During the live stream of the Nintendo Switch 2’s presentation, there was widespread anticipation for a new 3D Mario game. Given that the last one, which launched early in the original console’s lifecycle, is often praised as one of the greatest 3D platformers ever made (and I count myself among its fans), such excitement was not surprising. Initially, the trailer at the end of the showcase seemed to hint at Super Mario Odyssey 2, the long-awaited sequel that gamers have been eagerly anticipating for nearly a decade.
Initially, some dismay arose when Kongs appeared in the trailer and it turned out to be Donkey Kong busting through the wall rather than Mario. However, with the game now launched and receiving both critical and fan appreciation, it’s evident that Nintendo didn’t overlook this. Moreover, it’s also apparent that Bananza is similar to the Odyssey 2 in essence.
How Donkey Kong Bananza Mirrors Mario Odyssey
In numerous aspects, Donkey Kong Bananza shares resemblances with Super Mario Odyssey, and that’s not necessarily a drawback when discussing one of the greatest games ever made. This similarity is significant because both games were developed by the same team at Nintendo. Given this, it’s only natural to find some commonalities; after all, there are only so many ways to approach a 3D platformer featuring an iconic Nintendo character.
The gameplay is quite comparable. In Donkey Kong’s adventure, he navigates various regions of his world in pursuit of a scarce item – bananas. On the other hand, Mario searches for moons. Both games feature these items being concealed in challenging and intriguing locations to encourage exploration and experimentation from players.
In a fun twist, neither game’s main appeal lies within their mechanics, but rather in an optional feature: collecting fossils to alter Donkey Kong’s (or Pauline’s) appearance or fur color, which can be likened to Mario’s outfit changes in the game Odyssey that are limited by coins. These features might just be the most enjoyable aspects of both titles.
The graphics in both games are quite comparable, with the Switch 2 offering slightly more detail, primarily to enhance destruction effects. However, due to this, the two games appear visually similar despite a gap of eight years. This is why many initially believed that the initial teaser was actually for Super Mario Odyssey 2.
Donkey Kong Bananza Does Some Things Better than Odyssey
Certainly, there are some resemblances between the two games, _Bananza_ and _Odyssey_. It’s challenging to decide which one is superior as a whole (while _Bananza_ offers more activities and polished gameplay, _Odyssey_ was initially innovative and revolutionized the genre). However, it’s only fair to expect that a sequel should build upon certain aspects.
Considering _Donkey Kong Bananza_ is essentially an updated version of _Super Mario Odyssey_, we can also highlight what the newer game excels at.
In the game “Bananza,” the fundamental gameplay is significantly more robust, as it allows for extensive destruction of the environment which aligns well with the storyline and enhances overall enjoyment. Unlike Donkey Kong in “Odyssey,” where exploration was limited using Cappy, Bananza lets you delve deeper into a single sublevel, providing an extended playtime and more content, amounting to roughly additional hours of gameplay.
The tale, to be specific, is also improved. Compared to The Odyssey, there’s less profound emotion in it because it essentially retells a familiar scenario – Bowser once more kidnaps Princess Peach. Given that we’ve encountered this situation multiple times, the emotional impact isn’t as strong, despite the new narrative elements introduced this time.
In “Donkey Kong Bananza”, there are two characters who experience growth. Primarily, Pauline evolves from being a reserved character to resembling the one we initially knew from Odyssey. Her dynamic with the other character is more robust compared to Mario’s with Cappy.
At last, I’ve found myself engrossed in the diverse array of boss battles in Donkey Kong Bananza! Unlike traditional Mario games where you’d need to whack the boss thrice, this is the norm. However, in this exciting new title, each boss calls for unique skills almost every time, making them all distinct and challenging. This variation adds an incredible depth to the gameplay experience.
https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/donkey-kong-bananza-nintendo-switch-2-review/embed/#
Read More
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Wrestler Marcus “Buff” Bagwell Undergoes Leg Amputation
- PS5’s ChinaJoy Booth Needs to Be Seen to Be Believed
- Microsoft is on track to become the second $4 trillion company by market cap, following NVIDIA — and mass layoffs
- AI-powered malware eludes Microsoft Defender’s security checks 8% of the time — with just 3 months of training and “reinforcement learning” for around $1,600
- xAI’s $300/month Grok 4, billed as a “maximally truth-seeking AI” — seemingly solicits Elon Musk’s opinion on controversial topics
- Anime’s Greatest Summer 2024 Shonen Hit Drops New Look Ahead of Season 2
- Lewis Capaldi Details “Mental Episode” That Led to Him “Convulsing”
- President Trump: “What the hell is NVIDIA? I’ve never heard of it before” — but is it right to dunk on him?
- Powell’s Exit? A Financial Drama! 🎭
2025-08-08 22:13