Random: Xbox Helps Release New Version Of Banjo-Kazooie With Unique Features

We’ve been waiting a very long time for Xbox to give us something new in regards to the Banjo-Kazooie IP, and while that wait unfortunately continues, Microsoft did quietly sign off on a special new version of the original game recently.

The folks over at Evercade have just released a new Super Pocket handheld focused around the Xbox-owned studio Rare, and Banjo-Kazooie is the highlight of the package. This is a small and very affordable device that features no analog sticks, so they’ve basically created a new version of the game (based on the N64 original) that not only runs brilliantly on the system, but actually feels very playable even without analog stick support.

Here’s what our sister site Time Extension had to say about this new Banjo-Kazooie release in their review:

“Even if the Super Pocket only came with Banjo-Kazooie, I’d probably still award it the score you see at the bottom of this page [9/10]. Rare’s game is a genuine ’90s classic, and remains as joyous and playable today as it ever did; the Evercade version (which will also be released on a stand-alone cart, alongside its N64 sequel) is even better, as it runs at a higher resolution and offers smoother performance. This is tempered slightly by the lack of analogue control, but the revised controls work better than you might think.”

It gets even better though. Not only does the Evercade version feature a revised control scheme, but it also contains unique features such as a music player with unheard tracks, and even the ability to fly after collecting all Jiggies and Music Notes.

It also includes an adjusted UI, the ability for the camera to continuously follow Banjo, and more.

Of course, with this new version being based on the N64 original rather than the Xbox 360 port, it’s unlikely we’ll ever get some of these extra features on Xbox (and the 360 version is still arguably better). Nevertheless, Microsoft is very much attached to this release, being mentioned multiple times in the Evercade version as part of various copyright notices.

If you want to try it for yourself, the Rare Super Pocket is priced very reasonably at £49.99 / $69.99, or you can wait for the Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie double-pack cartridge that’s being released later this year for all Evercade devices, including the new Nexus handheld that will feature double-analog sticks.

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Or maybe just go and play the game on your Xbox console instead! Don’t forget that all Banjo games are part of the Rare Replay collection (included with Xbox Game Pass), or you can pick them up separately on the Xbox Store.

What do you make of this? Let us know your thoughts on Banjo-Kazooie for Evercade down below.