When Nintendo releases a new console, they tend to launch a game alongside it that helps define that generation. The original Nintendo Entertainment System shocked the world with Super Mario Bros., the Super Nintendo elevated the experience with the outstanding Super Mario World, and Super Mario 64 propelled the world of gaming into a true 3D space unlike anything seen before. These are all games that made history, and those who were there to experience them firsthand never forgot them.
With the Nintendo Switch 2, we started things off with a new take on Mario Kart, but this game isn't quite the revolutionary title fans will remember for generations to come. That honor belongs to the game that would come out roughly a month later: Donkey Kong Bananza.
As strange as this might sound, Donkey Kong Bananza is Nintendo's first full 3D platformer set within the world of Donkey Kong. The first 3D entry, Donkey Kong 64, was released over 25 years ago and was developed by Rare, the studio behind the original Donkey Kong Country games. That title continued using Rare's very own vision for the character, and it's something Nintendo has continued to honor with each of DK's follow-up appearances. The characters, the art style, the story, etc.—all of it has become an official part of what makes Donkey Kong, well, Donkey Kong. With Bananza, however, Nintendo has taken the chance to reinvent the character and put him more in line with Shigeru Miyamoto's original vision.
That being said, despite the changes to design and gameplay, Bananza is still a full homage to the overall series, with constant callbacks not only to the arcade games and Donkey Kong Country, but even to lesser-known titles like Donkey Kong Jungle Beat and other pieces of media he has appeared in. All of these references have been mixed with a completely new playstyle that gives Bananza its own unique identity and keeps with Nintendo's tradition of doing something new with every release.
Donkey Kong Bananza really is a defining moment for the Nintendo Switch 2, and there are a lot of moving pieces that come together to make it so.
The Story:
The story in Donkey Kong Bananza begins as a simple one. Off the shores of Donkey Kong Island is a location known as Ingot Isle. Here, monkeys are hard at work mining for bananas, and upon hearing the news, our beloved hero DK is, of course, attracted to the site as well. This simple premise leads him to start digging deeper and deeper into the mines himself, collecting a handful of bananas along the way. However, after an accident occurs, the entire city is sent plummeting deeper underground, and DK finds himself in for more than he could have ever imagined.
Following the other monkeys' lead, DK makes his way through the newly opened underground and eventually discovers a strange creature known as Odd Rock. Initially, Odd Rock is terrified of DK, but after DK sings to it, Odd Rock calms down, and the two come to a mutual understanding. With DK's strength and Odd Rock's power of song, the two can work together to escape the cave and return to the surface. DK can punch his way through strong materials, while Odd Rock's singing can dissolve the strange substance that originally blocked DK's path. This partnership is formed out of necessity, but it becomes clear early on that it will develop into something much more meaningful.
Continuing from their initial meeting, the two eventually make their way to the next underground layer and encounter the ruler of this newfound land: Elder Kong. Elder Kong offers the two Bananza power, but only if they can bring him back his ancient record and sing to him. So the two set out once again on a short journey to obtain the treasure, and upon their return, things take a (not so) surprising turn. Donkey Kong begins hitting his chest to "play the drums" for Odd Rock to sing, and this is what reveals the transformation. DK's beat actually frees Odd Rock from their current form, revealing Odd Rock is, in reality, a young 13-year-old girl named Pauline.
Pauline is a shy girl who has also come from the surface and dreams of one day becoming a singer. She struggles to sing for Elder Kong, but after being encouraged by DK (who once again plays the drums), she eventually manages to do just that: sing.
After discovering Pauline's song can transform DK into his first Bananza form, the Elder tells the two about the legend of what awaits them at the planet's core. Apparently, those who reach it will be granted a single wish, and that alone is enough for both DK and Pauline to want to reach it. Of course, they aren't alone in this journey to the core, as they soon discover the mining company VoidCo is also racing to the core, but our dynamic duo refuse to let them get in the way. They are the ones responsible for Pauline's initial capture, and DK isn't going to let it happen again.
Moving on from there, the game's story follows DK and Pauline's journey to the planet's core, while also facing off with VoidCo along the way. The story is told through short cutscenes and commentary from Pauline herself, but talking to characters provides extra context as well. There are also hideouts where DK and Pauline can catch some Zs to heal up, which will also initiate quick little chats about the current situation, Pauline and sometimes her past. While nothing here is Earth-shattering, it shows a human side to Pauline and helps develop the two character's relationship even further. It is a really nice touch, and worth resting at every spot just to see what will be said.
