Okay, so get this: A seriously talented developer has recreated a level inspired by the legendary Banjo-Kazooie *inside* Dreams on PlayStation. And the best part? It totally got the attention of Rare, the original creators of the game!

William Butkevicius, who designs levels for Moon Studios, the folks behind Ori and the Blind Forest, spent his free time crafting "Banjo-Kazooie: Mumbomania." It's just a single level, but it's packed with nostalgia and new ideas. He calls it a "labor of love" and while he doesn't plan on expanding it, he's clearly open to working on an official Banjo-Threeie if the opportunity arises!

And guess what? Rare themselves gave it a shout-out online, praising the "incredible work!" Gregg Mayles, the director of Banjo-Kazooie, also chimed in, calling it "splendid." Even Grant Kirkhope, the composer, couldn't resist sharing it with a googly-eyed emoji. Talk about validation!

What's the Buzz About?

If you watch the video, you'll see Banjo and Kazooie exploring an island level that's reminiscent of Treasure Trove Cove. It's got everything you'd expect: musical notes, jiggies, platforming challenges, and even some scary enemies.

But here's where it gets interesting: Butkevicius added some cool new transformations, like a rock golem and a skeletal fish. He spent over 800 hours creating this level, and he used it as a chance to address some of his issues with the original game. For example, he wanted to make the transformations more fun and less tedious to use.

It also features some great music from Duckenomics and The Game Brass, and PieceofCraft helped with the sculpting, animation, and logic. I think that the final result is great!

The original Banjo-Kazooie came out like, ages ago. While there is a new game on the series, a lot of time has passed. So, it's awesome to see how much of an impact the original game had, and I think we all wish to see a new game.

While a new Banjo-Kazooie game seems unlikely right now, this Dreams project shows that the love for the series is still alive and well. It also reminds us that Dreams is still a powerful platform for creativity.