Grunty Industries, I'd honestly like to hear why you enjoy it" To most succinctly sum up why I love GI, I will another commenter in saying: the world is a puzzle in itself. As someone who loves Banjo-Tooie mostly for the metroidvania element, this really appeals to me, and it makes sense from an in-universe perspective too: why would Grunty make her factory straightforward to destroy? Merely opening the front door requires an ability to carefully observe your surroundings and no less than 6 steps, including straight-up leaving the world. The skivvy workmates are often hard to get to by traditional methods, so you need to figure out an alternate route as the washer. Unlocking Weldar requires unscrewing a suspended platform from outside, then solving a timed navigation puzzle with 3 different character control schemes. To me, Grunty Industries is a systemic level. Like all factories, it is built to be efficiënt, ruthless, and resiliënt to crisis. Thus, it must be conquered systematically. Get in via the back door. Learn the layout to move around more easily. Destroy the cameras so the tintups can't spawn. Find Wumba so you can use the service elevator to open shortcuts for yourself. By the same token, the worst parts of the level are times when it breaks this pattern: like a timed FPS segment in monotonous hallways, or having to leave and reënter QC over and over. There's a big difference between a fun puzzle and pointless tedium
@@Copyright_Infringement These are good points you bring up, though it occurs to me that the very things you think are cool could easily be the very things others feel frustrated by. I myself would say that I definitely detected that frustration, but I also didn't altogether dislike it either. What it _does_ feel like is a significant departure from the game that Kazooie was, which probably leads to a lot of the mixed reactions Tooie got and gets. The Metroidvania aspect was really intriguing to me as a kid, but ultimately it did feel like it amounted to just a ton of running around empty spaces. Was a weird choice to consolidate the collectibles if they were gonna make the maps so much bigger. Also, just want to add that I appreciate your usage of diaeresis marks on words like reenter and even efficient, although that does seem like a very heavily pronounced "effishi-ent" rather than the more typical "effishent". Calling diaeresis mark levels of attention to that final 'e' that most just pronounce like some sort of unofficial diphthong is fun haha
“HailFire Peaks seems like a world from Banjo Kazooie more than Banjo Tooie” because it sort of is.The lava side was meant to be another world in Kazooie called Mount Fire Eyes. It’s also very likely that this scrapped world was meant to be “The Lava World” Goby was going to go to.
Been a lifelong fan of the series but have never really dipped my toes into the community that surrounds it. I had no idea people hated the backtracking so much. Honestly, it's my favorite part of the game design. I LOVE having to weave together so many characters, powers, and storylines across multiple worlds to make something happen. It gives finally snagging that jiggy an incredible sense of accomplishment. It really made the worlds feel super immersive and truly connected. But, to each their own!
Agreed. When I was a kid it was like a magical feeling, seeing how the worlds connect. Or just seeing reappearing characters in different worlds, especially those from the previous game. For me, that‘s one of the reasons why I always chose Tooie over Kazooie and still do.
Agree, when I saw something that was clearly in my view but I could not get it made it so much more memorable than being able to 100% each level. I think back-tracking is what created that magical feeling we remember about the BK games.
I think the issue is a lot of people want instant gratification. This game had you being able to increase the life of the game by being able to backtrack with new abilities and such rather than the first one where you can pretty much grab every jiggy in some levels within a few minutes
@@cfilmgames9906 the difference with games like OOT or MM is that you don’t actually need to backtrack in those games to complete them. Any backtracking in those games is to get optional collectibles and the like. Banjo Tooies backtracking is tedious and for getting jiggy’s. It creates alot of lopsided action as some jiggys are stupid easy, others overly complex
The town section of Jolly Roger lagoon is one of my favourites in a game honestly. I have so much nostalgia for its music and its atmosphere. It feels so homey and cheery and it looks so pleasant
even the cavern section for me was a blast, the cave formations and patterns make for a beautiful atmosphere as you slowly traverse the caves, i think what did it for me was being able to breathe underwater made the level much more exciting because i was able to 'explore what i wouldnt have been able to previously without the infinite air'
Have to say Grunty Industries is my guilty pleasure. It's such a unique level that is totally different from the cartoony character of the others. I like the concept of different floors much more than big open areas like Terrydactyl Land. And I enjoyed it that you are thrown into this level and have just this tiny area to explore where you don't know what you have to do. To find the train switch and go from there was a nice twist that I love to see others explore. I just love the scenery (my guilty pleasure from Banjo Kazooie was Clanker's Cavern), and this has something of a lost place when you enter the basement. And the boss is my favourite of the whole game. And it's pretty fulfilling when you don't know how to get a jiggy (like with all the acid stuff) but then come back later with a move that can clear this challenge. I don't mind backtracking.
It's a great level, for sure. But my problem is that too many of the floors look and feel similar, and I hate that you can't teleport without being the washing machine.
i loved this level, even as a kid. it been a while since i payed it, but i loved how much it made you feel like the hero of the game, in that, you're breaking into the villains lair, like going the back way into moria in LotR. Once inside its this miserable place, a stark contrast to the other more organic lands, and is a demonstration of what the villain can do to the world if you dont succeed. the jiggies were cleverly hidden and as you stated the level is pretty unique to the rest f the game. it might actually be my favorite level...maybe witchyworld is better.
jolly roger is actually my favourite.. if only because i think it has the best music in the game, and probably the best 'underwater' theme ever.. so calming and peaceful
For me JRL definitely makes it into the top half of Tooie stages but it’s conditional on first going back to Spiral Mountain to free Roysten the goldfish. Assuming zero player pre-knowledge for the sake of fairness, it’s not a given in every playthrough that the swimming buff is found before JRL (if even at all for the non-completionist types). Buuuut imo the game incentivizes backtracking early on enough that it doesn’t fall to just dumb luck to find Roysten either. TLDR: it would be top 3 assuming you have fast swimming, but it’s also fair to place a lot lower if you don’t. It really ain’t super obscure to get though so imo JRL balances out at #4
@@welshlout3400 JRL is prefectely playable without the fast swimming tho.. especially since you can get the 'infinite air' it actually makes it a stage that can be played at least 3 different ways just when it comes to swimming underwater that alone makes it a great level
Jolly Rodger’s Lagoon actually scared me as a kid. I only got the moves, the Jiggies in the town, and then left Partially because I never thought to hit the octopi with ice eggs.
I think that Banjo-Tooie requires a very different mindset from Banjo-Kazooie to really get the most out of it. Kazooie is, at its heart, a score attack game - you're supposed to clear worlds in one go (further emphasized by the original release where Note Score was a thing), explore every last nook and cranny one at a time, get in and get out in one clean run except that one time where a polar bear won't let you wear his Jordans. It's snappy, responsive, gave actual weight to death in the N64 version making levels like Click Clock Wood endurance tests, and ultimately used every second in its worldbuilding to its fullest. Banjo-Tooie, meanwhile, is a LOT slower. Most of its tasks have multiple steps, connect several NPC's together where they wouldn't interact at all in Kazooie, and take you across the map to several locations instead of just having focused 'zones' for Jiggies ala Kazooie or Mario 64. It cares a lot less about exploring the entirety of a world and more about your familiarity with it and ability to change it. As such, I actually compare the vibe of Banjo-Tooie a lot more to a game like Metroid Prime than I do the original BK. Everything is built to create a more organic (if still ultimately super cartoony) world, with the player meant to change things around and take note of stuff in order to better improve it. For example, the Oogle Boogle Jiggy you single out in Terrydactyland - individually, all of those steps are a huge pain. But unlike Kazooie, the focus isn't on all of those steps being executed at once. With the exception of actually getting Fred Flintstone his disgusting junk food, every other step has a branch to it that completes more tasks in the world. Mumbo enlarging Humba's is combo'd with enlarging one of the dinosaur kids, turning into the T-Rex combos with the switch in unlocking a Jinjo, entering the Oogle Boogle cave reveals that one of Terry's eggs is in there. Heck, figuring out that you need Daddy T-Rex is a puzzle, as Baby T-Rex doesn't scare Unga Bunga at all. Banjo-Tooie is all about giving you an absolutely massive array of tools, putting a few context sensitive pads like the Split Up around to give you a hint, and telling you to have at it, unlocking whatever doors you think you can open in the process. And considering the amount of hint signs around that reward you for exploring in order to point you in the right direction, I think it's very easy to enjoy Banjo-Tooie if you don't think of it as an objective-to-objective game. It's definitely not something I came to terms with until recently, but I discovered by not following a guide like I had as a kid and just wandering around, trying to remember where stuff was, I really enjoyed trawling around BT's worlds as puzzle boxes more than platforming levels. And that makes levels like Grunty Industries and Terrydactyland, where everything is SO interconnected and figuring it out feels like this big triumph, incredibly satisfying to me... although security still does suck in Grunty's With that said, totally understand your points - two years ago I probably would've agreed with all of 'em wholeheartedly, and they're well-made. I definitely don't prefer Tooie to Kazooie, but I like appreciating it on its own terms. As such, here's a quite ranking of my own for posterity, with a "well done" to you, sir! 1. Hailfire Peaks 2. Witchyworld 3. Glitter Gulch Mine 4. Terrydactyland 5. Grunty Industries 6. Cloud Cuckooland 7. Mayahem Temple 8. Jolly Roger's Lagoon
Great write up and list! I've actually been thinking to myself that Banjo-Tooie feels more like a Metroidvania game than anything else, so to see you compare it to Metroid Prime is something I can definitely get behind. Even though I make some comparisons to Banjo-Kazooie in the video, there's no question these are in two different genres of games. Really makes me wonder what Banjo-Threeie would have been like.
Amen. I was playing through Tooie in December whilst my Switch was away. Love both games. The first game is more Mario and Tooie is more Zelda/Metroid. I got up to Grunty Industries but unfortunately stopped playing as I moved house in January and the n64 is still packed away. I find it hard to say which game is better, Kazooie or Tooie. Depends what mood I’m in. Wish there were a third. I did funnily enough play the spiritual third, ‘Yooka-Laylee’ on my switch in February and I enjoyed that game too, albeit preferred the Banjo games.
I fully agree with your analysis and stating that tooie is a metroidvania. And you k ow what all good metroidvanias need to succeed? A coherent map. I think a map in tooie would alleviate a lot of criticism.
I admittedly loved Grunty Industries because of its complexity. I thought that the way it was designed was really clever, the little easter eggs, the attention to detail, everything was so good considering the era it came from. I will admit the backtracking does make it lose a lot of points, but while not the best world for me, it's still pretty high up. I honestly found Terrydactyl land to be slightly more annoying due to the fact that the zones all look so damn similar, and Cloud Cuckoo land being the worst world for me because of how disjointed and random the theming was.
So happy to see the Grunty Industries love in the comment section! I remember 10 years ago I'd see everyone hating on it so I'm glad to see it's gotten the love it's deserves! I remember the exact moment I realized it was my favorite world. When I was a kid playing through this game for the first time, Grunty Industries was actually the first world I wanted to go back to so I could explore fully and get every collectable. From then on it's been my favorite world in Tooie (And possibly my favorite world in the series, but it's got some competition with Click Clock Wood from Kazooie). I always loved how unique and different this world was from all the others. How you had to enter the world using the train, all the different floors, the batteries, the security cameras and the Tintops, the washing machine joke from Kazooie being a full fledged transformation that was really fun to control, etc. Even the Jiggies were all pretty unique and really fun to get. I also found Weldar to be the funnest boss in the game to fight against. Grunty Industries is, in my opinion, one of the best designed worlds/levels in gaming.
