Check out this impressive recreation of Banjo Kazooie's Spiral Mountain level using Unreal Engine 5

Spiral Mountain has been revitalized with the artistic flair reminiscent of Spyro and Crash, crafted by Alex Lessard over a meticulous three-month period. Drawing inspiration from all three iconic games, the project showcases breathtaking environments, meticulously crafted assets, and impressive effects, hinting at the exciting possibilities for a new Banjo Kazooie game.

Environment artist Alex Lessard dedicated three months to faithfully recreating Banjo Kazooie's tutorial level in the style of Toys For Bob within Unreal Engine 5. The outcome is predictably breathtaking.

Banjo Kazooie holds a special place in my heart among the dormant Microsoft IPs, and it's frustrating that we haven't seen a new installment in this beloved family-friendly series since 2008's Nuts and Bolts.

While there have been hints of a possible new game in development, Xbox has yet to confirm anything officially. In the meantime, some developers have taken matters into their own hands. They recreated the game's iconic tutorial level, Spiral Mountain, in Unreal Engine 5, drawing inspiration from the art style of Spyro and Crash studio Toys for Bob. Perhaps this effort will inspire Microsoft to allocate resources for a new Banjo Kazooie title from one of their teams.

Artist Alex Lessard has unveiled a captivating video and screenshot showcasing Spiral Mountain in a completely new light. The rendition is lush and meticulously detailed, enhanced by a contemporary lighting system, yet it faithfully preserves the charm and original design of the iconic level.

Lessard dedicated three months to the project, aiming to use the first game's level as a blueprint while incorporating innovative ideas drawn from all three games.

"On ArtStation, Lessard remarked, 'What if Banjo-Kazooie underwent a complete remake today? Inspired by Toys For Bob's Spyro Reignited Trilogy and Crash 4: It's About Time, I explored the concept of reconstructing the game's tutorial level, Spiral Mountain, from scratch in Unreal Engine 5, over a span of 3 months.'"

He detailed on ArtStation that numerous assets and various blueprints were developed specifically for this project. In addition, collaborators proficient in Unreal Engine 5 assisted in crafting dynamic sky and water effects.

"While applying familiar techniques, I seized the chance to expand my skills in creating a range of plants and landscape meshes for this project. So Stylized, the creator of the Dynamic Sky and Weather pack on the Unreal Engine Marketplace, provided invaluable assistance with the sky. The water effects and VFX also came from this talented creator," he elaborated on ArtStation.

This fan project is clearly a tribute and not affiliated with any potential Banjo Kazooie reboot. However, it offers a glimpse into what a new game could resemble if one were to materialize.

Initially, I hoped that Toys For Bob would handle this franchise, but it appears they're engaged with a new Spyro project, which is also thrilling. Microsoft may need to seek out another studio eager to rejuvenate this beloved IP.