I’ve heard that you’re looking for a new 3D Mario. I’m overjoyed to tell you that Donkey Kong Bananza is everything and more if you’re searching for a console-defining platformer with engaging, expressive movement, cutting-edge mechanics that are always developing, and skillfully designed challenges that maximize the interaction between said movement and mechanics. Bananza is more than just a “side project” from the team that created Super Mario Odyssey; it’s a fantastic follow-up to that masterwork, a fantastic reimagining of one of Nintendo’s original mascots, and a ground-breaking adventure in every way.
DK’s universe is full of classic Nintendo enchantment and equally new ambition in every breakable nook, which is the case for the majority of it. Bananza masterfully strikes a balance between paying homage to its star’s many iterations over the years—with charming references to Rare’s iconic Donkey Kong Country trilogy and Shigeru Miyamoto’s groundbreaking arcade original—and boldly breaking over a mountain to carve out its niche. The gameplay gets more complex as DK and his spirited sidekick Pauline go farther toward the Planet Core. It also tells a lighthearted, sweet story about DK and Pauline’s pursuit of an underground legend that is said to grant them one wish (Pauline wants to go back home, and DK just wants more bananas, of course).
Throughout its 20-hour campaign, Bananza builds steadily, culminating in a memorable finish that solidifies its place among the greatest 3D platformers I’ve ever played. Nintendo bases every new 3D Mario on a single, overarching concept, such as Odyssey’s body-snatching headgear or Sunshine’s water pack. Although Mario isn’t present in this game, Bananza’s completely destructible landscapes are more appropriate for a large, raging gorilla than the typical leader of the Mushroom Kingdom; thus, this intriguing idea is appropriate for a Kong.
Almost everything in this world is made to be punched and broken by Donkey Kong, and Bananza’s dedication to allowing you to tear through its surroundings is both technically amazing and a lot of fun. Playing a Nintendo 3D platformer with an almost entirely different toolkit is refreshing, and using DK’s skill set is incredibly fun and rewarding. Donkey Kong’s strength is consistently shown in his maneuvers.
The act of ripping a piece off the ground, which can be done practically anywhere, opens up a world of exciting options. DK can use it to throw it at adversaries in the air, swing it to breach walls, bounce off it to double jump, or surf on it to move more quickly and safely over hazardous terrain. Using the same fabric as Mario, he can do a gratifying roll-jump-roll combo, throw Cappy and bounce off him for distance, and punch in any direction while he is empty-handed. He can also slap the ground to rapidly recover loose gold and expose surrounding treasures. Additionally, he follows Link’s lead and can ascend almost any non-slip surface, adding to the journey’s sense of freedom.
One of the greatest 3D platformers I’ve ever played is Bananza.
Bananza is like an onion, to paraphrase Shrek, with layers, or levels, each of which is a vast playground designed to optimize DK’s destructive potential. There is a lot to discover on their surfaces as well as concealed in caverns and tunnels that you discover by slogging through the surroundings. By pounding the snot out of everything, you virtually never have to stumble upon chance discoveries because Bananza rarely relies on mindless devastation for its reason. Its deep, vertical levels are remarkably well-designed and planned, and it shines at rewarding discoveries through smart demolition.
Just as experienced Zelda players know to throw a bomb in front of any suspicious crack, visual signals expertly direct your attention to regions worth exploring. See a fascinating fossil or chunk of gold set into the wall? If you give it an explosive Boom Rock, you’ll probably uncover a new avenue to investigate. Yes, because some maps are open-world, you can sometimes find a collectible by simply constructing a tunnel directly to it rather than following the planned riddle.
It didn’t happen very often in my experience playing naturally, though, and it’s consistent with current Nintendo tendencies in games like Tears of the Kingdom, where the designers don’t care how you go from point A to point B as long as you enjoy yourself. However, there are restrictions on that freedom: Bananza cleverly hides the majority of its primary goals behind indestructible terrain that the evil Void Kong has created to make you follow the correct steps of the narrative, so it’s not like DK can just punch his way to the end credits.
Nevertheless, I’m excited to see how speedrunners will figure out how to get through the various levels as efficiently as possible; I’m sure there are some insane demolition strategies and shortcuts out there. The intriguing aspect of Bananza’s setting and aims is that the game isn’t primarily about killing everything. A key difference is that it’s about exploration, platforming, fighting, and collecting in a big universe where you can destroy everything. Although it is an essential component of Bananza’s broader game design philosophy, it never feels like a gimmick or the sole tool you have to handle every issue.