Yes yes yes! You get it! If you play thru BT once Grunty Industries will probably be the bane of your existence. You probably give it one look and move on to Hailfire. It looks ugly and sludgy. The music sounds like a case of the Mondays. Then you figure out how to take the train in and commence dismantling the underwear factory proper. Each floor is intricately laid out and feeds into the rest of the maze. Weldar, the most ridiculous and convoluted boss to get to proves to be the most challenging and enjoyable to finally fight in the factory bowels. He is somewhat reminiscent of Clanker in that he's a sentient machine creature plopped in a dinghy place per Gruntilda's orders. This place feels like it's perpetually in mid to late October with dreary skies. It's during these times we craft our finest puzzles
Grunty Industries was a level that while annoying was incredibly unique and had a really industrial look which I crave. I thought Cloud Cuckooland was one of the worst designs for me but maybe I am odd.
Nah you're on point. Cloud Cuckooland was the level they threw everything at the wall for. It's the least thought out and rushed. The end game of Tooie is probably it's weakest aspect with the 90 jiggies total being a constant reminder they had to cut out stuff. Cauldron Keep was supposed to be a full fledged level but instead we got a quick end game
I actually find having to backtrack with your new powers the highlight of Banjo Tooie. I enjoy the increased complexity of the worlds and puzzles too. It seemed like all the things you didn't like were actually the reasons I did like certain aspects, but that's okay. We've all got different tastes in level design.
There's a rift between stuff you see in mayahem temple and the jiggy he outlined in terrydactyland. If you can't say that at least a few of the jiggies were unreasonably long in the tooth then I'd be surprised.
DK64's backtrack was just bad patting, BT's backtrack was actual good game desing, which makes me angry whenever people compare the two and say they the same bad patting. good to see someone understand!
Grunty Industries is unironically one of my favourite levels of all time for how big and complex it is. Back tracking doesn’t bother me. And the way you enter the level with Chuffy is just so cool. You feel like you’re infiltrating the factory.
Banjo-Tooie is the best game Rare ever made to this day ❤️ I love that the worlds are this big and interconnected. It feels like they were really part of a giant world and not separate levels, wich wasn’t that common at the time. I also don’t mind the backtracking as much as other people do, wich is probably one of the biggest issue people tend to have with the game. And Grunty Industries is actually one of my favorite levels. Sure it isn’t easy and I can get why people dislike it, but I always liked it 😄 Even the thing with entering via train into the main building is something I always thought made the level unique. And I in general like that the level is that complex. It really challenged me as I did my hundo playthroughs of the game. For me one of my least favorite level is Cloud Cuckoo Land. It just felt too random for me. But I totally agree with the first two places! Hailfire Peak is just such a gem of a level ❤️ And the cynical humor in Witchy World is what makes the level so outstanding for me 😄
Thank you!! My thoughts EXACTLY! I loved the interconnectedness of the worlds and didn't mind the backtracking. Grunty industries was one of my favorite levels as well and I swear I thought I was the only one that didn't like cloud cuckoo land. The randomness of the level really didn't sit right with me.
Ack! I couldn't disagree more about Grunty Industries, which is easily my favorite Banjo-Kazooie OR Tooie level...! I heavily, HEAVILY recommend checking out a 4-part video called "Banjo-Tooie Review & Analysis" by Veegie from 2016, which features an extended analysis of Grunty Industries that sums up why I love it so much FAR better than I could explain here. My brother & I used to spend hours running around the factory, coming up with stories about Banjo & Kazooie being separated and hiding out in ventilation, waging secret war against a dystopian big-brother entity, sneaking around, etc. Once you open the level up, it's like a huge, industrial playground. Also totally disagree on Jolly Roger's Lagoon, probably my 2nd-favorite of all time. It's like 2 levels in one, with the old-timey village and the mysterious sea... /edit -- my rankings just 'cuz: 01 -- Grunty Industries 02 -- Jolly Roger Lagoon 03 -- Glitter Gulch Mine 04 -- Witchyworld 05 -- Hailfire Peaks 06 -- CloudCuckooLand 07 -- Mayahem Temple 08 -- Terrydactyland Terrydactyland is the only one I'd call below par, (even tho there's some cool bits hidden away all over) I love all of the other levels, my 1-6 in particular are just legendary imho
Thanks for recommending me that analysis! Just watched the whole thing and it was very well done. Ultimately while I still have issues with Grunty Industries, it's becoming more clear why people enjoy that stage.
Grunty Industries was great, can’t agree with this ranking. 1. Terrydactyland (for the sheer sense of wonder at its scope) 2. Hailfire Peaks 3. Grunty Industries 4. Jolly Rodger Lagoon 5. Glitter Gulch Mine Big Gap 6. Witchyworld 7. Mayahem Temple Big gap 8. Cloud cuckooland
This is a very agreeable list to me. I probably would switch HP and GI, and GGM would be lower for me personally, but the concept and assessment criteria I fully agree with!
Man, I remember playing this game in 2005 on the n64 when I was in third grade and having an absolute blast. Here I am in 2022 well into college playing this game on the Xbox One and still having a great time playing it. The story plot, the game mechanics and the sheer fun you have in every world is the reason this game has stood the tests of time.
This video was randomly recommended to me and I just had to click right away. You did an excellent job with this video, giving great analytical arguments throughout while letting the viewer enjoy nostalgic music and gameplay footage along the way. I had a great time watching, nice job and subbed
When I saw that Grunty Industries was the "worst level" I knew I should be here. lol Despite the backtracking the level requires, I really find awesome to "infiltrate" the factory instead of finding "the hidden keys" behind the factory. (Plus, the skybox of the level is just gorgeous) Jolly Roger Lagoon is the only Rareware and maybe, of all the N64 catalogue water level that I really enjoy. (Take my chance to say that Gloomy Galleon really ruins my will to keep playing DK64). Terrydactiland is boring, ngl. Oogle Boogles and Styracosaurus quests. Just that. Mayahem Temple is a nice "first level", but I reckon they should have made the level to finish it on one shot. But hey, 9 jiggies at first time isn't really bad. Glitter Gulch Mine is... lazy. Or at least gives me that vibe. The detonator backtracking is one of the few backtracking that actually bothered me. Cloud Cuckooland... Well, Just Canary Mary and the lack of orientation on which tunel takes you to the diferent places (both skulls, the thorn course, cheese wedge, etc) Witchyworld is indeed the perfect level. The skybox, concept, level design, ost, the minigames... everything! (The only issue might be preparing the saucer of peril ride) Hailfire Peaks is amazing but not perfect. The Alien family's quest and reviving Sabreman are ugh... Plus, the colosseum kickball minigame is really boring. Boggy and Gobi's references/appereances are nice. Sorry for the excesive words xD But Banjo-Tooie is my very first owned game and I have a very special place for it in my heart. Seeing content of the game nowadays is always a great thing (People often gives the spotlight to Kazooie, and that's not bad! but Tooie really makes look BK as a joke. Tooie will always be the better!)
I absolutely adore Grunty's Industries! For me, what makes a good level is its mystery and its atmosphere, and that's what GI has in spades. Even just the fact that when you enter the level normally for the first time, you can't really access anything. It feels very mysterious and I had a great time uncovering ways to delve deeper into the factory. Also, I think it just makes sense from an in-world perspective that a big factory wouldn't be easily accessible to just anyone. To me, most of the downsides you mentioned are actually upsides, adding charm and a sense of danger to the world. But I could also definitely see how they make gameplay harder and more convoluted. Gameplay or ease of navigation or reducing backtracking are just not what's important to me when assessing these levels.
This needs to be added to the switch library. I damn near cried when I realized the original was on there and I immediately started playing it. It's honestly one of my favorite games of all time with click clock woods being my favorite world. I'm almost begging them to add this game to it cause I would love to play it again. I only got to play it once and I'd love an opportunity to do so again
When I decided to replay both kazooie and tooie I looked up this list what I never expected that this would be three days old I was expecting multiple years the fact people still have excitement to talk about these games puts a smile on my face cheers mate!
I also personally love Grunty Industries. This level has such a special atmosphere and complexity. So many rooms, so many interactions between floors, vertically and horizontally, inisde and outside... it's fun and rewarding. It's in my top 3 worlds in Banjo-Tooie if not top 1.
It's interesting how my tastes in Banjo-Tooie's levels have changed over time. I used to really dislike Grunty Industries and Jolly Roger's Lagoon but now I appreciate them a lot more - Industries for how interconnected and dense it is and Lagoon for the absolutely phenomenal atmosphere. I used to like Terrydactyland, but now I see how empty and unnecessarily huge it is. Tooie remains one of my all-time favorite games but I find myself looking at it differently almost every time I play it, and that's kinda fascinating. Loved this video man - and I agree, Hailfire Peaks is the best :)
I love Grunty Industries because it's fun to optimize movement and try to beat the stage as fast as possible. Getting all the moves before completing it makes me feel better about it. I used to hate it so much growing up but now it along with Jolly Roger Lagoon are my favorites.
Wow, the lowest ranking three levels on this list might be my top three levels in my own ranking (give or take a Hailfire Peaks), and hilariously the reasons you said you don't like them are exactly the reasons I love them. I love the ingenuity and backtracking it takes to get into Grunty Industries - it makes you feel like you're infiltrating a place you're not supposed to be in and almost like you're breaking the game in a way no other game outside of the Metroid franchise has ever made me felt. I love the large maze-like oceans of Jolly Roger's Lagoon because it feels so epic in scope while letting you listen to possibly the best track Grant Kirkhope ever composed. And I love love LOVE the multi-faceted quest you have to go on to get the cavemen their food. It highlights the interconnectedness of the world in a way most other Jiggies don't, which is probably my favorite aspect of the entire game.
I think you were a little hard on Jolly Roger Lagoon. I thought it was a really cool world to explore. I’ll never forget the feeling when I discovered the lost city of Atlantis.
Actually ended up replaying Tooie for the first time in a few years this past summer. Though I went about it differently and think I came out enjoying myself a whole lot more. Though I suppose that's mostly because when it comes to 3D collect-a-thons doing 100% is my standby. Usually. And in Tooie, as you point out, that can be pretty frustrating at times due to all the backtracking. And Canary Mary in CL. I still got everything, but approached the backtracking differently than I did growing up. This time I still collected all I could until I reached Terrydactyland. Where I went out of my way to collect what notes I could and a few jiggies before moving on. Leaving most of that world incomplete. Rinse and repeat until I had the final move from Cloud Cuckooland. From there I backtracked, to Glitter Gulch Mine I think, and moved forward with every move. Though for this method to work best I suggest remembering to do the things from later worlds that affect earlier ones before returning to those. (Ex: pushing George into the hot water so you can drain that now cool water into JRL.) I also had the dinosaur kids waiting on Chuffy for a while. So I could heal the sick one and return the one from Witchyworld in one trip. Wasn't completely smooth as I forgot a few things, but it felt like a good way to handle it once it got to that point in the game. That said I'll probably always prefer Kazooie. Did a replay of Yooka-Laylee like this too. Went through only the first run of each world first and learned all the moves. Before going back and expanding each Grand Tome. I enjoyed the game so much better that way.
I'm glad I got here before 1k subs. I remember that I've felt that Tooie is similar to DK64, while maintaining a linear gameplay, you need to do so much around the main goal. I still love this game, playing the minigames with friends was awesome, but for me, when I was a kid, non english speaker, without any access to internet or some kind of help, I found Banjo Tooie and DK64 probably the most hardest games of my childhood. I just finished both when I was already a teenager and I learned english. Great video, I'm gonna watch all your videos from now on haha Edit: You have some Conker videos, Mario, GTA...dude, please make one about DK64 ! Anything !
I agree with most of your list. Im a little surprised that Jolly Roger’s Lagoon was a little low, but I see your reasoning. Im also surprised that Witchyworld was #2. I would’ve easily made that 1. Other than that, awesome video
jolly roger lagoon is my favorite level a water level done right the atlantis atmosphere and venturing further and further to the locker area and the big fish cavern without having to worry about air just feels right i guess the music also plays a big part witchyworld/cloud cukoo are a close second for me the intro of cloud cukoo tune just feels like breezy warm summer day overall all levels are top notch but some are just way better than others and while i dont dislike terradectyl, hailfire or grunties industries something about them just makes me always want to finish these as fast as possible and be done with them
I enjoy Grunty Industries because of its complexity. Right from the beginning, with Chuffy as the way to enter the building, I thought it set the tone that the game was going to kick things up a notch. Even getting to Weldar wasn't all that simple, but, it resulted in a fun Boss Battle. Grunty Industries felt like a big puzzle, and, I liked how it heavily utilized Banjo and Kazooie, solo, as well as the transformation.
