When it comes to gaming, I think there’s nothing quite so satisfying as collecting things in good, old-fashioned platformer. I’m honestly not sure what it is about it. Maybe it’s the little celebrations the characters do every time they get the thing; maybe its that little burst of excitement from completing a goal, or maybe I’m just the kind of weirdo who likes collecting stuff. Anyway, Banjo-Kazooie still reigns supreme as one of the best games for this, and it’s due at least in part to the all the different ways one can gather its brilliantly shiny Jiggies. It’s like collecting stars in Super Mario 64, but even better and these are some of my favorites.

‘Tumblar the Mighty’s’ Puzzle – Mad Monster Mansion

“Tumblar the Mighty” is pure Rare silliness. The “monster” is a glass tumbler whose “challenge” is to spell out the bear and bird duo’s name. That’s it. All they have to do is hop in Tumblar and glide around its crystal floor. The combination of misplaced brovado and a cool-looking space are what cement this jiggy as a personal favorite.

‘Thank You’ Pots – Mad Monster Mansion

Dropping eggs into flower pots is neither difficult nor all that mind-bending, but I love this jiggy all the same. I love that these flower pots are just sitting around a creepy cathedral waiting for someone to come along and help them pretty up the place, and I absolutely love their signature sound effect! Every time Kazooie bounces an egg into a pot, a low and slow “thaaank yooou…” echoes out of the pot. It doesn’t belong with the otherwise pleasant-looking pot, but there it is all the same. I can’t help but smile every time I hear it, so it’s probably my absolute favorite of all jiggies.

Snowman’s Pipe – Freezeezy Peak

Freezeezy Peak is one of the prettiest stages in Banjo-Kazooie, if not the prettiest. It’s everything that’s fun and festive about winter, making it an absolute joy to look at. The stage’s center-piece is the colossal snowman plunked right in the center, and this jiggy is found nestled in its pipe. All Banjo has to do to collect it is climb up the snowman’s bright red and yellow scarf, jump on its smile, and then leap into the pipe. You can see the whole level on the way up the snowman, and the view from the pipe is spectacular. So, this is absolutely a jiggy nobody should miss.

Top o’ the Lighthouse – Treasure Trove Cove

I really like collecting this jiggy for reasons similar to the one in the snowman’s pipe. Treasure Trove Cove is my all-time favorite level in Banjo-Kazooie, and you can get a great bird’s-eye view of it from the top of the lighthouse. It’s also a great point of contrast from the rest of the level too. Whereas the ground-level of Treasure Trove Cove is filled with all kinds of energy and playful music, the lighthouse area at the top of the level is mostly empty and devoid of music. All one can hear up there is the spray of the sea and the calls of the seagull. It’s quiet, and our dynamic duo are very much alone on top of that lighthouse. I always cannot help but pause for a moment and take a good look around while up there and that’s kind of special to me. It’s an odd, but very welcome, calm moment in an otherwise frenetic game.

Egg Flower – Click Clock Wood

This one’s just kind of cool to me. In order to get it, you have to have already messed with Gobi the Camel back in Gobi’s Valley, and you have to work on it during three out of the four seasons in Click Clock Wood before you can make the flower bloom and collect your prize. It totally doesn’t make sense if you apply even the smallest amount of logic to it, but it’s still fun. Seriously, how exactly do five bird eggs become a giant flower, and why does two rounds of camel spit delivered months apart cause it to grow? I don’t know, and I don’t care. It’s a fun and zany process that exemplifies the very best of Banjo-Kazooie! …And that about sums it up. Just one more week of Listmas to go. Stay tuned for final round!

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Which Jiggies are your favorites? Do you prefer Banjo-Kazooie more or Banjo-Tooie?

Image is a screenshot of the Banjo-Kazooie, Super Smash Bros Ultimate reveal trailer