Donkey Kong Bananza Says a Lot With Very Little

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The gaming world has made significant strides from its early days of text-based games such as “Colossal Cave Adventure”. Over the past two decades, there’s been a steady increase in video games that prioritize storytelling, with more emphasis on dialogue and character development. However, some parts of the industry still focus mainly on gameplay, and this is evident in Nintendo’s approach, as demonstrated by “Donkey Kong Bananza“.

In “Donkey Kong Blitz,” our titular gorilla forms an alliance with a young woman named Pauline, embarking on a mission to capture Void Troop, a band of ape criminals who aim to bore into the heart of the planet. For the majority of “Donkey Kong Blitz’s” 20-hour duration, this basic premise remains consistent. Despite minimal dialogue progressing the plot, “DK Blitz” manages quite well without it.

Donkey Kong Bananza Keeps Dialogue To a Minimum

In keeping with Nintendo’s traditional style, the game Donkey Kong Bananza largely eschews dialogues. The only spoken, English dialogue in the game is provided by Pauline (Jenny Kidd). The VoidCo bosses also have voiced dialogues, but they speak a made-up language that’s accompanied by text subtitles. Any characters the player encounters during gameplay communicate through charming growls which are also subtitled. Notably, Donkey Kong doesn’t speak in DK Bananza, not even when players are given dialogue options while interacting with NPCs.

Jenny Kidd is a new voice actor for Pauline. Donkey Kong also has a new voice actor in Kôji Takeda.

Donkey Kong Bananza Is Still an Incredibly Expressive Game

Pauline’s Quips Come in Handy

In the game ‘Donkey Kong Bananza’, most of Pauline’s interactions take place during the cinematics, yet she often chimes in during gameplay as well. Throughout the game, Pauline will draw attention to hidden fossils, express enthusiasm when DK discovers a Banandium Gem, and cheer on the duo when they conquer a challenge level. These recurring comments serve to deepen the connection between DK and Pauline and also underscore her cheerful character for the player.

Donkey Kong Bananza’s Animations Do Some Heavy Lifting

The expressive animations in “Donkey Kong Bananza” play a significant role in defining each character’s distinct personality. Donkey Kong himself serves as the epitome of this animation’s impact. With each punch, leap, triumph, and setback, Donkey Kong’s face transforms into an over-the-top expression, showcasing his wide grin, large eyes, and robust eyebrows in various expressive manners that are consistently entertaining to watch.

In my excitement as a fan, I must say that the latest design for Donkey Kong in “Donkey Kong Bananza” has truly brought out a more distinct personality than we’ve ever seen before. The exaggerated expressions this time around really make DK stand out and take his character to new, captivating heights!

Donkey Kong Bananza’s Music Sets The Tone

In the game “Donkey Kong Bananza”, music serves a crucial function, influencing both its storyline and overall atmosphere. As is common in exceptional 3D platformers, music syncs with every moment of exploration within “Donkey Kong Bananza”. The selection of instruments and their arrangement effectively capture the unique feel of each level’s specific setting. Additionally, distinct tracks are played for each of the game’s Bananza Transformations, with the background tunes enhancing the thrill of using each power-up.

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2025-07-23 23:39