Donkey Kong Bananzais the titular ape’s first 3D outing sinceDonkey Kong 64, and while the game does take inspiration from the series’ past, it offers a fresh take on the franchise by reinventing itself.Donkey Kong Bananzatakes theDonkey Kongformula in a completely different direction, with innovative gameplay that is only made possible by the power of the Nintendo Switch 2.
From Donkey Kong’s new look to his canon-twistingpartnership with Pauline,Donkey Kong Bananzaserves as a soft reboot for the franchise, giving the character a fresh start while still honoring the series’ roots. This game could set theDonkey Konggames on a new path moving forward, but could also be the catalyst for another series reboot.
Yoshi Deserves the Donkey Kong Bananza Treatment
There Still Isn’t a True 3D Yoshi Game
While Yoshi has appeared in some 3D titles, the character has yet to have an adventure of his own in the third dimension. A 3D reboot of theYoshigameswouldn’t be the first time the character is playable in 3D, but it would be the first with him at the center. InSuper Mario 64 DS, he was upgraded from a cameo in the Nintendo 64 original to a fully playable character, retaining his unique moves that he is known for. This was also the case withSuper Mario Odyssey, having players capture Yoshi with Cappy to access his abilities. Though these gave players a taste of what a 3D playable Yoshi could be like, the games themselves were still centered around Mario, not giving Yoshi much time to shine.
Super Mario Sunshineand theSuper Mario Galaxygamesare more examples of a 3D Yoshi, but once again, the stories are still Mario’s. Yoshi’s role in these games is much more similar to his appearance inSuper Mario World, being a tool to assist Mario rather than a fully-fledged character. Players can use Yoshi’s abilities inMario-style levels, still not feeling like a true 3D Yoshi experience. A reboot could solve this problem, giving players a world to explore built specifically for Yoshi’s unique moveset.
A Reboot Could Hone In on Yoshi’s Core Elements
It’s always special when Nintendo refreshes one of its existing properties. The aspects of the games that are key to the experience remain intact, but everything else beyond that is primed for experimentation, often with fantastic results.Donkey Kong Bananzais the latest of these, but games likeThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildandTears of the Kingdomchanged theZeldaformulaon a fundamental level without losing the series’ distinct charm. IfYoshiis next in line for its own 3D reboot, players should expect a similar level of care and attention to detail as Nintendo’s other titles.
Donkey Kong Bananzaincludes plenty of bananas to collect, as many players would expect, but other fruits also appear. Apples are the player’s primary way to regain health, and the Resort Layer is brimming with strawberries and melons to smash through. Eating fruit is core to Yoshi’s character, resulting in some potential crossover. It’s possible that the Resort Layer could bridge the gap between the titles, featuring in bothDonkey Kong Bananzaand a potentialYoshigame.
What a Yoshi Reboot Could Look Like
Though Yoshi first appeared inSuper Mario World, the character evolved into something greater in the game’s prequel,Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island. HisYoshi’s Islandincarnation remains one of the character’s best iterations, and is foundational to what makes aYoshigame work. The duo of Donkey Kong and Pauline inDonkey Kong Bananzaworks well, andYoshialready has its own answer to this with Baby Mario. The two have paired up in each of theYoshi’s Islandgames andYoshi Touch & Go, so it would not be out of the question for the two to travel together again. UsingDonkey Kong Bananzamultiplayer functionality as a base, Baby Mario could also be playable much like Pauline, giving a second player some agency in the world around them as Yoshi takes the lead.
Though he doesn’t have a prominent role in the game,Yoshi’s moveset inSuper Mario Odysseywas adapted slightly. His tongue can still be used to collect out-of-reach items, but it is also used to give players a little extra mobility.Donkey Kong BananzaandSuper Mario Odysseyboth give players more platforming tools, allowing players to more creatively navigate around the open levels. A Yoshi reboot would likely expand on this further, letting players cling onto the environment and propel themselves higher and further than before.
TheYoshi games have toyed with different aesthetics, each providing a fresh look for the character and world, but they all share one core element: they all feel handcrafted. The pencil and crayon-like drawings of theYoshi’s Islandseries gave the games a distinct flair, and the laterYoshi’s Woolly WorldandYoshi’s Crafted Worldgave the 2.5D style more depth with their craft themes. The nextYoshigame is likely to stay true to this, making use of a different visual medium to start a new era ofYoshigames without leaving its foundational aspects behind.
Donkey Kong Bananzashowed that theDonkey Kongfranchise can go beyond what the series was capable of before. Itreinvented Donkey Kong and his movesetwithout losing the unique spark of what makes a game feel likeDonkey Kong. Since Yoshi has yet to receive a 3D game of his own, the success ofDonkey Kong Bananzapresents a prime opportunity for the beloved dinosaur to be rebooted for the next generation. Yoshi is overdue a new game as there hasn’t been a new installment in the series for over six years, so a reboot with the same quality and love asDonkey Kong Bananzacould be the perfect reward for patient fans.
