Donkey Kong Bananzais taking theDKseries in an entirely new direction, but the changes to the formula might be familiar to Nintendo fans. While the upcoming game has an entirely new identity from Donkey Kong’s previous titles,Donkey Kong Bananzaseems to take inspiration from two recent Nintendo Switch heavy hitters.
As the reign of the Nintendo Switch 2 begins,Donkey Kong Bananzawill be one of the console’s first big exclusive titles. While many were surprised at the announcement of aDKgame rather than a more battle-tested franchise, like theMarioseries, the recentDonkey Kong BananzaDirect showed that the Kong can still rival the plumber. Among the reveals from the direct were details about Donkey Kong’s new abilities, the game’s story, as well as confirmation that the young girl spotted previously in leaks is in fact a younger version ofMario’s Pauline. This gives the game a clear link toMario Odyssey, but it might not be the only thingDK Bananzawill share with themost influential Switch games. As an early title for the Switch 2,Donkey Kong Bananzaseems to have learned from a few of the Switch’s best titles.
Donkey Kong Bananza Takes Cues from the Switch’s Best Successes
An Obvious Bridge to Mario Odyssey
Donkey Kong and Mario have always had a common history, being linked ever since some of their earliest appearances. While theDKfranchise has evolved separately from theMariogames, the two have always remained under the same umbrella, as evidenced by DK and friends’ appearances in theMario KartandMario Sportsgames. But now it seems likeDK Bananzais taking the link a step further. While the new mechanics and setting inBananzamay take Donkey Kong out of his famous jungle setting, the game’s new art style and designs seem to create a link to the world ofSuper Mario Odyssey. This game even introduces a young version ofPauline as a co-op partner and companion for Donkey Kong, highlighting her singing in a similar way to her spotlight performance in Mario’s latest adventure.
Even from its first trailers, fans were quick to linkDK BananzatoMario Odysseybased on the design philosophyof the two games. Both are titles that took familiar characters and reinvented something about the way they interact with their world. DK’s new destructive exploration and powerful transformations change his character in a similar way to Mario’s new capture abilities. Both of these new mechanics take something about the familiar characters and change it just enough to create brand-new gameplay experiences.
The games even feel so similar that some are consideringDK Bananzaas a spiritual successor toMario Odyssey. There is also a popular theory that the two games might hold a narrative link, withBananzaacting asOdyssey’s prequel, ushering in a new age ofMarioandDonkey Kongstories for the next generation.
A Surprising Influence From the Legend of Zelda
A franchise that many people probably wouldn’t associate with Donkey Kong is theLegend of Zeldagames. The kingdom of Hyrule and DK’s jungle are so vastly different that it’s difficult to find any common ground between the two series beyond their publisher, but someZeldainfluences may have been slipped intoDK Bananza. The new game has almost completely reinventedDonkey Kong’s abilities, giving him new attacks and new ways to interact with his environment.
The ingenious thing about this change is that both the exploration and combat stem from the newfound destructive power that Donkey Kong has been given inDK Bananza. With even more beingborrowed fromMario Odyssey,Bananzatakes place in a variety of medium-sized open areas that players can explore, but the way they explore it may be more influenced by Link than by Mario.
The standout change from bothBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom, two of the Switch’s highest-grossing titles, was the emphasis on player creativity fueling exploration. In much the same way thatLink’s Ultrahand abilitygave players new ways to explore Hyrule, DK’s new moves will allow players to climb, surf, or smash their way through the environment to reach new areas however they see fit. Nintendo’s new design philosophy of giving players new powers to experiment with and then unleashing them on the world has become a trademark of the Nintendo Switch era of games, and now, it seems thatDonkey Kong Bananzais continuing that philosophy into the era of the Nintendo Switch 2.
