Oh, how clever you are, Nintendo. When Donkey Kong Bananza first debuted in early April, the trailer showcased a new purple rock companion for Donkey Kong but left out any details. Turns out, Nintendo was holding a bit of a surprise because that Odd Rock turns out to be young Pauline. She’ll be joining Donkey Kong on this new adventure in Ingot Isle as they dig their way through the vast Underground World. Today’s reveal also confirmed Donkey Kong Bananza will support co-op with a friend, giving the second player control of Pauline’s vocal blasts using the Joy-Con 2’s mouse functionality. As an interesting surprise, Donkey Kong Bananza can use the GameShare feature to be played on an original Nintendo Switch.
Today’s Donkey Kong Bananza Direct showcased all the ways Donkey Kong will interact with the destructible world, which we already saw extensively during the Nintendo Treehouse broadcasts following the Switch 2 Direct. What we didn’t see at the time, however, are the Bananza Transformations, which will have Donkey Kong taking on the form of other animals like a zebra or ostrich. The Zebra Bananza makes him faster and gives him the ability to dash short distances, while Ostrich Bananza lets him take to the skies and drop Egg Bombs on enemies.
As for the story of the game, legend has it that the Planet Core has the ability to grant your heart’s desire, so Pauline is hoping it will return her to the surface while Donkey Kong just wants more bananas. Together, they set off on a quest to reach it and will have to race The Void Company, which is trying to use it for their own nefarious purposes. Not only is VoidCo responsible for stealing all the shiny bananas from Donkey Kong, but they’re also the ones who turned Pauline into Odd Rock.
Donkey Kong Bananza is going to feature plenty of collectibles for completionists who can’t wait to dig into every nook and cranny through the Underground World. Some of these collectibles can also be used to power up Donkey Kong, like the Banandium Gems that earn Skill Points to increase his power or unlock new Skills. There are also timed battles, side-scrolling stages, obstacle courses, and more to play for Banandium Gems. Other currencies include Banandium Chips and Banandium Gold for other goodies, while Fossils can be used to unlock different outfits for Donkey Kong and Pauline.
Today’s Direct also teased other familiar faces from previous Donkey Kong titles, including Cranky Kong and Rambi. Look close enough and you’ll even catch a glimpse of Diddy and Dixie. The showcase also revealed how Donkey Kong and Pauline will navigate through the Underground World, thanks to Eelevators—literal subterranean eels that carry the two from layer to layer. There’s also the ability to set up a Getaway so DK can sleep in a comfy bed and restore his energy. Additional modes include Photo Mode and DK Artist, which uses the Joy-Con 2 mouse controls to carve designs into stone. For those who were disappointed that we didn’t get a new Mario Paint announcement, maybe DK Artist can hold you over.
Finally, Nintendo announced a new Donkey Kong and Pauline amiibo that will also be available on July 17, when Donkey Kong Bananza launches. The amiibo will unlock Pauline’s in-game Diva Dress early and drop KONG tiles with explosive power in-game. Other Donkey Kong amiibo figures will also grant gold KONG tiles, while any amiibo adds a giant sphere of terrain material that can be used in game.
