Donkey Kong Bananza Review, Gameplay Impressions, Videos and Top Features

Donkey Kong Bananza is the 3D DK game fans have been waiting decades for and also the perfect follow-up to Mario Kart World for the launch window of Nintendo Switch 2.

Donkey Kong Bananza is a celebration of Donkey Kong's history that will resonate with fans who have been with the character for decades, but is also a great starting point for newcomers. This is the high-quality action-adventure game all Nintendo fans need in their library. Simply put, DK Bananza is pure fun and a fit for gamers of all ages.

Gameplay Impressions

The gameplay of DK Bananza is among the most satisfying and mesmerizing Nintendo has ever created. Bananza is perhaps the most 'Incredible Hulk' game created as Donkey Kong is a true powerhouse. Donkey Kong smashing through destructible environments is so gratifying and compelling that it's easy to lose track of time just demolishing each area. It is truly a brilliant gameplay system because it forces players to find hidden secrets and items across tens of hours of gameplay.

Bananza honors the entire history and legacy of the Donkey Kong series. There's many amazing callbacks to previous games that helped cement Donkey Kong as one of the best characters in Nintendo's catalog, such as 2D side-scrolling sequences and of course, the infamous minecarts. The music aspect of the story fits perfectly with Pauline's character as a performer but is also a throwback to the Donkey Konga games on GameCube.

Although Donkey Kong has been featured across various types of games, the most popular are the 2D games and are known for being more challenging than the Super Mario 2D games. Although DK Bananza is far less difficult than the 2D Donkey Kong games, there is still a challenge to be had when it comes to finding all of the collectibles and especially in challenge rooms. However, the notoriously difficult minecart sequences have been toned down to be far more enjoyable. They are much more fun and forgiving than the rage-inducing, impossible-feeling sequences of the Donkey Kong Country series.

As a result, DK Bananza is easily among the most accessible Donkey Kong games. The Assist Mode will display markers for the main path and tasks, which is helpful because each level is vast and features so many destructible elements. Another feature in Assist Mode is the ability to regain health when standing still, which will prove to be useful for younger or inexperienced gamers who may struggle with some of the more challenging puzzle or combat rooms. Even for experienced gamers, it is helpful for some of the more challenging boss fights as the journey unfolds.

The Donkey Kong series is known for its intense boss battles, especially in the 2D space. Bananza's boss battles are chaotic and feature unique gameplay elements that tie well to DK's skill progression throughout the game. Although they may be lacking in difficulty compared to boss battles from the 2D games, the boss characters are memorable and the battles remain true highlights of the game.

Another highlight are the animal Bananzas that Donkey Kong can transform into in order to use specific attacks or traversal abilities. These are amazing throwbacks to when Donkey Kong would acquire different animals in the DK Country series, such as Enguarde the Swordfish, Winky the Frog or Squawks the Parrot. 

One transformation called Kong Bananza enhances Donkey Kong's ability to punch, making him stronger to smash through the environment or hit enemies with more force. Another transformation is the Zebra Bananza that makes DK run faster and not succumb to hazards like crumbling paths. The Ostrich Bananza allows DK to soar and is one of the most useful transformations in the game. All of the transformations completely enhance the gameplay, open up new spots across levels and have their own unique challenge courses.

DK Bananza is movie-quality from its graphics, animations and story. The cutscenes are fantastic and could easily be translated to the big screen. Donkey Kong is animated perfectly from his fur to his expressions. The story is heartful and far more powerful than many might anticipate for a Donkey Kong game. Pauline is a necessary companion that enhances the story to make it more relatable and tie everything together throughout the epic journey.

The art style is unbelievable with vibrant colors, soft textures and explosive effects that constantly keep the players' eyes engaged across the entire screen. Photo mode is here and it will be awesome to see the cinematic photos that people post. Bananza is among the most cinematic games Nintendo has created because Donkey Kong is so expressive during the story as he interacts with Pauline and other characters. The cutscenes, camera work, soundtrack and musical numbers really push the series forward in the 3D environment compared to what was possible in the 2D series.

DK Bananza features a fantastic economy, skill tree and point progression system. The player will be rewarded with a skill point every time Donkey Kong collects five bananas, which are littered throughout each level in plain sight, secret areas, puzzle/combat rooms and for defeating bosses. Although there are hundreds of Banandium Gems (banana-looking gems) throughout the game, choosing which skills to unlock can be a rather difficult choice because many, such as increasing health or power, are so vital to leveling up Donkey Kong. Players will constantly be looking out for more Banandium Gems in order to try to max out the skill tree, which will be difficult to accomplish but is the sign of a well-developed progression system. Beyond the skill points, players can spend collected currency for balloons that will save DK when falling off a platform, dozens of clothes and other items. 

Without spoiling the number, there are many regions with their own unique themes, gameplay elements and puzzles. Throughout each level, there's creative, diverse and captivating gameplay sequences. One of the most thrilling aspects is traveling to different sublayer levels is always awe-inspiring, exhilarating and jaw-dropping. Bananza features an excellent map system as players can teleport to specific spots and players can also find treasure maps to reveal points of interest for Banandium Gems and other items.

Although most will play DK Bananza as a single-player experience, the co-op feature is fantastic for people to introduce games to newer or inexperienced gamers. It's a great way for people to stay connected while gaming together instead of just passing the controller back and forth. Impressively, players can even GameShare with others who don't even have the game.

Overall, players will be able to enjoy DK Bananza across tens of hours of high-quality gaming as Nintendo's elite standard is on full display. There were no glitches, crashes or technical hiccups and DK Bananza features minimal load times. 

Conclusion

Donkey Kong Bananza feels like a mashup of Super Mario Odyssey's collectibles, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's exploration and Metroid Prime's mystery. It is fitting that the team behind Super Mario Odyssey, which is arguably the greatest 3D Mario game ever, created the elite 3D Donkey Kong game that fans have been dreaming about. 

With movie-quality graphics, cinematography and storytelling, DK Bananza has a strong case to be regarded as the best game in Donkey Kong's vast history. By combining a phenomenal gameplay system with all of the elements that make Donkey Kong stand out on its own from Mario and other games, Nintendo has finally put Donkey Kong in the spotlight he deserves. An exceptional follow-up to Super Mario Odyssey, Donkey Kong Bananza deserves to be in the discussion as a Game of the Year contender.