Donkey Kong Bananzadeviates from the series’ past by offering a new gameplay experience, allowing players to destroy anything in sight. Players have the freedom to smash through any object they see, reducing towering mountains to debris. It’s an incredibly fun and addictive gameplay loop that could not be possible on the original Nintendo Switch, makingDonkey Kong Bananzaan enticing purchase for Switch 2 owners.
However, despite this innovative gameplay,Donkey Kong Bananzais still a platformer. Rather than fully relying on the destruction mechanic, the game allows players to play the game like a traditional platformer. While someDonkey Kong Bananzaplayers can’t get enough destruction, the choice to platform through levels normally is equally enjoyable and given the same level of care.
DK Bananza Levels Are More Than Destructive Sandboxes
For many players, the main appeal ofDonkey Kong Bananzais its destructive terrain. Players are given the complete freedom to tear up the ground around them, transforming these carefully crafted environments into caverns and canyons. There are some parts of these levels which are indestructible, meaning players can demolish as much ofDonkey Kong Bananza’s voxel-based terrainwithout locking themselves out of any content.
Though it can be tempting to immediately dig through the dirt and stone to uncover the game’s fossils and Banandium Gems, it’s equally rewarding to take in the level design above ground. Even though theDonkey Kong Bananzadevelopers encourage destructionof the game’s terrain, the intact version of each level offers a similarly rewarding experience that can be missed if it is all torn up. The levels are crafted with as much attention to detail as any other 3D platformer, offering an equally enjoyable playstyle for players looking for a more traditional experience.
Players don’t miss any content by being selective with their destruction, either. The layout of the game’s levels makes it clear where underground sections and puzzles can be accessed from. For some players, it could be preferable to findDonkey Kong Bananza’s collectiblesin this way, rather than stumbling across them by destroying the environment. Players are also able to buy maps for any missing Banadium Gems and fossils, giving them the option to only dig when necessary.
DK’s New Abilities Are Perfect for Platforming
The Skill Tree Opens Up More Playstyle Possibilities
As much asDonkey Kong Bananzaexpects players to carve out their own paths by breaking through the terrain, it also offers a lot of tools to incentivize players to stay above ground and navigate the sublayers like any othertraditional 3D platformer. Some of the game’s new mechanics, like the Jump Shot double jump and Spin Jump, give players a lot of verticality, something which they can’t make good use of when confined to the low ceilings of their self-designed caves.
Other abilities from DK’s skill tree further encourage players to take a break from digging and explore the world around them.Donkey Kong Bananza’s Turf Surf abilityis a prime example, with the Better Turf Surfing and Surf Surf upgrades giving players more options to traverse the open-ended levels. These skills improve upon Donkey Kong’s platforming capabilities more than any other game in the series' past, giving players more freedom in how they navigate each level.
Giving players more options to deal with any given situation is always beneficial.Donkey Kong Bananzaessentially gives players three options when faced with any task: brute force their way through the stage by smashing everything in sight, sticking to the main path and its platforming puzzles, or completely ignoring the levels entirely by jumping over impossible gaps.Donkey Kong Bananza’s skill treemakes this even more customizable, letting players make their own build centered around their preferred playstyle.
Platforming also takes on a major role withinDonkey Kong Bananza’s Challenge Ruins, putting players to the test with the abilities they have learned throughout the course of the game. For players focused on destroying as much as they possibly can, the platforming Challenge Ruins offer a nice change of pace. As for platforming players, the same challenges offer much more difficulty than they would face in the open levels.
Bananza’s Platforming Is Similar to Super Mario Odyssey
Thesimilarities betweenDonkey Kong BananzaandSuper Mario Odysseyare very clear. While both titles share a development team, the visual style and game design of each game are also similar to one another. However, this isn’t where the similarities end, as they both give their protagonists an expressive moveset designed for platforming challenges. InDonkey Kong Bananza, these become somewhat optional since players can just punch their way through the terrain, but exploring the level normally offers an experience that makes the game feel like a true successor toSuper Mario Odyssey.
For many players, a highlight ofSuper Mario Odysseywas its platforming mechanics, allowing players to reach areas that the regular jump can’t by stringing together a series of moves. These techniques are used byspeedrunners to skip someSuper Mario Odysseycaptures, the main mechanics of the game. This gameplay experience returns inDonkey Kong Bananza, as players can upgrade their skills and combine their abilities to jump higher and further than the game would normally allow.
Donkey Kong hasn’t received a new 3D platformer game in the series since the Nintendo 64’sDonkey Kong 64, andDonkey Kong Bananzabrings the character back to his roots but isn’t afraid to change up the formula.Donkey Kong Bananza’s focus on the breakable terrain makes the game unlike any other in the franchise’s past or any othergame currently on the Nintendo Switch 2. However, the game doesn’t stray too far from the platforming mechanics of the past, given an equal amount of emphasis in this title. Much like the capture mechanic ofSuper Mario Odyssey, the destructible terrain is the game’s main selling point, but the intricate level design and complex movement options are likely to keep fans coming back.