@@charlesg7926 Glitter Gulch Mine is low for me too. I have it just above Cloud Cuckooland. For me, the biggest problem with Glitter Gulch Mine is that it was unremarkable, aside from a few moments. Good music, cool introduction of a key element - Chuffy the train, after a fight with Old King Coal. The light cabin was a decent Jiggy too, especially since there are multiple ways to get it. I hardly remember much else about the level Cloud Cuckooland was plenty memorable, but I didn't really enjoy it too much. The trick with Mingy Jongo was a really cool concept and a tough, memorable battle though.
This is a fantastic video and great analysis of one of my all time favorite games, Banjo-Tooie. I will say that I like Grunty Industries more than you do, mainly because of how impressive that level is on a design standpoint. It’s a massive, labyrinth of a world but is all put together with careful design sensibilities and is truly one of the most impressive world designs of any 3D adventure game. I do agree that some of its aspects, like the annoying security cameras and finding batteries, can be tedious, but overall I really enjoy the challenge. Weldar is also the best boss in the game by far. Also, it’s my favorite world by far to fly around in. My jaw drops every time seeing how large the building and surrounding area is. The fact that they were able to design such an ambitious world and get it to work on the N64 is impressive.
TBH, I kind of think Grunty Industries is one of my favorite levels BECAUSE of it's labyrinthian design. And the complexity of puzzles and backtracking required throughout the game as a whole help it stand out from its predecessor (which is a top quality game itself).
*Definitely* found a new channel to sub. Your tastes are awesome (both in Banjo levels and games in general) and you have great video formats! Keep up the amazing work!
I loved Grunty Industries as a kid. I just loved the fact of exploring such a cool factory and my imagination would go beyond the game itself. Even after I beat the game I would go back and play in it. I also was a big fan of Frantic Factory from DK64.
This is my order (also forgot to mention but the themes of these worlds are so well executed! Banjo kazooie had really unique themes but sometimes were a little letdown on the development of them. Tooie fully develops every world it has and doesn't leave me feeling like something was missed at all) 8. Cloud Cuckooland - While I agree with what you said, I hate traversing this world. And figuring out while exit to leave out of is very frustrating since the center island centerpiece to all the other islands. I do like the objectives of this one more than Grunty Industries, getting to the locales and in specific orders is tiring. It's great but it feels like a chore. 7. Grunty Industries - This world is a puzzle in itself. Traversing it isn't a problem like in Cloud Cuckooland but it's remembering where everything is. However, the more you explore, the more secrets and puzzles you learn about so it's part of the process. I still like the attempt at a very ambitious world but it does fall short. On the bright side tho, I love the feeling of this world being complete. When it's done, that satisfaction is like no other just because of how daunting this world is every time 6.Terrydactly Land - This used to be my 2nd favorite world as a kid. I loved the dinosaurs, the landscape, and the platforming. Now... not so much. I still love it's theme to pieces, even tho this one feels little less immersive than the other worlds. But the scope of it is never lost, even if it comes with flaws. Big is the idea here. Tho, I give credit to building the world up rather than horizontal. It's still a little too empty and underdeveloped compared to other worlds but it does enough. 5. Mayahem Temple - I agree with the comments in the video to a T. Really good but something feels missing but it's not a major thing so it passes. 4. Jolly Roger Lagoon - I normally felt like you did about this world but this last playthrough, I was loving it. Love the town, I enjoyed all the underwater stuff; it just gave me the Tooie feel I was looking for. My biggest complaints come with the way backtracking feels to this world. It's not fun. Backtracking already was painful for me this last time but it sucked the most when coming here. 3. Hailfire Peaks - This last playthrough, I enjoyed this level less than I usually do. But after hearing you talk about it, I decided to bump it up. I agree with you on all of those aspects. What brought it down was probably my memory failing me. I was having the most difficulty remembering how to do things for this level the most. And this was also the part of the playthrough when I kicked in that I was getting kinda tired of the game and it's giant worlds. However, taking a step back, I don't think it was the world's fault but rather my patience and playing it on xbox. Platforming here was rough since the control stick still felt really weird for me. Hardest world to rank but I'll trust your praises over my doubts 2. Glitter Gulch Mine - The flaws in this one are all valid but this is also the most fun world to traverse. It's so fun with all the hills and cowboys screaming "OOH." It's really intuitive and none of the exploring feels like it's a waste. It's a well thought out world that touches its theme well. The biggest letdown is the transformation. It's one of the most frustrating ones that also feels tacked on. I think this one could've worked better without it. 1. Witchy World - I just never not have a good time completing this world. As a kid, coming back to this world sucked when it was done but that's because there's no reward for the minigames and exploration feels a bit... pointless. Idk I was kid just being in the game. On the flip side (playing the game intended), it's a B L A S T. Its probably my favorite Banjo world overall. There literally isn't a section in here that I get annoyed with. I think all of it is fair and interesting. Even the hoop rings and shooting balloons. The challenge doesn't feel like it's too hard and what practice you get helps you in the future. This acts more like an introduction to Tooie than Mayhem temple but it's so well disguised and fun that I don't even notice. (Also this is the world with the best enemy imo. Tho Glitter Gulch and Grunty industries do come close)
My favourite level is Grunty Industries, and the reason is very simple: Because everything is connected to everything, it feels less like a collection of individual puzzles, and more like one big puzzle you solve one step at a time. It makes the level feel like an actual location in a way the others don't. But if you're not into patiently untying a knot, well, there's a reason that level is polarising.
Me when starting the video: "What do I even think the best world is? Hmm, maybe Hailfire Peaks or Grunty Industries." Me when #8 comes up: "Oh." In all honesty, I probably would put Grunty Industries in the top half of worlds, at least from my memory. (I plan to replay soon, so maybe it will change.) The biggest thing for me is that a tall indoor area is actually incredibly novel for a world in a platformer. Having to unlock the inside to begin with and then discover things floor by floor really fueled my desire for discovery and learning things bit by bit. Until this game, indoor areas were small, two-floor affairs like Big Boo's Haunt in Mario 64. In comparison, this world felt like it had a lot to see, with different hidden areas high up on some floors, windows you could break into, and even the ability to get on the roof itself and see yourself towering over the ground you started on. I'll agree some of the actual missions separate from this main layout are unremarkable. But even so, I enjoy the world as just a unique place to be in. Its design stands out for me much more than Terrydactyland or Glitter Gulch.
I certainly agree with most of the rankings, though I truly think Glitter Gulch Mine is one of the worst levels, with confusing and bland level design, boring and unbalanced jiggy difficulties, and some extremely tedious backtracking, I couldn't agree more with the top 3, especially in the order you chose. Solid list my guy ^^
I think the reason I like grunty industries so much is because it's like a mini metroidvania. I agree that it might be a bit over the top compared to the rest of the game, but I love how trying to figure out the layout of the stage is like a giant puzzle.
Just found your channel today, watched a few of your videos and I just want to say; your script/commentary you do for these videos are amazing. Very well done and what I would consider a very professional talent you have.
Grunty's Industry was a masterpiece of 3D puzzling and I don't remember anything at the time that did it as well. The feeling of figuring out the layout, opening up new areas and exploring was what really made the game great. Yeah, it was definitely one of the hardest levels, and it might've been better to make it the last level. The design was funny and ridiculous, the puzzles were complex and satisfying but not too frustrating, and the boss was one of the best.
You're excellent at making this format of video. An actual comprehensive list with your opinions on what is good and what is bad in your eyes without sounding pretentious. You went about this really open-minded. Your #1 and #3 are my bottom two and that feels totally okay. :)
for me it's 1.) Hailfire Peak 2.) Witchy World 3.) Cloud Cuckooland 4.) Gruntys Industries 5.) Terrydactyland 6.) Glitter Gulch Mine 7.) Mayhem Temple There may have only been 8 instead of 9 levels but they deliver and make it better. I actually love how you revisit levels time and time again to reach 100%. I remember when I first played Banjo-Kazooie I was so convinced that there was a secret lava level and I would spend hours trying to find a way to find it lol but then we finally reach it in this game which I love.
As someone who immediately thought “I gotta save this goldfish” upon starting, I luckily didn’t get to experience the frustration of slow swimming or toxic gas
I do love this game but the one gripe I always had with it was the fact that there are no single notes anymore, just stacks that are worth 5. It greatly reduces the amount of collectibles and makes the levels feel kinda empty and with pointless spots. In the first game there could be something around every corner, but here you basically just have 20 notes in every level. Well, not even that, since there's also the big notes / clefs that are worth even more. That said, I still highly adore this game and its worlds.
Firstly, I want to say after seeing both your BK and BT videos, you're doing an absolutely great job!! You've just gotten a new subscriber :) The depth you go into your arguments trying to convince people of why your arguments are the correct ones, and then your amazing ability to narrate and present a point is very satisfying to listen to. Very underrated channel, I have a feeling your amount of subcribers will sky rocket soon if you just keep up the same great work :) After playing both games, BK first and then BT, both almost 20 years ago, I personally prefer BT. And a big reason for that is due to all the backtracking, travelling, harder work needed pr the average jiggy. I liked that you had to go back with new abilities, or seeing different worlds directly connected with each other through hidden paths. BK was amazing too, but I feel that BT is more of a "puzzle" (no pun intended). Much more thinking was needed to get the individual jiggies (most of them). Plenty of the missions and jiggies made you wonder how to get them or complete them. It made you ask questions. Ressonate. As it wasn't as intuitive like the jiggies in BK. While other things were obvious regarding what you needed, such as the suction-shoes or jump-shoes, and that just made you excited about when you'd finally learn to use them, knowing you'd have to come back later at some point. And personally I preferred that. It made the whole experience much more of a "a-ha!" so many times, when you finally realised how to get that one jiggy two worlds back with your now new ability. A great example was seeing Terry's egg in Mayahem Temple's (I think) 1st world, having absolutely no clue what that thing was, nor what to do with it. Then four worlds later you learn to make eggs hatch in Terrydactyland. I remember how I went "omg this is what I'm supposed to do with that random egg all the way back in the first world!". And that feeling of revelation, together with the mastering-feeling was so worth all the backtrack and patience, compared to lets say in BK and 2nd world where you can just fly and press "a" 20 times til you get to the top and pick the jiggy without any struggles. Other examples would be how much work was needed to complete a mission and get the jiggy. The missions were basically more "missions" than in BK. Such as with the archeologist or whatever in 7th world of Hailfire peaks. You understood something was wrong, that he was a special person which you needed to do something about. And it wasn't too intuitive to understand that you needed Mumbo to revive him. Then another part of the mission was seeing him freeze, and then warm him up. I just felt more like it was "well-earned jiggy after hard work". It felt more special, that each jiggy was something you had really earned and worked throughly for to get. Instead of a random jiggy which suddenly reveals itself in front of you which you didn't expect. However, I think it really depends on what you prefer during a game. Personally I prefer that it's more of a mission that needs you to put in effort to deserve the jiggy, than walking across every square meter of the map which would guarantee you 100% finishing the world. As well as if your expectations are that the sequel will follow the same tracks from the first game, as the guy explained that these two games are very different.