Unlike in Minecraft, I wasn’t frequently forced to dig arbitrary underground tunnels without any instructions, and DK’s upgradeable sonar feature allowed me to locate hidden collectibles that were out of sight. Additionally, Pauline aids in the search by using her singing skills to identify waypoints to valuables indicated on your map, which makes choosing your next stop simple. Even though the camera sometimes has trouble with the strange angles you drive it into when digging yourself a nice hole, that keeps the pursuit of completion fun and focused. You can also, of course, tear a whole level to pieces just for the sake of enjoyment.
It’s amazing that despite the fast-paced pandemonium that was constantly happening on screen, I was still able to maintain complete control over the action while romping throughout the sublevels in search of wealth. I adore how the world collapses around DK while I’m going crazy, since it gives everything a more realistic feel and effectively conveys the character’s weight and bulk, such as when he crashes out of a crater after high jumping from a cliff (naturally, there is no fall damage). To a certain degree, it has made playing earlier Mario games seem less exciting in contrast. What do you mean, Mario’s ground-pound doesn’t break the ground around him?
The world’s malleability raised some pre-launch concerns that each layer may feel like a palette switch of a single large subterranean area, but thankfully, that isn’t the case. From the Freezer Layer’s icicles, which you must destroy to create platforms, to the Resort Layer’s tropical atmosphere and Liftoff Ore, which, when you take a piece of it, sends DK flying into the air, each level has something special to offer both mechanically and visually.
Fresh ideas are consistently pulled from the vine by Bananza.
And throughout its more than 20 hours, Bananza never ceases to generate new ideas. Without giving anything away, when I delved into some of its more complex, late-game elements, I was astounded by the creativity on exhibit. The world is made up of many various kinds of materials, and there are rules governing how they should all interact with one another. A basic example is the formation of a hardened rock platform when ice is thrown onto lava, but as you advance, the chemistry and interactions between various elements become more intricate, and it is incredibly satisfying to understand these relationships and apply them to solve progressively challenging puzzles.
These problems are frequently encountered in independent challenge rooms, each of which has a different door. I was constantly impressed by how the challenges make the most of the mechanisms Nintendo created for Bananza, and there is a well-balanced mix of combat, logic puzzles, and platforming sequences that provide a welcome change of pace from the open-ended, explorable layers themselves. I’m continually discovering new difficulty areas with unique combinations of foes, items, and skills after more than fifty hours.
Sections of pink and blue slime that are opposites of one another are among the best examples: Destroying a portion of the blue slime fills in the corresponding portion of the pink slime area, so if the blue slime section is filled, its pink counterpart is empty. Bananza uses this one concept to create many clever puzzles and gets comparable use out of each object in its toybox. The number of times I came across ingenious problems that made me rethink something I had already seen is astounding.
Exploration is rewarding in and of itself, but it’s made easier by the substantial rewards for discovering Bananza’s vast collection of collectibles. Fossils are used to purchase region-specific attire that gives DK and Pauline various benefits, such as improving their chances of discovering a treasure box. It’s also entertaining to give them each a new look. Additionally, you will amass mountains of wealth. Although I was flush with cash for the first few hours, I finally had to pay for some optional content that depleted my wallet. Believe me when I say that it will ultimately be worthwhile to accumulate as much gold as you can.
Verdict
Donkey Kong Bananza, the great follow-up to Super Mario Odyssey, marks the triumphant return of a beloved Nintendo character, and the leader of the group is finally back to kick some tail. Building the first 3D platformer on the Switch 2 on Donkey Kong rather than Mario was a risky move, but it turned out to be the best one Nintendo could have made. DK creates a genuinely revolutionary experience with his tremendous, dynamic talents and pleasant, expressive movement.
This underground world’s ambitious, destructible layers are jam-packed with charming charm, satisfying trinkets, and ingenious obstacles that never seem to run out of brilliant ideas, even after the credits have rolled. Throughout its 20-hour campaign and beyond, Bananza builds to a steady crescendo, with puzzle-platforming ideas that only get more complex as DK and Pauline make their way closer to the Planet Core. Each component works in perfect harmony to produce Nintendo’s first masterpiece for the Switch 2.
