stop-n-swop
Latest
Banjo-Tooie's Stop 'n' Swop feature grants fabulous prizes
The original N64 version of Banjo-Tooie was met with near-universal critical acclaim, though some were disappointed by the cancellation of one of the title's most lauded additions -- a feature known as "Stop 'n' Swop," where special eggs located in Banjo-Kazooie could be imported into Tooie to exchange for various prizes. Now, nearly a decade later, the feature has found its way into the XBLA re-release of Banjo-Tooie -- but this time around, the rewards are a tad more tangible. As seen in the video after the jump, an achievement, gamer pic and a Banjo-Kazooie NXE theme (as well as a few in-game cheats and items) are all up for grabs if you've got the mettle to go egg hunting in Banjo the First. And by "the mettle," we of course mean "the GameFAQs guide."
Rare releases new Banjo-Tooie trailer on Xbox Live
The release of Banjo-Tooie is quickly drawing near, and to keep the hype up, Rare has presented a new trailer for the game. Featuring FPB gameplay (first-person birding), you'll be able to scope out some boss fights and oh man that's a freaking playable washing machine and it shoots underwear. Now that's charm you can't put a price on. Well, actually, you can. Banjo-Tooie is scheduled for release on April 29 for 1200 ($15). Who's ready to Stop 'N Swop? %Gallery-43257%
Banjo-Tooie explores XBLA on April 29
Fans eager to play the sequel to Banjo-Kazooie will get their chance to Stop 'N Swop on April 29 when Banjo-Tooie releases on Xbox Live Arcade. As with the first game, Banjo-Tooie will be priced at 1200 ($15) and will sport "a super-charged frame rate," which is crazy developer speak for "gewd grafix." Rare also promises more on the Stop 'N Swop feature leading up to Banjo-Tooie's release, and we'll be sure to update you all on that when it's available. %Gallery-43257% [Via Eurogamer]
Video: Rare celebrates the holidays with Stop 'N Swop
As an early Easter present, Rare has compiled the video you see above and released it onto Xbox Live. Like the good bloggers we are, we traversed the virtual landscape of Xbox Live to retrieve it for you. In fact, many Bothans ... ah, nevermind. The video shows off the Stop 'N Swop feature in Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie, which unlocks content for one of the games granted you achieved a certain goal in the other title, and was promised in the original N64 games, yet never fully implemented. Now, with Banjo-Tooie on its way to Xbox Live Arcade, Rare has had ample time to get the feature into the games, and offers the above video as a teaser on what to expect.
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts pre-order packs free code, early access to Banjo-Kazooie XBLA
We pretty much crammed the need-to-know right up there in the headline, but here it is again: Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts pre-orders (confirmed: the game's only $40) will include free download codes for the original Banjo-Kazooie on Xbox Live Arcade at "participating" retailers (read: not the little game store up the block). The code apparently will be redeemable on Nuts & Bolts' launch day, giving players a "two-week head start" on the XBLA game, which won't be released to the masses until a couple weeks later.But why would you put down the new thing for the old one? Good question. For the answer we'll point you to "Stop 'N' Swop," a slice of Banjo lore that has intrigued completists of the original N64 games for years, now fully realized for the first time. (Spoiler: Certain accomplishments in Nuts & Bolts unlock <gasp>new content in the decade-old XBLA re-release</gasp>.)Speaking of bonuses, we've got a little something special for you today. Hit up the gallery below for the first screens of the newly revealed Nuts & Bolts game world: Jiggoseum. It's like the Olympics ... but with cah-razy vehicles!%Gallery-29956%
