Pauline’s Expanded Role in Donkey Kong Bananza: Nintendo Provides Insight on Character’s Age and Significance

Nintendo has shined new light on Pauline’s significant return in Donkey Kong Bananza, the highly anticipated addition to the Donkey Kong series for the Nintendo Switch.

A character with deep roots in both the Super Mario and Donkey Kong franchises, Pauline assumes a more prominent role in this latest installment, sparking widespread community interest following the latest Donkey Kong Bananza Direct and a subsequent IGN interview. Having first appeared in the original Donkey Kong arcade title and later emerging as a fan-favorite in games like Super Mario Odyssey, Pauline’s character now takes on both an accompanying and narrative function within Donkey Kong Bananza.

Nintendo officially confirmed during their special Donkey Kong Bananza Direct that in this adventure, Pauline is depicted as a 13-year-old, marking a notable shift from her previous portrayals.

While details behind the reasoning for this change remain deliberately scarce, Nintendo hopes fans will explore these nuances through gameplay. During the IGN interview, Takashi Tezuka, a veteran Nintendo producer, addressed the reasoning behind this creative decision.

In his reframed comments, Tezuka explained that Pauline’s role as both a companion to Donkey Kong and a narrator was a key focus for the development team.

The intention was to create a character that not only resonates with longtime fans of the Donkey Kong and Super Mario series, but also welcomes new players who may be experiencing the franchise for the first time on the Nintendo Switch. Expanding on this, Kenta Motokura, another prominent developer on the project, highlighted the team’s ongoing attention to world-building and character development.

Motokura stated that the setting and individual character traits were carefully considered for their impact on player engagement and enjoyment in Donkey Kong Bananza. As for the specific choice of making Pauline 13 years old, Tezuka noted that the development team consciously decided to keep the reasoning open-ended, preferring players to unravel the meaning as they progress through the game.

This decision aims to spark curiosity and engagement among players, regardless of whether they are veterans of the Donkey Kong series or newcomers drawn in by the character’s fresh take. Donkey Kong Bananza is set to make its mark on the Nintendo Switch, continuing Nintendo’s tradition of reimagining classic characters while offering new avenues for storytelling.

With Pauline taking center stage in a redefined role, anticipation remains high among both longtime fans and those just discovering the Donkey Kong universe.

As more information becomes available, the Nintendo community can look forward to exploring the latest innovations on the eShop and through future Nintendo Direct presentations.

Donkey Kong Nintendo Switch Nintendo Donkey Kong Bananza Pauline Switch Bananza Super Mario series Donkey Kong series Takashi Tezuka Kenta Motokura