When I first played Banjo-Tooie, I had never played the first game (and Youtube Let’s Plays were not a thing), so all the characters were new to me.  Bottles’ death was surprising, but didn’t mean anything.  I didn’t know Mumbo’s role from the first game used to be Humba’s role now.  I didn’t even know what Grunty looked like with her skin on.  And one of the most surprising moments of the game was made even more so due to a misunderstanding.

It all happened not long into my visit to the final world of the game, Cloud Cuckooland.  This was the only world of the game that featured two of Mumbo’s skull houses.  Initially, I hadn’t noticed the existence of two skulls, however, so when I reached the first one via one of the many openings in the central cave, I was initially intrigued by Mumbo’s promise of a surprise.  This dialogue was new.  What could he possibly-

Well, he wasn’t lying.  I was surprised.  I was very surprised as Mumbo, our dear friend throughout the entirety of the game, who had so bravely went to check on the source of the disturbance during that poker game, only to be the first to learn of Grunty’s return…attacked me out of nowhere!  Yes, yes, I know, the words “Crafty Shaman Impersonator” flashed on the screen, and it’s more than likely the fact that this guy was merely a creep pretending to be Mumbo was made exceedingly clear.  But to my shocked child mind, I missed all of this and could only see this as a horrible act of betrayal!  I fought the faux Mumbo, it was revealed he was a cyborg as his evil “cybotic-ness” was revealed bit by bit, until his head unscrewed itself and green liquid sprayed out.  (Kid’s games!)

After the unexpected showdown, I wandered about Cloud Cuckooland in a state of confusion.  All I could think was…Mumbo had been a cyborg all along?  And he had been laying in wait to one day ambush the bear and bird who had believed themselves to be his friends?  How could he?!  What a plot twist!  That horrible, no-good, rotten traitor!

Eventually, I stumbled upon the second skull, the one with the real Mumbo inside, ready and willing to give us his aid as usual.  But I wasn’t fooled.  I knew better.  Mumbo was an imposter.  Mumbo Stewart Jumbo (he’s gotta have some sort of middle name, right?) was a big, ol’ liar.  No wonder he wore that little skirt.  Because his pants burned off in the great lie of 2000!

I didn’t trust Mumbo for quite a while after that before the obvious reality finally occurred to me.  Um, there were…two Mumbos, weren’t there?  One had been our friend from the very beginning, and the other wished to take advantage of our bond like the dirty, rotten, dirtball he was.  Mumbo was no more evil than Bottles, may he rest in peace!  To think that I had turned on our pal so quickly, and all because I had grossly misunderstood the situation!

I owe you an apology, Mumbo Stewart Daniel Jumbo (what, you didn’t know he had two middle names…that I made up?).  You are a good friend.  You always were, and you always will be.  Sniff, how could I misjudge thee so?

So there you have it, folks.  An embarrassing misunderstanding that made an already shocking boss battle even more memorable than it already was.  That leaves us with even more questions, however.  Who built Mingy Jongo?  Was it Gruntilda, or do Banjo and Kazooie have another villain out there, watching from the shadows, waiting for the right time to strike?  Hmm…considering Rareware has neglected the ursine and feathered pair for years at this point, we may never know, and the identity of Mingy’s creator will get away with their insidious crimes against friendship and all that is good and righteous in this world.  Let it not be, Rareware, justice MUST prevail!

Wait, considering Rareware continues to remain silent on this most important of matters, there is only one conclusion I can come to…Mingy was created by the Rareware imposter, Warerare.  Long believed to be no more than an urban legend, my sources, whom I must not name for their own protection, suspect these fiends facilitated Rareware’s inquisition by Microsoft and effectively prevented any more Banjo-Kazooie games from ever being created (we don’t talk about Nuts & Bolts).  Spread the word, folks, Warerare is out there, and they are more powerful than even I myself had initially believed!

Because, unlike the whole Mingy Jongo debacle, I am pretty darn certain I’m right this time!  Surely this isn’t…another misunderstanding.  Right?

Banner image is a photo of several of my Banjo-Kazooie plushies; Mumbo looks just as shocked by the existence of his imposter as I was…