Pretty much. I played Tooie first and Kazooie second, and absolutely loved Tooie because of it basically being a 3D metroidvania, the interconnectivity, how you figured out things slowly and just step by step completed the worlds. Each jiggy felt earned and like "hell yeah". Terrydactyland can go blow a fat one and Cloud Cuccooland feels unfinished, but I love all the other worlds a lot. Kazooie on the other hand... maybe it's because I played Tooie first and was blown away by it... but it just felt simplistic comparatively. Kazooie is just "meh" to me and I honestly deadass don't get the hype behind it. The note score imo is a really stupid decision and every time I'm finished with a world in like less than half an hour (aside from having to look for those last stupid notes you have to collect since otherwise you'd have to collect all of them again when you exit to do something else), I was simultaneously like "there could have been way more" and "I'm so done with this world". Needing 810 notes and 94 jiggies out of 900/100 respectively also imo is way too high since it lets you have next to no flexibility in what you want to collect compared to e.g. SM64 70/120 or BT's70/90, so the playthroughs tend to feel very same-y. The only world I outright liked is Click Clock Wood because of it having a degree of interconnectivity and moving world affected by other things. Tooie might not be a good "Banjo and Kazooie" style game emulating the first one, but imo that was a good thing because imo the first game is "ok" at best and Tooie far and away the superior game, and out of all the classic N64 platformers, BK to me is by far the most overrated one.
I've watched your two Banjo world ranking videos now, and am frankly shocked at the low sub count! Your video quality is on point, with great editing! I disagree with a few of your choices and points, but I really enjoyed your insights into why you made the choices you did, and I'm happy to see someone putting out good content on my two favorite games. Keep it up!
George and Mildred (the ice cubes) are named after a 1970s UK sitcom. I love Hail Fire Peaks, especially the fire side music. It also felt chilling, no pun intended, to see the big ice chest which we had wondered for many years what the ice key would open.
Great videos! Really enjoyed them as I really loved these games (Tooie & Kazooie). Tooie was my favourite although Kazooie was a great game as well. Couldn't agree more with Hailfire Peaks being #1, that was a great level and was really nice overall. Well done, on the awesome videos! :)
I understand why Grunty Industries doesn’t resonate with a lot of people because it’s a slow burn, but the way the world slowly unfolds and plays out like a Metroidvania is brilliant IMO. Tons of unique set pieces and interconnected passages.
Really like this review, you bring up some great points, and for a lot of them I did agree, great stuff man, nice to hear the opinions of fellow Banjo & Kazooie fans :)
10:45 It actually does tell you that you get 5 of each of the burger and fries when you get them. It has the notification come up on screen at the time, and they are also a part of the collectable menu when you have them on hand.
Fun Fact: Witchy World was originally meant to be on Banjo Kazooie but was removed due to time constraints. It was included in Banjo Tooie with the main change being the backtracking as is customary for most levels/worlds in Banjo Tooie. This is why it feels the most like a Banjo Kazooie level in my opinion :)
I like Grunty Industries, despite hating the aesthetic. Conversely, I can't stand Hailfire Peaks, which I think is aesthetically beautiful. I like that you have to get the train in. It makes sense thematically, and forces you to think creatively since until then you've just used it to ferry things about. There's actually a fairly concise plan to finishing the level without getting lost or needing to backtrack too much. Also, the level is just hilarious. Might be a British thing, but I just find it so funny.
As a boy, I absolutely loathed Grunty’s Industries. Slow. Confusing. Convoluted. However, as I’ve gotten older, the reason I love Grunty’s Industries as much as I do (potentially my favorite stage), is tied to why enjoy Banjo Tooie over Kaz. My ability to and see in what ways my skills help me BLAZE through the level. How much I remember from the last play and what ways I could optimize my route to getting all the Jiggy’s, Notes, etc. I’m pretty weird, in me liking Tooie over Kazooie and enjoying Grunty’s Industries as much as I do, I know.
Can't wait to see Banjo-Tooie arrive on Switch! I got Banjo-Kazooie on Switch (after being a superfan of both the games on N64) and I still love every second of it!
Great analysis! I always enjoyed unlocking Grunty Industries; the act of accessing every room in the factory felt like a huge puzzle in and of itself. Still, I can also understand how people can find it tedious as well; there is so much trial and error, it can get exhausting on the first few playthroughs.
Not sure if anyone else brought it up but Hailfire Peaks was, at the very least, a concept when Banjo Kazooie was in production, and a lot of the world's puzzles and layout were already decided long before Banjo Tooie began production. I'm not sure if I remember correctly, but I do remember hearing that Hailfire Peaks WAS originally planned for Banjo Kazooie, along with a few other levels that were recycled into Tooie and Donkey Kong 64. So yeah, it's very likely that the Lava World referenced in Banjo Kazooie WAS meant to be Hailfire Peaks, but due to time constraints, the world was postponed until the sequel.
I found grunty industries to be pretty good by the end when you remember everything and you are like oh wait I remember what I can do here and realize that you can do so many things and more that you couldn’t earlier in the game
I remember not being able to finish Banjo Tooie as a kid because of three things: Language barrier because I played the Japanese version, fear of the monstrous anemones in Jolly Roger's Lagoon which makes me obtain only like 3 jiggies in that world and also the fear of the T-Rex's foot stomp in that one area in Terrydactyland, and Grunty Industries' absolute complexity in backtracking for the remaining jiggies after returning from not playing this game in a long time. It was a frustrating experience but I managed to finish the game like 6-7 months ago. It was worth the nostalgic conclusion to one of Rare's fine jewels of their games.
Grunty Industries is my favourite BK level out of either entry in the series, and multiple of the reasons you list as bad is why I love it haha, I am a big fan of how complicated it is and the backtracking never bothers me at all. I LOVE the required train station entry because it opens up letting you think you'll begin from the entrance, but then it turns out you actually end up starting the level from somewhere within the building and have to explore to find out where you actually are in terms of the factory layout. Also it feels fitting that Grunty wouldn't leave the entrance open for Banjo and Kazooie to enter. It feels kinda like you're smuggling yourself on a freight train with supplies for the factory in order to sneak inside. Then there's the divide between the service elevator and the warp pads. I love that you have to go into the elevator as the washing machine to unlock access to higher floors for BK. All in all I find the level super interesting and I absolutely don't view it as the gameplay coming to a halt. Terrydactyland for worst BT level imo
I'll add my own top 8 to this real quick 8 - Terrydactyland 7 - Mayahem Temple 6 - Glitter Gulch Mine 5 - Hailfire Peaks 4 - Witchyworld 3 - Cloud Cuckooland 2 - Jolly Roger's Lagoon (While I agree that aiming is a little annoying under water, it's fine that swimming is a little slow paced imo) 1 - Grunty Industries (I don't think any of them are bad, but this is how I'd rank them
2:23 I accidentally got myself into the factory without the unlock process. Shoot a Clockwork Kazooie into the high window above the front entrance. If you enter right as the Grunt below attacks Banjo, it will transition the perspective back to Banjo+Kazooie as you load into the window entrance.
My main problem with Banjo-Tooie is how hard it is to find the collectibles. In Banjo-Kazooie, it feels more calming and fun because you find the collectibles so often. Now in Banjo-Tooie, each jiggy takes so long to get. Some you need to come back for, and some need multiple things you need to do so you can get the jiggy
Man really is knocking points for a unique and innovative twist on the world formula (how you enter GI) and calls it unnecessary. If it was out in the open yeah, but you have to *find* that button and it requires you beat old king coal if you hadn't already It felt so cool finding that button and realizing that was the only way I would be able to sneak into this massive factory, actively leaving the world to come into it through another means. And that interworld interconnectivity is some of what Tooie at its best excels at A truly interconnected openworld, with smaller sub sections built for platforming and collecting. I wish more 3d plats would follow its example and execute it even better
My favorite level is Witchyworld, but I have to defend Grunty Industries here, it's in my 3rd place. I love it because how creative and masive it is, and the game motivates the player to EXPLORE, and in that aspect the level delivers.
2:30 - I think it was intentional as Grunty's "security" can't just let you in the building. I was laughing so much as a kid when I thought I outsmarted the system then realised it's intended for you to ride in lol
For Grundy's Industries I remember thinking the idea of sneaking into this building was a cool one. And this is coming from someone who enjoys Metal Gear Solid. The music is one of my favorites
Grunty Industries is my favorite level of the game. I just seem to have a love of industrial areas like it when you're surrounded by more fantasy-esque sections.
1. Hailfire Peaks 2. Grunty Industries 3. Mayahem Temple 4. Witchyworld 5. Glitter Gulch Mine 6. Cloud cuckooland 7. Jolly Roger’s Lagoon 8. Terrydactyland I have very fond memories of playing this game for the first time on my laptop in my Senior year of High School back in 2012. I had only had the N64 cart but the frame rate was awful on that, but it ran much smoother on Project 64. I was blown away by how interconnected all the levels were, how you retained all your moves from Kazooie and got way more new moves, how Bottles was killed off immediately, the scope and size of the worlds, playable Mumbo, cooler transformations, the train connecting the hub world areas, the warp pads...The last second to last level is, I think the game at its highest level of quality. You're tested on everything you've learned, the jiggies are difficult to get, requiring backtracking to other areas/worlds. Terrydactyland is an ugly world, with an irritating dual transformation, is way too big, it all looks the same, the music is bad.
Thanks everyone for the comments and support thus far! If you enjoyed this video, please consider subscribing, it really helps a ton! Also, if you haven't already, make sure to check out Every Banjo Kazooie World RANKED: th-cam.com/video/J3UmWPBWtEs/w-d-xo.html
>"If you're a fan of Grunty Industries, I'd honestly like to hear why you enjoy it"
To most succinctly sum up why I love GI, I will another commenter in saying: the world is a puzzle in itself. As someone who loves Banjo-Tooie mostly for the metroidvania element, this really appeals to me, and it makes sense from an in-universe perspective too: why would Grunty make her factory straightforward to destroy?
Merely opening the front door requires an ability to carefully observe your surroundings and no less than 6 steps, including straight-up leaving the world. The skivvy workmates are often hard to get to by traditional methods, so you need to figure out an alternate route as the washer. Unlocking Weldar requires unscrewing a suspended platform from outside, then solving a timed navigation puzzle with 3 different character control schemes.
To me, Grunty Industries is a systemic level. Like all factories, it is built to be efficiënt, ruthless, and resiliënt to crisis. Thus, it must be conquered systematically. Get in via the back door. Learn the layout to move around more easily. Destroy the cameras so the tintups can't spawn. Find Wumba so you can use the service elevator to open shortcuts for yourself.
By the same token, the worst parts of the level are times when it breaks this pattern: like a timed FPS segment in monotonous hallways, or having to leave and reënter QC over and over. There's a big difference between a fun puzzle and pointless tedium
@@Copyright_Infringement These are good points you bring up, though it occurs to me that the very things you think are cool could easily be the very things others feel frustrated by. I myself would say that I definitely detected that frustration, but I also didn't altogether dislike it either. What it _does_ feel like is a significant departure from the game that Kazooie was, which probably leads to a lot of the mixed reactions Tooie got and gets. The Metroidvania aspect was really intriguing to me as a kid, but ultimately it did feel like it amounted to just a ton of running around empty spaces. Was a weird choice to consolidate the collectibles if they were gonna make the maps so much bigger.
Also, just want to add that I appreciate your usage of diaeresis marks on words like reenter and even efficient, although that does seem like a very heavily pronounced "effishi-ent" rather than the more typical "effishent". Calling diaeresis mark levels of attention to that final 'e' that most just pronounce like some sort of unofficial diphthong is fun haha
Hopefully like added fox 2 too the switch I hope when they release the GameCube system to switch that banjo threeie will be released
Also I honestly like everything about banjo kazooie and tooie
“HailFire Peaks seems like a world from Banjo Kazooie more than Banjo Tooie” because it sort of is.The lava side was meant to be another world in Kazooie called Mount Fire Eyes. It’s also very likely that this scrapped world was meant to be “The Lava World” Goby was going to go to.
Been a lifelong fan of the series but have never really dipped my toes into the community that surrounds it. I had no idea people hated the backtracking so much. Honestly, it's my favorite part of the game design. I LOVE having to weave together so many characters, powers, and storylines across multiple worlds to make something happen. It gives finally snagging that jiggy an incredible sense of accomplishment. It really made the worlds feel super immersive and truly connected. But, to each their own!
