Donkey Kong Catch-Up: From fighting Mario to punching rocks

As a devoted Nintendo enthusiast, I’m thrilled about their latest venture, Donkey Kong Bananza – a fresh 3D platformer from the brilliant minds behind Super Mario Galaxy. From our evaluation at Shacknews, this game promises to deliver an exhilarating experience. It’s unfortunate, even as a fan, I must acknowledge that Donkey Kong hasn’t been synonymous with blockbuster titles for quite some time. So it’s understandable if you’re not familiar with DK’s storied past. Maybe you missed out on some of the all-time greats because you didn’t own a Wii U (no judgment there). Perhaps you’re simply a newer player who doesn’t delve into older classics as much (a regrettable oversight, in my opinion).

If you’re wondering where the big, bow-tied ape originated or what he has been doing since the classic Donkey Kong game (it’s hard to overlook that), I thought it would be entertaining to call this little exercise “DK Update.” Essentially, I’m working on a look back, if you will. Let’s give a round of applause for now; we’ll discuss clapping in more detail later.

Over the years, Nintendo has employed Donkey Kong in various unique ways that are worth exploring, even if they weren’t always successful. I’ve divided his history into broad “periods,” but there is some overlap when you examine the timeline closely. Let’s dive deeper and uncover the reasons why each phase was significant.

In this version, I have used simpler language and made the structure more straightforward for better readability.

Arcade OG

Donkey Kong first appeared here, helping Nintendo gain recognition. This portrayal of DK was adorable yet semi-realistic, with gentle features and a radiant smile, although he initially played the role of an antagonist. In reality, he was quite intimidating in the game, with a fierce grimace and a distinctive sound effect that resembled a factory siren nearing its end. You controlled Mario, pursuing DK up towering structures to save Pauline from his King Kong-like grasp. In the subsequent installment, it was Mario who became the villain, capturing DK, while you assumed control as Donkey Kong Jr., swinging through vines and evading crocodiles en route to a rescue mission.

Although Donkey Kong was significantly influential during its era, Nintendo’s subsequent triumph with Super Mario Bros. led to Donkey Kong being largely sidelined until an external company took interest and initiated a controversial reboot. However, from this period, two classic arcade games emerged that remain relatively accessible even today. The original game is so exceptional that it has inspired a genuinely captivating documentary. Interestingly, there’s also Donkey Kong 3 where you control an ordinary, blue-collar character using bug spray to fend off Donkey Kong. It’s quite a peculiar gameplay experience.

The original version was also significantly updated for the Game Boy, a device where it’s often considered one of the top games. It might even be regarded as the best Donkey Kong game to date.

Rare, with an attitude

In a surprising move, UK game developer Rare, famous for creating games like the WWF series and Battletoads on the NES, managed to persuade Nintendo to give them the rights to Donkey Kong. The character was given a 90s-inspired makeover, marking one of the earliest uses of 3D graphics on the Super Nintendo. While the darker tone and visual style sparked debate, particularly within Nintendo itself, the Donkey Kong Country series has endured as a beloved classic due to features such as David Wise’s incredible soundtracks, epic boss fights, and light-hearted humor.

For a brief period, Donkey Kong regained prominence as a character, thanks to a smaller team at Rare producing games like the Donkey Kong Land series for Game Boy, the racing game Diddy Kong Racing, and the notorious Donkey Kong 64. There was also an eccentric animated series that some of us cherish, while others might prefer to forget it. Sadly, other projects were scrapped during this time, and when Nintendo’s next console arrived, things took a different turn.

Gimmick Kong

Following DK’s separation from Nintendo and moving on to other projects, Donkey Kong found himself in a tricky situation. The Donkey Kong series seemed to vanish, becoming a testing ground for any unusual features or gimmicks that Nintendo could conceive. For instance, Donkey Konga was a rhythm game where you used actual plastic bongo drums to play the music, an idea initially considered for a racing game before it evolved into Donkey Kong Barrel Blast, which ultimately ended up on the Wii platform and met its end in a less traumatic way.

In addition, you may recall playing games like DK: King of Swing and its sequel Jungle Climber, where you controlled a gorilla through a series of challenges by using shoulder buttons, which in a way resembled a strange follow-up to Clu Clu Land. Other games, including the much-loved Jungle Beat, emerged during this period, but sadly, Nintendo didn’t give our beloved character the attention he once received. However, history seemed to repeat itself.

Uninvited from the party

Prior to proceeding, it’s important to acknowledge where many people, particularly younger gamers, might be familiar with Donkey Kong – and that’s through party games! As a Nintendo original, Donkey Kong (or DK) has been and remains a consistent presence in Mario Kart, various Mario sports titles, and Mario Party. However, it’s worth noting that Nintendo treated him rather poorly. In fact, he was absent from the Mario Party roster for an astounding four games! You couldn’t play as him outside of a specific mode in Mario Party 4, and then he didn’t appear at all until Mario Party 10. I find it hard to believe! It’s like excluding one of the cover athletes from Mario Hoops, one of the greatest basketball games ever made – unthinkable!

Misunderstood King

Nintendo acknowledges past mistakes and collaborates with Retro Studios to revitalize Donkey Kong Country Returns on the Wii. However, instead of receiving widespread acclaim, many were disappointed that it wasn’t a new Metroid Prime installment. Critics quickly dismissed it due to its perceived gimmicky Wii controls and other issues. Nevertheless, Retro Studios made significant strides in continuing the legacy left by Rare in the past. The sequel, Tropical Freeze for the Wii U, welcomed back renowned composer David Wise. Regrettably, Tropical Freeze was released for the Wii U, a platform that failed to salvage even excellent games like this one.

Both games were ported to Switch however, and I wholeheartedly recommend both of them.

Hollywood Makeover

As a gamer, it’s been quite some time since I last got my hands on a brand new Donkey Kong game, excluding ports – that was Mini Mario & Friends: Amiibo Challenge back in 2016. Donkey Kong Bananza marked the end of almost a decade without a new release. It seems the upcoming Super Mario Bros. Movie, which spotlights Donkey Kong and boosts his popularity, might have played a role in breaking this drought. Though DK is set to star in his own movie soon, Nintendo decided to capitalize on the hype surrounding the Super Mario Bros. Movie release and the upcoming Switch 2 launch by apparently rebooting the character.

In a fresh makeover, DK retains unique elements from Rare’s design while softening some of its original harshness. Now, he exudes a more lively, comic-style personality that perfectly fits Donkey Kong Bananza, given his numerous amusing facial expressions in the game. Interestingly, he’ll be partnering with a younger version of Pauline, which seems to be causing quite a stir within the Donkey Kong universe. This collaboration marks a significant change for the classic character, DK. Here’s hoping that this time around, the audience will flock to it, giving Nintendo the motivation to continue pushing boundaries.

2025-07-19 01:58