Can you believe Donkey Kong Banaza is the first 3D Donkey Kong game in 25 years since Donkey Kong 64, and the first 3D Donkey Kong game? You’ll sink it, but it’s worth taking the time to think about how such a sequel or follow-up even brings it to the first place.
That being said, Donkey Kong Bananza is finally here. I’m very confused as to how this wasn’t the title for Nintendo’s Switch 2 release date, but I think I’m not only getting one of the best games available on new hardware, but I also get one of the best 3D platformers of the present, but I think it’s never going to be late than being slower.
Many would have been expecting a sequel to Super Mario Odyssey, but Nintendo brings together their strengths and skills to create a spiritual successor who plays like a dream, runs like a charm, and ultimately feels like a winner.
Up and down
Donkey Kong Bananza is known as the banandium gem, where our main gorillas work in the mines and delve into the gold bananas known in this game. DK soon discovers the strange rock of mystical songs. It is revealed that he is Pauline. Pauline is a young girl lured by Boydko who simply wants to go back to the surface. DK agrees to support while trying to collect as many Banandium gems as possible.
This is a relatively light story that will help to help with the background as we dig deeper into the core of the planet, and is described as the journey necessary to get back to the top of the player. But at the same time, on the way to chat with the various NPCs in each sub-tier, it requires that all experiences earn points to explain the lore and the necessary story beats.
Credit: Nintendo
Pauline is attractive enough, and DK drops funny expressions from time to time along with some slapstick comedies. I loved how Pauline was portrayed as a talented singer. The talented singer suffers from stage horror, learning to face her fears through the story.
The only caveat to such minimal stories is that Donkey Kong Bananza takes pride in its instant gameplay rather than a deep, engaging story, as there are so many others. There is no real emotional depth or development of important characters. Generally, we expect to nod and agree as the story unfolds. There’s a lot to do here, but not in the story.
I’ll dig deep
As far as general gameplay goes, Donkey Kong Bananza is an absolute explosion. True to the character, most of the time is spent destroying layers of terrain. Most controls are in the center around you and punch up, up, or forward. It can also swing as a weapon or tear the terrain to throw enemies. DK can also do what is called grass surfing. There you can use the terrain to surf the environment. This will make traversal a little faster.
Like Super Mario Odyssey, DK punches, jumps and climbs from Point A to Point B for most of the time. Usually he and Pauline jump into the tunnel that leads Pauline towards the Earth’s core. DKs usually come across a chunk of gold. There you can press the R button to slap the ground and collect everything instantly.
But even more importantly, there is a banandium gem, which behaves like the moon in Super Mario Odyssey. However, unlike Super Mario Odyssey, players do not need to collect a certain amount of gems to continue, and instead complete a list of specific goals supplied by the NPCS in that field. For each of the five gems collected, the DK grants skill points to unlock various abilities. I’ll touch on this a little later in this review.
I like this change because the pursuit of gems encourages the level of research that Donkey Kong Bananza is trying to ride on every turn. There are boundaries and limitations, but in any environment, DKs can punch terrain, dig downwards through hidden areas, passing through walls, and returning towards the surface. The stages that follow bring about harsher terrain, but they are consistently rewarding and you can find many hidden corners and collectibles.
Jewels are usually a target, but you can also dig into hidden breasts. This can contain a large amount of gold and can also dig fossils.
The only complaint I generally came out of the gate with punches and bargains was the camera when digging the terrain. Although certain areas allow DK to dig very deep into the ground, I have always found it a bit difficult to get my bearings. Dig directly down and create a tunnel, and players will be able to see the DK within that layer, but it is difficult to see where you are in your actual environment if you want to climb again or in another direction.
DKs can also climb to certain surfaces. This helps with the move, but not everything is easy. For example, certain surfaces and purposes are often covered with a purple metal. This is a substance that cannot be destroyed by either the movement or abilities of the DK. Instead, DK needs to find a nearby core by blowing the L button with a mouth whi. This helps to objectively guide DK. Pauline can sing with the same L button and crush the bond around the core into a case. When this core is destroyed by the DK, all the purple metals around it will disappear and move forward.
Combats are equally attractive, and usually involve some kind of approach before installing the approach before taking them out. Certain enemies can be defeated with regular punches, but some enemies will need to hit the projectile first to break the armor. In contrast, some enemies must be defeated in one of the DK conversions.
As far as nostalgia travel is concerned, there are even some cool extra 2D levels that prove to be extremely effective.
In any case, through various mechanisms and unique approaches, the level of diversity in Donkey Kong Bananza is an interesting romp that is easy to learn through its simple controls and mechanisms, but is involved in understanding and exploring things in and around each unique environment.
Respect your elders
Along the way, DK meets several giant elders throughout the story, giving five unique Bananza transformations. For example, Kong Bananza allows DK to grind harder surfaces, while Zebra Bananza allows DK to run at much faster speeds, allowing DK to fly around the larger gaps and chum. Most of these transformations are tied to the surrounding environment and levels, but they can all be used in combination with each other to help you through the levels.
Once the DK is unlocked via the directional button, you can cycle through any of these and activate them when the associated meter is full. This is usually done by collecting gold. When active, the small bar next to DK will be exhausted until it is empty, causing DK to return to its original form. These conversions are fun, but take away from the difficulty the game throws at you. The challenge is to keep these transformations accessible, but gold rarely falls short. You can use it anytime whenever you want.
The battles and enemies of certain bosses generally support one or more of these transformations, but at normal levels it may not necessarily be necessary to get the job done.
However, when you’re not transformed, there are many ways to upgrade your DK like him. Each of the 5 Vanandium gems collected will receive skill points to spend on upgrades of various abilities. For example, you can upgrade your overall amount of DK, but you can upgrade his slap ability to grab chunks of gold and various items far away, or upgrade any of the DK’s Bananza conversions to keep those abilities going for longer. It’s rare to redefine gameplay, but it helps to feel much easier and more convenient as you progress. However, in the speed at which you find the banandium gem, there is always a few points at the end of each level.
Please look at the parts
It’s definitely early on, but Donkey Kong Bananza is the best looking game on the Nintendo Switch 2.
It runs at a stable 60 fps in both handheld and docked modes, rarely dropping when you’re breaking busy levels or environments. However, it appears to run anywhere between 1200p and 1080p.
However, it’s difficult to complain because there are a variety of unique environments. It looks as good as was sought out with rocky terrain, snow, jungle, or anywhere in between, with new hardware shorter to 4K or 1440p resolution when docked.
Final Thoughts
With everything it’s worth it, most of the flaws in Donkey Kong Bananza can’t hold it down from some of the most enjoyable things on the Switch in quite a while.
I’m still searching for Banandium gems ever since the credits were rolled, so I’m very pleased to crush and explore as a DK in this world.
We’re still in the early days of the Nintendo Switch 2, but Donkey Kong Bananza already feels like an essential addition to the collection.
4 and a half stars (out of 5)
Highlight: The appeal of gameplay. Solid visuals and performance. Many mechanisms to ruin the surroundings
Low light: The story feels a little thin. Camera controls can be a bit confusing when digging
Developer: Nintendo EPD Tokyo, 1-Up Studio, Tri-Crescendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Nintendo Switch 2
Available: Now
Reviews conducted on Nintendo Switch 2 using pre-release code provided by publishers.
High-profile header images provided by Nintendo.