Exactly, I don't understand why people are obsessed with Ocarina of Time or Majora's Mask but have a problem with this masterpiece.
Agreed. When I was a kid it was like a magical feeling, seeing how the worlds connect. Or just seeing reappearing characters in different worlds, especially those from the previous game. For me, that‘s one of the reasons why I always chose Tooie over Kazooie and still do.
Agree, when I saw something that was clearly in my view but I could not get it made it so much more memorable than being able to 100% each level. I think back-tracking is what created that magical feeling we remember about the BK games.
I think the issue is a lot of people want instant gratification. This game had you being able to increase the life of the game by being able to backtrack with new abilities and such rather than the first one where you can pretty much grab every jiggy in some levels within a few minutes
@@cfilmgames9906 the difference with games like OOT or MM is that you don’t actually need to backtrack in those games to complete them.
Any backtracking in those games is to get optional collectibles and the like.
Banjo Tooies backtracking is tedious and for getting jiggy’s. It creates alot of lopsided action as some jiggys are stupid easy, others overly complex
The town section of Jolly Roger lagoon is one of my favourites in a game honestly. I have so much nostalgia for its music and its atmosphere. It feels so homey and cheery and it looks so pleasant
even the cavern section for me was a blast, the cave formations and patterns make for a beautiful atmosphere as you slowly traverse the caves, i think what did it for me was being able to breathe underwater made the level much more exciting because i was able to 'explore what i wouldnt have been able to previously without the infinite air'
Have to say Grunty Industries is my guilty pleasure. It's such a unique level that is totally different from the cartoony character of the others. I like the concept of different floors much more than big open areas like Terrydactyl Land. And I enjoyed it that you are thrown into this level and have just this tiny area to explore where you don't know what you have to do. To find the train switch and go from there was a nice twist that I love to see others explore.
I just love the scenery (my guilty pleasure from Banjo Kazooie was Clanker's Cavern), and this has something of a lost place when you enter the basement. And the boss is my favourite of the whole game.
And it's pretty fulfilling when you don't know how to get a jiggy (like with all the acid stuff) but then come back later with a move that can clear this challenge. I don't mind backtracking.
When you are a kid and have enough time it is much better
It's a great level, for sure. But my problem is that too many of the floors look and feel similar, and I hate that you can't teleport without being the washing machine.
@@aguilarrojasoctavio4402 I don’t think that has anything to do with it. I’m in my 20’s and I still have a blast playing through Grunty Industries.
@@BL-mf3jp You can teleport, you just can’t use the warp pads as the washing machine and can only use the service elevator.
i loved this level, even as a kid. it been a while since i payed it, but i loved how much it made you feel like the hero of the game, in that, you're breaking into the villains lair, like going the back way into moria in LotR. Once inside its this miserable place, a stark contrast to the other more organic lands, and is a demonstration of what the villain can do to the world if you dont succeed. the jiggies were cleverly hidden and as you stated the level is pretty unique to the rest f the game. it might actually be my favorite level...maybe witchyworld is better.
jolly roger is actually my favourite.. if only because i think it has the best music in the game, and probably the best 'underwater' theme ever.. so calming and peaceful
It really is. I wished the underwater controls were better otherwise it'd be one of my top favorite levels as well
Yeah man dude making the vid is just a downer just has a negative opinion on everything
@@zeospark9715The underwater controls are fine, at least on the Xbox edition. Not sure about the original
For me JRL definitely makes it into the top half of Tooie stages but it’s conditional on first going back to Spiral Mountain to free Roysten the goldfish.
Assuming zero player pre-knowledge for the sake of fairness, it’s not a given in every playthrough that the swimming buff is found before JRL (if even at all for the non-completionist types).
Buuuut imo the game incentivizes backtracking early on enough that it doesn’t fall to just dumb luck to find Roysten either.
TLDR: it would be top 3 assuming you have fast swimming, but it’s also fair to place a lot lower if you don’t. It really ain’t super obscure to get though so imo JRL balances out at #4
@@welshlout3400 JRL is prefectely playable without the fast swimming tho.. especially since you can get the 'infinite air'
it actually makes it a stage that can be played at least 3 different ways just when it comes to swimming underwater
that alone makes it a great level
Jolly Rodger’s Lagoon actually scared me as a kid. I only got the moves, the Jiggies in the town, and then left
Partially because I never thought to hit the octopi with ice eggs.
I think that Banjo-Tooie requires a very different mindset from Banjo-Kazooie to really get the most out of it. Kazooie is, at its heart, a score attack game - you're supposed to clear worlds in one go (further emphasized by the original release where Note Score was a thing), explore every last nook and cranny one at a time, get in and get out in one clean run except that one time where a polar bear won't let you wear his Jordans. It's snappy, responsive, gave actual weight to death in the N64 version making levels like Click Clock Wood endurance tests, and ultimately used every second in its worldbuilding to its fullest.
Banjo-Tooie, meanwhile, is a LOT slower. Most of its tasks have multiple steps, connect several NPC's together where they wouldn't interact at all in Kazooie, and take you across the map to several locations instead of just having focused 'zones' for Jiggies ala Kazooie or Mario 64. It cares a lot less about exploring the entirety of a world and more about your familiarity with it and ability to change it. As such, I actually compare the vibe of Banjo-Tooie a lot more to a game like Metroid Prime than I do the original BK. Everything is built to create a more organic (if still ultimately super cartoony) world, with the player meant to change things around and take note of stuff in order to better improve it. For example, the Oogle Boogle Jiggy you single out in Terrydactyland - individually, all of those steps are a huge pain. But unlike Kazooie, the focus isn't on all of those steps being executed at once. With the exception of actually getting Fred Flintstone his disgusting junk food, every other step has a branch to it that completes more tasks in the world. Mumbo enlarging Humba's is combo'd with enlarging one of the dinosaur kids, turning into the T-Rex combos with the switch in unlocking a Jinjo, entering the Oogle Boogle cave reveals that one of Terry's eggs is in there. Heck, figuring out that you need Daddy T-Rex is a puzzle, as Baby T-Rex doesn't scare Unga Bunga at all. Banjo-Tooie is all about giving you an absolutely massive array of tools, putting a few context sensitive pads like the Split Up around to give you a hint, and telling you to have at it, unlocking whatever doors you think you can open in the process. And considering the amount of hint signs around that reward you for exploring in order to point you in the right direction, I think it's very easy to enjoy Banjo-Tooie if you don't think of it as an objective-to-objective game. It's definitely not something I came to terms with until recently, but I discovered by not following a guide like I had as a kid and just wandering around, trying to remember where stuff was, I really enjoyed trawling around BT's worlds as puzzle boxes more than platforming levels. And that makes levels like Grunty Industries and Terrydactyland, where everything is SO interconnected and figuring it out feels like this big triumph, incredibly satisfying to me... although security still does suck in Grunty's
With that said, totally understand your points - two years ago I probably would've agreed with all of 'em wholeheartedly, and they're well-made. I definitely don't prefer Tooie to Kazooie, but I like appreciating it on its own terms. As such, here's a quite ranking of my own for posterity, with a "well done" to you, sir!
1. Hailfire Peaks
2. Witchyworld
3. Glitter Gulch Mine
4. Terrydactyland
5. Grunty Industries
6. Cloud Cuckooland
7. Mayahem Temple
8. Jolly Roger's Lagoon
Great write up and list! I've actually been thinking to myself that Banjo-Tooie feels more like a Metroidvania game than anything else, so to see you compare it to Metroid Prime is something I can definitely get behind. Even though I make some comparisons to Banjo-Kazooie in the video, there's no question these are in two different genres of games. Really makes me wonder what Banjo-Threeie would have been like.
I like to see Tooie as the part 2 of Banjo Kazooie, it builds on to the original.
Amen. I was playing through Tooie in December whilst my Switch was away. Love both games. The first game is more Mario and Tooie is more Zelda/Metroid. I got up to Grunty Industries but unfortunately stopped playing as I moved house in January and the n64 is still packed away.
I find it hard to say which game is better, Kazooie or Tooie. Depends what mood I’m in.
Wish there were a third. I did funnily enough play the spiritual third, ‘Yooka-Laylee’ on my switch in February and I enjoyed that game too, albeit preferred the Banjo games.
Thank you finally someone else that gets it👍
I fully agree with your analysis and stating that tooie is a metroidvania. And you k ow what all good metroidvanias need to succeed? A coherent map. I think a map in tooie would alleviate a lot of criticism.
I admittedly loved Grunty Industries because of its complexity. I thought that the way it was designed was really clever, the little easter eggs, the attention to detail, everything was so good considering the era it came from. I will admit the backtracking does make it lose a lot of points, but while not the best world for me, it's still pretty high up. I honestly found Terrydactyl land to be slightly more annoying due to the fact that the zones all look so damn similar, and Cloud Cuckoo land being the worst world for me because of how disjointed and random the theming was.
I liked Cloud Cuckooland personally, but I agree Terrydactyl Land was way too big, too empty and too monotonous
So happy to see the Grunty Industries love in the comment section! I remember 10 years ago I'd see everyone hating on it so I'm glad to see it's gotten the love it's deserves! I remember the exact moment I realized it was my favorite world. When I was a kid playing through this game for the first time, Grunty Industries was actually the first world I wanted to go back to so I could explore fully and get every collectable. From then on it's been my favorite world in Tooie (And possibly my favorite world in the series, but it's got some competition with Click Clock Wood from Kazooie). I always loved how unique and different this world was from all the others. How you had to enter the world using the train, all the different floors, the batteries, the security cameras and the Tintops, the washing machine joke from Kazooie being a full fledged transformation that was really fun to control, etc. Even the Jiggies were all pretty unique and really fun to get. I also found Weldar to be the funnest boss in the game to fight against. Grunty Industries is, in my opinion, one of the best designed worlds/levels in gaming.
Yes yes yes! You get it! If you play thru BT once Grunty Industries will probably be the bane of your existence. You probably give it one look and move on to Hailfire.
It looks ugly and sludgy. The music sounds like a case of the Mondays. Then you figure out how to take the train in and commence dismantling the underwear factory proper.
Each floor is intricately laid out and feeds into the rest of the maze. Weldar, the most ridiculous and convoluted boss to get to proves to be the most challenging and enjoyable to finally fight in the factory bowels. He is somewhat reminiscent of Clanker in that he's a sentient machine creature plopped in a dinghy place per Gruntilda's orders.
This place feels like it's perpetually in mid to late October with dreary skies. It's during these times we craft our finest puzzles
You two are fellow man of culture...
Dude i only hate because of the damn vacuum dude
Yeah I loved it
Grunty Industries is basically a Zelda dungeon in 3D platforming form.
Grunty Industries was a level that while annoying was incredibly unique and had a really industrial look which I crave. I thought Cloud Cuckooland was one of the worst designs for me but maybe I am odd.
Nah you're on point. Cloud Cuckooland was the level they threw everything at the wall for. It's the least thought out and rushed. The end game of Tooie is probably it's weakest aspect with the 90 jiggies total being a constant reminder they had to cut out stuff. Cauldron Keep was supposed to be a full fledged level but instead we got a quick end game
hated that level so much. HUGE difficulty spike.
I totally agree feeling the same.
I actually find having to backtrack with your new powers the highlight of Banjo Tooie. I enjoy the increased complexity of the worlds and puzzles too. It seemed like all the things you didn't like were actually the reasons I did like certain aspects, but that's okay. We've all got different tastes in level design.
There's a rift between stuff you see in mayahem temple and the jiggy he outlined in terrydactyland. If you can't say that at least a few of the jiggies were unreasonably long in the tooth then I'd be surprised.
@@yofyo I don't think so, I liked those ones
DK64's backtrack was just bad patting, BT's backtrack was actual good game desing, which makes me angry whenever people compare the two and say they the same bad patting. good to see someone understand!
