Get ready to have a monkey of a time because Donkey Kong is slamming on to the scene next month! Nintendo just released a direct looking at the upcoming Donkey Kong Bananza and it certainly looks like a Bananza! Donkey Kong has gone to Ingot Isle in search of legendary golden bananas. There he ends up getting blasted underground where he encounters a strange rock that soon reveals itself to be the talented young singer Pauline! DK must help protect her and get her home, while also searching for bananas and navigating the underground.
The nearly 18 minute direct shows off a lot of what Donkey Kong can do as he traverses the various levels in the underground. DK can lift chunks of stone and swing them around or use them to doublejump. He can smash his way through obstacles or walls or even the floor! The different levels look insanely varied, vast and full of collectibles. Pauline isn’t just along for the ride either. Fully voice acted, she can use her singing to solve puzzles, remove unusual seals or allow DK to enter one of his unlockable Bananza Forms(which can be acquired from one of the Giant Elders). These forms include a beefier DK, a zebra or even an ostrich all with their own unique abilities.
Other characters like Cranky and Rambi will be present in the game as well as a variety of anthro NPCs including zebras, ostriches and more! Being the first new DK release since Tropical Freeze in 2014 and the first 3D platformer to feature the Kong since DK64 back in 1999, this is one adventure Switch 2 players don’t want to miss out on! Fortunately, it can also be gameshared to Switch 1 consoles as well for those of us who haven’t yet upgraded. Donkey Kong has never looked better or more expressive than he is here and it is wonderful. We at GF are very excited to see more of DK and friends in the near future. Be sure to check out Nintendo's newest direct because there is a lot I didn’t cover here, like the main antagonists and the collectible Bananium Gems. Get hyped because the Bananza starts when DK smashes his way onto Switch 2 on July 17th!