The Gameplay (Destroy Everything!):
Donkey Kong Bananza is a 3D action platformer developed by the same team as Super Mario Odyssey. Those familiar with Odyssey's style will already have a basic idea of what they're getting into, but at the same time, Donkey Kong Bananza manages to do something new and retain its own identity. While in many ways this is a follow-up to Odyssey, it is still a Donkey Kong game first and foremost, and it has plenty of callbacks for longtime fans to dive into. There's also a lot more to the gameplay than initially meets the eye, with plenty of surprises hidden across the entire adventure.
That being said, to avoid spoilers, for this review I'll only be discussing early game content in detail, which, believe it or not, still covers roughly the first 20 or so hours of the adventure. Donkey Kong Bananza is not small by any means, and playing it to completion can easily take over 100 hours.
Exploring the Layers and Basic Gameplay -
When you first begin Bananza, the game starts out slow and and introduces you to the basic controls and core mechanics.
Besides your standard walking and jumping abilities, Donkey Kong can pound the ground, punch in front of him, and hit above him. All of these attacks can break objects around him, with most materials being fully destructible. Chunks of the environment can also be picked up by DK, which can then either be used to smash other objects (or enemies), thrown across the area, or even used as a surfboard to quickly traverse the area. DK also has a roll ability from the get-go, which can be used for additional speed and combined with jumps to gain a little extra distance. Picked-up objects can be jumped off of as well, and while in the air, DK can do a ground pound for extra destruction. All of these abilities make up his standard moveset and are more than enough to navigate most of the game. Additionally, DK can climb on almost any surface, allowing for both horizontal and vertical navigation.
As for the destruction mechanic, it basically allows DK to carve his own path in the world (literally) and access countless hidden areas. Each section of the game is made up of multiple layers, and nearly every hill, mountain, or piece of rock has something more to it than meets the eye. Simply hitting the ground below you can cause DK to fall into an extensive cave, which is essentially a level on its own. Meanwhile, discolored sections of walls hint at what could be on the other side, and strategically placed pieces of gold often lead you to new discoveries. So, although you can destroy nearly everything, you don't have to go about it blindly, as the level design itself directs you where to go. Of course, there are some surfaces that cannot be destroyed, but these are typically only used to prevent you from skipping puzzles or falling out of the game world; although there are some places where both are possible.
When digging underground, the game smartly hides the world around you, letting you see into the tunnel you are currently smashing your way through, and then brings key parts of the world into view. For example, you can see the non-breakable objects below and around you as you smash your way toward them, but you cannot clearly see when you are getting close to the other side of the mountain. It gives you an idea of where you can or cannot go, but doesn't show your current precise location. This means you can keep smashing away blindly as you explore your own tunnels, but it at least directs you away from walls that cannot be broken. You can also see your other cut tunnels floating in space as you go about, so it becomes obvious where you've been already, and it helps keep you from getting lost.
Another great aspect of how destruction is handled in the game is that the world can be freely reset. While most of the game is cleverly designed with alternative paths, it is possible, though extremely rare, to accidentally block your own progress. The one and only time I personally encountered this was when playing co-op; we inadvertently destroyed a platform we needed in the intro. Maybe there was another way around, but the easiest thing to do was open the map and hit reset—problem solved.
The levels themselves are massive, with each overall layer being its own unique biome. We initially start things off with a lagoon area that has floating islands and an underground section, which then leads to a grassy, open-field-like location. Of course, we also have ice areas, lava areas, and the good old classic Donkey Kong jungle, but this is only the beginning. There are so many unique locations across the entire game, with each one offering numerous surprises. When you initially enter an area, you might expect things to play out one way, but Bananza is smart with its level design and often does something you wouldn't expect. This includes introducing new gameplay mechanics in each area, as well as new types of puzzles and challenges to overcome. The game is always evolving from start to finish, which helps keep it from ever getting stale. As soon as you start to feel any type of burnout at all, that's when a curveball is thrown at you, and the game pulls you back in—or rather, it keeps you from ever wanting to leave!
