Best Of 2025: Donkey Kong Bananza’s Eye-Opening Twist Is Nostalgia Done Right

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Note: MASSIVE spoilers for the final section of Donkey Kong Bananza. Read on at your own risk!

In Donkey Kong Bananza, DK and Pauline are fighting against Void Company, led by Void Kong. As they progress through the game, they also encounter a growing number of reptiles.

Certain enemies strongly remind me of the Kremlings from classic Donkey Kong games, and the treasure chests are designed with what appear to be crocodile teeth. Even the Banandium Root – the main thing Void Company is digging for – feels strangely familiar, though I can’t quite place why.

At first, those little references seemed like friendly acknowledgements to longtime Donkey Kong players like myself. But when I got to Chapter 15 and the final battle with Void Kong, everything clicked.

The recent, incredibly challenging fight felt like it could be the last one before the game’s ending. Pauline rescues DK, mirroring how he saved her earlier, and completes her transformation from a shy child into a self-assured performer. They share a happy moment, with the Banandium Root visible nearby. I anticipated the screen going black, but instead, Void Kong suddenly attacks the Root!

… he dives toward his prize in order to claim the wish legend says it grants …

… the music swells, the screen fades to white …

Suddenly, an enormous green eye dominates the screen. Void Kong is swiftly defeated by a powerful green fist. The camera then focuses on a pair of gigantic green feet, slowly rising to reveal his massive golden belly – what remains of the Banandium Root. Finally, we see his face, confronting Donkey Kong after 18 years.

King K. Rool has returned.

He expresses his gratitude to DK for rescuing him, explaining that he and his team were stuck trying to get the genuine Banandium Root. Now that he’s out, he can resume his search for it. The large crocodile then descends deeper into the planet, towards its true center, signaling the start of the final challenge in Donkey Kong Bananza.

Remember that famous WWE clip of Stone Cold Steve Austin rushing to help Mankind back in 1999? Imagine replacing the sound of shattering glass with K. Rool’s eye opening – that’s exactly the kind of electric energy I felt in that moment, like the crowd was going wild.

The game’s setup is brilliant – it subtly builds a sense of familiarity through clever references. Reaching and battling Void Kong in Chapter 15 felt like a perfect ending to Bananza’s story. What initially seemed like a simple conclusion unexpectedly became a setup for something more, and even five months later, it still makes me smile to think about it.

But the nostalgia doesn’t stop there! Seriously, they added a whole 16th layer to the planet, and it’s like stepping right back into the old Super Nintendo Donkey Kong Country games. All the classic Kremlings are there, and they even sound right – that little “awh” noise when you hit them is exactly how I remember it from 1994. The Zingers, those huge bees, still have that crackly buzz, and they still sting if you get too close. And the Neckys, those buzzards? They make the same squawking sound when they come at you. It totally took me back – it was like a rush of childhood memories, just like that scene in Ratatouille where Anton Ego tastes the amazing ratatouille!

Interestingly, the grunts in this area attack Donkey Kong and Pauline the same way they did earlier, when they were disguised as rock monsters that looked like the original Kremlings. Now that the disguise is gone, it’s clear that the game was hinting at this Kremling reveal all along, but I didn’t really notice the clues at the time.

So, before the final showdown with K. Rool, you actually fight him with his blunderbuss, and honestly, it’s a pretty quick fight. Once you grab the Root – yeah, a giant pile of bananas magically lifts DK and Pauline back up – the credits seem to start. But get this – it’s a total throwback to the original Donkey Kong! The credits are faked, listing Kremlings instead of the developers, and then K. Rool bursts out and starts chasing you! Seriously, that was a perfect ending – chef’s kiss!

The fight then moves to a new stage where Donkey Kong has to defend himself from K. Rool, who is attacking with a jetpack as he tries to reach the surface. This section features a powerful rock remix of the music from K. Rool’s first boss fight in Donkey Kong Country – and in my opinion, it’s the best version of the song ever made, even better than the one in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

After DK and Pauline escape, they find themselves in New Donk City, the setting from Super Mario Odyssey, giving players a fresh wave of nostalgia. K. Rool steals the Banandium Root and fills the city with gooey, rotten bananas. DK then has to fight through K. Rool’s Kremling army and rising piles of banana mush to finally face off against the sneaky crocodile.

In the final showdown, K. Rool harnesses the Root’s energy to become a giant, banana-powered monster called K. Rool, King of Rot—a transformation that feels inspired by the challenging designs of games like those created by Hidetaka Miyazaki. After defeating this colossal reptile, the adventure truly concludes, and the real ending credits finally roll.

This game brilliantly blends familiar, nostalgic elements with fresh ideas, creating a lasting impression. Though the game features reptilian themes throughout, Void Kong is established as the primary villain. He appears frequently in cutscenes, taunting Donkey Kong and commanding his minions – a style very reminiscent of K. Rool.

After Void is defeated, the true villain, K. Rool, reappears, bringing a wave of nostalgia. The game cleverly references past enemies and stages – the mine cart sections and golden atmosphere around the Banandium Root feel very similar to classic Donkey Kong Country. Seeing K. Rool’s triumphant return, combined with these familiar nods to the original game, creates that special, joyful feeling Nintendo has been providing for generations.

It’s so awesome to have King K. Rool back! I’m already excited for our next battle, and honestly, I really hope he sticks around for more than just the last fight this time. He’s a fantastic villain!

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2026-01-03 20:10