Summary
Finally, after what has felt like a lifetime of speculation and rumors, a brand new 3DDonkey Konggame is on its way.Donkey Kong Bananzais shaping up to be one of the Switch 2’s breakout titles, and whilethe reveal trailer already got people excited, it was Nintendo’s in-depth gameplay discussion that skyrocketed the hype to a whole new level.
There’s a staggering amount of fun and interesting mechanics and systems that have been incorporated into this action-adventure platformer, and while some might seem a little familiar to longtimeDonkey Kongfans, there are others that are completely unique to help keep things fresh. All of this is to say there are many reasons to get excited forDonkey Kong Bananza,with these confirmed features below being some of the biggest examples.
8The Getaway
Take Some Time Out From Smashing Walls And Take A Rest While Listening To Tunes
It’s been made pretty clear that the moment-to-moment gameplay ofDonkey Kong Bananzacanget pretty chaotic, especially considering that players are going to be destroying much of the environment as they progress through each area. Thankfully, the game features a very neat mechanic called The Getaway, which essentially act as pit stops where DK and Pauline can take a moment to catch their breath in between their epic journey.
That’s not all, though, as these Getaways also contain music players, which will play classic tunes from the series' past if players have managed to find the correct disk out in the world. These Getaways can be made by creating a makeshift hole inside a wall after speaking with one of the NPCs, which might just be the most creative method of making a save point in a game.
7Pauline’s Singing
A Second Player Can Jump In To Help Out As Pauline
Considering Pauline is always strapped to Donkey Kong’s back, it only makes sense thata second player would be able to jump into the actionand control her, but the way she plays is actually pretty unique. Player 2 will be able to use their joycon as a mouse in order to aim a crosshair on the screen. Rather than attacking physically, Pauline will begin singing to let out giant lyrics that can help destroy walls and take down enemies.
The mouse mechanic for the Switch 2 hasn’t been tested out on too many games so far, but one thing that has become clear is that it’s very responsive and a lot of fun to use. As a result,Donkey Kong Bananzacould serve as a great way to toy around with the new hardware while also allowing two players to enjoy the story as a duo.
6Challenge Courses
Quick And Short Minigames To Help Break Up The Gameplay
Scattered throughout each of the maps are small entry points called Ancient Ruins. When jumping onto these platforms, players will be able to take on a Challenge Course, all of which feature different objectives to keep them on their toes. For one challenge, players will need to demolish a skyscraper within the time limit in order to reach a high score, while for the next, they’ll be hurling debris at an enemy while racing on a minecart.
LongtimeDonkey Kongfans will be happy to know that many of these missions take on a 2D perspective, making them heartfelt homages to the history of the franchise. Not only do these Challenge Courses providetons of content for completionists, but they’ll also provide some respite in between the main story to keep things from ever feeling stale or predictable.
5Trade Fossils For Clothes
DK And Pauline Can Dress Up In Outfits That Change Their Stats
It can be easy to compareDonkey Kong BananzatoMario Odysseydue to the way both games look and play, but one other aspect that is shared between the two is the ability to change clothes. Just like how Mario was able to throw ona wide array of snazzy outfits, Donkey Kong and Pauline are able to do the same, so long as they have enough fossils to pay for their clothes, that is.
These aren’t just quirky cosmetics either, as the clothes inDonkey Kong Bananzaalso increase certain stats, adding some small but fun RPG elements to encourage players to constantly switch out their attire to suit their preferred playstyle. In classic Nintendo fashion, there’s no doubt these outfits are going to take on all kinds of weird and wacky forms, so it’s definitely worth keeping an eye out for fossils so players can grab the ones they like the look of the most.
4Camera Mode
Snap Away To Capture Stunning Photos Of DK On His Journey
Photo modes aren’t exactly anything newin the modern era of video games, but it’s definitely going to be nice to have one for a Switch 2 game, considering how gorgeousDonkey Kong Bananzais going to look on the latest hardware. What also makes this exciting to try out is Donkey Kong’s new design, as Nintendo have clearly put in a lot of effort to make Kong’s face as expressive as possible, which will no doubt result in some hilarious shots.
Additionally, there are also some pretty cool filters that can make even the most basic screenshots look pretty dazzling from a visual standpoint. Several gorgeous environments have also been shown off, each of which will serve as a beautiful backdrop to the occasional DK selfie.
3Skill Tree
Acquire New Moves And Abilities Throughout The Journey
It’s not often that Nintendo will include skill trees asa form of progressionin their first party titles, so it was a surprise to many when one showed up during the gameplay trailer forDonkey Kong Bananza. However, being able to unlock new abilities and moves as Donkey Kong will allow players to feel like they are right there along with him for the journey, getting stronger and more experienced as they go.
From what has been shown so far, some parts of the skill tree will be dedicated to upgrading Kong’s base stats, such as his strength and health, for example. That being said, though, there is also the option to unlock brand-new moves, such as the Surf Surf technique, where Donkey Kong can glide across the water with any debris that he happens to be carrying around.
2Animal Transformations
DK Can Turn Into A Zebra Or Ostrich To Navigate Tricky Platforming Sections
Donkey Kong may already be a super-powered gorilla, but inBananza,he also has the ability to turn into other animals who all come with unique abilities. For example, the zebra transformation allows DK to charge head first into his enemies without needing to worry about incoming damage, making it pretty useful for either facing off against bosses ormoving at a fast paceacross long platforms.
The Ostrich, on the other hand, is all about flying at high altitudes to get a clear view of the map while also traversing areas that Donkey Kong himself is unable to reach normally. It was one of the most shocking features to come out of the gameplay trailer, but the transformations are a very welcome addition that are no doubt going to add a ton of variety to the core gameplay loop.
1Destroy Everything
No Monster Or Mountain Can Stand In Donkey Kong’s Way
The main gimmick ofDonkey Kong Bananzathat Nintendo have been primarily focusing on isthe ability to destroy literally anythingin the game world, and there are many ways Donkey Kong can go about doing this. While it’s easy enough to just punch straight through a wall, DK is also able to dig underground, and he can even rip out slabs of the floor from underneath him, which he can then throw or even use as a weapon.
It’s honestly staggering just how destructible these environments truly are, with the trailers showing that DK can flatten an entire mountain if players feel like putting in the time to do so. This mechanic is also going to encourage players to get creative in terms of how they reach certain objectives and tackle tough enemies, in a similar vein toTears of the Kingdom, but in a slightly different way. While a classic 3DDonkey Konggame would have already been enough to get fans excited, the emphasis on environmental destruction really helps the game stand out from its predecessors.