Initially, the levels are pretty "basic," though I don't mean that in a bad way. The beginning is much more relaxed and focuses more on the massive open maps, unique discoveries, and the destructible environment. It's similar to how even Mario 64 began with a variety of open levels that acted as a playground for players to mess around in and get used to the game. It lets you practice the mechanics, explore at your own pace, and simply have fun with the world! As things progress, however, this greatly changes as more mechanics are introduced, and level structures shift more towards feeling like "standard levels." They are still open, sure, but they also have clear goals, and completing them isn't a walk in the park.
One early example of this is when lava is introduced, and progression becomes a puzzle on its own. It involves carving paths for ice to slide and cool down the ground, while also picking up and smashing objects to access specific areas, and making your way across some challenging platforms where you also need to use bombs to help create additional paths. It feels like working through a classic Donkey Kong Country stage, except in 3D. Going back and exploring these types of areas is also a different experience, as one cannot simply look at the map and walk where they want to go. And just because these stages are structured this way, it doesn't mean they lack things to discover; if anything, they have more to find than the more open-ended areas, and the required platforming and puzzle-solving makes it even more difficult.
In the end, the layers offered in Bananza are a great mix, and together they have something to offer every type of gamer. But even then, they are just one part of this overall package!
Bananas, Collectibles, and Challenges -
So now that we understand how the game is played, what exactly is the goal? Well, as the story suggests, we're aiming for the planet's core, while also getting as many Banandium Gems (bananas) as possible!
Donkey Kong Bananza has 777 bananas hidden across the entire game, and roughly 700 more "fossils" to collect along the way. There are also music records to pick up and play, but the main focus is on the bananas themselves.
Similar to Super Mario Odyssey, bananas can be found hidden in stages, unlocked for completing specific goals, awarded for beating bosses, and found across the many, MANY challenge stages in the game. Finding them all is extremely time-consuming, but thankfully DK has a slap ability that helps reveal nearby hidden items, and maps can be found or purchased to help direct you to ones you are missing. Thankfully, you don't need to get every banana to complete the game, but with how addicting it is, most players will find themselves wanting to do just that. Besides, there's a practical reason for getting them all as well, which we'll cover more below.
As for the challenge stages themselves, they are all very diverse. Some are simple arena fights where you need to take out enemies within a time limit, but others are side-scrolling stages that call back to none other than Donkey Kong Country. You also have 3D platforming sections to work through, and many of them are based around using specific mechanics. One of the earlier ones asks players to direct spiky balls away to protect DK, and doing so requires digging holes and even throwing chunks of the ground to create a shield. Of course, this isn't the only solution to solving this problem, but it is how I personally progressed, with me then launching myself over the final set of enemies. Was it the best way to do things? Probably not. But did I still have fun doing it my own way? I did! And that is what truly matters here. Of course, other challenges do only have one real solution, so it's not like every challenge is a free-for-all.
Pauline and Transformations -
Pauline is more than just a plot device in Donkey Kong Bananza, as she also directly impacts the gameplay (even more so when playing co-op).
With her power of song, Pauline can sing to both help point you in the direction of your next main objective, and she can clear out the void substance that DK cannot usually break. Both of these uses are very situational and will not be used too often, but her third singing ability is truly a game-changer.
Throughout the game, DK will unlock Bananza Power, which allows him to transform into different animal forms. The game's skill menu shows that there are five transformations for DK to obtain, but for the sake of this review, we will only be discussing the first three.
The first transformation is none other than the Kong Bananza, which turns DK into an even bigger and more powerful monkey. This form lets him quickly smash through tougher materials that would usually need to be blown up, and a charge punch lets him blast his way through multiple objects at once. It is extremely useful throughout the entire game, and one that can make some of the harder challenge stages a lot easier. Of course, transformations have a time limit, and the energy bar used to transform must be refilled after each use. This is done by picking up specific items, which are honestly pretty much everywhere you look in the game.
Zebra Bananza is the second I personally obtained in the game, but it is gained during a path split. Going left is Zebra, and going right is Ostrich. I personally recommend going right first, but I didn't know that at the time. That being said, the Zebra transformation is all about speed and crashing through things! There are platforms in the game that fall apart the moment you step on them, and that's where the Zebra's speed comes into play. It might not be as strong as Kong Bananza, but it is still useful in its own right.
Ostrich Bananza is the third transformation in the game, and also one of the most useful when it comes to navigation. The Ostrich allows DK to glide through the air and gain altitude by flying over gusts of wind, which lets him access areas that are normally out of reach. This transformation can be used in combination with other abilities in the game for extra height, but I'll leave it at that. Again, there are many surprises in this one, and I really do not want to ruin them.
These transformations, along with the final two, add quite a bit to the overall gameplay, and it is up to each player to decide how to use them. Despite being limited, the game offers plenty of opportunities to keep transforming, so these forms do get a lot more use than what it initially leads you to believe.
Skills and Upgrades -
As previously mentioned, bananas are for more than just collecting—they offer you skill and stat upgrades as well!
For every five Banandium Gems gained, DK receives a single skill point to use on new abilities and skills. These range from increased health to upgrading the strength of your standard punches, and there's even an ability that enhances your sonar to better find collectibles. Some of DK's other abilities, such as the ability to surf on water, can only be unlocked by spending skill points, but for the most part, these upgrades enhance what DK currently has. The same goes for his Bananza powers, as each one has multiple upgrades that can be unlocked.
Of course, skills aren't required to advance through the game, but they do give you an incentive to find as many bananas as possible, and they certainly make your life easier. I personally ignored the health upgrades until later, as there are some other useful perks that help out in that area.
Items, Clothing, and Hideouts -
When playing through Bananza, DK will be collecting items and gold non-stop. Gold is everywhere, and the fossils DK picks up also act as a form of currency.
Gold itself is used to purchase helpful items, such as balloons to catch you if you fall and extra health drinks. It's also used for reviving if you die and for purchasing hideouts across the map. Fossils, on the other hand, are used to unlock customization options for both Pauline and DK, with each piece of clothing offering a different bonus perk. While it's possible to beat the game with their standard outfits, each layer does offer clothing that would help in that particular area, so it's always something you should at least consider before continuing on.
As for the hideouts, they offer a place for DK to sleep to heal, change his clothes, and listen to the music tracks he's unlocked. This is also where Pauline shares her stories, so they're always worth stopping by, even if you don't need anything. Additionally, the more hideouts you unlock in an area, the more extra hearts are added to your overall health count. This comes in handy when facing more difficult areas or bosses, and, in my case, more than makes up for not upgrading health sooner.
And More -
These are just some of the main aspects of Donkey Kong Bananza which will carry on throughout the entire game. Beyond that, however, there are so many other features and secrets to discover, and I simply cannot ruin them here in this review. A big part of Bananza is that feeling you get from finding something new, and that is not something I want to take away from anyone.
Co-Op
The final thing I wanted to mention is the game's co-op mode. Similar to Super Mario Odyssey and even games like Mario Galaxy, Player Two gets to provide a support role to help DK along his way. This support character is, of course, Pauline, and it allows the second player to use her voice as they see fit.
Yes, they can sing to help point DK where to go or remove the void material, but Pauline's real power comes from her shouts—they destroy everything! Just like DK's punches, they shatter anything they touch and can even break through materials DK himself cannot without upgrades. This is done by pointing a cursor and hitting the "shoot" button, which then sends words flying across the world. These very same words can be used to take down enemies, bosses, etc., and in some ways, this does make the game a lot easier.
Additionally, Pauline can "copy" terrain types to shoot words of other elements, which can support DK in many other ways when used creatively. For example, she can copy and shoot ice to freeze lava, or even drop down mud to create a walkway to cross gaps. This feature in particular allowed my wife and me to solve a puzzle in a roundabout way, but it was great to see that it worked! And, aside from the very intro of the game, the entire adventure can be played this way.
Thanks to co-op mode, families and friends can experience this game together, and you can always switch it up by trading off who plays as whom at any time. It isn't full multiplayer exploration, but it is heavily teamwork-based and a lot of fun.
Should you play it?
Donkey Kong Bananza is a very special game, and it unexpectedly took me right back to my childhood. That feeling I had the first time I picked up a Nintendo 64 controller to play Super Mario 64? Bananza brought it all back.
There is something magical about this world and the amount of freedom Donkey Kong now has to explore it. Destroying everything in sight, coming up with creative ways to solve puzzles, and boss fights that initially seem simple but eventually evolve into unforgettable encounters... The art design, the soundtrack, and Pauline in general—there is just so much to love here. All of these individual pieces come together to create something I never want to end.
I went into this game expecting at least to have a fun time, but what I never counted on was it becoming one of my new all-time favorites. If you have a Nintendo Switch 2, you owe it to yourself to play this game.
VERDICT: Essential
Reviewed on Nintendo Switch 2
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