Given the company’s family-friendly focus, Nintendo has often been saddled with a reputation of having quite simplistic games. This commentary was particularly prevalent during the Wii era, but in the last decade or so, that reputation has shifted quite dramatically, with games likeSuper Mario Odyssey,Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and nowDonkey Kong Bananzaall delivering a bevy of intricate and engaging gameplay systems.
Though its story remains fairly straightforward throughout its runtime,Donkey Kong Bananza’s gameplay evolves gradually with each subsequent level, its systems growing deeper the closer DK and Pauline get to the planet’s core. With such depth in its gameplay, even seasoned Nintendo fans might want to take on board some of the unwritten rules surroundingDonkey Kong Bananza.
The Unwritten Rules of Playing Donkey Kong Bananza
Play At Your Own Pace
Arguably the most important thing to keep in mind whenplayingDonkey Kong Bananzais to play the game at your own pace. Each level ofDK Bananzadrops players into a sprawling open area that they have free rein to explore and pummel their way through. Though there’s always a clear objective up ahead, players are encouraged to scour the environment for fossils, Banandium Gems, and other collectibles hidden deep within the area’s terrain, along with secret gateways that lead to bonus stages.
It’s very easy for new players to become overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught of content at their disposal, but the key is to take everything one step at a time, and for players to follow their curiosity in a natural way. Rather than set out to collect everything in a level or destroy every inch of terrain in sight, players should simply venture where they’d like, complete what they want, and if they become tired of exploration, it’s more than okay to call it a day and head to the end of a level.
Donkey Kong Bananzaallows players to return to levels at any time, including after the credits roll, so there’s no need to collect everything the first go-round.
Don’t Worry About Wasting Bananza Transformations
One ofDonkey Kong Bananza’s most intriguing features is its titularBananza Transformations, which sees DK turn into one of five super-powered animals. These power-ups can be activated at any time as long as the player has obtained enough gold to charge them.
Given their special nature, some players might be tempted to hold off from using these Bananza powers until they’re completely necessary. But given how often players will be able to find the gold to recharge them, players should feel free to transform as often as they’d like. Doing so will makeDonkey Kong Bananza’s traversal and destruction mechanicsfeel even more satisfying, and it’ll keep the game’s momentum barreling forward.
Players can swap between the different Bananza animals during an active transformation.
Skill Points Are More Important Than They Might Seem
Skill trees are still a relatively new thing forNintendo platformers, and the one inDonkey Kong Bananzais surprisingly robust. Though players should always prioritize the abilities that sound the most fun for their own personal playstyle, there are a few key skills that all players should focus on getting as soon as possible.
Punch Power and Better Sonar are undoubtedly two of thebest skills inDonkey Kong Bananza, with the former allowing players to smash through terrain much quicker and the latter increasing their ability to see hidden collectibles through dense environments. Getting these upgraded early on will make exploration much smoother.
