Nintendo Switch 2 was released with a very limited game library, and Donkey Kong Bananza is an addition to that library. There are a lot of remasters, but the lack of new games leaves much to be desired. Mario Kart is its launch title, which can get old as you play more of it. It seems like Nintendo needs a win because most updates that we have on Switch 2 are negative. The lack of games has left many fans divided.
If you are using Switch 2 as a primary console, then you must have spent a lot of time in Mario Kart World, and you might be fed up. Get in line because I am in the same boat, and Donkey Kong Bananza is supposed to be a cure for that. After playing it for a while, I can say that it is a good game, especially for those who like Nintendo stuff. My bias could be at play here since I am not that much of a platforming fan. It makes you wonder, is Donkey Kong Bananza worth it? Let’s find out.
What It Offers
Donkey Kong Bananza is a game made for Switch 2 and is exclusive to that console, even though it does not look like a next-gen game from any angle. One of the game’s major features is its destructible environment. You are playing as Donkey Kong along with his friend Pauline.
It is a game made by the developers of Super Mario Odyssey. Coming at it after playing the previous games of the developer, it doesn’t compete. You might expect something grand like their previous game, which is lacking here.
The Background
The actual gameplay is fun. Donkey Kong and Pauline have fallen into a crater. They are now trying to reach the center of the Earth. Even though everything is bright, it is still somehow underground. It is not explained, but the Hollow Earth theory might be at play. Reaching the center of the Earth is important because it grants you a wish. Pauline wishes to be the world’s greatest singer, while Donkey Kong wants to get back to the surface.
It might not seem relevant, but there are some good moments. There are moments of bonding and singing. Singing results in different transformations, so it is an important part of Donkey Kong Bananza.
Exploration
The main thing that makes it fun is the sense of exploration that it offers. You can go in any direction, and there will always be a reward for you in the form of exploration.
Since Donkey Kong Bananza offers total destructibility, you can destroy nearly everything in your path. You can dig, smash, and even go beyond if a map has a boundary. Digging down can result in finding a treasure chest or even a full dungeon. It provides a sense of discovery that makes exploration more rewarding.
Even though there is a sense of discovery, the solutions to most problems are similar. So you won’t be solving different problems with different solutions. There is a lack of puzzle since Donkey Kong Bananza lets you go through most of it by throwing rocks and smashing.
Gameplay
The main changes that Donkey Kong Bananza brings are transformations. At a certain point in the game, you will encounter elders. They give you the ability to temporarily transform into a Zebra, Ostrich, Bigger Gorilla, and stuff like that. These abilities are needed for solving puzzles. There is one section with ice bridges, and only the zebra is immune to it, so you have to get that transformation.
All transformations are required to progress, since without them, you can’t pass through a section. Getting different transformations earlier would have been better. It might sound great in theory, similar to how other Mario and Donkey Kong games have done. Every time you get a new form, there is a new ability and puzzle. That one form is the only solution.
Combat
Donkey Kong games always had good bosses that offered challenge, but some of the bosses in Donkey Kong Bananza are so easy that they can be completed under 30 seconds. If you are even a decent enough gamer, then this would be a cakewalk, which can lead to boring stuff. Just don’t expect Astoro Botlevel experience because that can lead to disappointment.
There is a skill tree that requires bananas to upgrade. Five bananas let you get one upgrade. Even if you are not actively looking for bananas, you will still find a lot of them as you defeat mini bosses and progress.
There is so much side content spread across the game that you will find a lot of optional bananas while not even looking for them. Banana hunting is supposed to be a fun part of it that gives you more abilities, which isn’t really the case.
Sure, you get a lot of upgrades, but these upgrades don’t bring meaningful advantages. Upgrades can increase your health, extra life, and reduce charge-up time for transformation. It is just about increasing the time meters so you can get by without them. Upgrades are on passive, not active.
Verdict (Is Donkey Kong Bananza Worth It?)
Donkey Kong Bananza is not a bad game from any angle, as mentioned earlier, because there are some good moments. It feels like the game is not trying hard enough to make it appealing, making it downright lazy. It is a $70 game, and it does not justify that price tag. Donkey Kong Bananza is the only Switch 2 game we are getting for a while, so releasing Metroid Prime 4: Beyond would have been a better idea.
It is a game that is exactly like a Donkey Kong game should be. It does not go beyond that, even if a lot of people are praising it to a great degree. I would say that it is a good game to have some fun time, and it is an experience that can be forgettable. People might even forget about it after a year or so. It is not a game that will stick to your memory for long unless you are a huge Donkey Kong fan.
Use Our Affiliates and Support The Looter Shooters By Clicking on The Link Below
Trailer:
