Donkey Kong Bananza Hands-On: A New Era for the King of Swing

by

During the Nintendo Switch era, Donkey Kong has been playing a supporting role. Over the past eight years, his appearances have primarily been in re-releases, enhanced versions, or collaborative games with Mario. However, with the upcoming release of the Nintendo Switch 2, this is set to change as Donkey Kong receives his first 3D platformer in decades with the launch of Donkey Kong Bananza. ComicBook had an opportunity to try out the game, to see how Donkey Kong’s new journey is developing. At this stage, it appears that Donkey Kong’s latest adventure may be filling a significant gap in the system’s library previously occupied by Mario.

In “Donkey Kong Bananza,” our titular donkey ventures far from his comfort zone on DK Island. Instead of the usual jungle setting, this time Donkey Kong finds himself delving into an entirely new subterranean world. Filled with unfamiliar ape characters and non-playable companions, it’s quite different from the classic “Donkey Kong Country” games.

Upon first glance, one might think that this game shares more similarities with “Super Mario Odyssey.” However, Donkey Kong isn’t merely standing in for Mario. The developers have ensured that the character retains his distinctive abilities that align well with the series. Throughout the game, our hero uses his strength to pound and stomp across diverse landscapes as he hunts for the elusive Golden Bananas.

In the latest versions of the game, the new settings are expansive and lively, and the artistic style is impressive thus far. For nearly three decades, Nintendo has relied on the character design from Rare’s Donkey Kong Country series, but that seems to be shifting for Switch 2. Both Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza show a more movie-inspired approach to the character, with similarities noticeable in the character’s eyes and fur details. However, Nintendo isn’t merely mimicking the film design; instead, they appear to be using it as a foundation for making Donkey Kong more emotive. The new facial expressions on DK are a significant leap from the static looks seen in countless games. Though the change may require some adjustment, it’s clear why it was adopted for Switch 2.

During the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct presentation, a short segment hinted at a region reminiscent of the classic Donkey Kong Country on Super Nintendo. However, this retro-styled area wasn’t featured in the actual demo, which concentrated on entirely novel content. The original Kong characters, such as Diddy, Cranky, Funky, and Dixie, were nowhere to be seen; it’s unclear if they will appear in Donkey Kong Bananza or if the game is set to introduce new characters and potentially a fresh start.

Donkey Kong 64 is often criticized for its excessive focus on item gathering and multiple playable characters, leaving some fans apprehensive about Donkey Kong’s return to 3D gaming. Yet, others have eagerly anticipated this comeback. It appears that Nintendo has taken lessons from Rare’s past mistakes, as Donkey Kong Bananza doesn’t seem to rely solely on DK collecting shiny trinkets. Instead, the game places more emphasis on destruction, which is a significant aspect of its gameplay. For instance, Donkey Kong can destroy various elements in his surroundings, and this destruction plays a crucial role in the game. If an enemy is resistant to physical attacks, he can unearth a piece of earth and fling it. A giant obstacle blocking the path? Certain rocks can be dug up to create Boom Bombs, which can demolish enemies and clear paths.

The demo of this game showcases two main locations: Ingot Isle, which initiates DK’s journey, and Lagoon Layer further on. On Ingot Isle, you’ll find a colossal mine inhabited by various NPC monkeys who are excavating for Golden Bananas. Unfortunately, they aren’t the only ones there as DK must save some of them from insect-like adversaries known as Antickoids. After exiting the mine and heading towards a mound of Golden Bananas, DK is drawn into a massive vortex, hinting at a new set of unidentified antagonists. The demo provides only a fleeting look at these nefarious apes, but the official game website refers to them as VoidCo. Regrettably, this leaves the Kremlings out of the picture once more, but the design of the new villains appears to surpass that of the Tiki Tak Tribe and the Snowmads from the last two Donkey Kong Country games.

In the Lagoon Layer, Donkey Kong gains a new ally – a peculiar stone named Odd Rock. Though we may learn his full name in due time, he is currently referred to as “Odd Rock”. This giant, cracked rock sits comfortably on DK’s shoulder, much like Cappy in Super Mario Odyssey and Navi in Ocarina of Time. Odd Rock serves as a guide, providing tips and explanations throughout the game. Given that the game revolves around smashing and destroying terrain, having a stone-like companion seems fitting, but so far it’s challenging to connect with this character.

Donkey Kong’s games are known for their challenging levels, and Bananza seems to follow suit. The demo showcased several tough sections, where players needed to eliminate a group of enemies within a tight timeframe. The initial Battle Challenge required players to defeat three Crockoids in just 30 seconds. These creatures seemed like a mix of crocodiles and rocks, with a dragon-like skeleton hidden beneath. Overcoming this challenge proved quite tough, and after two failed attempts, I moved forward, eager to explore more. In the deeper layers of Lagoon Layer, I stumbled upon Battle Challenge 2, which shared the same time constraint for defeating six Antickoids. Despite the ruthless timer, I managed to fare better with this one.

So far, Donkey Kong Bananza appears to be shaping up quite positively in our brief experience with it. The visual style is impressive, and the gameplay offers an appealing blend of what one might anticipate from a 3D Mario game, as well as the essence of the entire Donkey Kong series. The demo seems like just the tip of a massive iceberg, leaving us eager to discover more about Nintendo’s plans for their swinging monarch. Fingers crossed we get to see much more of this Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive before its July 17th launch.

Read More

2025-04-03 21:13