Modders shadow-drop Banjo-Kazooie PC recompilation

Banjo: Recompiled has been released for Windows, Mac, and Linux

If you are a fan of retro gaming and the Nintendo 64, you’re probably a fan of Banjo-Kazooie, the 1998 action-platformer by Rare. Dedicated fans of the game have successfully recompiled it for Windows PC, macOS, and Linux, allowing gamers to play a modernised version of Banjo-Kazooie on modern platforms. Better still, these new versions are native to modern platforms, giving them strong performance and access to new features.

With high framerate support, ultra-wide support, and high resolution support, Banjo-Kazooie now looks and runs better than ever. There is also mod support, enabling access to new content, including high-resolution texture packs. Furthermore, improvements have been made to input lag, making the game more responsive. Additionally, instant loading times and optional support for “Note Saving” and a “Dual-Analog Camera” are welcome add-ons for Banjo-Kazooie veterans.

To play this new version of Banjo-Kazooie, all you need is a North American 1.0 version of the game. This Banjo: Recompiled project on GitHub can take this game and build a modern version. Sadly, there doesn’t appear to be plans to create a version of Banjo Recompiled that uses alternative versions of the game. So bad news for non-US owners of Banjo-Kazooie.

Since the release of N64: Recompiled and similar tools, it has become easier than ever for retro game enthusiasts to recompile classic Nintendo 64 games and create new versions of them for modern platforms. These tools have created excellent new ways for gamers to enjoy classic PC releases. It has also allowed modders to go nuts reworking and enhancing these classic titles. With Banjo: Recompiled, there are even plans to create a ray tracing version of the game using RT64.

You can join the discussion on Banjo: Recompiled on the OC3D Forums.