Questions and Answers: Everything about Banjo mysteries and Banjo beta

[Grey Jinjo]

In this thread you can find tons of information on the Banjo Kazooie series pertaining to its beta versions and secrets. Each question is given an individual post so that it can be directly linked to in any appropriate topic. If you see a member ask a question already answered here, please provide them the answer calmly.

Any questions you would like to see added to this FAQ? Send me a PM with the question and answer attached.

Banjo Beta Questions
What is Hammerhead Beach?
Who is The Giant?
What are the beta worlds?

Banjo Kazooie Questions
What is the name of the island at the end of the game?
Why does Banjo sometimes move differently in the ending cut scene with the SNS items?

Banjo-Tooie Questions
What is with Captain Blackeye?
Why are there two extra doubloons in Jolly Roger's Lagoon?

[Grey Jinjo]

Q: What is the name of the island at the end of the game?
Q: What is Hammerhead Beach?

A: The island at the end of the game has no specific name. Hammerhead Beach, the title typically assigned to the area, is actually the original name for Treasure Trove Cove. Hammerhead Beach and Treasure Trove Cove are the same exact level.

[Grey Jinjo]

Q: Why does Banjo sometimes move differently in the ending cut scene with the SNS items?

The videos in the pictures Mumbo shows you at the end of the game are not pre-recorded. Banjo is given a set of moves to make, and he reenacts them in real time. Sometimes the game "hiccups" and Banjo accidentally skips a move, throwing him off and making him go into the wrong places. This mistake occurs more frequently on emulators than console versions of the game.

[Bottles98]

Q: What is with Captain Blackeye?

Captain Blackeye was the leader of the gang of pirates in the original incarnation of Banjo-Kazooie, Project Dream, which featured a boy named Edison going against Blackeye and his gang. His inclusions as a portrait in Banjo-Kazooie and as a full character in Banjo-Tooie are simply throwbacks to the original project Banjo-Kazooie evolved from (as evidenced by his speech, that he had a "dream" once that he "were in this fine game", and that a bear stole his glory and as well by an interview with Gregg Mayles in RetroGamer magazine).

[Grey Jinjo]

Q: Who is the Giant?

A: Banjo Kazooie went through three phases: Pre-Banjo, original Banjo, and current Banjo.

Pre-Banjo: Before Banjo, the game was titled "Dream" and starred a young boy named Edison going again the pirate captain Blackeye.

Original-Banjo: When Edison was switched out for Banjo, Captain Blackeye was removed in favor of "The Giant" who dwelled in a castle.

Current-Banjo: Eventually "The Giant" became Grunty and his castle became Grunty's Lair. This version of the game was publicly released and is most likely the version you've played.

[Grey Jinjo]

Q: Why are there two extra doubloons in Jolly Roger's Lagoon?

Rare themselves have stated in one of their issues of scribes that the two extra doubloons were added to make the game easier for players. Instead of having to hunt down every last coin, you could miss two and still be able to purchase everything available. They, officially, do not serve any other function in the game, regular or secret related.

[Bottles98]

Q: What are the beta worlds?

Banjo-Kazooie, according to early previews, was originally planned to have 16 total levels. There are 9 in the final game and so far, the beta worlds that we know about are Fungus Forest, Mount Fire Eyes, Hammerhead Beach, a mine level and a fairground level. Obviously, the mine and fairground levels found their way into Banjo-Tooie as Glitter Gulch Mine and Witchyworld respectively. From what we know, Fungus Forest was moved to Donkey Kong 64 as Fungi Forest and was changed to suit that game. Hammerhead Beach appears to have been simply a beta name for Treasure Trove Cove, and Mount Fire Eyes was turned into the Fire Side of Hailfire Peaks in Banjo-Tooie. That leaves around 3 levels we don't know about (once again, as evidenced by The Making Of Banjo-Kazooie in RetroGamer magazine). None of the levels cut from Banjo-Kazooie are accessible in the final game.