Donkey Kong Bananza Review: Nintendo Switch 2’s Barrel-Blasting 3D Platformer Shines

Donkey Kong Bananza Review: Nintendo Switch 2’s Barrel-Blasting 3D Platformer Shines Donkey Kong Bananza signals a monumental comeback for Nintendo’s beloved ape.

For years, Donkey Kong has lingered in the shadow of his long-time rival, Mario, but 2024 is shaping up to be DK’s year.

With the recent Donkey Kong Country expansion opening at Universal Studios Japan’s Super Nintendo World and increasing focus on the franchise, Nintendo is giving the ape newfound prominence as the Nintendo Switch 2 generation begins.

Donkey Kong Bananza, developed by the acclaimed team behind Super Mario Odyssey (2017), lands as the second major title exclusive to Switch 2 after Mario Kart World—proving that big things are indeed brewing in the world of 3D platforming. A New 3D Adventure for Donkey Kong Donkey Kong Bananza is DK’s first 3D platformer since the era-defining Donkey Kong 64 released in 1999 for the Nintendo 64.

Its arrival exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2—Nintendo’s latest flagship hardware—reinforces the console’s commitment to AAA experiences featuring fan-favorite characters.

The development team at Nintendo EPD (noted for their groundbreaking work on Super Mario Odyssey) imbue Bananza with the same polish, charm, and inventiveness that made Odyssey a critical and commercial success. The game’s premise takes players to the depths of Ingot Isle, where Donkey Kong stumbles upon golden bananas known as Banandium Gems.

His pursuit of these treasures is interrupted by the new antagonists from the Void Company—Grumpy Kong, Poppy Kong, and Void Kong—who trap Ingot Isle underground and seize the banana reserves.

Alongside DK, players meet a singing, enchanted rock that soon reveals herself as a young Pauline, under a curse from VoidCo.

Together, they embark on a journey to the Planet Core, striving to fulfill their wishes and return to the surface.

This partnership brings heartwarming humor and a fresh dynamic to the Donkey Kong series, featuring voiced dialogue for Pauline throughout the adventure—a franchise first. Reimagined Gameplay and Transformative Abilities Pauline’s singing is both a central narrative element and a core mechanic, acting as the key to unlocking Bananza transformations.

As DK and Pauline explore vast, open sandboxes, they learn new animal transformations, each granting Donkey Kong unique abilities—for instance, increased strength or greater speed—which can be activated using collected gold.

The Bananza mechanic encourages creativity and varied platforming challenges, amplified by catchy in-game music performances from Pauline. In addition to transformations, DK’s natural move set is more dynamic than ever: jump, roll, climb, punch, throw terrain, double-jump, perform hand slaps to detect secrets, and whistle for assistance.

Progression is tied to collecting Banandium Gems—think Power Moons from Super Mario Odyssey—with skill upgrades enhancing abilities.

The world is littered with optional collectibles like music discs, fossils for customization, and gold, all rewarding exploration and completionist strategies. Technical Mastery Meets Gameplay Freedom Donkey Kong Bananza demonstrates the graphical prowess of the Nintendo Switch 2.

Thanks to advanced hardware powered by a custom NVIDIA processor, Bananza features highly detailed 3D models, lush voxel-based destructible environments, and eye-popping particle effects.

While the title targets a smooth 60fps, occasional frame rate dips and scenic object pop-in can occur, especially in larger environments.

Nevertheless, the visual presentation is among the finest seen in a Nintendo platformer, with an integrated photo mode perfect for capturing the game’s bold art style. Fully Destructible Worlds and Accessibility A standout feature is Bananza’s destructible terrain: players can smash through environments to discover secrets and uncover loot, making exploration feel consistently rewarding.

Hidden chests offer valuable in-game items, and gold can be spent at in-game shops for helpful power-ups, convenience items, or collectible maps.

Fast-travel checkpoints ensure traversing the game’s expansive layers remains fluid and engaging. Multiplayer & Creative Play Donkey Kong Bananza supports co-op play entirely through couch or online multiplayer.

With only a single copy of the game, a second player can control Pauline, using motion or mouse controls to interact with objects, much like Star Bits in Super Mario Galaxy.

The DK Artist mode encourages creativity, letting players sculpt and paint models in a robust, accessible side mode—ideal for sharing your banana-fueled artistry online. Conclusion: A Must-Play for Platformer Fans With vibrant visuals, engaging mechanics, and a heartfelt narrative, Donkey Kong Bananza is a triumphant showcase of what Nintendo Switch 2 and the “DK Crew” can deliver.

Despite some technical hiccups, the irrepressible joy of exploring, collecting bananas, and witnessing the chemistry between Donkey Kong and Pauline makes Bananza a must-play for fans of 3D platformers.

Nintendo’s commitment to innovation and character-driven storytelling ensures this title stands tall alongside the best in its class. Review copy provided by Nintendo UK.

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