@@arthurpietrogarcia1057 dk64 seemed more of an annoyance, didn’t flow well
The disrespect to terrydactleland is outrageous
😮
It's an annoying level next to the second last level m
Being a Metroid fanboy, I really appreciate the complexity and backtracking of levels like Grunty Industries.
It really does feel like how a 3D Metroidvania should work & feel. Layout also completely makes sense size wise...
Grunty Industries is unironically one of my favourite levels of all time for how big and complex it is. Back tracking doesn’t bother me. And the way you enter the level with Chuffy is just so cool. You feel like you’re infiltrating the factory.
Banjo-Tooie is the best game Rare ever made to this day ❤️
I love that the worlds are this big and interconnected. It feels like they were really part of a giant world and not separate levels, wich wasn’t that common at the time. I also don’t mind the backtracking as much as other people do, wich is probably one of the biggest issue people tend to have with the game.
And Grunty Industries is actually one of my favorite levels. Sure it isn’t easy and I can get why people dislike it, but I always liked it 😄 Even the thing with entering via train into the main building is something I always thought made the level unique. And I in general like that the level is that complex. It really challenged me as I did my hundo playthroughs of the game.
For me one of my least favorite level is Cloud Cuckoo Land. It just felt too random for me.
But I totally agree with the first two places! Hailfire Peak is just such a gem of a level ❤️ And the cynical humor in Witchy World is what makes the level so outstanding for me 😄
Thank you!! My thoughts EXACTLY! I loved the interconnectedness of the worlds and didn't mind the backtracking. Grunty industries was one of my favorite levels as well and I swear I thought I was the only one that didn't like cloud cuckoo land. The randomness of the level really didn't sit right with me.
I also really loved bad fur day
Donkey Kong 63 is better
Too bad we may never get another true BK Game.
Nah dkc2 clears
Ack! I couldn't disagree more about Grunty Industries, which is easily my favorite Banjo-Kazooie OR Tooie level...! I heavily, HEAVILY recommend checking out a 4-part video called "Banjo-Tooie Review & Analysis" by Veegie from 2016, which features an extended analysis of Grunty Industries that sums up why I love it so much FAR better than I could explain here. My brother & I used to spend hours running around the factory, coming up with stories about Banjo & Kazooie being separated and hiding out in ventilation, waging secret war against a dystopian big-brother entity, sneaking around, etc. Once you open the level up, it's like a huge, industrial playground.
Also totally disagree on Jolly Roger's Lagoon, probably my 2nd-favorite of all time. It's like 2 levels in one, with the old-timey village and the mysterious sea...
/edit -- my rankings just 'cuz:
01 -- Grunty Industries
02 -- Jolly Roger Lagoon
03 -- Glitter Gulch Mine
04 -- Witchyworld
05 -- Hailfire Peaks
06 -- CloudCuckooLand
07 -- Mayahem Temple
08 -- Terrydactyland
Terrydactyland is the only one I'd call below par, (even tho there's some cool bits hidden away all over) I love all of the other levels, my 1-6 in particular are just legendary imho
Thanks for recommending me that analysis! Just watched the whole thing and it was very well done. Ultimately while I still have issues with Grunty Industries, it's becoming more clear why people enjoy that stage.
My favorite ones are also those, the most hated hahaha
Grunty Industries was great, can’t agree with this ranking.
1. Terrydactyland (for the sheer sense of wonder at its scope)
2. Hailfire Peaks
3. Grunty Industries
4. Jolly Rodger Lagoon
5. Glitter Gulch Mine
Big Gap
6. Witchyworld
7. Mayahem Temple
Big gap
8. Cloud cuckooland
This is a very agreeable list to me. I probably would switch HP and GI, and GGM would be lower for me personally, but the concept and assessment criteria I fully agree with!
I like Cloud Cuckoo land.
WW would be number one for me followed by Hailfire Peaks.
A subtle thing i loved about witchy world is how the stages theme changes for every section you're in
You are a severely under-rated channel. I found myself rethinking what I thought about these levels. Thanks for another great video.
I loved B-T when I first played it as a kid, and I still do now. Great sequel to what was already a great game. Many hours of fun.
Man, I remember playing this game in 2005 on the n64 when I was in third grade and having an absolute blast. Here I am in 2022 well into college playing this game on the Xbox One and still having a great time playing it. The story plot, the game mechanics and the sheer fun you have in every world is the reason this game has stood the tests of time.
This video was randomly recommended to me and I just had to click right away. You did an excellent job with this video, giving great analytical arguments throughout while letting the viewer enjoy nostalgic music and gameplay footage along the way. I had a great time watching, nice job and subbed
When I saw that Grunty Industries was the "worst level" I knew I should be here. lol
Despite the backtracking the level requires, I really find awesome to "infiltrate" the factory instead of finding "the hidden keys" behind the factory. (Plus, the skybox of the level is just gorgeous)
Jolly Roger Lagoon is the only Rareware and maybe, of all the N64 catalogue water level that I really enjoy. (Take my chance to say that Gloomy Galleon really ruins my will to keep playing DK64).
Terrydactiland is boring, ngl. Oogle Boogles and Styracosaurus quests. Just that.
Mayahem Temple is a nice "first level", but I reckon they should have made the level to finish it on one shot. But hey, 9 jiggies at first time isn't really bad.
Glitter Gulch Mine is... lazy. Or at least gives me that vibe. The detonator backtracking is one of the few backtracking that actually bothered me.
Cloud Cuckooland... Well, Just Canary Mary and the lack of orientation on which tunel takes you to the diferent places (both skulls, the thorn course, cheese wedge, etc)
Witchyworld is indeed the perfect level. The skybox, concept, level design, ost, the minigames... everything! (The only issue might be preparing the saucer of peril ride)
Hailfire Peaks is amazing but not perfect. The Alien family's quest and reviving Sabreman are ugh... Plus, the colosseum kickball minigame is really boring. Boggy and Gobi's references/appereances are nice.
Sorry for the excesive words xD
But Banjo-Tooie is my very first owned game and I have a very special place for it in my heart. Seeing content of the game nowadays is always a great thing (People often gives the spotlight to Kazooie, and that's not bad! but Tooie really makes look BK as a joke. Tooie will always be the better!)
I absolutely adore Grunty's Industries! For me, what makes a good level is its mystery and its atmosphere, and that's what GI has in spades. Even just the fact that when you enter the level normally for the first time, you can't really access anything. It feels very mysterious and I had a great time uncovering ways to delve deeper into the factory. Also, I think it just makes sense from an in-world perspective that a big factory wouldn't be easily accessible to just anyone. To me, most of the downsides you mentioned are actually upsides, adding charm and a sense of danger to the world. But I could also definitely see how they make gameplay harder and more convoluted. Gameplay or ease of navigation or reducing backtracking are just not what's important to me when assessing these levels.
This needs to be added to the switch library. I damn near cried when I realized the original was on there and I immediately started playing it. It's honestly one of my favorite games of all time with click clock woods being my favorite world. I'm almost begging them to add this game to it cause I would love to play it again. I only got to play it once and I'd love an opportunity to do so again
If you have an Xbox it might be on there.
it just got added into the NSO!
When I decided to replay both kazooie and tooie I looked up this list what I never expected that this would be three days old I was expecting multiple years the fact people still have excitement to talk about these games puts a smile on my face cheers mate!
ALL THIS TIME and i had no idea you could go from Mumbo's Skull to Wumba's Wigwam in hailfire peaks????????
i paused the video and asked myself the same thing
I thought the game was glitching up when I first did it. It was so weird because there wasn't guides online. You just found the quirks while playing.
I also personally love Grunty Industries. This level has such a special atmosphere and complexity. So many rooms, so many interactions between floors, vertically and horizontally, inisde and outside... it's fun and rewarding. It's in my top 3 worlds in Banjo-Tooie if not top 1.
what are your other two in your top three levels in Tooie? Mine are 1. Hailfire Peaks 2. Jolly Roger's Lagoon 3. Grunty Industries
It's interesting how my tastes in Banjo-Tooie's levels have changed over time. I used to really dislike Grunty Industries and Jolly Roger's Lagoon but now I appreciate them a lot more - Industries for how interconnected and dense it is and Lagoon for the absolutely phenomenal atmosphere. I used to like Terrydactyland, but now I see how empty and unnecessarily huge it is. Tooie remains one of my all-time favorite games but I find myself looking at it differently almost every time I play it, and that's kinda fascinating.
Loved this video man - and I agree, Hailfire Peaks is the best :)
8 Cloud Cockooland
7 Jolly Roger's Lagoon
6 Glitter Gulcht Mine
5 Mayahem Temple
4 Terrydactyland
3 Grunty Industries
2 Hailfire Peaks
1 Wichyword
Witchy world is my favorite of them all! We really enjoyed playing it over and over
I love Grunty Industries because it's fun to optimize movement and try to beat the stage as fast as possible. Getting all the moves before completing it makes me feel better about it. I used to hate it so much growing up but now it along with Jolly Roger Lagoon are my favorites.
Wow, the lowest ranking three levels on this list might be my top three levels in my own ranking (give or take a Hailfire Peaks), and hilariously the reasons you said you don't like them are exactly the reasons I love them. I love the ingenuity and backtracking it takes to get into Grunty Industries - it makes you feel like you're infiltrating a place you're not supposed to be in and almost like you're breaking the game in a way no other game outside of the Metroid franchise has ever made me felt. I love the large maze-like oceans of Jolly Roger's Lagoon because it feels so epic in scope while letting you listen to possibly the best track Grant Kirkhope ever composed. And I love love LOVE the multi-faceted quest you have to go on to get the cavemen their food. It highlights the interconnectedness of the world in a way most other Jiggies don't, which is probably my favorite aspect of the entire game.
I think you were a little hard on Jolly Roger Lagoon. I thought it was a really cool world to explore. I’ll never forget the feeling when I discovered the lost city of Atlantis.
Grunty Industries is my Favorit World of the game! I love the factory theme and the complexity makes it more interesting for me
Actually ended up replaying Tooie for the first time in a few years this past summer. Though I went about it differently and think I came out enjoying myself a whole lot more. Though I suppose that's mostly because when it comes to 3D collect-a-thons doing 100% is my standby. Usually. And in Tooie, as you point out, that can be pretty frustrating at times due to all the backtracking. And Canary Mary in CL.
I still got everything, but approached the backtracking differently than I did growing up. This time I still collected all I could until I reached Terrydactyland. Where I went out of my way to collect what notes I could and a few jiggies before moving on. Leaving most of that world incomplete. Rinse and repeat until I had the final move from Cloud Cuckooland. From there I backtracked, to Glitter Gulch Mine I think, and moved forward with every move. Though for this method to work best I suggest remembering to do the things from later worlds that affect earlier ones before returning to those. (Ex: pushing George into the hot water so you can drain that now cool water into JRL.)
I also had the dinosaur kids waiting on Chuffy for a while. So I could heal the sick one and return the one from Witchyworld in one trip. Wasn't completely smooth as I forgot a few things, but it felt like a good way to handle it once it got to that point in the game. That said I'll probably always prefer Kazooie.
Did a replay of Yooka-Laylee like this too. Went through only the first run of each world first and learned all the moves. Before going back and expanding each Grand Tome. I enjoyed the game so much better that way.
My personal Top:
8.- Terrydactyland
7.- Mayahem Temple
6.- Jolly Rogers Lagoon
5.- Glitter Gulch Mine
4.- Grunty Industries
3.- Cloud Cuckooland
2.- Hailfire Peaks
1.- Witchy World
I'm glad I got here before 1k subs. I remember that I've felt that Tooie is similar to DK64, while maintaining a linear gameplay, you need to do so much around the main goal. I still love this game, playing the minigames with friends was awesome, but for me, when I was a kid, non english speaker, without any access to internet or some kind of help, I found Banjo Tooie and DK64 probably the most hardest games of my childhood. I just finished both when I was already a teenager and I learned english. Great video, I'm gonna watch all your videos from now on haha
Edit: You have some Conker videos, Mario, GTA...dude, please make one about DK64 ! Anything !
