The Detonator Form is the second transformation in the sequel game Banjo-Tooie, found within Glitter Gulch Mine after players give a Glowbo to Humba Wumba at her wigwam positioned atop the purple gem pile directly in front of the world entrance. A Glowbo can be found on the smaller gem pile adjacent to Humba Wumba’s wigwam and must be thrown into the pool before players can enter to initiate the transformation process. Once transformed, Banjo takes on the appearance of a small explosive device that retains his characteristic blue backpack and yellow shorts while gaining the specialized ability to detonate TNT barrels throughout the mining complex. The transformation grants automatic detonation capabilities when positioned at the end of any fuse connected to the distinctive red TNT barrels scattered across Glitter Gulch Mine, eliminating the need for manual activation. These detonation abilities prove essential for accessing four specific sections within the world, including the Toxic Gas Cave where Canary Mary remains trapped behind rocks, a passage within the Fuel Depot that opens the connection to Witchyworld, a jail cell within the Gloomy Caverns containing a captive Jinjo, and the entrance to the Flooded Caverns located near the Crushing Shed. The primary combat application involves a self-destruct attack executed with the B button that delivers massive damage across an impressively wide blast radius, capable of destroying boulders and eliminating multiple enemies simultaneously. The self-destruct ability requires strategic deployment since each activation consumes one honeycomb of energy due to self-inflicted damage, and the attack becomes unavailable when only one honeycomb energy remains. The Detonator features the distinction of being the only transformation in Banjo-Tooie capable of floating on water surfaces rather than sinking to the bottom, a crucial design feature specifically implemented to prevent players from becoming permanently stuck in Glitter Gulch Mine’s various waterways and underground streams. The Toxic Gas Cave accessed through detonation presents time-limited challenges due to its poisonous atmosphere, requiring swift movement to reach Canary Mary’s cage and initiate her rescue sequence that leads to the mine cart racing competitions near the Fuel Depot. Unlike most other transformations in Banjo-Tooie, the Detonator Form remains confined to Glitter Gulch Mine and cannot traverse between different worlds while maintaining its transformed state, though its abilities make it indispensable for complete exploration of the mining complex. Within Banjoland, the museum world featured in Banjo-Kazooie Nuts & Bolts, a commemorative model of the Detonator Form appears positioned on crates near the Old King Coal statue, serving as a nostalgic reference to Banjo-Tooie.
