The latest Nintendo Direct has made a very convincing pitch for Switch 2 game Donkey Kong Bananza, with a host of unexpected and previously unmentioned features.
We were perfectly excited about Switch almost-launch title Donkey Kong Bananza when it was first announced and, while it was clearly an unfinished version, we enjoyed what we played of it at Nintendo’s preview event in April.
However, it’s only with Wednesday’s dedicated Nintendo Direct that it’s become one of our most anticipated games of the year.
The 15 minute Direct was filled with new information, that made the game look highly impressive on both a technical and design level. Although the first revelation was that the Odd Rock character DK is carrying around on his back is actually Pauline as a child.
Despite what you might assume, Princess Peach is not the damsel in distress from the original Donkey Kong arcade game (Peach debuted in Super Mario Bros.) but a character named Pauline that was seemingly retired from canon until she turned up in Mario Vs. Donkey Kong 2 in 2006 and got a major role in 2017’s Super Mario Odyssey.
In Odyssey she was portrayed as the mayor of New Donk City and part-time lounge singer, which is the inspiration for young Pauline’s singing abilities in this new game. A talent which can be weaponised in co-op, by another player firing projectiles at enemies.
We strongly advise watching the Direct as it’s only 15 minutes long, but it shows all of DK’s main moves in action, including the previously un-hinted at ability to transform into a giant gorilla, zebra, and ostrich – with the latter able to fly and drop egg bombs.
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The main gimmick of the game is that DK can smash and punch his way through the scenery, levelling it if he so chooses and digging into the earth for treasure.
There also seems to be an emphasis on creatively redesigning levels, sticking some materials together to make new landmarks and, in one sequence, using a rainbow-coloured substance to create a ramp, which DK runs up in zebra form before jumping off to turn into an ostrich and fly off.
It looks great and a very welcome change in direction from the overly difficult 2D platformers of recent years. There are still lots of nods to the Rare era though, including the presence of Cranky Kong and Rambi, and many classic tunes.
There’s also some new 2D courses to play through as separate challenges, but not apparently as part of the main story.
Other unexpected features include a skill tree with new unlockable moves, the fact that the game can use the Switch 1 for GameShare co-op (no explanation was given for this, so we’re not sure what’s going on there) and a 3D paint package called DK Artist.
There also seems to be some 3D racing going on, in the last few gameplay shots of the trailer, so the only disappointment of the Direct is that we still don’t know who’s making the game. Presumably it’s one of Nintendo’s internal studios but their recent habit of refusing to name developers, and in some cases not crediting them properly, continues to be very disrespectful.
Apart from that though we don’t have a bad word to say about Donkey Kong Bananza and very much look forward to its release in September 17.
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