Of course, it can't all be good. Banjo-Kazooie has a couple of the problems that plague most 3D adventure games. First off, the camera control could be better. It often gets stuck behind corners and can unexpectedly swing around, disorienting you. Plus, there are some control issues. Especially when swimming or flying. The way Banjo and Kazooie swim is very jaunting, and you can easily overshoot your mark. Flying, while exhilarating at first, becomes a desperate attempt at staying aloft by using up red feathers. Why is it that this bird has a limit on how much she can fly?

And then there's the cutesy graphics. I, personally, have no problem with the look of BK, but I know that a lot of others do, so I'll mention it briefly. Everything is super-deformed and childish, resembling a Saturday morning cartoon. It's the trademarked look for most of Rare's games, and this has scared away a sizable portion of the market that's terrified of all things cute. The "mature" gamers could be easily turned off by the childish look, and not find the great game within. Their loss.

Finally, we have the comparisons to Mario 64. It could be said that Mario influenced a sizable portion of BK, and that would most likely be true. The thing is, it's more than just a little. BK uses the exact same button layout as Mario 64, and several moves are nearly identical as well. The overworld uses pictures to access levels in both games, and you have to unlock doors by collecting items. This is another thing I simply don't have a problem with, but I'm mentioning it for the sake of those who do.

Overall...