Young Pauline, Diddy, Dixie, and everything we saw in today’s Nintendo Direct Donkey Kong Bananza showcase
DK’s big comeback. Bananza brings the funk and Pauline! Donkey Kong’s new adventure is almost here - and when it launches, you’ll be able to play it with a friend, even on the original Switch.
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Donkey Kong: Bananza was first announced during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct on April 2, and with the release date getting closer, we've now got a showcase dedicated entirely to the game. After a 25-year break, Donkey Kong is back in a brand-new 3D platformer – and we just got our first look at who’ll be joining him on this smashing and crashing adventure.
Everything we just learned about Donkey Kong Bananza
Donkey Kong: Bananza is just a month away from swinging onto the Switch 2, and it’s looking like more than just a new game, it’s shaping up to be a full-blown comeback for DK. Joining him will be none other than Young Pauline herself!
Of course, it wouldn’t be a true Donkey Kong journey without some familiar faces popping up. Cranky Kong (the original Donkey Kong from the classic 1981 arcade game) will show up with his usual mix of “wisdom” and snarky comments. And if you were paying close attention during the showcase, you might’ve spotted Diddy Kong and his girlfriend Dixie making an appearance too.
Source: Nintendo
But let’s focus on even greater matter: as may colleague predicted, Donkey Kong: Bananza will support local co-op and online play through GameShare. That means you and a friend can team up, with one of you playing as Pauline and using her powerful voice to help DK on his adventure. And it doesn’t even stop there.
Thanks to GameShare, your friend doesn’t even need to own a copy of the game to join in. They don’t even need a Switch 2 – Bananza can be shared to the original Switch too! Yeah, that’s straight-up bananas.
As for what the game’s bringing to the table – it’s way too much to squeeze into just a few lines. Donkey Kong: Bananza is packing a crazy variety of skills you can mix and combine to discover new effects, which means there are tons of ways to explore the underground world. And while we’re down there, we can even snap a few picks as the game has a Photo Mode.
Source: Nintendo
We’ll also be able to trade in-game currency for outfits that aren’t just about looking stylish in our photos. Each piece of clothing gives us different perks, and we can even mix and match to see what combos work best.
And finally, the DK Artist feature. It looks like a total blast, but I’ve got a feeling some players are going to get a little too creative with it, just like it was with the building mechanics in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. We’ll see how wild it gets on July 17th.
