Uploaded January 2022 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
Here's my 1st video for the new year!
I actually did a video of the final boss of Banjo-Tooie before, but it was on the Xbox 360 version through Rare Replay.
Xbox 360 Version: youtube.com/watch?v=vIIe70stczY&list=PLY8pa9K0gDNE_SSM0tofrW5z_otAZJWbs&index=14
The fight against Gruntilda in her monsterous Hag 1 machine is intense and an incredible way to end an amazing game!
This boss on Replay Mode is a lot more challenging than in the main game since the Honeycomb gauge is always at 5, which is the default setting, and Cheato's Cheats (or the other in-game cheats) can't be used here. It's no problem for me though, since I played this boss (and this game in general) a lot when I was younger!
I honestly like the N64 version of this fight more than the Xbox 360 version as well. In the N64 version, the C Buttons determined the characters movement and aiming, Up and Down determined the angle Kazooie fires, and Left and Right will make Banjo sidestep to keep the aim in place.
Unfortunately, the second control stick on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One controllers are unable to replicate the C Buttons' actions so the player can't keep Kazooie's aim in place (it instead resets to the default position since the Xbox 360 and One's control stick always moves down so Kazooie will move down as well) and sidestepping can only be done when Kazooie's aim is in the default position, so sidestepping while aiming at a certain other angle is impossible. It's a shame, because the Xbox version is the most accessible version of the game to find, so I imagine that a lot of players then and now who experienced that version had a frustrating time with this fight because of the bad controls.
So this one of the many reasons why I actually prefer the N64 version of this game over the HD re-release.
Here's my 1st video for the new year!
I actually did a video of the final boss of Banjo-Tooie before, but it was on the Xbox 360 version through Rare Replay.
Xbox 360 Version: youtube.com/watch?v=vIIe70stczY&list=PLY8pa9K0gDNE_SSM0tofrW5z_otAZJWbs&index=14
The fight against Gruntilda in her monsterous Hag 1 machine is intense and an incredible way to end an amazing game!
This boss on Replay Mode is a lot more challenging than in the main game since the Honeycomb gauge is always at 5, which is the default setting, and Cheato's Cheats (or the other in-game cheats) can't be used here. It's no problem for me though, since I played this boss (and this game in general) a lot when I was younger!
I honestly like the N64 version of this fight more than the Xbox 360 version as well. In the N64 version, the C Buttons determined the characters movement and aiming, Up and Down determined the angle Kazooie fires, and Left and Right will make Banjo sidestep to keep the aim in place.
Unfortunately, the second control stick on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One controllers are unable to replicate the C Buttons' actions so the player can't keep Kazooie's aim in place (it instead resets to the default position since the Xbox 360 and One's control stick always moves down so Kazooie will move down as well) and sidestepping can only be done when Kazooie's aim is in the default position, so sidestepping while aiming at a certain other angle is impossible. It's a shame, because the Xbox version is the most accessible version of the game to find, so I imagine that a lot of players then and now who experienced that version had a frustrating time with this fight because of the bad controls.
So this one of the many reasons why I actually prefer the N64 version of this game over the HD re-release.
![Banjo-Tooie (Nintendo 64): Canary Mary [Cloud Cuckooland]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AtQCUdWiMSE/mqdefault.jpg "Banjo-Tooie (Nintendo 64): Canary Mary [Cloud Cuckooland]
Heres a short video of the Canary Mary Races in Cloud Cuckooland.
This is the most infamous challenge in Banjo-Tooie. I myself really hated it as a kid, but my reasons for why are a bit complicated.
I first played Banjo-Tooie back in December 2010 to January 2011 on the Xbox 360, and when I got to this part, the Clockwork Mouse moved really slow and I could never keep up with Canary Mary. No matter what, she would always beat me, and I was so angry, that for a while, I didnt bother with the challenge, and essentially just completed 98% the game.
I did get the Jiggy from her a couple months later (Or maybe a year later? I cant remember), but then I hit another roadblock, and I couldnt beat the 2nd race, even when I tried to manipulate her AI by staying with her until the end, I still kept losing. So I didnt bother with that one for a while either and at that moment, I was done with fully completing the Xbox 360 version of Banjo-Tooie.
However... in October 2013 I went to a retro game store and saw a Nintendo 64 with a cartridge of Banjo-Tooie, and I was so happy, that I got them! I loved the N64 version even more than the Xbox 360 version, and when I got to Canary Mary in Cloud Cuckooland, it was actually pretty easy. I was fast with the Mouse when I tapped the A Button, and it took only a few minutes to beat both of her races. I was really glad when I did and I finally completed 100% of Banjo-Tooie!
I figured that the Xbox 360s buttons arent able to register fast button tapping as much as the N64s buttons, not to mention, the N64s buttons are more comfortable to tap. So then in January 2016, when I played this game on Rare Replay, I attempted the races again to see if I would actually do it with an Xbox controller, and I won, but it was definitely harder because of the problems I mentioned earlier (I also did it on first Xbox 360 version sometime later but I cant remember when).
So I hated this challenge as a kid not because of the AI, but because of how hard the Xbox 360 version was. Its a shame, because the HD version is the most accessible one to play right now, and I assume many then and now had issues with these races either because of the input lag with the controllers, or input lag within the game itself since ports of classic games, especially retro 3D games, tend to have input delays when ported to new hardware.
Hopefully, when this game comes out on the Switch Online, people will have an easier time with it, and hey, they can use the restore points if they just want to make it easier for themselves.")
![Banjo-Kazooie (Nintendo 64): Part 10 - Gruntilda [FINALE]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Cr0BLELeAss/mqdefault.jpg "Banjo-Kazooie (Nintendo 64): Part 10 - Gruntilda [FINALE]
Heres the final part of my Banjo-Kazooie playthrough!
Banjo and Kazooie have solved all Gruntildas puzzles, defeated her minions, and helped out those in need. Now, the bear and bird have to defeat the evil witch, and save Tooty!")
