Pauline returns inDonkey Kong Bananza, and Nintendo has officially confirmed how old this version of the classic character is this time around. Fans thought they saw a girl who looked like Pauline from the originalDonkey Kongarcade game andSuper Mario Odysseyin some leakedDonkey Kong Bananzapromotional art shortly after the game was revealed in April, and Nintendo eventually confirmed that she is in the game during this week’s designated Nintendo Direct stream.
Pauline initially appears to DK as a stone-like creature named Odd Rock inDonkey Kong Bananza, though she is soon revealed to be a young girl trapped in the mysterious underground world of Ingot Isle. To get back home, she enlists the help of DK to reach the planet’s core, where legend says a wish will be granted. Fans have noticed thatPauline is considerably youngerthan she was in her past appearances, and this has spawned theories thatDonkey Kong Bananzais a prequel toSuper Mario Odyssey.
While this remains a mystery, Nintendo has at least cleared up how old Pauline is inDonkey Kong Bananza. The officialJapanese Nintendo Storepage forDonkey Kong Bananza(viaNintendoLife) has added a character profile page, and Pauline’s bio describes her as a “13-year-old girl who loves to sing.” The text goes on to state that she used to live above ground, but she was brought to the underworld through unknown means and transformed into the Odd Rock creature that DK stumbles upon during his quest for themysterious Golden Bananas inDonkey Kong Bananza.
Pauline Is 13 In Donkey Kong Bananza
As mentioned before, Pauline agrees to accompany DK on a journey to the core to have her wish granted and return home, and she has a few special abilities of her own to help the great ape inDonkey Kong Bananza. Her Make Music skill can be used to guide DK to his next objective or remove mysterious seals blocking his progress, and her singing also triggers hisnewDonkey Kong Bananzatransformationsinto the Kong Bananza, Ostrich Bananza, and Zebra Bananza forms.
Pauline’s involvement inDonkey Kong Bananzais an interesting callback to DK’s arcade origins, where he initially served as an antagonist that Mario needed to rescue her from. Now the two are allies in DK’s latest game, and her younger appearance carries plenty of intriguing implications for the series’ continuity. The questions these implications raise might be answered onceDonkey Kong Bananzalaunches on the Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17.
