Here’s How Japanese Audiences Reacted To Banjo-Kazooie’s Reveal For Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

During E3 2019, Nintendo revealed that Banjo-Kazooie would be heading to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, after years of fan requests. While western fans lost their collective minds over the bird-and-bear, some might be wondering: how did Japanese gamers react to Banjo?

Thanks to Legends of Localization, we now have a better idea of their responses, which you can check out below. Generally speaking, many of them were actually quite happy themselves about the announcement – with some even congratulating western fans! Some stragglers were a little less satisfied, however, and wanted something a little more familiar…

I got so excited about Banjo-Kazooie that I cried! Now I gotta go buy me a Switch!!

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Sakurai is really kindhearted. He listens too much to what players say. He clearly listened to the foreign audience with Banjo and stuff.

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I never played Banjo but I did hear the bird felt really heavy to hold, so I laughed when I saw that the bird really does look heavy in the promo video.

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Coming from the N64 generation, having Banjo-Kazooie is so great. I was overjoyed when he did the peace sign. Please do a remake too.

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I never knew Microsoft owned the rights to Banjo-Kazooie until now.

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I don’t know much about Banjo, but they were made by Rare who did Donkey Kong, right?

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Now there’s a third monkey in the game.

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I haven’t seen Banjo-Kazooie since the commercials. It sure takes me back. I can’t wait to see them in action!

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Banjo-Kazooie? I have no idea who they are. Who are they?

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The Banjo-Kazooie announcement felt so shocking and miraculous and moving and like a dream come true that I felt like I was gonna lose my mind.

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I’m happy with Square’s long-awaited Dragon Quest representation, but Rare’s Banjo-Kazooie addition makes me many times happier. I can’t believe we can finally see Donkey Kong and Banjo-Kazooie together at last!

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DQ Hero announced!
Foreigners: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!

Banjo announced!
Foreigners: Whoooooooooa!!

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What a joke. They should add characters from Splatoon, not these characters nobody knows!

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They should really release Banjo-Kazooie on the Virtual Console or something. I’d like to play it again after all this time…

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I cried.

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I had lost all hope for Banjo-Kazooie, so I’m so happy that they made it in!

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They didn’t add Sans from Undertale, but they did add the Hero from Dragon Quest and Banjo-Kazooie! So it was still great!

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I had the same reaction. When that jigsaw puzzle piece came flying by, I literally teared up.

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Donkey Kong’s reaction is probably pretty much the same way foreigners reacted I bet.

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Now we just need Geno!! Please, give us Geno!!

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Japanese people have no interest in Banjo-Kazooie, and foreigners have no interest in Dragon Quest. So it’s a win-win.

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I’m very happy about the Banjo-Kazooie announcement.

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I would’ve preferred them to add Yangus, Angelo, or Jessica from Dragon Quest 8 instead of Banjo-Kazooie.

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When I try to remember Banjo-Kazooie, Crash Bandicoot keeps coming to mind instead.

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As one born in this modern age, I’ve not heard of Banjo and Kazooie before… but I am genuinely delighted with retro characters such as these being added. Learning about characters you never knew before is fun, also.

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I saw a lot of (Japanese) tweets saying “who?” so I’m glad to see a reaction like this

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To be honest, I’m way more excited for Banjo-Kazooie than the Dragon Quest character

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Banjo? Hero? Forget them, just make Takeshi [note: Brock in English] playable already!

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I got so excited when they re-created the final scene from Banjo-Kazooie 1.

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Seriously, please add Geno

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I think I’ll probably only ever use Banjo from now on

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Me, when Banjo-Kazooie was announced for Smash: Banjo! Kazooie! You’re alive!

Check out the full list of comments over here. We’ll report back when we have more news about the new DLC fighter heading to Smash in Fall 2019.