Banjo-Kazooie’s ASR Character Art
Tristan Oliver | December 18, 2009
Plus, Sega’s Official Press Release
Microsoft made it official yesterday, and early today, Sega’s made official something we brought you First @ TSSZ–Banjo and Kazooie will be playable characters in Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing.
In addition to the four screenshots from early this morning, Sega of America has released the character are for Banjo-Kazooie, as well as a press release touting the partnership between Sega and Rare to bring this to XBOX360 owners. The presser also affirms a February 2010 release for ASR.
You can check out the release below, next to the image of Banjo-Kazooie that you can download. Be sure to check back for more ASR news here at TSSZ News as we get closer to launch day.
SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON (December 18, 2009) – SEGA® of America, Inc., SEGA® Europe Ltd., and Microsoft today announced an exciting new partnership for Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing™. For the first time ever in a racing game for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, players will be able to jump in the game as their Avatar and race against the most popular Sonic & SEGA characters. Exclusive to Xbox 360, gamers will also be able to play as the infamous Banjo and Kazooie who make a welcome return to the console and take to the starting grid in their Bolt Bucket all-terrain vehicle!
Working closely with the Rare Studio to bring the popular characters to life, Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing sees Banjo and Kazooie taking their place alongside classic SEGA characters such as Sonic, AiAi, Amy, Knuckles and Ryo Hazuki. While mastering the drift system to get the best out of the tracks and picking up weapons such as Sonic speed boots and homing rockets, Banjo and his faithful sidekick Kazooie will be able to unleash their own unique All-Star move in a bid to cross the finish line in pole position. Players can take advantage of the All-Star move in the addictive 8-player online multiplayer mode as well as the single player and offline co-op modes.
Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing will also be the first racing game for Xbox 360 to feature fully playable Avatars. Players can watch themselves speeding around the lush green hills of Sonic’s Seaside Hill Zone or rolling around the levels of Super Monkey Ball. The game will allow Avatars to hop in to the All-Stars Racing “Avacar” and master stunning tracks from the visually rich and varied universes of Sonic and SEGA. When it looks like they are falling behind, gamers can take advantage of the Avatar All-Star move – a move exclusive to the Avacar. Recognizable faces from the Xbox LIVE® online entertainment network Friends List will offer a cheering hand in the crowd.
“We’re very excited to see Banjo and Kazooie back on the screen racing against these great SEGA characters” said Shintaro Kanaoya, Head of Business Strategy and Development at Rare. “We’re also very proud to see Xbox 360 Avatars, which were conceived of and developed at Rare, incorporated into the game and allowing players to put themselves in the driving seat. The project has been an excellent collaboration between Rare and SEGA, and we’re looking forward to tearing around the tracks and the game’s retail release!”
Christina DeRosa, GM for Xbox LIVE Business, says “We are excited to be bringing our avatar characters to life in this title as avatar characters are rapidly becoming a huge part of gaming for Xbox 360 owners. We are especially excited to launch this activity as Banjo & Kazooie return on the scene.”
“We are so excited to feature Banjo and Kazooie in the Xbox 360 version of Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing” said Sean Ratcliffe Vice-President of Marketing, SEGA of America. “Not only are we thrilled to be able to work so closely with Microsoft and Rare, but we recognize that Banjo and Kazooie – like Sonic – are some of the video game industry’s most loved characters. Between them and the Avatars, we are really happy to offer gamers the racing game we know they have been waiting for.”
Filed Under Gaming News, Microsoft, Sega, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing, Sonic Scene
I’m about to release a presser about how I’m avoiding this version of the game.
Wait till the Wii/DS and PS3 versions announce their console-exclusive characters. Then the gatorade tears will start flowing. Mwa ha ha ha ha ha ha.
@ udx
PS3 – Ratchet
Wii – Mario
Nope, I don’t see any tears there.
But I don’t think it’s gonna happen. Sounds like it’s only exclusive to the 360. Not like Soul Calibur 2 where each version had it’s own character.
They actually look… kinda creepy.
Has Banjo always been that ……… Square? I remember him being rounder in the facial area.
PS3 = Jak LOL
PS3 = Ratchet LOL
Wii = Mario Hmmm…
Obviously no one understands that sega wont make anymore console specific characters.
The wii has a bunch of special gameplay styles
The DS is the only handheld one(for some reason I would prefer it on PSP)
The 360 has avatars and Banjo and kazooie
The Triple has nothing… thanks sega. even though its the best console…
and if they DID release console exclusives on-disc I would want
Wii-Mario
PS3-Mao and Raspberyl(Disgaea 3)
But I personally believe that Sega is nothing compared to Nippon Icchi Software so yeah… they couldnt handle such awesome S-RPG characters on their game.
@edge
Wii getting different control styles is just a perk for Wii being Wii, it’s not extra.
DS is the only one with a version because the PSP sucks, this is a fact.
PS3 will probably get something if Wii does.
@Skai Cyan
the Wii has control styles that the others dont(I could care less about wii though. its stupid and boring…)
And if you want to get into specifics the DS sucks but whatever. Its your oppinion and you can keep it. I like the PSP better because the games actually last longer than the 4 hours of boring I got out of New Super mario bros and Pokemon. Yeah I beat an RPG that fast.
