Feeling kind of blue “The blues is a low-down, aching chill; if you ain’t never had ’em, honey, I hope you never will” Following on the steps of the other mascot platformers from Rareware, Grant… Read More »Inside The Score – Banjo-Kazooie – Lose Life / Game Over
Echoes of a previous theme The troops are marching, marching to the rhythm of the blues, a very creepy blues indeed. One of the few remaining vestiges of the original musical direction for the game,… Read More »Inside The Score – Banjo-Kazooie – Inside Ticker’s Tower
Jinjo! Da Dun Din The fair folk of the Banjo-Kazooie series, the pixie-like creatures known as Jinjos (alongside their mean counterparts, the Minjos) cohabit this wonderland with the bear, the bird and the witch. Just… Read More »Inside The Score – Banjo-Kazooie – Collect Jinjo
Bluesy chant “Oomenacka” And so ritual complete. Bear and bird transfigured. As Grant Kirkhope also says: when in doubt, use marimba. The thing just works; cartoonish, tribal, primitive, exotic, spooky, caribbean…doesn’t matter, it has you… Read More »Inside The Score – Banjo-Kazooie – Mumbo’s Hut
Eekum Bokum As the very first gameplay level, Mumbo’s Mountain brings the zany tritone and cartoon influences at the forefront. This world serves as a simple introduction level in the game, being fairly small and… Read More »Inside The Score – Banjo-Kazooie – Mumbo’s Mountain
A portal to new harmonies Another event, another overture commemorating the occasion. But since the opening of a new world is a one time special event seldom heard, the standard success cue is extended and… Read More »Inside The Score – Banjo-Kazooie – World Door Open
The Sorceress’ Picnic ‘Spiral mountain and the opening might be the main themes but Grunty’s Lair is where the true game begins accustomed to this song you’ll be since it has the most repeats’ Anyway.… Read More »Inside The Score – Banjo-Kazooie – Gruntilda’s Lair
Campy October As the bear and the bird make their way to the entrance of the castle, the tried and true Halloween tropes keep pilling as we are treated to a new cutscene involving the… Read More »Inside The Score – Banjo-Kazooie – Grunty’s Beauty Steal Machine
A musical transition into the proper mood The bleakness wraps the characters both visually and musically. Leaving subtlety aside, the super villain’s lair, which is usually located at the end of the world, is here… Read More »Inside The Score – Banjo-Kazooie – Bridge to Gruntilda’s Lair
Deep south bear When it comes to the music of the main gameplay levels of Banjo-Kazooie—or any other mascot platform for that matter—There is less emphasis on the cultural connotations since the mission statement for… Read More »Inside The Score – Banjo-Kazooie – Spiral Mountain
Merry Melodies All Banjo series musical ingredients already begin popping out in the main theme for the series which otherwise would be just a friendly bluegrass tune played by the cute main cast with their… Read More »Inside The Score – Banjo-Kazooie – Main Theme / Title Theme
A more spacious underground Link set out on his most adventuresome quest yet. Or so does promise the title card at the beginning of the black sheep from the Zelda series. And it is a… Read More »Inside The Score – Zelda II: The Adventure of Link – Palace / Temple / Dungeon