Ever since playing the original Donkey Kong Country as a wee tot, Nintendo’s antagonist-turned-protagonist has held a special place in my heart. Any new game starring the king of swing is the gaming equivalent of appointment viewing, in my eyes. You can likely imagine my excitement when Nintendo announced Donkey Kong Bananza during its Switch 2 Direct earlier in the year.
Even more exciting is the fact that Bananza is a 3D platformer, Donkey Kong’s first since the Nintendo 64 days. The iconic tie-wearing primate’s adventures usually take the form of 2D platformers, which isn’t a bad thing by any means. But as I alluded to in my Astro Bot review last year, I believe 3D platformers are the purest genre of video games.
Going hands-on with Donkey Kong Bananza at the recent Nintendo Switch 2 Experience in Melbourne proved to me that, alongside Mario Kart World and Metroid Prime 4, it’s going to be a heavy-hitter for the new console. And I mean that both literally and figuratively.
Destruction is at the core of DK’s latest escapade. In search of his beloved Golden Bananas, the leader of the bunch punches, slaps, and throws objects with reckless abandon, causing endless mayhem. Environments crumble with each hit, creating new paths to explore and challenges to overcome.
Donkey Kong Bananza creates a joyous sense of playfulness and tactility. Nearly everything can be smashed, climbed on, or interacted with in some way. All of this interactivity feels sufficiently weighty yet quick and responsive. It’s the best Donkey Kong has ever felt to control; gone is the floaty physics of Donkey Kong 64, replaced by the nimble movement of a wild primate.
It’s also the best Donkey Kong has ever looked. Aided by an impressive suite of TVs at Nintendo’s event, Bananza is endlessly bright and colourful, even in its cavernous depths. Some frame drops caught my eye at various points, but did little to detract from the gorgeous visuals.
Burrowing deep in Donkey Kong Bananza
Built using similar DNA to the original Switch’s brilliant Super Mario Odyssey, Donkey Kong Bananza contains many vignette-like levels packed with collectibles. I only played a couple of levels during the preview session, both of which looked completely different from one another.
The opening level featured an enclosed mine section, dark yet still vibrant in its aesthetic. It acted as a tutorial for Donkey Kong’s rambunctious set of moves, letting you break everything around you. By contrast, the demo’s next level was more open, its beach-like appearance introducing aquatic sections and explosives to play with.
From what I played, Bananza‘s bite-sized levels are well-suited to gradually introducing new gameplay concepts over time. Previously aired footage shows 2D platforming sections, mine cart levels, and drastically different environments to explore. I can imagine each level revolving around a core gameplay element, building on what came before it.
It’s this new yet nostalgic approach that I believe makes Donkey Kong Bananza the game I can use to introduce my Dad to 3D platformers.
As a child growing up in a regional town, my Dad would regularly take me to the local arcade during his lunch breaks. Nearly every session included a turn on the original Donkey Kong cabinet, attempting to rescue Pauline from the ape’s clutches. The quality time it fostered inspired a love of Donkey Kong and the medium of video games in general.
When games transitioned from 2D to 3D spaces, Dad got left behind. A lack of time combined with his struggle to navigate 3D worlds using dual control sticks meant that video games went by the wayside.
3D platformers assume a base level of competency from its players. They’re tough to crack unless you’re already familiar with controlling an avatar and the camera simultaneously.
Donkey Kong Bananza feels different. Its smaller scale feels ripe for players of all abilities. I’m keen to see how much depth it offers experienced players when it launches on 17 July.
The post Donkey Kong Bananza looks like the 3D platformer of my dreams appeared first on GadgetGuy.
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