Finally, the big ape makes his grand return! After years spent in the shadow of his cheerful counterpart Mario, Donkey Kong is ready to reclaim his spotlight. With the recent expansion of Donkey Kong Country at Super Nintendo World and rumors swirling about a dedicated movie from Illumination, it’s safe to say that Nintendo is fully invested in this beloved character's resurgence as the Switch 2 generation ramps up. Now, we have the arrival of Donkey Kong Bananza, the king's first new 3D escapade since the iconic Donkey Kong 64 over two decades ago. Created by the brilliant minds who brought us Super Mario Odyssey, this installment is set to deliver an enjoyable experience that aligns perfectly with its anticipated fun-filled reputation.
In the depths of Ingot Isle’s mining tunnels, Donkey Kong stumbles upon extraordinary golden bananas known as “Banandium Gems.” True to form, he seeks to collect as many as he can. However, his plans quickly unravel when the newcomer antagonists from Void Company, featuring characters like Grumpy Kong, Poppy Kong, and Void Kong, push Ingot Isle deep underground, consequently hijacking the cave’s entire banana stash. Amid this chaos, DK encounters a curious talking rock, soon revealed to be a young Pauline, cursed by VoidCo. Together, they form an unexpected alliance and embark on a journey towards the Planet Core—a mythical place rumored to grant wishes, which is ironically the only way to return to the surface.
The storyline may appear straightforward, yet it delivers an emotional impact as Pauline grapples with her stage fright while discovering her powerful singing abilities. The dynamic between Donkey Kong and Pauline is both humorous and heartwarming, with the charming animation quality enriching their lively interactions, especially thanks to DK’s modern makeover. While the other characters speak in a familiar playful gibberish, Pauline’s dialogue is fully voice-acted throughout the adventure—adding layers to the storytelling.
Pauline’s more than just a supporting character; her singing becomes a core gameplay element. Players will encounter Elders of the Underground World, who teach the ancient art of “Bananza” transformations activated by her melodies. These transformations temporarily morph Donkey Kong into different animals. For instance, activating the Kong Bananza grants him increased strength, while the Zebra Bananza enhances his speed. Each learned transformation can be seamlessly swapped, provided enough Bananergy is available. This unique mechanic allows players to experience intriguing and challenging puzzles while reveling in Pauline’s catchy tunes—though, after countless hours, I found myself resorting to the option to mute for sanity's sake.
Donkey Kong boasts an impressive arsenal of abilities, providing players with exciting control over his movements. He can jump, roll, climb, and even pick up pieces of terrain to throw or surf on. His hand slap technique lets him activate sonar for hidden items, and he can whistle alongside Pauline to reveal points of interest. Players can earn Skill Points to upgrade abilities through the collection of Banandium Gems, akin to Power Moons from Super Mario Odyssey. These gems are abundant and scattered throughout challenges that vary remarkably—from traditional platforming levels inspired by 2D segments reminiscent of Donkey Kong Country, to timed enemy face-offs—but I won't spoil the riveting boss battles for you, as they’re truly a joy to navigate.
Whether exploring whimsically styled lagoons, canyons, or forests, each layer of the world is teeming with collectibles that will engage even the most devoted completionists. From Banandium Gems and music discs to fossils for stylish customizations, every area invites players to search for treasure. There’s also plenty of gold scattered throughout, which aids in energizing Bananergy and purchasing necessary supplies at the Stuff Shop—including health-restoring Apple Juice and Red Balloons that prevent damage from falls.
If hoarding gold isn't your style, the destructible terrain, a major highlight of Donkey Kong Bananza, houses hidden chests filled with various items found in the Stuff Shop. Demolishing everything in sight proves to be immensely satisfying, and while the camera angles might present occasional awkwardness, it never detracts from the fun. Checkpoints throughout the sprawling layers enable swift travel across the map, and players can reset the destructed terrain as desired.
Taking full advantage of Switch 2's hardware, Donkey Kong Bananza shines as a visual masterpiece, showcasing stunning particle effects from its voxel-based destructible terrain. However, it occasionally encounters pop-in issues and frame drops in some regions. While it generally runs at a solid 60fps, these sporadic drops can be noticeable for sensitive players. Nevertheless, the breathtaking artistry is undeniable, making the use of Photo Mode an absolute pleasure.
Before wrapping up, let’s not forget the additional modes available. Co-op mode allows a friend to join as Pauline, enhancing the adventure with dual gameplay possibilities locally or online via GameShare. In addition, a creative single-player mode called DK Artist encourages players to unleash their imaginations by sculpting and painting 3D models of rocks, starting with simple templates like Donkey Kong's head. Even for less artistically inclined individuals, this mode offers the tools for creating stunning pieces.
In summary, Donkey Kong Bananza is a true delight for fans of 3D platforming collectathons. While the ambitious visuals may bring about occasional frame-rate hiccups, the exhilarating exploration and destruction mechanics provide ample satisfaction. With a host of engaging characters, a heartwarming narrative, rich worldbuilding, and expansive areas overflowing with creativity and bananas, anyone who relished Super Mario Odyssey will certainly find joy singing their praises for Donkey Kong Bananza!
9/10
A copy of Donkey Kong Bananza for review purposes was provided by Nintendo.