Donkey Kong Bananza – Review

One repairs, while the other destroys, and so the archetypes fall in place – the former is the good guy, and the latter, an antagonist. The dichotomy between Mario and Donkey Kong goes as far back as 1981, but it’s easy to forget that the latter came first before the cap-wearing Super mascot, who got his first solo outing in 1985 and went on to become the pet favourite. 

That’s not to say there’s no love for the hulking gorilla, because as one of Nintendo’s most enduring icons, he’s had his fair share of titles spanning different genres, from platforming and action-adventure to even rhythm. Still, the difference is stark when comparing Mario’s broader library of 200-plus games to DK’s first 3D platformer in more than 25 years, as well as his first starring role in over a decade!). 

Donkey Kong Bananza snaps attention back to the ape, looking the spiffiest he’s ever been. He’s also literally having a smashing good time, as he pummels and punches through everything without a care in the world, whether it’s concrete blocks or hostile creatures. Hailing from the same team behind Super Mario Odyssey, the Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive appears as a crossbreed between the globe-trotting 3D adventure and the latest The Legend of Zelda duology, topped off with large-scale extravagance carried over from Final Fantasy XV, which game director Kazuya Takahashi previously worked on.

A delightful romp is the result, oozing charm and character that makes players understand DK’s love for demolition. It’s mind-numbing, therapeutic, and most importantly, a-peels (hah) to the primal instinct to have fun, even if there are some hiccups along the way. In line with the Donkey Kong playbook, the overarching story is no less straightforward and whimsical here, following the ape as he ventures underground to recover banana-shaped diamonds from a sinister group of apes. 

Shortly after, he crosses paths with Pauline, a 13-year-old girl who wants to return to the surface, and together, they head deeper into the planet’s core in search of a legend who can allegedly grant them their respective wishes. For those wondering, Pauline is indeed the same one whom DK kidnapped in the original arcade game, except now they are best buddies bonding over wreaking havoc, and it’s all the better for it. 

The addition of a spirited sidekick opens up a co-op option, where the second player, as Pauline, can shoot explosive projectiles from DK’s back. Fundamentally, the gameplay in Donkey Kong Bananza revolves around using different types of punches against destructible environments in any direction, unlocking access to hidden pathways (or a quick bail-out when lost), gold, and collectibles like Banandium Gems to upgrade skills, various-sized fossils required for purchasing cosmetics, or discs.

Traversal is made more accessible with a free-climbing ability that allows DK to mount non-slippery surfaces, eliminating the issue of stamina management, and Turf Surfing, which lets him move faster than on foot, break through objects, and overcome dangerous terrain – reminiscent of Breath of the Wild / Tears of the Kingdom’s shield-surfing mechanic. The transition from one manoeuvre to another unfolds smoothly across the screen, lending a smooth quality to general movements. 

Donkey Kong Bananza isn’t as easy as simply pulverising wide swathes of sand, rock, and the like, however. Not only is the level design walled off by unbreakable metal girders, preventing players from fully brute-forcing their way through, but different foes and environmental hazards also call for strategic interaction with the surroundings. Thorny vines, for instance, will deal damage to DK if he attempts a punch, while magma cannot be crossed normally without getting hurt. 

The workaround? Dislodge a slab of rock from the ground and hack away at the vines, or throw it across the fiery hot stretch, causing the flowing liquid to solidify and form a path. Enemy encounters work on the same logic, so hurling a chunk at airborne creatures takes them down, while metallic enemies can withstand DK’s fists. The hierarchy of materials matters here, which means a stone won’t be sufficient to destroy harder surfaces and more powerful opponents; that honour goes to concrete or obsidian. 

In terms of exploration, this encourages players to think about how best to engage with the environment, especially for completionists, rewarding them with a sense of satisfaction that comes with the problem-solving process. The intuitive controls add to the experience, which delivers noticeable weight behind DK’s throwing motions and changing sound effects for the type of material that’s being interacted with – a crisp crunch when tearing into the purple-glowing Boom Rock, a mushy squelch when trudging through mud, and a bright ring when destroying Banandium Gems.

