David Bridges
The most captivating Nintendo games achieve two key objectives. Firstly, they introduce an engaging gaming mechanic — for instance, the Ultrahand feature in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or the Cappy mechanic in Super Mario Odyssey serve as prime examples. Secondly, they create a rich, immersive world for players to explore, filled with challenges and adventures. While it’s evident that games comprise more than just a singular mechanic, successfully crafting a compelling experience around a well-designed mechanic is no easy feat. When these elements harmonize, players are left with memorable gaming experiences that last for years, if not decades.
Though it’s still early in the life cycle of the Switch 2, I can confidently say that Donkey Kong Bananza showcases the potential to be a standout title. After spending a significant amount of time playing it, I find that the game’s core “smash everything” mechanic is a genuine joy. Importantly, Nintendo has crafted a delightful universe around this mechanic, complete with diverse levels, unique obstacles, endearing characters, whimsical enemies, catchy tunes, and just the right amount of challenge to keep players engaged. While 3D platformers aren’t my personal favorite genre — I lean towards Super Mario Wonder over Odyssey and have fond memories of the various Donkey Kong platformers since the SNES era — Bananza utilizes all dimensions of gameplay effectively, making it a title I intend to explore long after completing the main storyline.
To provide a brief overview: Bananza introduces players to Donkey Kong and his impressive smashing abilities during a somewhat extended tutorial where he breaks through a mine in search of gold. In this initial sequence, players repeatedly mash the Y button to shatter rocks and uncover treasures hidden within. DK possesses various abilities, such as jumping, climbing various surfaces, tearing up parts of the environment to throw, and pounding the ground to collect treasure swiftly. However, the game primarily revolves around the action of smashing as much as possible, be it above, below, or in front of you, and nearly every surface can be smashed (the game conveniently indicates when a surface is resistant to DK’s powerful fists).
Initially, I feared that the continuous smashing would become monotonous — the tutorial suggested that mindlessly pressing Y would dominate my gameplay experience. However, the plot thickens when the villain appears, stealing the Banandium gems (just roll with it) and prompting DK to delve deeper into the planet’s crust to reclaim his beloved bananas. This pivotal moment unveils the game’s true nature: each “world” represents a layer of the planet, and true to Nintendo’s style, traditional gaming rules are tossed aside. The Lagoon Layer is the first area, featuring clear blue skies, abundant water, and diverse terrains to explore (and smash). The inhabitants of each layer guide you in addressing the chaos caused by the trio of Kong creatures representing VoidCo, the nefarious villains who absconded with the bananas.
Bananza excels at guiding players from one objective to another while simultaneously granting immense freedom to explore and navigate the various layers at their own pace. Typically, your first instinct will be to smash everything in sight. While the smash mechanic felt somewhat lackluster in the tutorial level, its context within the beautifully designed 3D worlds transforms it into a truly enjoyable experience. Players can venture wherever they can see and can smash nearly everything presented before them.
Identifying the exact reasons behind the sheer satisfaction derived from smashing is challenging, aside from the obvious thrill of destruction. Nevertheless, the combination of visual, haptic, and audio cues creates an experience that remains engaging, despite my initial doubts. The satisfying crunch of shattering rocks and mountains feels distinct from pounding through dirt or splintering massive trees. Moreover, smashing leads to exploration; if you spot a mountain, you can break into it to uncover gold, fossils (which can be traded for upgraded costumes), power-ups, and, most importantly, Banandium gems.
The Banandium gems serve a similar purpose to the stars or moons featured in other 3D platformers that players collect during their adventures. Some gems are acquired naturally as you progress through the game and defeat various bosses, while countless others are hidden throughout each layer, encouraging exploration. Collecting five gems grants an upgrade point that can be utilized to boost your health and enhance DK’s abilities (such as smashing through tougher terrains). Additionally, there are hidden challenge levels that present demanding platforming or timed battles, offering multiple bananas as rewards. There are numerous methods to gather bananas, with plenty scattered across the various levels. I’m not rushing through the game (given the plethora of things to smash), and I haven’t found more than half of the bananas in any of Bananza’s layers.
However, Donkey Kong Bananza offers much more than just smashing! It’s essential to highlight the game’s secondary protagonist, Pauline. You might not recognize her by name; she was the damsel in distress in the classic ‘80s Donkey Kong games, but she recently reappeared in Super Mario Odyssey as the mayor of New Donk City, where she showcases her singing talent. In Bananza, Pauline is a 13-year-old who gets captured by the VoidCo crew but is rescued by DK early in the game. From that point onward, she rides on DK’s shoulder as they collaborate to achieve their respective goals: Pauline aims to reach the planet’s core to eventually return to the surface, while DK is focused on reclaiming his Banandium gems from the VoidCo Kongs.
Pauline’s passion for singing plays a pivotal role in the game, as her melodious voice guides players to checkpoints, unlocks hidden areas, and, perhaps most importantly, activates the various special powers that DK acquires throughout the adventure. Multiple layers feature delightfully quirky Elder animals, including a giant ape, an ostrich, and a zebra. Many of these Elders have retired peacefully in their layers, taking up DJing as a hobby; if you assist in repairing the damage inflicted by VoidCo, they will bestow new Bananza powers upon you. These powers enhance DK’s punches, while the Ostrich power allows him to float and fly temporarily. Naturally, these abilities are crucial for progressing through the game.
These abilities are triggered by different songs that Pauline learns, and the cut scenes featuring these musical moments are some of my favorite aspects of the game. As a 13-year-old, she isn’t quite comfortable singing in front of the large crowds gathered by the Elders, but she eventually overcomes her nerves, performs with enthusiasm, and ignites a lively dance party. Like many Nintendo titles of this nature, Pauline doesn’t undergo extensive character development — yet witnessing her bond with DK and gradually gain confidence through her interactions during the game is incredibly heartwarming. One of my favorite moments occurs when DK takes a nap at various hideouts to replenish his energy. As the screen dims during the nap, Pauline engages in conversation about their world or their adventures, reminiscent of a child trying to converse with a parent to avoid falling asleep. She becomes drowsy, her words become more nonsensical, and she eventually drifts off. This unexpected and entirely optional aspect of the game adds a delightful layer to Pauline’s character.
As I approach the final stages of the game, my motivation to play lies as much in uncovering what happens between Pauline and DK as it does in the thrill of smashing more objects. This surprising combination of heartfelt moments and sheer destruction has kept me thoroughly engaged with Donkey Kong Bananza throughout the past week, and the extensive replayability will likely prompt me to begin a new run once I complete my current one. With so much to explore, countless Banandium gems to discover, and an abundance of objects to smash, while it may not be the system-seller that titles like Mario Kart World are, it stands out as the first truly exceptional game for the Switch 2.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/donkey-kong-bananza-review-nintendos-latest-3d-platformer-is-an-instant-classic-143048108.html?src=rss
Ethan Carter
