Although this news is a few days old now, I figured I would post it anyway. For those unaware, the original Banjo-Kazooie was re-released on Xbox Live Arcade back in November to coincide with the release of Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (I’ll have a review of that up soon). Rare has now announced that Banjo-Tooie will be re-released via Xbox Live Arcade in April, and better still, the incredibly secretive “Stop N’ Swop” feature that was intended for the game’s original release will finally be properly implemented!

For those who aren’t familiar, Stop N’ Swop was a secret feature that was supposed to connect both of the original Banjo titles. It featured seven secret items found in the original game (that could only be unlocked via cheat codes) that included six giant eggs of various colors and a key made of ice (aptly named the Ice Key). The games were originally supposed to join together by swapping (or “swopping”) the game cartridges with the power left on, as the memory would be left intact for a few seconds. But after more updated editions of the N64 were released, the function became impossible to include in the game. They did include a way to unlock some secrets in Banjo-Tooie by defeating Banjo-Kazooie cartridge-shaped enemies, thus “unlocking the Stop N’ Swop items from Banjo-Kazooie”. But that cop out was lackluster at best given how it was originally supposed to join both games in one way or another.

But now with the upcoming release of Banjo-Tooie on Xbox Live Arcade, Stop N’ Swop will finally be realized, and one of gaming’s greatest mysteries will be solved.