The PSP doesnt suck It does more than any handheld console could ever hope to do. I can listen to music, look at pics., and watch videos. DS cant do any of that except look at pics that you take which, seriously who would want to do that. I cant read comics on my DSi, the only music is AAC and the DSi sucks with headphone support. FACT.
The PSP also has much more memory on the game discs than DS has with game cards.
The PSP can be played with your playstation 3 controller.
The PSP can actually download whole games. not the worst wario ware ever. ACTUAL GAMES! I actually downloaded 2 whole PS2 games! the DS can only download Dr. Mario and Wario ware with 20 minigames. and those arent even playable games! you cant play WW snapped!
The PSP has room, which is basically PShome for PSP.
The PSP also has a better processer. Its clearly better for the job of porting a next gen racer
How do you get that the PSP sucks and the DS doesnt? I mean I understand that you have an oppinion and want to keep too it. but I explained why I think the PSP is the greatest game system ever and I’d like to hear why you think the DS is better than PSP. If you dont want to, you dont have to. I’m just asking.
This game looks radical! I like the lava course (which appears to be Dino Mountain)
YHE me too dawng AWSOME
@SU: Seriously though. Doesn’t Dino Mountain look cool! Foshizzle
I think this should be the roster:
Aiai
Sonic
Tails
Amy
Knuckles
Eggman
Rouge
Big
Shadow
Ryo
Ristar
Nights
Ulala
Kapu-Kapu
Amigo
BD Joe
Billy Hatcher
Zobio and Zobiko
Alex Kidd
Gulius Thunderhead
Unlockables:
Astal
Vyse
Akira Yuki
Jacky Bryant
Silver
Blaze
Vectorman
Werehog
Exclusives:
Banjo (360)
Avatar (360)
Mii (Wii)
Mario (Wii)
Rouge has a nice white Rouge-mobile in Sonic Adventure 2. She should drive it in this game. Gulius would have a very powerful All-Star move. BTW, Tails had a cool car in Sonic Adventure 2. He should drive that instead of his plane. Jacky Bryant could drive his car. BD Joe could drive his cab. Vyse could ride in a plane like Tails. Nights could drive a hovercar. Ulala could drive a sports car with the Space Channel 5 logo on it. Ristar could ride a shooting star. Gulius could ride a catapult. Silver and Blaze could drive hovercrafts. Akira could drive the Virtua Racing car. Vectorman could be in motorcycle form. Werehog could ride a haunted version of Sonic’s car. Kapu Kapu could drive a litterbox car. Mii could drive the Mii-Mobile. Mario could drive a kart from one of the Mario Kart games.
……..and a Phantasy Star Online character.
Oops. Almost forgot. Astal would drive a supercar
Yhe DinoMountain rocks, man Alex Kid look AWSOME! SEGA should make a new Alex Kid game
I would be very happy
@SU: I did not know you liked Alex Kidd. They should make a Shenmue remake on Wii and Shenmue 3 on XBOX 360 and PlayStation 3
Would you rather have :
A: BD Joe
B: Vyse
C: Ristar
D: Axel (Streets of Rage)
E: Akira
@NinMicroSEGA: You said you wanted to make a bet about the 360 version. I AGREE with you. The 360 will sell most because of exclusives.
daylengamer:@ I prefer Ristar of your list
@SU: Ristar IS on my list. Check it twice (like Santa lol)
What is going on with Nights? Sega is too smart to not put Nights in. I’ve had enough! I mean COME ON ALREADY. Nights has been in Sega Superstars and Sega Superstars Tennis. And Nights is MUCH more famous than Alex Kidd
@SU (Sonic Unleashed): No offense about Alex Kidd
If they can put in Banjo, they could put in Nights. It’s a simple concept!
Vehicle: Hovercar
All-Star Power: Pian Power/Teleport
and what is wrong with a Crazy Taxi character? (please answer that question) BD Joe actually drives a car. He’d be a perfect fit.
BD Joe’s Stats:
Vehicle: Cab
All-Star Power: Crazy Driving
There could be ChuChu Rocket characters. You should be able to drive a Kapu-Kapu on wheels.
All-Star Power: ChuChu’s Rocket Boost
And Puyo Puyo Fever.
Arle Najda’s stats:
Vehicle: Ice car
All-Star Power: Fire Burn
and Skies of Arcadia
Vyse’s Stats;
Vehicle: Plane
All-Star Power: (Please give me ideas)
and Golden Axe
Gulius’s Stats:
Vehicle: Chariot
All-Star Power: The Golden Axe
and Virtua Fighters:
Akira’s Stats
Vehicle: Virtua Racing car
All-Star Power: Tetsuzankou
Jacky’s Stats
Vehicle: The Hornet
All-Star Power: ?????????
and Streets of Rage and Ristar.
@SU: Sorry about my previous above comment. I didn’t know what you meant by that.
@Mr. Oliver (blog owner): When will we get more ASR announcements?