Donkey Kong Bananza Review

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Back in 1999, Rare unveiled the pioneering 3D platformer, “Donkey Kong 64”. This game, known as “DK64”, was met with both commercial and critical acclaim. Ever since then, fans have been eagerly anticipating a new Donkey Kong 3D platformer from Nintendo. After an impressive wait of 26 years, Nintendo has finally fulfilled our wishes with the introduction of “Donkey Kong Bananza“. This game, exclusive to the yet-to-be-released Nintendo Switch 2, promises to be Donkey Kong’s most extensive journey yet, while also subtly incorporating elements that hark back to its rich history.

In the revamped adventure titled “Donkey Kong Bonanza,” our expressive Donkey Kong embarks on a quest to the planet’s core. Accompanying him is a 13-year-old version of Pauline, who made her debut in the 1981 arcade game “Donkey Kong.” Their mission? To thwart a band of villainous apes that are tearing through subterranean layers and making off with each world’s bananas. As for Nintendo 3D platformers, the storyline in “Donkey Kong Bonanza” is enjoyable, and its characters are lovable. There are unexpected twists and turns along the way, and there are many moments that will stick in your memory. While it may not be a contender for narrative awards, the story of “Donkey Kong Bonanza” offers a fun experience that sets the stage for its thrilling gameplay mechanics.

As a dedicated fan, it’s fascinating to ponder over how Donkey Kong Bananza might have struggled on the initial Nintendo Switch. Leveraging the enhanced capabilities of the Nintendo Switch 2, this game offers an unprecedented experience with its primary gameplay element – the demolition of almost every terrain within the game. The destructibility in Donkey Kong Bananza is truly awe-inspiring, and despite some reports suggesting performance issues, my personal experience was largely smooth. There were occasional moments of slowdown during the game’s most bustling scenes, but these instances didn’t hinder the gameplay or diminish the thrill of reducing everything around me to rubble.

Bananza Abilities Are a Game-Changer

While navigating through the levels in “Donkey Kong Bananza”, Donkey Kong acquires potent new skills from Bananza, making him more adaptable to overcome the game’s hurdles. Initially, one such Bananza ability grants DK extraordinary strength enabling him to punch through solid concrete, and another boosts his speed supernaturally. I won’t reveal all the later Bananza abilities, but as you progress in the game, you can expect an impressive increase in DK’s repertoire of moves, and it’s always exciting to discover what new power is coming next.

In the game “Donkey Kong Bananza,” players are provided with additional capabilities, expanding their toolkit. However, Donkey Kong himself is quite adaptable. Players can pound through the environment or tear it apart and hurl chunks at adversaries. Another option is to utilize fragments of the ground as makeshift surfboards to traverse potentially dangerous regions safely. Additionally, Donkey Kong can scale most surfaces and has a roll maneuver that assists players in completing larger jumps successfully. The game’s deep, intuitive move-set guarantees that the core platforming remains consistently engaging from the start to the end of the game.

In Donkey Kong Bananza, there’s a cooperative play option that lets a second player interfere with Pauline’s vocal performance. However, this feature feels like an afterthought and doesn’t add much to the overall gameplay experience.

In the game Donkey Kong Bananza, instead of collecting items for no particular reason like in some 3D platformers, the collected items serve a purpose by functioning as in-game currency. Gathering bananas earns skill points which can be utilized to buy new abilities or improve existing ones. Fossils are traded for outfits that boost Donkey Kong and Pauline’s attributes. Gold coins can be used for various purposes, including buying “getaways” for healing, filling up the Bananza meter, and more. By linking rewards to the collectibles, Donkey Kong Bananza makes every collection feel meaningful.

In a contemporary style reminiscent of games developed by Rare in the ’90s, the characters such as the Fractones and the overall atmosphere of Donkey Kong Bananza give off a 2025 vibe.

Generally speaking, the game Donkey Kong Bananza is exhilarating, yet it doesn’t exclude flaws. Destroying objects into pieces is entertaining, however, the novelty wears off eventually, and similar mission types can make the experience feel repetitive. The game leans excessively on shrines modeled after Breath of the Wild, which are isolated from the primary world and designed in sterile environments that lack much creativity.

As a devoted fan of the classic Donkey Kong series, I must say that the main problem I encountered in Donkey Kong Bananza is its surprising lack of challenge compared to its predecessors. The original 2D Donkey Kong games were renowned for their toughness, but in this version, the difficulty seems to be missing altogether. The game feels more like a leisurely stroll than an exciting adventure, with even its toughest challenges barely causing a ripple due to helpful items such as balloons that prevent falls into pits and apple juice that instantly restores DK’s health if he takes too much damage. To top it off, the boss fights are disappointing because they’re far too easy to conquer.

Donkey Kong Bananza is a Showpiece for the Switch 2

The bosses in Donkey Kong Bananza aren’t too challenging, but they sure are visually stunning. Overall, Donkey Kong Bananza is a visually appealing game, with intricately detailed worlds that make full use of the Switch 2’s more powerful hardware compared to its previous version. It’s currently the most impressive game on the Switch 2 and a great demonstration of what the console can do. It also offers Joy-Con 2 mouse controls for those who want to try out the bonus DK Artist mode, where players can create their own sculptures. Additionally, optional motion controls allow players to tap the Joy-Cons against their chest to activate Bananza mode.

Completing the primary narrative of Donkey Kong Bananza typically takes between 10 to 15 hours, but if you aim to explore every aspect of the game, it can stretch up to approximately 50 hours. I chose to savor the game, ending with around 600 bananas and a playtime of about 30 hours before the credits finished.

As a gamer, I’d put it this way: Donkey Kong Bananza feels like a heartfelt tribute to Donkey Kong’s rich legacy, yet it’s brimming with fresh ideas too! It’s chock-full of Easter eggs and callbacks to the old games, from the arcade original to the SNES Rare trilogy. There are side-scrolling stages galore, and you’ll even spot beloved characters like Cranky Kong making appearances. The music in this game is a delightful mix of classic tunes, with the DK Rap popping up during rest periods at getaways, and nostalgic sounds from yesteryear that bring back memories. But Nintendo didn’t stop there – they added new tracks to the mix, and they fit beautifully with the revamped classics!

If you’re among the fortunate owners of the Nintendo Switch 2, Donkey Kong Bananza is an undeniable choice. It manages to captivate both long-time Donkey Kong enthusiasts and those just joining the franchise. Essentially, Donkey Kong Bananza stands as the Nintendo Switch 2’s initial essential game since Mario Kart World, making it a compelling motivation to acquire the new console.

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2025-07-23 23:05