Mario Kart Switch 2 Reveals New Donkey Kong Look Donkey Kong’s appearance in the upcoming Mario Kart game for the Nintendo Switch 2 has fans buzzing. The new look for the beloved character is reminiscent of his appearance in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Fans can expect more information about the game during a Nintendo Direct on April 2.

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Summary

  • Footage of a new Mario Kart game was shown during the reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2.
  • Fans noticed that Donkey Kong looks quite a bit different, similar to how he looks in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
  • More information regarding the Switch 2 will be revealed during a Nintendo Direct on April 2.

A glance at what seems like the upcoming Mario Kart title has unveiled a significant transformation in the visuals of Donkey Kong, a long-standing racer in the series. During the presentation of Nintendo Switch 2, clips from the game were displayed, depicting Donkey Kong appearing more muscular than previous Mario Kart games. Additionally, his fur appears to have a slightly altered color tone.

Over the years, Donkey Kong has experienced numerous changes. He initially appeared as the villain in his self-named arcade game back in 1981. However, he gained massive recognition once again during the ’90s, becoming the lead character in several highly-acclaimed games for the Super Nintendo, including the beginning of the Donkey Kong Country series. Although he missed out on being included in the Mario Kart game for that console generation, one of its eight characters was reserved for Donkey Kong Jr., but he finally made his entrance into the series with the second installment on the Nintendo 64 and has been a regular character since then.

In the Mario Kart series, Donkey Kong’s appearance has remained largely consistent while adapting to new hardware, but maintaining the look introduced in Donkey Kong Country. The unveiling of the Nintendo Switch 2 on January 16 offers a sneak peek at what appears to be Mario Kart 9. The trailer for the new console primarily highlights its hardware features, and only Mario Kart is shown during the approximately two-minute video. However, observant viewers noticed Donkey Kong in the backdrop, sporting a darker, chocolate brown fur instead of his previous reddish hues, with a rounder brow and a larger build as he leans over the steering wheel, seeming rather squeezed into his kart.

Switch 2 Reveal Shows New Look for Donkey Kong

In the latest game, the character model for Donkey Kong resembles the one voiced by Seth Rogen in the 2023’s Super Mario Bros. Movie more closely than the one seen in Mario Kart 8. The similarities include larger, less defined muscles on his arms and eyes set closer together, although they seem to always appear wide-eyed in the trailer. From behind, he still wears his iconic tie, but it’s difficult to see in a frontal view because of Donkey Kong’s hunched-over stance while driving.

Fans might find it surprising to see that the latest Donkey Kong game, “Donkey Kong Country Returns HD,” features a more traditional look for the character. This game, which was released on January 16 alongside the Switch 2 trailer, is actually an updated version of the 2010 Wii game. However, the improvements to its graphics have preserved the classic design of Donkey Kong that players have been familiar with since 1994.

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2025-01-16 19:53