Tears of the Kingdom. Ultimately, it blends these two aspects into what appears to be a soft reboot of Donkey Kong, taking pieces from various parts of the Donkey Kong universe to create something new yet familiar. This results in an engaging platforming experience that keeps pulling you in, inviting you to explore more and more.
In simpler terms, the genetic makeup of Donkey Kong holds significant value as it stirs up nostalgic yet complex emotions in many older gamers. While he shines brightly in 2D platformer games like the Donkey Kong Country series, his only foray into 3D gaming, Donkey Kong 64, has a mixed reception. The upcoming game, Donkey Kong Bananza, could be seen as a chance for redemption and potentially set the direction for the character’s future. This new game is essentially DK’s big break and might shape his destiny moving forward.
In Donkey Kong Bananza, Donkey Kong is portrayed as a lovable brute with an insatiable craving for bananas, working for some sort of peculiar banana-excavating firm. The subterranean world is filled with crystallized Golden Bananas that give off “Bananergy,” and an army of chimps in mining caps work tirelessly to unearth them by chiseling the rock. Unlike his co-workers, Donkey Kong doesn’t require a pickaxe; he can simply punch through the rocks to get to the valuable bananas. However, things take an unexpected turn when VoidCo, the mining company’s bosses, burst into the mine and head towards the planet’s core. Driven by the prospect of recovering his stolen bananas, Donkey Kong pursues them. In this quest, he encounters a peculiar singing rock that turns out to be a young girl named Pauline, who fans of the original game may remember. VoidCo and its leader, Void Kong, have a sinister plan for Pauline involving the planet’s core, so to protect her—but more importantly, for bananas—the two of them join forces to expose their wicked scheme.
On Saturdays, it’s as if we’ve been transported back to our favorite childhood cartoons. The updated design for DK truly embodies this vibe, with characters like Void Kong and Pauline fitting seamlessly into the style you’d find in games such as Super Mario Odyssey and the latest Mario Kart World. However, DK stands out exceptionally, boasting a dynamic face that changes shape much like it leaped off the screen from the animated Mario film. This expressive quality gives DK a tremendous amount of character and warmth, which is crucial in creating an emotional connection between him and Pauline, since she’s the one doing all the talking.
Similar to Super Mario Odyssey, Bananza revolves around discovering unique landscapes and collecting shiny trinkets as rewards for overcoming open-ended platforming puzzles. However, unlike Super Mario Odyssey, these challenges aren’t confined to crossing treacherous gaps; instead, they involve digging deep into the earth itself. You have various tools to locate hidden bananas buried within the rock, and discovering the optimal method for excavating your way to them is a significant aspect of the game. The environment can be significantly reshaped and deformed by you, but the core remains Nintendo’s meticulously crafted stage design. Solving problems requires strategy rather than brute force, though I must say, there’s immense satisfaction in solving problems through force, thanks to its immersive sound and controller-rumble effects.
In contrast to Odyssey, advancement in this game is not based solely on collecting a certain number of crystal items, but rather on the story’s development. To move forward, you might need to demolish a specific VoidCo structure, defeat a boss, or interact with a colossal animal Elder to learn their distinctive Bananza dance. This will allow you to jump into a hole and descend through the layers of the earth’s crust to reach the next stage.
The usefulness of gathering bananas evolves, and it’s an improvement overall. Accumulating five Golden Bananas awards you a skill point, which can be used to enhance and tailor your Kong in a vast skill tree. Some improvements are as expected – more health, increased punching power, for instance – but others offer unique abilities that expand possibilities for discovery. This loop encourages continuous banana hunting to gain more skills, which in turn aids you in finding even more bananas. The sight of a distant banana compels you to go get it. A sonar clap ability reveals hidden collectibles within the rock, and the map presents information in 3D space to pinpoint collectibles. This gives the impression that there’s always something worth discovering around every corner, pushing you to keep exploring. It’s so compelling that it truly captures DK’s desire for them. Overcoming big bosses or unveiling a new layer rewards a larger banana bunch – three or five – making progress feel satisfying.
The ability to mold the terrain offers a unique gaming experience, however, it carries its own set of challenges. Carving your path through solid rock can cause issues with the game’s camera, resulting in awkward clipping and temporary camera glitches. Although these problems didn’t prevent me from enjoying the game, they do reveal the game’s artificial aspects when you occasionally see through walls. More troubling was the impact on performance due to the chaos caused by terrain manipulation. This often resulted in a drop in frame rate, causing noticeable slowdown. This issue became more pronounced towards the end as the deformation grew more complex and chaotic, but it was present throughout. It’s disappointing to encounter such issues in one of the flagship games launching during Nintendo’s new, powerful hardware’s debut window.
In this captivating game, I gather gold shards, abundant treasures hidden within levels, ranging from massive hoards to tiny fragments that pop out when I break rocks. The sound of each collection feels delightful and rewarding, much like the jingle of real-life coins. Golden Bananas, symbolizing small victories in platform challenges, are frequently used as rewards for these feats. I utilize my gold stash to purchase conveniences such as shortcuts, life-saving Balloons that protect me from falling fatalities, or treasure maps from the Stuff Shop. Additionally, the acquisition of Base Camps in each region increases my “Comfy Level,” granting me a health advantage. The higher my Comfy Level, the cozier I feel!
