In the absence of a classic Nintendo Direct, the Kyoto firm has just dedicated 15 minutes of presentation to its next major title: Donkey Kong Bananza, which will arrive on Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17th. And it goes without saying that the primate fully deserves this special treatment as its next adventure still had secrets to reveal to us.
Following the leak on Nintendo's Korean site, the main surprise was unfortunately no longer one: the little rock that accompanies DK turns out to be a rejuvenated version of Pauline. The young girl will also benefit from a full dubbing and will even sing a few original songs in the vein of her cult performance from Super Mario Odyssey. Donkey Kong: Bananza is about to tell us about the meeting between these two video game icons, through an underground journey full of innovative gameplay ideas.
The game's plot finally revealed
While the first previews of Donkey Kong: Bananza seemed to boil down to a 3D platformer where you can destroy everything, we now know that this Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive will have much more to offer us. Following the discovery of golden bananas on Ingot Island, DK thought he had hit the jackpot, but suddenly finds himself propelled into the depths of the planet.
It is in these unknown underground lands that DK meets his new sidekick Pauline, an aspiring singer, who is desperately trying to get back to the surface to realize her dream of becoming an artist. But to do so, they'll have to put an end to the machinations of a new group of antagonists: the Void Company, made up of Grumpy Kong, Poppy Kong, and Void Kong. The trio is apparently trying to trigger a cataclysm by attacking the heart of the planet, which Pauline and DK will therefore have to protect.
Exploration, combat, and collection
It will probably be impossible to get bored in Donkey Kong: Bananza. DK's physical abilities will not only allow him to roam and destroy the environment at will, but he'll also have to tackle hordes of monsters and other bosses, while staying on the lookout for numerous items and currencies to collect. Because if Donkey Kong offers what promises to be its most modern and ambitious adventure to date, a game in the franchise would not be one without a bit of the DNA specific to Rare games from the Nintendo 64 era (Banjo-Kazooie, Donkey Kong 64…).
While certain currencies will allow you to buy consumable items or outfits for the duo of protagonists, Banandium crystals will be the game's most important resource. These will allow you to progress through a skill tree offering new combat and movement options, such as the ability to surf on water using a stone block.
Unsurprisingly, Pauline will also be an essential element of this adventure. Her singing talents prove to be the key to unlocking the Bananza powers, which Donkey Kong will borrow from the elders of the underground. Thus, the primate will be able to take on additional bestial forms, such as Bananza Kong, Bananza Zebra, or Bananza Ostrich. These transformations only last a few moments but can be combined in combat and exploration.
Co-op mode, assist mode, and artist mode
Donkey Kong: Bananza will take advantage of the Nintendo Switch 2's mouse mode thanks to a rather original co-op option. By giving a JoyCon to player 2, they will be able to target the environment and enemies to bombard them with devastating singing notes. In co-op mode, Pauline is even able to absorb elements of the environment to integrate them into her singing: suffice to say that the solid gold notes will hurt.
Also note the inclusion of an assistance mode that will allow beginner players to enjoy the adventure with ease, thanks to a reduction in damage or even a guidance system towards objectives. A sort of secondary mini-game will also allow you to use smile mode to create 3D sculptures from rock, which you will be able to paint and take photos of: anecdotal but no less pleasant.
Amiibos Still Going Strong
Eleven years after their debut on Wii U, Nintendo's NFC figurines are still going strong. Donkey Kong: Bananza will come with an exclusive figurine of DK and Pauline, which will be available at the game's launch on July 17. Existing amiibos featuring characters from the franchise (including the Power Up Bands from Super Nintendo World) will reveal the letters of the word "KONG" to obtain materials, while all amiibo can summon spheres to use as projectiles.
And where are DK's friends?
Good news for longtime fans: Nintendo isn't abandoning the franchise's iconic characters. Cranky Kong and Rambi the Rhino will also be in the game, while Diddy and Dixie Kong appear to be part of a mini racing game. One thing is for sure, Donkey Kong: Bananza promises to offer a lot of content, and we can't wait to find out if the full game is as impressive as it seems.
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