During the lead-up to the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, fans were quick to ask: Why isn’t Donkey Kong Bananza the launch title? After getting an early hands-on preview, thanks to Nintendo Australia, the answer becomes quite clear. It needed time due to its scale.
Donkey Kong Bananza can best be described as “if Super Mario Odyssey and Donkey Kong 64 had a baby.” In this game, you play as both Donkey Kong and Pauline, journeying through Ingot Isle to reach its core. Donkey Kong Bananza marks 7 years since the release of the last original Donkey Kong game, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, and 25 years since the previous Donkey Kong 3D platform game, Donkey Kong 64. But can this upcoming title pack a punch? Based on early impressions, it can!
Throughout Donkey Kong Bananza, you will explore up, down, and all around Ingot Isle as you search for gold, Bananium Gems, fossils, and other scattered items to help you make your way down to the core. One aspect worth praising about this game is the diversity of the worldbuilding in Ingot Isle. Based on the few levels I got to explore, it’s pretty clear that every character, from foes and bosses to natives, tends to differentiate from one another, giving each new environment its unique character, culture, and distinctiveness.
Aside from the overworld, Donkey Kong Bananza has a few challenge areas where you will be tested using the various gameplay mechanics you have learned so far. These come in all shapes and sizes, whether it’s your general obstacle course, fighting monsters within a time limit, or the classic 2D barrel shooting platformer for which the franchise is iconic.
One of the newest gimmicks Donkey Kong Banaza introduces is the Banaza forms. Thanks to Pauline’s singing, Donkey Kong can transform into a more powerful version of himself for a limited time, allowing him to pack a much more brutal punch. To recharge, you need gold, which, funnily enough, is found almost everywhere.
When I saw his various transformations, it felt like the devs took a page from Super Mario Bros. Wonder; DK in his other Bananza forms was a sight to see. I can imagine the amount of fan art that will be created in response to this.
“…it felt like the devs took a page from Super Mario Bros. Wonder; DK in his other Bananza forms was a sight to see.”
The world of Donkey Kong Bananza is vast, and there’s a high chance you could get lost. Fortunately, a very convenient and fast travel system allows you to return to certain spots using the Eelivator. Also, since you can now punch through walls, roofs, and the ground, there is much to find just by digging around. I feel bad for all the completionists and explorers out there, as there is a lot to discover, and those hidden Bananium gems or treasure chests could be right under your nose. During my time at the hands-on preview event, I was the last one to reach the end of the first location, simply because I loved taking my time smashing walls and the ground. Additionally, since you will be digging around and punching holes all over the place, there will be times when the camera position may not be angled correctly, which could cause some motion sickness.
If there’s one feature worth noting, it’s the co-op. With a friend, they can use a spare Joy-Con 2 and control Pauline. This young girl has a powerful singing voice, to the point where it can break obstacles and fight bad guys. To play her, you can copy the environment’s various materials, like stone, dirt, gold, etc., and spam attacks using her voice. First impressions-wise, playing her feels very janky. In my head, I was like, “How is this character balanced?! Wouldn’t people cheese through the game just by playing her?”
Fortunately, Nintendo has thought of this and ensured that she has to rely on Donkey Kong and that her copy material abilities won’t break the game. What’s great about playing Pauline is that it takes advantage of the Switch’s 2 Joy-Con controllers, utilising the mouse mode, and her gameplay design was built with this feature in mind. It’s easy to play her once you get used to this new mechanic. This has to be my favourite feature that Donkey Kong Bananza has to offer.
While it would have been cool to have Donkey Kong Bananza as the launch title, the scale this game offers is so massive that rushing it won’t do it justice. The world of Ingot Isle is vast; there’s so much to search and discover, and you need to be willing to get your hands dirty if you want to uncover all its secrets. This will be a lengthy game that requires a significant amount of time to complete one level. Regardless, it’s a lot of fun, and once the whole experience is released, the treasures of Ingot Isle are yours for the taking.
Donkey Kong Bananza comes out on the Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17, 2025.
About the Author
Erielle Sudario
If she's not podcasting, Erielle Sudario is seen either playing Baldurs Gate 3, The Sims, or a really cute cozy indie game that she found either in conventions or on TikTok. Outside of gaming, she's either embracing her inner Swiftie, building keyboards, or watching shows/films in theatres or streaming platforms.
