Each overview of Donkey Kong Bananza goes to say the way it’s been a really very long time between new instalments — and it has — however the extra fascinating factor this time is that Donkey Kong is now actually again in Nintendo’s arms. Revealing that it’s the Tremendous Mario Odyssey group behind it, with a totally totally different and youthful director on the helm, makes it clear that it was time to carry DK again dwelling. Not simply with a brand new look, however a brand new life — and Nintendo’s actually finished that. Donkey Kong Bananza could be slightly bit Odyssey, slightly bit fashionable open world, nevertheless it’s completely its personal factor — a real 3D platformer in each sense of the size.

Donkey Kong Bananza has a narrative — and in contrast to most Nintendo video games, the place I’ll say the story is there however not tremendous necessary as a result of it’s only a factor that occurs, that isn’t the case right here. This time, DK groups up (ultimately) with a 13-year-old Pauline to traverse and dig by the Underground World after a rival group of primates, VoidCo, steal all of Donkey Kong’s Banandium Gems, inflicting Ingot Isle to sink into the planet. DK and Pauline take off after them, hoping to succeed in the planet’s core and make a want to return to the floor.
Discover the most cost effective copy of Donkey Kong Bananza in Australia
Another Nintendo recreation may go away it at that and reveal a bit extra on the finish, however right here, DK and Pauline’s relationship and skills evolve all through the sport — not simply by way of gameplay, but additionally by the tales they share and the bond that grows between them. It’s really actually heartwarming stuff. It’s not some deep, cinematic, exposition-heavy factor both, nevertheless it does present a extra formidable facet of Nintendo.

We’ve had 3D Donkey Kong platformers earlier than — properly, simply as soon as — and that was a really very long time in the past. Nearly nothing from that recreation, or the surplus it delivered to the style within the late ’90s, is current right here. Donkey Kong Bananzamoves at a a lot brisker tempo than his bigger stature would recommend, and it’s a enjoyable recreation of traversal, not simply internationally, however by it.
Above floor, Donkey Kong strikes by ranges that twist and switch in all instructions, like a hopped-up model of Hyperlink from Breath of the Wild. He can climb, slide down rocks, roll, and customarily transfer nearly wherever. However the true motion isn’t up above — it’s down within the floor. Bananza is a real 3D platformer, with DK capable of transfer freely by Layers, smashing by virtually something in his path. The core of every Layer is preserved, and a few surfaces DK can’t climb or break by, however most of it’s up for destruction.

Hidden all through these Layers are Banandium Gems, crystal-like bananas stolen by VoidCo that DK is determined to get again. They’re the primary collectible in Bananza, and gathering them unlocks new skills on DK’s ability tree to make your journey simpler. However not like Mario Odyssey, progress within the recreation isn’t strictly tied to what number of you’ve collected. The story can play out everytime you select to observe it. You don’t want a set variety of gadgets to maneuver ahead (a minimum of not till a lot later). You may merely play by the story and return later to gather the remainder.
It’s not simply the big-ticket Gems both. There are fossils to gather that unlock totally different outfits for DK and Pauline, in addition to dyes to recolour DK’s look. Fossils are tracked per degree, and outfits supply small buffs, largely helpful within the degree the place they’re discovered. You received’t have to dig by each inch of a stage both — treasure chests scattered round usually include maps, gadgets, and instruments to assist together with your search.

Then there’s gold, most likely a very powerful useful resource within the recreation. Gold is scattered all through phases and buried underground. You’ll spend the primary few hours of the sport simply smashing every part in sight, uncovering all types of issues whereas gathering gold. It may be spent in outlets, but additionally used to unlock options inside ranges. Architectones settle for gold to create Getaways, which act as relaxation factors the place you’ll be able to recharge, warp to, change outfits, and purchase provides. Pauline additionally shares extra about herself and their journey at these spots, and it’s genuinely charming.

Constructones are one other useful service. They construct bridges, place barrels, and take away obstacles for a payment. Gold may even be used offensively — practically any floor will be picked up and thrown. Mud isn’t a lot use, however a bit of concrete or a rock makes for a helpful projectile.
Scattered all through the degrees are Breath of the Wild-style shrine challenges, the place DK is transported out of the Layers and into time-based trials or platforming segments that really feel lots like Sunshine‘s secret ranges.

Not that DK wants it — he’s as highly effective as ever, now enhanced with a number of totally different Bananzas. These expertise, handed on by the elders of the Underground and boosted by Pauline’s singing, remodel DK right into a sort of Tremendous Saiyan model of himself, an ostrich that helps with flying, and a zebra that not solely strikes sooner but additionally lets DK stroll on water and zip throughout crumbling surfaces.
Bananzas are activated by urgent L and R, which kicks Pauline right into a track. The facility lasts for a restricted time, and also you refill the transformation gauge by smashing issues and gathering gold, which is sort of all over the place — so there’s no actual want to fret. You can too carry some Juice to set off a change in a pinch.

