Donkey Kong Bananza’s dopest features revealed in Nintendo Direct

Nintendo has finally revealed more information about Donkey Kong Bananza as part of a new Nintendo Direct. Shockingly, there’s more to this game than I initially expected. And everything that Nintendo showed off is the best argument for why this game isn’t simply a Super Mario Odyssey or The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild clone.

The Donkey Kong Bananza Direct went down on Wednesday, diving deeper into the latest adventure from our favorite muscular monkey. Mysteries were solved surrounding Odd Rock and what role Pauline plays in the game, and clarity was achieved with a better understanding of the full scope of Bananza. But with all the clarification came more new exciting features that allow Donkey Kong’s latest adventure to stand out from Odyssey and BOTW — regardless of any shallow similarities.

Check out the dopest new features from Donkey Kong Bananza below.

A multiplayer element, whether your friend has the game or not

Donkey Kong Bananza incorporates multiplayer elements into the game, much like Super Mario Odyssey. In Odyssey, players were given limited control over the plumber’s new companion, Cappy. Bananza also gives a second control over the title’s companion. However, unlike Odyssey, players can use Pauline with more freedom, firing powerful vocal blasts via the Joy-Con 2’s mouse controls. Players controlling Pauline will be able to copy the materials of nearby terrain to enhance her singing projectiles, which, as seen in the trailer, can assist player 1 in intense boss battles by doing real damage. And if that wasn’t enough, Bananza uses the Switch 2’s GameShare capabilities, allowing co-op play even if one person owns a copy of the game.

So, in Bananza, multiplayer actually matters.

DK, Donkey Kong is here… with a killer soundtrack

When I think of Nintendo, the first things that come to mind are childlike joy, timeless fun, and a killer soundtrack. And Bananza is no exception.

Much like Odyssey and BOTW, careful intention went into the game’s music to push the title forward with new jams, seemingly sung by Pauline, and paying homage to its roots with classic songs. For example, despite a departure from Rare’s Kong, “Jungle Hijinks” from Donkey Kong Country and even the iconic “DK Rap” from Donkey Kong 64 triumphantly return to the franchise. And speaking of music…

Music is the rhythm of life and transformation

Music plays a big role in Bananza’s mechanics. Pauline appeared in Odyssey as the mayor of New Donk City and sang the game’s theme song, “Jump Up, Super Star!” Bananza, on the other hand, finds a younger Pauline, weaponizing her talents to aid Donkey Kong in his adventure.

Players can power up their abilities by harnessing acquired powers from the musically themed Giant Elders, granting Pauline the skill to grant DK Bananza Transformations, allowing him to transform into various animals. These transformations include DK becoming a zebra to dash across water or an ostrich to take flight into the tropical skies like our good friend Expresso in the old days.

Side-scrolling glory

Donkey Kong’s synonymous side-scrolling gameplay returns in Bananza as specific nail-biting challenges to earn a new collectible called Banandium Gem.

Players can then trade in Banandium Gems to level up DK’s skill points and unlock destructive new abilities in his adventures across this layered world. The Nintendo Direct trailer footage showed a glimpse at the old-school-inspired gameplay with DK and Pauline being shot through a series of barrels, swinging and swerving across various craggy 2.5 levels.

Tired: Mario Paint; Wired: DK Paint

Bananza even has a dope new feature for those who want to take a break from mass kong destruction: DK Artist. DK Artist reminded me of the Super Mario 64 title screen and Mario Paint mashed into one experience; it was surprisingly charming.

Using the Joy-Con 2 mouse controls, players can carve, mold, and stretch intricate designs into stone, and even use paint and other coloring methods to bring life to their humble masterpieces.

Donkey Kong Bananza is similar to Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in the same way that Street Fighter and Darkstalkers are the same games: They’re titles from the same publisher and developer operating in a similar genre. And Bananza’s truly banana features and emphasis on chaotic demolition are more than proof of that; let’s just hope that the game can stick its landing and avoid any (banana peel) slips on the way.

Nintendo will release Donkey Kong Bananza exclusively for the Switch 2 on July 17.