Donkey Kong Country Bananza is the first proper Donkey Kong title in nearly 20 years. The last time we saw the banana-hungry simian in an original game, the world was a much simpler place and the Nintendo 64 was still a thing.
It wouldn't be too much of a stretch to say that multiple console generations – and a couple of real ones – have done a number on the legacy of Nintendo's original icons.
Luckily, any concerns about cobwebs and stiff joints are quickly dispelled as Donkey Kong Bananza gets going. Within minutes it's clear that Nintendo hasn't rested on their laurels, and in a few hours later it's even easier to declare Bananza as what it is: one of the greatest platformers ever made.
Story and gameplay
The plot is simple enough: Donkey Kong makes a living as a miner with his other monkey friends, when one day a freak occurrence sends their entire world underground, deep into the Earth's crust. There, he bonds with the young Pauline (another Mario icon), as the duo heads off to find a way back home.
On the way, they solve puzzles, collect bananas for Donkey Kong's hoard, and help out other stragglers making their way in the fantastical underground. It's all super cute, engaging, and often laugh out loud funny.
The gameplay loop is immensely rewarding, and another sign that Nintendo's designers know how to innovate their classic material with new and interesting gimmicks. Instead of a fully traditional platformer, Bananza evokes the open world destruction of games like Red Faction, where the entire playing field is – to a degree – entirely up for demolishing.
Kong is a living wrecking ball who can pummel, punch, roll, and explode basically anything he sees. This leads to the player engaging with the expansive level design in novel new ways. For example: why approach a platformer the traditional route when you could dig your way to it?
Bananza is a massive game, with 17 underground layers to explore, each with their own sub-levels and challenges. There are hundreds upon hundreds of banana tokens to find, and a surprisingly engaging skill tree, which builds up Donkey Kong's abilities as you progress.
Each level is guarded by a boss battle, which leads to one of the only downsides in the game. These fights tend to grow tedious and repetitive, and only a few showcase the kind of uniqueness the rest of the game offers. They're not bad, but they are a bit too traditional when everything else is this wild and imaginative.
Luckily these encounters are few and far between, leaving most of the game as an open exploration that rewards curiosity. Not since Super Mario Odyssey has there been a platformer this engaging, or so infectiously giddy about the prospect of checking out just one more nook and cranny to see what you can find.
Technical aspects
Donkey Kong Bananza was originally developed for the first Nintendo Switch, but the target platformed changed pretty early on, as it became clear the aging hardware couldn't handle the vision Nintendo's design team had in mind.
You can see why, as Bananza already feels like a taxing title even on the Switch 2. The further the story goes, and the more elaborate the levels become, the more I noticed my poor machine struggling under the load. It never got bothersome or too commonplace, but I would be lying if I said I didn't notice anything.
Is it a deal-breaker or a genuine problem? Absolutely not. But it makes sense why the designers have limited the amount of things you can break. Gameplay comes first, and limitations breed creativity. Such is the case here, too. Knowing I couldn't just decimate the entire planet, Donkey Kong Bananza felt even more rewarding when I could figure out wacky ways to approach my goals in the same way as Tears of the Kingdom did.
Elsewhere, the technical prowess of the title is nothing to sniff at. This is a gorgeous and fantastically put together game. It arrives fully on the cartridge, which is another feather in Nintendo's cap. If only third-party titles were warranted the same time and space to put their titles out like this.
As for audio, the soundtrack is fine and the voice acting pleasant, though I was a little bummed that we don't get more of the gorgeous themes from original composer David Wise. Some pop up in remixes and you can hear their leitmotifs in the bigger orchestral tunes, but I would have loved a stronger callback.
Joonatan Itkonen
Accessibility
Bananza is an easy title to pick up and play, with intuitive controls and very few button mashing sequences. There's a co-op mode, where the other player controls Pauline to support Donkey Kong on his journey. This mode works on a single screen and is a wonderful way for both younger members and those not accustomed to 3D platformers to play with others.
There is also an assisted mode, which brings the difficulty down considerably and helps the player navigate the world more easily.
Sadly, most of the accessibility functions are otherwise entirely missing. While you can adjust the motion controls via three separate sensitivity settings, and you can reduce camera shake and controller rumble as well, everything else remains untouched. There is some light button mapping, but even that feels limited.
It's a massive shame, considering how much time and effort has been spent on the wonderful gameplay loop and design overall. Nintendo does so many things right that it feels odd how behind they're still on general accessibility.
Final word
Despite complaints, there's so little in Donkey Kong Bananza that is an actual concern. This is a majestic, grandiose adventure epic and one of the best platformers ever made. It redefines expectations while celebrating classic tropes of the genre. While 20 years is a heck of a long time to wait for a new Donkey Kong game, I would say the test of patience was worth it.
Donkey Kong Bananza is a modern masterpiece and the first must-own title for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Donkey Kong Bananza
I loved:
+ The great comedy and writing
+ The stellar gameplay loop
+ That it never got boring
I didn't love:
- The boss battles, which felt repetitive
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