Get ready for a groundbreaking return! donkey Kong Bananza isn’t just another game. Launching July 17 on Nintendo Switch 2, it’s the first 3D Donkey Kong title in over two decades and serves as a major anchor for the new console. Early previews suggest this ambitious platformer isn’t merely an evolution; it’s a total reimagining of the genre. Nintendo is putting their iconic great ape back in the spotlight in a big way.
For decades, Donkey Kong has stood in the shadow of Mario. Despite introducing the world to Nintendo back in 1981, DK often played a sporadic role. His lore even remains inconsistent, shifting between different generations of Kongs. While Mario enjoyed superstardom and a medical license, DK ruled his island, constantly battling threats. Donkey Kong Bananza changes that narrative.
A New Story Unfolds on Ingot Isle
The game takes DK back to simpler, almost “blue-collar” beginnings. players find him toiling away in the banana mines of the newly discovered Ingot Isle. This location is rich with golden bananas, a source of immense joy for DK, who sports a hardhat and overalls. This look has sparked theories about the game being a prequel, although his grandfather, Cranky Kong, appears as an NPC, complicating the timeline.
The peace is shattered by the arrival of Void Company. This evil corporate mining operation aims to monopolize the golden banana supply. A sudden whirlwind sucks DK underground. He teams up with a peculiar talking mineral named Odd Rock. Their mission? Stop VoidCo from reaching the planet’s core, rumored to hold wish-granting power.
However, Odd Rock holds a major secret. After the first main area, a surprising twist reveals Odd Rock is actually a young girl named pauline. This is a significant departure, as Pauline has always been depicted as an adult in previous Nintendo games. She first appeared as Mario’s damsel in distress in the 1981 arcade classic. More recently, she became the mayor of New Donk City in Super Mario Odyssey. Her appearance as a child here has raised questions about the game’s place in the wider Donkey Kong lore.
Destructive Gameplay and Exploration
Donkey Kong Bananza feels reminiscent of Donkey Kong 64 in its structure. It centers on exploring large, open sandbox environments. These areas are absolutely packed with collectibles. Giant golden bananas are the main goal, similar to Stars or Moons in 3D Mario titles. But there’s much more to find. Players hunt for buried fossils unique to each level. Banana chips serve as currency for purchasing new outfits. Bits of gold also litter the environment. Collecting gold powers up DK’s special abilities and can unlock permanent upgrades. Banandium Gems, found throughout, reward players with skill points to enhance abilities and Bananza forms.
What truly sets Bananza apart is its emphasis on Donkey Kong’s raw power. This isn’t just a standard platformer. DK is incredibly agile on foot, able to stop instantly and move quickly in any direction. He can roll at high speed or dive to extend jumps. But the core mechanic is his strength. DK doesn’t just jump on enemies; he delivers powerful punches in all directions. He can even rip chunks of rock and the very ground from the environment.
This destructive capability isn’t just for combat. It’s fundamental to exploration. DK can smash through walls, floors, and ceilings like a living bulldozer. Almost anything in the environment can be destroyed or tunneled through. This turns every level into a unique sandbox begging to be excavated. Players with a compulsion for clearing maps can spend hours simply tearing up the landscape. Previews note the satisfaction of finding hidden treasures by randomly punching through surfaces. While the destruction is widespread, levels remain structured with defined challenges and layers, not procedural like some crafting games.
Partnering with Pauline and Bananza Forms
While DK is mighty alone, his partnership with the young Pauline adds incredible depth. Pauline uses her singing voice in unique ways. Her voice can unlock sonically reactive locks and doors, aiding in puzzle-solving. More dramatically, her singing can activate DK’s Bananza form.
The Bananza form grants Donkey Kong temporary transformations. These range from a fiery, superpowered version of himself to a musclebound zebra that can sprint across water. He can even transform into an ostrich to hover short distances. These transformations are powered by collecting gold. Since gold is plentiful, players can swap and use these forms frequently. They add fantastic variety to both combat and exploration.
The partnership shines brightest in the cooperative two-player mode. The second player controls Pauline. Dangling from DK’s back, Pauline uses pointer controls to shoot “sung words.” This isn’t just a simple assist role. Pauline is incredibly powerful. She can inhale materials like gold from enemies. This makes her voice attacks even more lethal, capable of quickly clearing foes or bosses. This mode is described as completely changing the game feel. It provides a robust co-op experience and a genuinely fun way for players of different skill levels to team up.
Preview Impressions and Comparisons
Hands-on previews of Donkey Kong Bananza have been overwhelmingly positive. Developed by the team behind Super Mario Odyssey, the game boasts incredibly imaginative level design. Characters are highly expressive; DK’s emotions are visible on his face, and Pauline provides witty dialogue as the only fully voiced character.
The game takes the sandbox exploration popularized by Odyssey. However, it uniquely blends this with the destructive environmental interaction seen in Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Destroying and manipulating the environment feels integral. Players can even create mud bridges by tossing dirt. This blend of platforming, collection, and destruction creates a fresh gameplay loop.
The open areas lead into numerous individual levels and challenges. Many sections recreate classic 2D Donkey Kong Country levels. These include platforming challenges using monkey bars and barrel-blasting sequences. Boss fights are also a highlight, described as action-packed and highly engaging. DK’s varied abilities add strategic layers beyond simple jumping. The game’s map is also a standout feature, presenting a dynamic 3D model that updates as the player destroys the environment. Visually, the game is stunning, showcasing the capabilities of the Switch 2 hardware.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is unique about the gameplay in Donkey Kong Bananza?
Unlike traditional platformers where players primarily navigate environments, Donkey Kong Bananza centers on destructive interaction. Players use Donkey Kong’s strength to punch, smash, and rip up the ground and walls. This destruction is key to exploration, revealing hidden areas and collectibles within the game’s sandbox levels. This physical interaction sets it apart from titles like Super Mario Odyssey, focusing heavily on manipulating the environment itself.
Who is the character Pauline in Donkey Kong Bananza?
Pauline appears in Donkey Kong Bananza as a young girl, initially disguised as a talking rock named Odd Rock. This is a significant change from her previous appearances in Nintendo history, where she is depicted as an adult (Mario’s original girlfriend and later the mayor of New Donk City). In Bananza, she partners with DK, using her singing voice for puzzles and activating transformations, and is a playable character with unique abilities in the game’s two-player co-op mode.
When is Donkey Kong Bananza scheduled to be released?
Donkey Kong Bananza is set to launch on July 17th. It will be released exclusively for the new Nintendo Switch 2 console. The game is positioned as a major title for the Switch 2’s early lineup, highlighting Nintendo’s commitment to bringing major franchises to their new hardware soon after launch.
Conclusion
Donkey Kong Bananza is shaping up to be far more than just a long-awaited return for the character. It takes the best elements of modern Nintendo platformers, like Super Mario Odyssey‘s exploration and recent Zelda games’ environmental interaction, and infuses them with Donkey Kong’s unique strength and personality. With its deep gameplay mechanics, intriguing story twists, and robust co-op, it aims to elevate the Donkey Kong series. Launching on July 17, this title looks poised to make Nintendo’s great ape a king again on the new Switch 2.
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