Grunty Industries and holy Roger's lagoon are phenomenal and no one can convince me otherwise
I also hate Grunty Industries. A confusing maze from hell.
I agree with most of your list. Im a little surprised that Jolly Roger’s Lagoon was a little low, but I see your reasoning. Im also surprised that Witchyworld was #2. I would’ve easily made that 1. Other than that, awesome video
At least in xbox I enjoyed so much Atlantis, it was the Grant´s favorite Tooie theme
@@aguilarrojasoctavio4402: I know!
Great music
jolly roger lagoon is my favorite level
a water level done right
the atlantis atmosphere and venturing further and further to the locker area and the big fish cavern without having to worry about air just feels right
i guess the music also plays a big part
witchyworld/cloud cukoo are a close second for me
the intro of cloud cukoo tune just feels like breezy warm summer day
overall all levels are top notch but some are just way better than others
and while i dont dislike terradectyl, hailfire or grunties industries
something about them just makes me always want to finish these as fast as possible and be done with them
@@010les: I agree with you on everything 100%
I enjoy Grunty Industries because of its complexity. Right from the beginning, with Chuffy as the way to enter the building, I thought it set the tone that the game was going to kick things up a notch. Even getting to Weldar wasn't all that simple, but, it resulted in a fun Boss Battle. Grunty Industries felt like a big puzzle, and, I liked how it heavily utilized Banjo and Kazooie, solo, as well as the transformation.
Same. To me the Mine level is the worst
@@charlesg7926 Glitter Gulch Mine is low for me too. I have it just above Cloud Cuckooland. For me, the biggest problem with Glitter Gulch Mine is that it was unremarkable, aside from a few moments. Good music, cool introduction of a key element - Chuffy the train, after a fight with Old King Coal. The light cabin was a decent Jiggy too, especially since there are multiple ways to get it. I hardly remember much else about the level
Cloud Cuckooland was plenty memorable, but I didn't really enjoy it too much. The trick with Mingy Jongo was a really cool concept and a tough, memorable battle though.
This is a fantastic video and great analysis of one of my all time favorite games, Banjo-Tooie. I will say that I like Grunty Industries more than you do, mainly because of how impressive that level is on a design standpoint. It’s a massive, labyrinth of a world but is all put together with careful design sensibilities and is truly one of the most impressive world designs of any 3D adventure game. I do agree that some of its aspects, like the annoying security cameras and finding batteries, can be tedious, but overall I really enjoy the challenge. Weldar is also the best boss in the game by far. Also, it’s my favorite world by far to fly around in. My jaw drops every time seeing how large the building and surrounding area is. The fact that they were able to design such an ambitious world and get it to work on the N64 is impressive.
TBH, I kind of think Grunty Industries is one of my favorite levels BECAUSE of it's labyrinthian design. And the complexity of puzzles and backtracking required throughout the game as a whole help it stand out from its predecessor (which is a top quality game itself).
*Definitely* found a new channel to sub. Your tastes are awesome (both in Banjo levels and games in general) and you have great video formats! Keep up the amazing work!
I loved Grunty Industries as a kid. I just loved the fact of exploring such a cool factory and my imagination would go beyond the game itself. Even after I beat the game I would go back and play in it. I also was a big fan of Frantic Factory from DK64.
So well crafted, you definitely deserve more subs. Very well articulated and this was an amazing blast from the past! Subbed!
This is my order (also forgot to mention but the themes of these worlds are so well executed! Banjo kazooie had really unique themes but sometimes were a little letdown on the development of them. Tooie fully develops every world it has and doesn't leave me feeling like something was missed at all)
8. Cloud Cuckooland - While I agree with what you said, I hate traversing this world. And figuring out while exit to leave out of is very frustrating since the center island centerpiece to all the other islands. I do like the objectives of this one more than Grunty Industries, getting to the locales and in specific orders is tiring. It's great but it feels like a chore.
7. Grunty Industries - This world is a puzzle in itself. Traversing it isn't a problem like in Cloud Cuckooland but it's remembering where everything is. However, the more you explore, the more secrets and puzzles you learn about so it's part of the process. I still like the attempt at a very ambitious world but it does fall short. On the bright side tho, I love the feeling of this world being complete. When it's done, that satisfaction is like no other just because of how daunting this world is every time
6.Terrydactly Land - This used to be my 2nd favorite world as a kid. I loved the dinosaurs, the landscape, and the platforming. Now... not so much. I still love it's theme to pieces, even tho this one feels little less immersive than the other worlds. But the scope of it is never lost, even if it comes with flaws. Big is the idea here. Tho, I give credit to building the world up rather than horizontal. It's still a little too empty and underdeveloped compared to other worlds but it does enough.
5. Mayahem Temple - I agree with the comments in the video to a T. Really good but something feels missing but it's not a major thing so it passes.
4. Jolly Roger Lagoon - I normally felt like you did about this world but this last playthrough, I was loving it. Love the town, I enjoyed all the underwater stuff; it just gave me the Tooie feel I was looking for. My biggest complaints come with the way backtracking feels to this world. It's not fun. Backtracking already was painful for me this last time but it sucked the most when coming here.
3. Hailfire Peaks - This last playthrough, I enjoyed this level less than I usually do. But after hearing you talk about it, I decided to bump it up. I agree with you on all of those aspects. What brought it down was probably my memory failing me. I was having the most difficulty remembering how to do things for this level the most. And this was also the part of the playthrough when I kicked in that I was getting kinda tired of the game and it's giant worlds. However, taking a step back, I don't think it was the world's fault but rather my patience and playing it on xbox. Platforming here was rough since the control stick still felt really weird for me. Hardest world to rank but I'll trust your praises over my doubts
2. Glitter Gulch Mine - The flaws in this one are all valid but this is also the most fun world to traverse. It's so fun with all the hills and cowboys screaming "OOH." It's really intuitive and none of the exploring feels like it's a waste. It's a well thought out world that touches its theme well. The biggest letdown is the transformation. It's one of the most frustrating ones that also feels tacked on. I think this one could've worked better without it.
1. Witchy World - I just never not have a good time completing this world. As a kid, coming back to this world sucked when it was done but that's because there's no reward for the minigames and exploration feels a bit... pointless. Idk I was kid just being in the game. On the flip side (playing the game intended), it's a B L A S T. Its probably my favorite Banjo world overall. There literally isn't a section in here that I get annoyed with. I think all of it is fair and interesting. Even the hoop rings and shooting balloons. The challenge doesn't feel like it's too hard and what practice you get helps you in the future. This acts more like an introduction to Tooie than Mayhem temple but it's so well disguised and fun that I don't even notice. (Also this is the world with the best enemy imo. Tho Glitter Gulch and Grunty industries do come close)
My favourite level is Grunty Industries, and the reason is very simple: Because everything is connected to everything, it feels less like a collection of individual puzzles, and more like one big puzzle you solve one step at a time. It makes the level feel like an actual location in a way the others don't. But if you're not into patiently untying a knot, well, there's a reason that level is polarising.
Me when starting the video: "What do I even think the best world is? Hmm, maybe Hailfire Peaks or Grunty Industries."
Me when #8 comes up: "Oh."
In all honesty, I probably would put Grunty Industries in the top half of worlds, at least from my memory. (I plan to replay soon, so maybe it will change.) The biggest thing for me is that a tall indoor area is actually incredibly novel for a world in a platformer. Having to unlock the inside to begin with and then discover things floor by floor really fueled my desire for discovery and learning things bit by bit. Until this game, indoor areas were small, two-floor affairs like Big Boo's Haunt in Mario 64.
In comparison, this world felt like it had a lot to see, with different hidden areas high up on some floors, windows you could break into, and even the ability to get on the roof itself and see yourself towering over the ground you started on. I'll agree some of the actual missions separate from this main layout are unremarkable. But even so, I enjoy the world as just a unique place to be in. Its design stands out for me much more than Terrydactyland or Glitter Gulch.
I certainly agree with most of the rankings, though I truly think Glitter Gulch Mine is one of the worst levels, with confusing and bland level design, boring and unbalanced jiggy difficulties, and some extremely tedious backtracking, I couldn't agree more with the top 3, especially in the order you chose. Solid list my guy ^^
I think the reason I like grunty industries so much is because it's like a mini metroidvania. I agree that it might be a bit over the top compared to the rest of the game, but I love how trying to figure out the layout of the stage is like a giant puzzle.
Just found your channel today, watched a few of your videos and I just want to say; your script/commentary you do for these videos are amazing. Very well done and what I would consider a very professional talent you have.
Thank you!
Grunty's Industry was a masterpiece of 3D puzzling and I don't remember anything at the time that did it as well. The feeling of figuring out the layout, opening up new areas and exploring was what really made the game great. Yeah, it was definitely one of the hardest levels, and it might've been better to make it the last level. The design was funny and ridiculous, the puzzles were complex and satisfying but not too frustrating, and the boss was one of the best.
Banjo Tooie is more so a metroidvania than anything it seems lol.
Grunty Industries is actually the level I remember most besides witchyworld. Had a huge fascination with a maze like factory building.
You're excellent at making this format of video.
An actual comprehensive list with your opinions on what is good and what is bad in your eyes without sounding pretentious. You went about this really open-minded. Your #1 and #3 are my bottom two and that feels totally okay. :)
@jamesprimmer355 Thank you! Appreciate the kind words. 🙏
for me it's
1.) Hailfire Peak
2.) Witchy World
3.) Cloud Cuckooland
4.) Gruntys Industries
5.) Terrydactyland
6.) Glitter Gulch Mine
7.) Mayhem Temple
There may have only been 8 instead of 9 levels but they deliver and make it better. I actually love how you revisit levels time and time again to reach 100%. I remember when I first played Banjo-Kazooie I was so convinced that there was a secret lava level and I would spend hours trying to find a way to find it lol but then we finally reach it in this game which I love.
As someone who immediately thought “I gotta save this goldfish” upon starting, I luckily didn’t get to experience the frustration of slow swimming or toxic gas
I do love this game but the one gripe I always had with it was the fact that there are no single notes anymore, just stacks that are worth 5. It greatly reduces the amount of collectibles and makes the levels feel kinda empty and with pointless spots. In the first game there could be something around every corner, but here you basically just have 20 notes in every level. Well, not even that, since there's also the big notes / clefs that are worth even more.
That said, I still highly adore this game and its worlds.
Firstly, I want to say after seeing both your BK and BT videos, you're doing an absolutely great job!! You've just gotten a new subscriber :) The depth you go into your arguments trying to convince people of why your arguments are the correct ones, and then your amazing ability to narrate and present a point is very satisfying to listen to. Very underrated channel, I have a feeling your amount of subcribers will sky rocket soon if you just keep up the same great work :)
After playing both games, BK first and then BT, both almost 20 years ago, I personally prefer BT. And a big reason for that is due to all the backtracking, travelling, harder work needed pr the average jiggy. I liked that you had to go back with new abilities, or seeing different worlds directly connected with each other through hidden paths.
BK was amazing too, but I feel that BT is more of a "puzzle" (no pun intended). Much more thinking was needed to get the individual jiggies (most of them). Plenty of the missions and jiggies made you wonder how to get them or complete them. It made you ask questions. Ressonate. As it wasn't as intuitive like the jiggies in BK. While other things were obvious regarding what you needed, such as the suction-shoes or jump-shoes, and that just made you excited about when you'd finally learn to use them, knowing you'd have to come back later at some point. And personally I preferred that.
It made the whole experience much more of a "a-ha!" so many times, when you finally realised how to get that one jiggy two worlds back with your now new ability.
A great example was seeing Terry's egg in Mayahem Temple's (I think) 1st world, having absolutely no clue what that thing was, nor what to do with it. Then four worlds later you learn to make eggs hatch in Terrydactyland. I remember how I went "omg this is what I'm supposed to do with that random egg all the way back in the first world!". And that feeling of revelation, together with the mastering-feeling was so worth all the backtrack and patience, compared to lets say in BK and 2nd world where you can just fly and press "a" 20 times til you get to the top and pick the jiggy without any struggles.
