REVIEW: Donkey Kong Bananza doesn't mess around and delivers a fun adventure on Switch 2

Launched as a new bet by Nintendo to revitalize one of its most classic franchises, Donkey Kong Bananza arrives with the promise of mixing nostalgia and innovation in a combination more delicious than a good banana split in Nintendo Switch 2In this review, we'll explore how the title recaptures the charm of the series' older games while also bringing new mechanics, challenges, and revamped visuals to win over both longtime fans and a new generation of players. Does the game live up to Donkey Kong's legacy, or does it completely muddle through trying to modernize the formula? And yes, there will be some banana puns throughout the article.

History

Donkey Kong was never exactly a video game franchise with a detailed and deep story in each title. Basically, it all boiled down to DK facing off against various enemies who had stolen his precious bananas. And here in Donkey Kong Bananza is no different. The game begins with our beloved furry protagonist digging for banana ores (I still don't quite understand if they are just rocks or real fruit), and he has to face the Void Company, a greedy mining company that stole and hid all the bananas with plans to destroy the underground worlds.

The story begins to differentiate itself from previous titles in the series with the introduction of the young Pauline, a shy singer who longs to return to the surface and who first appeared in the original Donkey Kong game as the damsel in distress, back in the 1980s. Only with DK's help can she reach the planet's core and fulfill her greatest wish, while helping her big friend with the power of her voice to face various challenges and collect all the bananas scattered throughout the underground layers.

The interactions between DK and Pauline are among the game's best moments, with the character's Portuguese voice acting making every situation more entertaining and charismatic. In fact, the entire game is localized into Brazilian Portuguese—a first for Nintendo exclusive titles—featuring witty translations and clever names to make the gameplay much more comfortable for Brazilian players.

Additionally, longtime fans of the series should look out for references to past games and DK's old friends like Cranky and Dixie Kong, among others. Even though it's a 3D exploration game, the player can also stumble upon 2D segments like jungle levels from the classic Donkey Kong Country or even cruising through an abandoned mine in a runaway cart.

Gameplay

With complete freedom to destroy the scenery around you – thanks to new technology voxels implemented by Nintendo – it is difficult to focus on the main objectives of Donkey Kong Bananza, even in the first few hours of gameplay. After all, punching is your main activity, as three of the four main buttons on the Nintendo Switch 2 are dedicated solely to punching, with the jump option being changed from B to A. And destroying everything in your path is simply too satisfying!

However, the main question that many players may have is “If almost all the scenery is destructible, it can't hinder the player's movement if he destroys a lot of things”? Fortunately, Nintendo has addressed this issue by providing a "restore terrain" option via the map screen. Plus, DK can climb almost any surface, so you'll have a hard time getting stuck. And believe me, you'll be diving into every hole on the map to find those precious bananas...

In the best style of the depths of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom, DK and Pauline will descend through various layers of the planet and encounter different environments to recover the bananas and defeat the Void Company members and their evil creations. In addition to giving DK hints and encouragement, Pauline can use her voice to break seals and point the way to the next objective. Not to mention that the costumes she and DK wear can provide different advantages in battle or movement.

And don't think you need to collect banana crystals just to satisfy DK's greedy appetite, as they are essential for acquiring skill points that allow the player to upgrade and unlock special moves for the suit. Every five bananas collected earns a new point, allowing you to build a personalized skill set to face different challenges.

In the same way as in Super Mario Odyssey (developed by the same team as Bananza), players can exchange fossils collected throughout the layers for different costumes to “style” their characters. And besides fossils, don’t forget to collect all the gold nuggets you find along the way, as they are essential for activating the Bananza powers (Kong, Zebra, Ostrich, Elephant, and Snake). By using each of the transformations, DK gains a power boost in his attacks, as well as special abilities like faster running and flying (not to mention that you're also accompanied by a custom hit sung by Pauline).

Speaking of Pauline, she has a similar use to the cap Cappy of Super Mario Odyssey when the game is in online or local multiplayer mode: the second player can control the character's voice and launch powerful onomatopoeias such as “YEAH” through the air and destroy some of the terrain to help DK. Best of all, in local mode, even Original Nintendo Switch users can play with another player, even if they don't have a copy of the game on their console.

But Pauline isn't the only one responsible for the game's music, as the game boasts an excellent soundtrack with beats reminiscent of the series' classic melodies. Don't be surprised if, in the Resort's sub-layer, you decide to take a break and order some banana drinks while relaxing to the calming sounds of the underground level's music. However, perhaps the sound that sticks most in the player's head after hours of exploring the subterranean world will be "BANANA," as this word will be heard loud and clear with each banana our duo collects.

Finally, it is worth commenting on the mode DK Artist, which allows players to have fun assembling stone sculptures of their favorite characters using the new Joy-Cons to add details, change textures, and create custom effects. And if that's not enough fun, the game also features a Photo Mode to enjoy the game's beautiful landscapes and pose the duo in different ways to capture the perfect shot!

Graphics and bugs

When the game was initially announced, many hardware and software experts questioned whether Donkey Kong Bananza could have been released for the original Nintendo Switch. After all, the development team behind the title was the same team behind 2017's Super Mario Odyssey. To make it clear that the gameplay and visual experience wouldn't be compatible with the Nintendo Switch's hardware capabilities, in volume 19 of “Ask the developer (Ask the developer, in Portuguese)” from Nintendo, the development team made the details of the game's programming clearer.

the producer Kenta Motokura and the developer Wataru Tanaka showed a comparison image of the game running on the original Nintendo Switch and the new Nintendo Switch 2. To avoid sacrificing frame rates, the team couldn't include many breakable objects in the environments using the original Switch's hardware. However, with the Switch 2's power, the developers could add many more elements, which not only made the environments more visually rich, but also allowed players to break many more objects around them.

Knowing this was the right decision is evident from the first world the player visits in the game. The frame rate remains stable and smooth. 60 FPS, with some minor drops occurring only during some boss battles and the last layers of the underground (both areas that contain many elements to interact with).

Furthermore, the player can make the most of different worlds full of details to be enjoyed in 4K in docked mode or in 1080p in portable mode, both with HDR enabled to ensure the best use of colors and brightness. The art direction team is to be commended for putting so much love and care into the inhabitants of each layer and the elements of the settings that comprise them. There are times when you might even choose to simply climb the walls instead of destroying such beautiful worlds, so don't be confused if that feeling crosses your mind.

Availability price

The game is available digitally at Nintendo eShop by R$439,00, and in physical copies at the main electronics stores in the country from the same price (when stocks return, which, at the time of publishing this analysis, were sold out). 

Conclusion

Donkey Kong Bananza manages to deliver a fun and balanced experience that honors the essence of the franchise while also offering welcome new adventures. Its vibrant visuals, engaging soundtrack, and creative levels guarantee hours of entertainment, especially for those who enjoy classic platformers with a modern twist.

While it may experience occasional performance dips at specific points, the game stands as a solid addition to the library of the most famous gaming jumpsuit, a title that more than justifies the existence of the Nintendo Switch 2. With almost 20 hours to complete the main campaign (and many more if you want to collect all the banana crystals and achieve 100%), the game is guaranteed fun from start to finish! For fans of the series or curious ones looking for a light and captivating adventure, Banance worth playing.

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Source: Nintendo