Welcome to my Beta page.

Here I will be talking about the beta Banjo-Kazooie and the differences between it and the original in a then and now setting. The left picture will be then, while the image on the right will be now. For those of you who don't know, a beta version is the first version released outside the organization or community that develops the software, for the purpose of evaluation or real-world testing. The process of delivering a beta version to the users is called beta release. Beta level software is between 60% and 70% complete, generally includes all features but may still be changed before final release, and may also include known issues and bugs of a less serious variety.

BK Beta

The beta intro took place on a cloud. Why? Because Banjo-Kazooie's original name was titled Dream, or Project Dream. And people sometimes associate clouds with dreaming. When the name was changed to Banjo-Kazooie Rare probably thought there was no need for the cloud anymore, so it was dropped. Now everything floats in mid air.



The place where the intro took place looked a bit different.



Again, it looks different. There used to be no waterfall and the trees looked different.



The little skull thing you stand on in Mumbo's Hut looked different.


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Mumbo had a slightly different look.



The Beta Banjo-Kazooie's start menu had an Exit to Witch's Lair choice, unlike the final version.



Banjo's house looked quite a bit different.



The Beta version had a picture of Donkey Kong instead of Tooty.



The beta Mumbo's Mountain looked a lot different than the final version but had the same basic layout. Notice the difference between the Bee Hives, and the bridge. Also their was no bull in the beta version.



The Gublens looked a little different.



The path on the ground had a different texture, and it looks like the beta had some different color flowers.



Another Mumbo's Mountain Beta photo. Mumbo's Hut looked a bit different back then, and Banjo is on top of the Termites Mound.



In Mumbo's Mountain instead of Gublens there were these Mumbo-like enemies.



In the beta the, Treasure Trove Cove sign wasn't on the chest.



The starting deck used to be a lot bigger, and if you notice in the beta picture their is no start pad. How did Banjo get in? There were also giant bee hives all over the beach.



Here's a beta version of Blubber, not to much difference.



The BK window in Mad Monster Mansion used to glow. It doesn't anymore. (Hint) Jump through this window to go to a secret room.



In the beta, the Grublins had a slightly larger chin than in the final version.

Start Pad

The Beta start pad to enter and exit worlds was in color, instead of all gray like the final version. Wonder why they changed it?

The Others...

What a lot of people don't know is that the original plan for Banjo-Kazooie featured 16 worlds. Two of the known worlds that were dropped from the final version are Fungus Forest, and Mount Fire Eyes.



Perhaps the most famous of the two dropped worlds is Mount Fire Eyes. Above are two beta images of Mount Fire Eyes in Banjo-Kazooie's early development. It is believed that Mount Fire Eyes was taken out and used as the lava side of HailFire Peaks in Banjo-Tooie. The first image shows Banjo running near a door, which oddly enough is the same type door in the beauty machine room of Gruntilda's lair. This led many people to believe that you could somehow open the doors in the beauty machine room and enter Mount Fire Eyes. Another belief is that Mount Fire Eyes; at some point; was located where Mad Monster Mansion is now. If you look around the room where the entrance to Mad Monster Mansion is, you'll notice the room is full of lava. Is Mad Monster Mansion out of place? Yes.

You can't tell a lot from the second picture, but it shows Banjo running toward a wall. There is a large structure in the background and a fence near Banjo. Thats about it. The structure in the background is probably what Banjo is seen jumping on in the video. (Scroll down to view 4-Second Mount Fire Eyes Video).




Fungus Forest is another dropped world. Oddly enough, their is a picture of Banjo in Fungus Forest inside Banjo's house, seen in the image above. It is believed that this world was taken out, and used as Fungi Forest in Donkey Kong 64 because Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong 64 were in development around the same time. This world, or it's puzzle, may have been located where the Click Clock Wood puzzle is at some point. If you look around this area, their is a lot of Fungus on the ceiling and walls, but there is none in Click Clock Wood. Out of place? Yes, again. Little is known about this world, other than the fact that it may have been connected to Freezeezy Peak in some way.




There was one more world, known as Hammerhead Beach. This world hasn't received as much attention as the above two, mainly because many people believe this world was still used but simply renamed as Treasure Trove Cove. It could have been a different world at some point, I don't really know. Again, much like Fungus Forest, there is a picture of Hammerhead Beach in Banjo's house. The ending scene--in Banjo-Kazooie--also takes place here.

Tooty's Mini-Game

Another feature that was dropped from the final version was Tooty's Mini-Game. When the Jinjonater knocks Gruntilda off of the tower, during your battle with her, she throws one last spell at you before she falls. It then shows the spell missing Banjo. The original plan involved the spell hitting Banjo and turning him into a frog. The player then played as Tooty, and had to turn Banjo back. To do this you probably had to bring the frog Banjo to Mumbo. This was dropped, probably do to time restraints. Banjo-Kazooie was delayed quite a few times.....

Here are some screen-by-screen images of the spell missing Banjo.

Beta Videos

Here is a short four second video of Mount Fire Eyes, you can't tell much from it, but it's still interesting to watch.


Here is another video showing some beta footage, mainly Treasure Trove Cove.


This beta video gives you a closer look at Mumbo's Mountain.


Another video showing Mumbo's Mountain, Treasure Trove Cove, and Clanker's Cavern.


Apparently there used to be a swith that--when Beak Busted--gave unlimited Honeycombs.


A second beta Honeycomb video. There used to be random Honeycombs in the game, similiar to Banjo-Tooie.

More Beta

Conker's Bad Fur Day

This has nothing to do with the Banjo-Kazooie Beta, but I thought it was interesting. In Rusty Bucket Bay; in the cabin room; their is a beta picture of Berri from Conker's Bad Fur Day, back when it was still Twelve Tales: Conker 64.

Thank-You

Thanks for reading. I hope you found this page to be informative and helpful. Know of an image I don't have? Why not tell me.