Banjo-Tooie is a sprawling platformer that picks up right where its predecessor left off. Rare's ambition is clear – bigger worlds, more complex puzzles, and an expanded arsenal of moves for our bear-and-bird duo. While this creates moments of brilliance, the sheer scale often leads to frustrating backtracking and occasional confusion. The game's undeniable charm and Grant Kirkhope's delightful soundtrack still shine through, making this a worthwhile experience for nostalgic N64 fans, but Banjo-Tooie falls short of the focused brilliance of Banjo-Kazooie.
One of my all time favorite games. Tons of nostalgia here, but I love the connected worlds, puzzles, characters and music so much.
Although I recognize that its predecessor is a more focused, and mechanically / stylistically tighter game, I have a great deal of love for this sequel. It tries a great deal of things, not all of which really work, but the ones that do make this a great game. In particular, the significant amount of backtracking compared to the first game is divisive, but to me makes the world feel more real and connected.