Donkey Kong Bananza is looking like a potential GOTY candidate with Pauline in tow

After today's Nintendo Direct featuring Donkey Kong Bananza, I am really buying into the hype that we have another potential game of the year candidate on our hands. Bananza looks a lot like it's been made by the 3D Mario team who made Super Mario Odyssey, but that's just an assumption based on the look and breadth of what Nintendo showed today, which is to say that's about as big of a compliment as one can give off of initial impressions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVUidGTR8xg DK's latest adventure looks massive in scope, starring the lovable ape and Pauline from Odyssey in what looks to be an origin story of how the two met. The singer is smaller in stature than what we remember her as, but I'm sure there will be an explanation for that in the game. In Bananza, Pauline and DK team up to explore the Underground World of Ingot Isle, which the ape is able to smash his way through using all different kinds of melee moves in the 3D platformer. Pauline's songs are able to transform DK into different sorts of animals like an ostrich that glides, a zebra that sprints, and more with their Bananza powers. Once acquired, DK can freely swap between Bananza powers to get the job done. Bananza's platforming is strengthened by DK's ability to basically terraform entire maps, using his strength to destroy rocks and walls to find collectibles and necessary items, with the potential to level entire areas if you choose to do so. Grumpy Kong, Poppy Kong, and Void Kong of the Void Company are DK's adversaries who created a "banana-stealing maelstrom" that's going to destroy the planet's core. Using their powers, DK and Pauline have to fight bosses and clear their way to the core to save the day, and it all looks glorious utilizing the Switch 2's new capabilities, including two player local co-op where the second player can use the JoyCon mouse to play as Pauline. Image via Nintendo Everything in DK Bananza is supplemented with challenges, collectibles like Banandium Gems, skill points to level up DK, outfits and skins that supply different abilities and buffs, local GameShare, online play with Game Chat, Amiibo support (including a new DK and Pauline Amiibo launching alongside the game), and more. The Direct is definitely worth checking out if you want to get hyped like I am. Basically, I can't wait to get my hands on Donkey Kong Bananza when it launches on July 17. Are you looking forward to Donkey Kong's newest adventure? The post Donkey Kong Bananza is looking like a potential GOTY candidate with Pauline in tow appeared first on Destructoid.

Jun 18, 2025 - 15:06

Donkey Kong Bananza is looking like a potential GOTY candidate with Pauline in tow

After today's Nintendo Direct featuring Donkey Kong Bananza, I am really buying into the hype that we have another potential game of the year candidate on our hands.

Bananza looks a lot like it's been made by the 3D Mario team who made Super Mario Odyssey, but that's just an assumption based on the look and breadth of what Nintendo showed today, which is to say that's about as big of a compliment as one can give off of initial impressions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVUidGTR8xg

DK's latest adventure looks massive in scope, starring the lovable ape and Pauline from Odyssey in what looks to be an origin story of how the two met. The singer is smaller in stature than what we remember her as, but I'm sure there will be an explanation for that in the game.

In Bananza, Pauline and DK team up to explore the Underground World of Ingot Isle, which the ape is able to smash his way through using all different kinds of melee moves in the 3D platformer. Pauline's songs are able to transform DK into different sorts of animals like an ostrich that glides, a zebra that sprints, and more with their Bananza powers. Once acquired, DK can freely swap between Bananza powers to get the job done.

Bananza's platforming is strengthened by DK's ability to basically terraform entire maps, using his strength to destroy rocks and walls to find collectibles and necessary items, with the potential to level entire areas if you choose to do so.

Grumpy Kong, Poppy Kong, and Void Kong of the Void Company are DK's adversaries who created a "banana-stealing maelstrom" that's going to destroy the planet's core. Using their powers, DK and Pauline have to fight bosses and clear their way to the core to save the day, and it all looks glorious utilizing the Switch 2's new capabilities, including two player local co-op where the second player can use the JoyCon mouse to play as Pauline.

Donkey Kong Bananza - All Bananza Powers — Image via Nintendo

Everything in DK Bananza is supplemented with challenges, collectibles like Banandium Gems, skill points to level up DK, outfits and skins that supply different abilities and buffs, local GameShare, online play with Game Chat, Amiibo support (including a new DK and Pauline Amiibo launching alongside the game), and more. The Direct is definitely worth checking out if you want to get hyped like I am.

Basically, I can't wait to get my hands on Donkey Kong Bananza when it launches on July 17. Are you looking forward to Donkey Kong's newest adventure?

The post Donkey Kong Bananza is looking like a potential GOTY candidate with Pauline in tow appeared first on Destructoid.