Zelda 64 naturally won over the lion's share of the attention at Nintendo's SpaceWorld event in November, and deservedly so. However, we thought it apt to instead highlight the biggest surprise of the show - a once-top-secret project. Banjo-Kazooie is a 3-D adventure with the potential to, frankly, rival Mario 64. Players control Banjo, a honey bear, and his sidekick Kazooie, a red-crested breegull nestled in his backpack. Together, they must rescue Banjo's female friend, Piccolo, from a kidnapping giant. Altogether this title will feature 16 lush areas in which Banjo can collect musical notes (a la Coins) and missing puzzle pieces (a la Power Stars). While comparisons to Mario are inevitable (See above), Banjo-Kazooie exudes incredible graphical opulence, from realistic water ripples to immersive environments like Bubble Gloop Swamp and Mambo's Mountain.

One innovative mechanic that separates Banjo from the pack is character switching. Unlike previous attempts at swapping, Rare ensured the decision to change between the two is not simply a matter of personal preference. While Banjo handles swimming and rolling attacks, Kazooie can soar in the sky or easily manage steep cliffs. Whether you are dive-bombing giant crabs or tunneling within a mechanical fish, the gameplay feels wonderfully fresh and exciting. The central hub, naturally a bear cave, seamlessly connects these diverse and atmospheric worlds. Supposedly it will have Rumble support, too!