Donkey Kong Bananza is a sprawling platformer full of heart

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Recently, I was part of an exclusive gathering in New York City, showcasing the preview for Donkey Kong Bananza. I got to immerse myself in the new 3D platformer for a couple of hours, giving me a sneak peek into how Nintendo plans to bring Donkey Kong back to the limelight after such a long wait.

In a Nintendo Direct presentation specifically focused on it, Donkey Kong Bananza is unveiled as an adventure where Donkey Kong and a young Pauline team up. Their aim is to travel deep into the planet’s core, where legends say they can each make one wish. Pauline dreams of returning home to pursue her singing career while DK seeks more bananas. To achieve their individual objectives, they will rely on each other throughout their journey. During my trial run, I explored various parts of the game.

Initially, I navigated through the beginning of Donkey Kong Bananza, laying the groundwork for this underground journey. Each part of the world essentially functions as a level or stage. In this open environment, you can gather collectibles, battle opponents, and ultimately discover a way to proceed to the following layer. Although it’s possible to stick to the main storyline and rush towards the main objectives upon reaching a new layer, I found myself drawn to the numerous diversions that each fresh area offered.

In Donkey Kong Bananza, you’ll find a game where Donkey Kong can smash the scenery with his strong fists. This action isn’t without its rewards; treasures like chests, gold, and collectibles are frequently concealed underground. Donkey Kong’s sonar skill comes in handy for locating nearby treasures, and some chests contain treasure maps that highlight hidden loot on your 3D map.

I found it astounding how thoroughly the destructible environment system is developed. There are several types of terrains available, like dirt, sand, stone, concrete, and obsidian, each with varying levels of hardness that affect DK’s ability to break through them. These materials can be picked up in chunks and utilized as ammunition, melee weapons, surfboards, or springboards for a double-jump. Moreover, some of these materials have special characteristics – for instance, obsidian shatters upon impact, making it ideal for breaking any concrete that might be obstructing your route to valuable loot.

You might effortlessly spend hours demolishing every bit of terrain a level provides, and I had to restrain myself from spending the entire demo excavating and building tunnels so I could experience all the content. There’s a satisfying sense of release in simply swinging Donkey Kong’s fist, leaving a trail of destruction as you continuously gather materials.

Donkey Kong: Tropical Frenzy was crafted by the same team behind Super Mario Odyssey, and it’s evident in its design. The main item to gather in this game are colossal banana-shaped crystals known as Banana Diamonds. Much like the Moons in Super Mario Odyssey, these Banana Diamonds are scattered across the map and can be found through exploration, by solving environmental puzzles, or earned from Challenge Course Ruins. Each Banana Diamond has a unique name related to its acquisition method, and Donkey Kong strikes a pose each time you grab one.

Gathering Banandium Gems awards you Skill Points, which are utilized to unlock new talents for Donkey Kong or enhance the potency of his current ones. Initially, I focused on enhancing my health (you start with three life bars) and the power behind my punches. Skill Points can also be used to enhance DK’s sonar ability, or to bolster his Bananza forms. The standard form of his Ostrich Bananza can only fly for a brief duration, so I prioritized upgrading it when enough Skill Points were available. Some abilities require just one Skill Point for an upgrade, with later enhancements costing more than one.

Prior to starting the game, a representative from Nintendo Treehouse explained that Donkey Kong Bananza isn’t primarily about Donkey Kong and Pauline as individual DK characters; instead, they work together as co-protagonists. They both significantly influence the plot, which is evident in both the narrative and gameplay mechanics. Pauline serves as a vocal ally, frequently commenting on discoveries of collectibles or encounters with enemies.

In a team game, Pauline gains significance as she possesses the ability to vocalize sounds that transform into powerful projectiles. These projectiles are capable of altering the game environment and inflicting harm on adversaries. By employing the mouse function (or analog stick) on the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Con 2, you can precisely target various materials for absorption.

Employing Pauline in teamwork proves surprisingly potent, bordering on overpowered (OP). Unlike DK, she boasts an exceptional skillset at range. With some gold or obsidian, she can turn the battlefield into organized chaos. In a boss fight, I managed to inflict most of the damage without the need for DK to come near, although it’s likely my teammate, the alchemist, allowed me to take on the majority of the heavy tasks.

In my brief encounter with Donkey Kong Bananza, I could envision how I’d play it extensively at home. I plan to savor each level meticulously, plowing through the breakable environments, collecting every Banandium Gem and gold nugget within reach. I’m looking forward to finding a stylish ensemble for Donkey Kong and Pauline, and I might focus on enhancing DK’s Bananza forms early in the game to make them as potent as possible.

This game indicates that Nintendo has another successful 3D platformer in store, given its depth and hint of unexpected elements at launch. As the significant title post-Switch 2’s debut, it carries a substantial level of anticipation.

The sneak peek shown is from an early version of Donkey Kong Bananza that was played at a press gathering. Donkey Kong Bananza will be released for the Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17, 2025.

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2025-07-01 15:57