Other examples would be how much work was needed to complete a mission and get the jiggy. The missions were basically more "missions" than in BK. Such as with the archeologist or whatever in 7th world of Hailfire peaks. You understood something was wrong, that he was a special person which you needed to do something about. And it wasn't too intuitive to understand that you needed Mumbo to revive him. Then another part of the mission was seeing him freeze, and then warm him up.
I just felt more like it was "well-earned jiggy after hard work". It felt more special, that each jiggy was something you had really earned and worked throughly for to get. Instead of a random jiggy which suddenly reveals itself in front of you which you didn't expect.
However, I think it really depends on what you prefer during a game. Personally I prefer that it's more of a mission that needs you to put in effort to deserve the jiggy, than walking across every square meter of the map which would guarantee you 100% finishing the world.
As well as if your expectations are that the sequel will follow the same tracks from the first game, as the guy explained that these two games are very different.
Pretty much. I played Tooie first and Kazooie second, and absolutely loved Tooie because of it basically being a 3D metroidvania, the interconnectivity, how you figured out things slowly and just step by step completed the worlds. Each jiggy felt earned and like "hell yeah". Terrydactyland can go blow a fat one and Cloud Cuccooland feels unfinished, but I love all the other worlds a lot.
Kazooie on the other hand... maybe it's because I played Tooie first and was blown away by it... but it just felt simplistic comparatively. Kazooie is just "meh" to me and I honestly deadass don't get the hype behind it.
The note score imo is a really stupid decision and every time I'm finished with a world in like less than half an hour (aside from having to look for those last stupid notes you have to collect since otherwise you'd have to collect all of them again when you exit to do something else), I was simultaneously like "there could have been way more" and "I'm so done with this world".
Needing 810 notes and 94 jiggies out of 900/100 respectively also imo is way too high since it lets you have next to no flexibility in what you want to collect compared to e.g. SM64 70/120 or BT's70/90, so the playthroughs tend to feel very same-y. The only world I outright liked is Click Clock Wood because of it having a degree of interconnectivity and moving world affected by other things.
Tooie might not be a good "Banjo and Kazooie" style game emulating the first one, but imo that was a good thing because imo the first game is "ok" at best and Tooie far and away the superior game, and out of all the classic N64 platformers, BK to me is by far the most overrated one.
Made my own list before watching, and crazily ended up 8/8 with you. Well done.
I've watched your two Banjo world ranking videos now, and am frankly shocked at the low sub count! Your video quality is on point, with great editing! I disagree with a few of your choices and points, but I really enjoyed your insights into why you made the choices you did, and I'm happy to see someone putting out good content on my two favorite games. Keep it up!
George and Mildred (the ice cubes) are named after a 1970s UK sitcom. I love Hail Fire Peaks, especially the fire side music. It also felt chilling, no pun intended, to see the big ice chest which we had wondered for many years what the ice key would open.
I was impressed with Tooie. Its one of the very few games from my childhood that I still enjoy playing from time to time.
Jolly Rogers as 7th is an atrocity. That level is one of the best underwater levels of the 3d platformer genre at that time.
Great videos! Really enjoyed them as I really loved these games (Tooie & Kazooie). Tooie was my favourite although Kazooie was a great game as well.
Couldn't agree more with Hailfire Peaks being #1, that was a great level and was really nice overall.
Well done, on the awesome videos! :)
Terrydactyland will always have a special place in my heart because I remember first unlocking it riding in the van to Tennessee
I understand why Grunty Industries doesn’t resonate with a lot of people because it’s a slow burn, but the way the world slowly unfolds and plays out like a Metroidvania is brilliant IMO. Tons of unique set pieces and interconnected passages.
great video and commentary! you should rank all the worlds in DK64 or super mario 64
such a great video. your analysis is spot on
Really like this review, you bring up some great points, and for a lot of them I did agree, great stuff man, nice to hear the opinions of fellow Banjo & Kazooie fans :)
10:45 It actually does tell you that you get 5 of each of the burger and fries when you get them. It has the notification come up on screen at the time, and they are also a part of the collectable menu when you have them on hand.
That Canary Mary race in Cloud Cuckooland knocks it down a few pegs for me
My ranking is nearly opposite of yours. JR Lagoon and Grunty's Industries were challenging, innovative, and well interconnected. Ah well
Same. My Top 3 are Grunty, Witchy, and Terry. Roger's probably 4th.
I use to despise Grunty industries, but I replayed the game after a long time and I ended up really liking it.
Fun Fact: Witchy World was originally meant to be on Banjo Kazooie but was removed due to time constraints. It was included in Banjo Tooie with the main change being the backtracking as is customary for most levels/worlds in Banjo Tooie. This is why it feels the most like a Banjo Kazooie level in my opinion :)
Grunty industries is my favorite world due to the music, boss, the whole factory theme and the scenery outside of it.
Love this list! Please review both Kazooie and Tooie's levels in one video! I'd love to see the best and worst levels out of all of them
I like Grunty Industries, despite hating the aesthetic. Conversely, I can't stand Hailfire Peaks, which I think is aesthetically beautiful.
I like that you have to get the train in. It makes sense thematically, and forces you to think creatively since until then you've just used it to ferry things about.
There's actually a fairly concise plan to finishing the level without getting lost or needing to backtrack too much.
Also, the level is just hilarious. Might be a British thing, but I just find it so funny.
As a boy, I absolutely loathed Grunty’s Industries. Slow. Confusing. Convoluted. However, as I’ve gotten older, the reason I love Grunty’s Industries as much as I do (potentially my favorite stage), is tied to why enjoy Banjo Tooie over Kaz.
My ability to and see in what ways my skills help me BLAZE through the level. How much I remember from the last play and what ways I could optimize my route to getting all the Jiggy’s, Notes, etc.
I’m pretty weird, in me liking Tooie over Kazooie and enjoying Grunty’s Industries as much as I do, I know.
Can't wait to see Banjo-Tooie arrive on Switch! I got Banjo-Kazooie on Switch (after being a superfan of both the games on N64) and I still love every second of it!
Same here. I hadn't played the original since I played it on the 64 and I've been loving every second of it
Great analysis! I always enjoyed unlocking Grunty Industries; the act of accessing every room in the factory felt like a huge puzzle in and of itself. Still, I can also understand how people can find it tedious as well; there is so much trial and error, it can get exhausting on the first few playthroughs.
I love how Tooie felt like a 3D Metroidvania . It was a great game
Not sure if anyone else brought it up but Hailfire Peaks was, at the very least, a concept when Banjo Kazooie was in production, and a lot of the world's puzzles and layout were already decided long before Banjo Tooie began production. I'm not sure if I remember correctly, but I do remember hearing that Hailfire Peaks WAS originally planned for Banjo Kazooie, along with a few other levels that were recycled into Tooie and Donkey Kong 64. So yeah, it's very likely that the Lava World referenced in Banjo Kazooie WAS meant to be Hailfire Peaks, but due to time constraints, the world was postponed until the sequel.
So glad I found your channel dude!
I found grunty industries to be pretty good by the end when you remember everything and you are like oh wait I remember what I can do here and realize that you can do so many things and more that you couldn’t earlier in the game
I remember not being able to finish Banjo Tooie as a kid because of three things: Language barrier because I played the Japanese version, fear of the monstrous anemones in Jolly Roger's Lagoon which makes me obtain only like 3 jiggies in that world and also the fear of the T-Rex's foot stomp in that one area in Terrydactyland, and Grunty Industries' absolute complexity in backtracking for the remaining jiggies after returning from not playing this game in a long time. It was a frustrating experience but I managed to finish the game like 6-7 months ago. It was worth the nostalgic conclusion to one of Rare's fine jewels of their games.
Grunty Industries is my favourite BK level out of either entry in the series, and multiple of the reasons you list as bad is why I love it haha, I am a big fan of how complicated it is and the backtracking never bothers me at all. I LOVE the required train station entry because it opens up letting you think you'll begin from the entrance, but then it turns out you actually end up starting the level from somewhere within the building and have to explore to find out where you actually are in terms of the factory layout. Also it feels fitting that Grunty wouldn't leave the entrance open for Banjo and Kazooie to enter. It feels kinda like you're smuggling yourself on a freight train with supplies for the factory in order to sneak inside.
Then there's the divide between the service elevator and the warp pads. I love that you have to go into the elevator as the washing machine to unlock access to higher floors for BK. All in all I find the level super interesting and I absolutely don't view it as the gameplay coming to a halt.
Terrydactyland for worst BT level imo
Oh my god then you put Jolly Roger's at 7, I am absolutely in total disagreement with you on this topic haha, that's an amazing level too!
I'll add my own top 8 to this real quick
8 - Terrydactyland
7 - Mayahem Temple
6 - Glitter Gulch Mine
5 - Hailfire Peaks
4 - Witchyworld
3 - Cloud Cuckooland
2 - Jolly Roger's Lagoon (While I agree that aiming is a little annoying under water, it's fine that swimming is a little slow paced imo)
1 - Grunty Industries
(I don't think any of them are bad, but this is how I'd rank them
2:23
I accidentally got myself into the factory without the unlock process.
Shoot a Clockwork Kazooie into the high window above the front entrance. If you enter right as the Grunt below attacks Banjo, it will transition the perspective back to Banjo+Kazooie as you load into the window entrance.
Omg, watching this brought back so much nostalgia for this great game
My main problem with Banjo-Tooie is how hard it is to find the collectibles. In Banjo-Kazooie, it feels more calming and fun because you find the collectibles so often. Now in Banjo-Tooie, each jiggy takes so long to get. Some you need to come back for, and some need multiple things you need to do so you can get the jiggy
Really enjoying your videos, I hope your channel grows even more!
Agree with most of the list, but I hate Cloud Cuckooland.
Man really is knocking points for a unique and innovative twist on the world formula (how you enter GI) and calls it unnecessary.
If it was out in the open yeah, but you have to *find* that button and it requires you beat old king coal if you hadn't already
It felt so cool finding that button and realizing that was the only way I would be able to sneak into this massive factory, actively leaving the world to come into it through another means.
And that interworld interconnectivity is some of what Tooie at its best excels at
A truly interconnected openworld, with smaller sub sections built for platforming and collecting.
I wish more 3d plats would follow its example and execute it even better
Amazing theres still content about these timeless classics!
My favorite level is Witchyworld, but I have to defend Grunty Industries here, it's in my 3rd place. I love it because how creative and masive it is, and the game motivates the player to EXPLORE, and in that aspect the level delivers.
2:30 - I think it was intentional as Grunty's "security" can't just let you in the building. I was laughing so much as a kid when I thought I outsmarted the system then realised it's intended for you to ride in lol
For Grundy's Industries I remember thinking the idea of sneaking into this building was a cool one. And this is coming from someone who enjoys Metal Gear Solid. The music is one of my favorites
Grunty Industries is my favorite level of the game. I just seem to have a love of industrial areas like it when you're surrounded by more fantasy-esque sections.
1. Hailfire Peaks
2. Grunty Industries
3. Mayahem Temple
4. Witchyworld
5. Glitter Gulch Mine
6. Cloud cuckooland
7. Jolly Roger’s Lagoon
8. Terrydactyland
I have very fond memories of playing this game for the first time on my laptop in my Senior year of High School back in 2012. I had only had the N64 cart but the frame rate was awful on that, but it ran much smoother on Project 64. I was blown away by how interconnected all the levels were, how you retained all your moves from Kazooie and got way more new moves, how Bottles was killed off immediately, the scope and size of the worlds, playable Mumbo, cooler transformations, the train connecting the hub world areas, the warp pads...The last second to last level is, I think the game at its highest level of quality. You're tested on everything you've learned, the jiggies are difficult to get, requiring backtracking to other areas/worlds. Terrydactyland is an ugly world, with an irritating dual transformation, is way too big, it all looks the same, the music is bad.