Donkey Kong Bananza
A game likeDonkey Kong Bananzahas been a foresightful meter coming , and it has a fortune to correct some of the misapprehension made in Donkey Kong ’s previous 3D platformer . Although I lovedDonkey Kong 64when I first mother it for the N64 , and spent a lot of hours in the multiplayer arena , there ’s no denying that the game has n’t aged as well as its coevals , likeSuperMario 64.Donkey Kong Bananzais DK ’s first guesswork in a while at 3D platforming redemption .
Now , I will be honest and say that I was n’t initially sold on what I ’d determine fromDonkey Kong Bananza ’s trailer . DK looked different , his common antagonists seemed to have been replaced , and my nostalgia - poisoned Einstein was honestly hoping a new 3DDonkey Konggame would act more similarly toDonkey Kong 64 . However , the more I recollect aboutDonkey Kong Bananzaas its own place , the more I started to get aroused about it . I guess the game even has the potential toput theDonkey Kongseries on more level ground with theMariogames .
Donkey Kong’s 3D History Isn’t As Good As Mario’s
Donkey Kong Only Has One 3D Platformer
Donkey Kong may not be as fertile as Mario , but the great ape makes up for it by having some character secret plan . TheDonkey Kong Countryseries has delivered some very fun and challenging platformers with a alone dash . The mine cart level have always been a favorite of mine , and Enguarde the Swordfish even manages to make water levels more playable . However , despiteDonkey Kong ’s many successes in the region of 2D platformers , the serial publication has n’t shown anywhere near the same consistency or quality when it comes to 3D ones .
Nintendo Switch 2 missed an chance to give fans a new Super Mario Odyssey and instead focused on Donkey Kong Bananza , which is disappointing .
Donkey Kong 64is the only 3D platformer the series has hadbefore toDonkey Kong Bananza . AlthoughDonkey Kong 64was well - receive when it ab initio fare out , it has aged more like one of DK ’s desired bananas than a okay wine-colored . Like many old 3D platformers , Donkey Kong 64hadn’t quite count on out the serious path to use its photographic camera just yet . This , coupled with some clunky controls , make it slightly frustrating to try and replay , peculiarly if you ’re stuck with a wear - out old N64 joystick .
by from the game ’s inbuilt flaws , Donkey Kong 64is also not as easy to play as older 3DMariotitles . SuperMario 64can be played on the Switch via the Virtual Console , or if you were lucky enough to snag a written matter ofSuper Mario 3D All - Stars . Donkey Kong 64 , in contrast , has only ever been usable on its original platform or through the Wii U ’s Virtual Console . Now that the Wii U ’s service have been shut down , you necessitate to have an original written matter ofDK 64or swear on emulators .
Donkey Kong Bananza for the Switch 2 is bringing a redesign to the titular ape , and while it is a controversial alternative , a former DK artist is for it .
With Donkey Kong ’s only 3D platformer being both dated and inaccessible , it ’s no wonder thatDK does n’t come close to give as sound a track record with them as Mario . WhileDonkey Kong Bananzahas the chance to commute this perspective , it will need to deflect some ofDonkey Kong 64 ’s full-grown flaws if it want to succeed . fortunately , it look like Nintendo wo n’t be making the same mistake this meter around .
Custom image by Katarina Cimbaljevic
Donkey Kong Bananza Could Fix Donkey Kong 64’s Weaknesses
Donkey Kong 64’s Character Switching And Platforming Feel Dated
Donkey Kong 64is a game with a lot of ideas , and while few are bad ideas in isolation , it does leave the biz feeling a piffling unfocused and bloated at prison term . One of the most ill-famed examples of this is the game ’s character mechanic , where players are forced to switch between five different Kongs to complete unlike challenges . The exit is that this switch had to take place at a indicate barrel , so you were ofttimes storm to double back and alternate characters to solve a new puzzle , or collect some otherwise colored bananas .
It also sometimes feels likeDonkey Kong 64is take a mo of an identity crisis in terms of its genre . Aside from platforming , the biz includes puzzle - solving element , and fictional character rise that almost feel like they belong in an RPG . This not only takes centering away from the genuine platforming , but also frequently grinds the pace of the biz to a halt , which moderately kills the appeal of this type of game .
In the unexampled Mario Kart game revealed during the Switch 2 ’s first trailer , players noticed a identification number of particular , include some character redesigns .
Luckily , it seems likeDonkey Kong Bananzawill be addressing some of these flaw from DK ’s previous 3D outing . Although it ’s hard to say definitively - as we have n’t seen a short ton of gameplay yet - it does look like layer are more focused . It does n’t seem like there will be a lot of wandering around or tiresomeness . Instead , the biz ’s pace seems quicker and its levels slightly more linear . From what we ’ve take care so far , it looks like the plot will play more similarly tosomething likeAstro BotthanDonkey Kong 64 .
It also look like the game will be focused solely on DK as opposed to a group of character . While I would n’t be against fiddle as other characters , I do think having one uniform bent of control and physics is a good matter for a 3D platformer . Playing as DK the entire time will allow us to master the game ’s mastery and rive off satisfying platforming exploit . It will also , hopefully , meanwe are n’t schlepping back through old level to catch a few other than colored bananas .
A Truly Great 3D Donkey Kong Is Way Overdue
Donkey Kong 64 Is Over 25 Years Old
I ’m glad thatDonkey Kong Bananzalooks fun , because DK ’s counter to 3D platforming is long overdue . Donkey Kong 64originally came out in tardy 1999 , meaning it will be over 25 years since the last 3DDonkey Konggame whenDonkey Kong Bananzacomes outon July 17 , 2025 . Originally , Nintendo had started developing a 3DDonkey Konggame with developer Vicarious Visions for the Switch , according toGame Rant . The project at long last fell through in 2016 , and it was starting to feel like Nintendo had given up on a 3DDonkey Kongreturn .
Despite the widespread stick drift issues that beset the original Switch , Nintendo has confirmed that the Switch 2 does n’t use Hall effect sticks
I do n’t envy the team task with creatingDonkey Kong Bananza . After so much sentence , it ’s go to be hard for a new 3DDonkey Konggame to dwell up to the anticipation many players likely have for it . However , the previews for the biz do have me optimistic thatDonkey Kong Bananzacould be DK ’s first sincerely great outing in the 3D platforming humankind .
Source : Game Rant