Here’s where the first hint of cracks shows itself. While Donkey Kong Bananza makes it easy to aim, the interaction system can be imprecise, leading to situations where players have the wrong object in hand. It’s negligible under normal circumstances, but it becomes a more pressing issue in cases where quick, accurate tosses are necessary, especially when there are multiple enemies and roadblocks in the way. Still, the clumsiness pales in comparison to its most frustrating and major shortcoming: the camera. 

Where the auto-adjusting is jarring and disrupts focus for most, players who are prone to motion sickness will get the short end of the stick, as the constant jolting can be nausea-inducing and require breaks from exploration. There’s no option to turn it off, either – available settings include camera shake and sensitivity level – and the clipping that occurs when digging underground certainly doesn’t help matters. Alongside the see-through effect, which renders external textures transparent, the fixed viewing distance also reduces the visibility of nearby terrain to near zero, making it difficult to keep track of where DK is going. In the worst-case scenario, he ends up falling into acid or straight into the path of an enemy. 

Some may find the jank endearing, but personally, it seems to clash with the overall design and spirit of a smash-everything title. Fortunately, the same cannot be said of navigating out in the open – just like peeling a banana, Donkey Kong Bananza splits its 3D map into top, middle, and bottom layers, similar to that of its Legend of Zelda counterparts, to reflect the lay of the land, proving handy for directional aid. Places and objects of interest are highlighted, and the paths are linear and relatively straightforward, occasionally requiring some simple puzzle-solving. Go off the beaten track, and side challenges, time trials, and even trivia tests await. 

If players get lost at any point, Pauline’s singing, activated by holding down the LB shoulder button, guides them to the next objective point. It’s not the only form of assistance she offers, with her kit granting DK access to variations of the powered-up Banaza state, each with its unique move sets. In this form, the tie-wearing gorilla has special abilities that can be used to traverse different terrain and progress through the game’s layers, such as Kong Bananza, whose punches pack more power, or Ostrich Bananza, allowing him to glide, fly, and drop egg bombs on foes. For series veterans, these transformations are a nifty nod to past games and serve to satisfy their nostalgic cravings. 

All five variations will be unlocked as part of the story, and their respective abilities can be upgraded with Banandium Gems. For the most part, the particular Bananza type featured in a level ends up being employed in the final boss encounter, which is surprisingly easy across the board. Case in point – the first two fights in this review playthrough clocked sub one-minute timings, and there were hardly any deaths or game overs during these one-on-one showdowns. 

Instead, hostile environments, common enemies in numbers, and the side challenges pose more of a threat up until the late-game battles, where players are forced to tap into different Bananza forms and switch between them mid-fight. The skill tree system, meanwhile, feels underdeveloped and superfluous, as some abilities should have been available from the get-go, with most upgrade effects lacking noticeable impact after a certain point.

Outside of combat and exploration, Pauline offers good company for DK, particularly during downtime. The latter’s animated and expressive displays endear him to players, but Pauline’s energy is infectious and brings a wholesome touch to their dynamics. Taking naps at Getaway Points – designated rest points that restore and grant temporary health – triggers idle conversation and entertaining musings from Pauline, further elevating the charm.

As the duo continue their journey, the clever level design never gets old. Each biome sports a distinctive visual flair with interactive elements unique to its own, such as the switcheroo mechanic in the Divide or the Ice Maker in the Freezer layer, alongside a wealth of easter eggs scattered throughout the map. It gives character and breathes life into the larger world of Donkey Kong Bananza, with the workings of these mini-puzzles proving as intuitive as the navigation paths, in the same way players would come across a conveniently placed nook in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild / Tears of the Kingdom and instinctively check it out.

Most importantly, the platformer has heart. Donkey Kong Bananza may not be perfect, but it unearths a goldmine of wonder, smashing fun, and nostalgia. For longtime fans, the a-peel-ing blend of novelty and familiarity represents the best reinvention of a beloved formula in recent years, showing that there’s merit in going back to the basics. As for those simply here to have a good time? DK’s latest outing offers chaos and destruction in spades. Move over, Mario – there’s a new favourite in town to go bananas over.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.