Apart from puzzles and character-specific platforming sections within the Layers, these skills are wanted for boss fights, later ranges that require totally different techniques, and even simply shortcutting your manner round. When you’ve reworked, you’ll be able to swap types on the fly utilizing the D-Pad — although I like to recommend mapping them to the GL and GR buttons for those who’re utilizing a Professional Controller.
Nevertheless, there’s one factor concerning the transformations — and even my three-year-old pointed it out like a personality asking the place Poochie went — the place’s DK? Apart from the Kong Bananza, which is nice enjoyable and lets DK lower unfastened with much more energy, another transformations, whereas entertaining at first, begin to really feel a bit shallow. Those you unlock later, when the sport leans on them extra closely, are particularly underwhelming (other than one). Donkey Kong is enjoyable sufficient on his personal, and after ready so lengthy for a brand new DK recreation, being pressured to play entire sections with the weaker transformations made the late-mid to early-end half, particularly when repeated boss encounters appeared, slightly flat.

Additionally, as hinted at within the trailer, there’s some racing on this recreation. However other than Mario Kart, Donkey Kong’s historical past with racing is both cancelled or painfully common, and Bananza doesn’t actually change that. It’s some middling racing motion in opposition to some returning characters, who really feel like they’re there extra for nostalgia than something – but when they’re coming again why not everybody else? However hey, we haven’t seen them for ages both – so I’m not going to complain.
Talking of, the sport is plagued by throwbacks and reminders of Donkey Kong’s previous. Nothing as in-your-face as Tremendous Mario Odyssey with its 2D Mario sprites showing within the recreation world, however there are many nods and hints to the Rareware-era Donkey Kong — together with a remake of the primary degree of Donkey Kong Nation, which you’ll have seen within the recreation’s trailer, and it’s spectacular. Discover slightly and see what you discover. It’s nice to see Bananza lean into the nostalgia with out overwhelming you with it. It’s way more refined, and I’m certain I’ve missed some references myself.

The sport’s nostalgia additionally carries by into its superb soundtrack — nevertheless it’s not caught prior to now, with greater than sufficient new materials to turn out to be future classics. Pauline’s songs whereas DK is in Bananza mode are virtually all bangers, and also you’ll want to love them as a result of they play each time you remodel (although you can flip them off if you’d like, since they often override different nice tracks). Basic tunes from all eras of Donkey Kong are right here, remixed within the slick new fashion Nintendo’s been leaning into these days. There are even some hints of Odyssey’s music and sound design as properly.
Donkey Kong Bananza seems to be nearly as good because it sounds. Mario Kart World, whereas a looker and technically spectacular, had a free-roam world that felt slightly sparse outdoors the manicured tracks because of its pace. That’s not the case right here within the Underground. Bananza’s a number of wealthy biomes really feel lived-in, genuine, and filled with ambiance — particularly those with extra excessive climate.

Nintendo has mentioned the sport initially began growth on the unique Change earlier than transferring to this new console as soon as it grew to become clear the earlier {hardware} couldn’t deal with it. However it’s not simply the size of the world or the motion that will’ve held it again. There’s a lot occurring with the surroundings, from large-scale destruction to real-time building throughout boss fights, that merely wouldn’t be attainable with out the additional grunt.
There are additionally enemies galore, together with a number of little balls rolling round that react to the surroundings — all of it tracked persistently throughout the sport. It’s simply good to play one thing that appears crisp and runs properly, whether or not handheld or docked — a minimum of more often than not.

There are moments, significantly in boss fights or throughout different intense sequences, the place the sport drops to 30fps and even decrease. These drops occur throughout some spectacular scenes, and within the second, you may not discover as a result of there’s a lot occurring — however they’re there. All that is simply little niggles in an in any other case superb expertise. Like Odyssey, as soon as the credit roll, it’s not really over. It took me round 25 hours to get by the story, and I’d barely scratched the floor (pun meant) of many of the Layers.

It’s not flawless, however what they’ve finished right here is take a personality who’s been out within the wild and convey Donkey Kong again dwelling, with Nintendo placing its personal stamp on DK in a contemporary new manner. Like Breath of the Wild and Odyssey, Nintendo has taken a cornerstone character, thrown out many of the rulebook, however saved the soul. Donkey Kong Bananza looks like a blueprint for DK’s future, and a reminder of how formidable and richly designed Nintendo’s video games will be. Bananza is right here now, although—and it’s actually one thing particular.
Score: 4.5/5