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In addition to enhancing your abilities, you have the option to diversify with a multitude of costumes. These costumes can be accessed using a unique currency known as fossils. Each main region contains three distinct types of fossils, varying in rarity. These fossils are utilized to unlock different costume pieces for both Donkey Kong (DK) and Pauline. DK’s wardrobe consists mainly of ties and pants, whereas Pauline gets complete outfits. Additionally, there are cosmetic variations of DK’s fur. The costume parts come with various passive advantages such as increased Bananergy or reduced damage from hazards. Many of these items can be upgraded using more fossils to achieve even greater benefits. These customizable elements add a fun touch to your character and I found myself wearing my fully upgraded, golden necktie with enhanced Bananergy until the very end.
Despite the vast array of fossils, I often found myself struggling to understand which ones provided specific outfits. Since the available fossils shifted every time I dug into a new layer, I tended to buy whatever I could afford rather than saving for specific items. This seemed similar to Mario Odyssey’s regional coins, with rarity levels used to limit access to stronger abilities. However, in reality, it was overwhelming and I wished for a more straightforward approach instead.
The tool that truly sets the stage for this game is the one named after it – your Bananza transformations. As you gather pieces of their turntables, a group of wise animal elders, all aspiring DJs, will show you how to perform your Bananza. This initiates a lively jam session with Pauline as the lead singer and DK providing the rhythm by beating his chest. From then on, you can transform into powerful creatures like a silverback gorilla or a massive zebra. These transformations are triggered by Pauline’s singing, so each one offers a delightful, slightly silly performance from her. When it’s time to activate the Bananza, Pauline sings while DK maintains the rhythm with his chest beats.
The Bananza shapes impart a unique Zelda-esque ambiance to the game, since they frequently operate like tools for dungeons that open up fresh pathways and enable you to delve into regions previously inaccessible. For example, the Kong Bananza can bust through harder materials, the Ostrich Bananza can fly to reach greater heights, and the Zebra Bananza is so speedy it can dash across breakable ground without collapsing through. Moreover, there’s my favorite Bananza form, which deserves a personal exploration. Beyond their mechanics, the humorous appearance of these Bananza shapes is undeniable – they transform ordinary zoo animals into gigantic bodybuilders adorned with banana-themed gear.
In Bananza, your energy is replenished by gathering gold, allowing you to gradually fill the Bananza meter even while already transformed. However, unlike one might expect, continuously collecting gold doesn’t keep you in your transformed state indefinitely. Instead, the meter will drain completely before you can transform again. This system seems designed to prevent players from staying in their superpowered forms forever, although it may take some time to get accustomed to it.
In the captivating world of Bananzas, one is constantly met with unexpected twists and turns. You may believe you have a grasp on the game’s mechanics, only for it to throw a surprise at you in the form of a curveball. For instance, instead of breaking rocks as usual, you might find yourself navigating an on-rails shooter aboard a minecart. Each level presents unique challenges that could transform into a retro sidescroller or challenge your combat strategies to solve a puzzle. The interactions between materials also evolve in unpredictable ways. Just like the hunt for Golden Bananas, every new discovery kept me eagerly moving forward, filled with anticipation for what’s coming next, and I reveled in each fresh surprise.
The game is able to catch you off guard since it isn’t overly attached or protective of its own established backstory. To clarify any doubts, Donkey Kong Bananza operates more as a reboot, but this description might not be entirely accurate. In certain aspects, it appears like a prequel; in others, characters will refer to previous adventures from other games. At times, it even seems to reimagine familiar symbols. This blend creates a type of heightened reality that reminded me of The Simpsons – a series where Bart remains ten years old for over three decades, Homer and Marge were in high school during various eras, and past continuity is brought up only when the plot requires it. Does this make sense? Just relax, don’t think too much about it. This playful approach to incorporating story elements as necessary gives the impression of a new beginning while simultaneously offering Easter eggs for long-time fans.
The narrative, which follows DK joining Pauline on a journey to the planet’s core to grant her a wish, is charmingly straightforward. Their bond develops through shared musical moments, casual dialogues during rest periods at the base camp, and throughout the main plot. It’s only natural that DK grows protective of Pauline, and she brings out his best qualities. By the end, I found myself strongly empathizing with them both, eager for more tales of their adventures together.
As a gaming enthusiast, I’m thrilled about the fresh beginning Donkey Kong Bananza brings for our beloved Kong, setting him apart from the Donkey Kong Country series. The emphasis on destruction truly highlights his unique strength compared to other platforming heroes. Plus, having an adorable companion adds an unexpected layer of emotional depth to the game.
As part of the Switch 2’s launch lineup, it perfectly fits the bill for a substantial single-player adventure that Nintendo is known for. However, what truly stands out is that it’s not just a complement to Nintendo’s portfolio; it’s an exceptional game in its own right, worthy of being mentioned alongside gaming greats like Super Mario Odyssey, showcasing the best Nintendo has offered lately.
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2025-07-16 15:11