BigCrits

Everything Announced at the Donkey Kong Bananza Direct

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Nintendo fans were treated to a wild ride this morning with the Donkey Kong Bananza Direct, and it did not disappoint. Packed with surprises, nostalgia, and some seriously banana-powered upgrades, the 15-minute showcase gave us our best look yet at Donkey Kong’s next big jungle-shaking adventure.

Here’s a complete rundown of everything that was revealed:

Pauline Swings Into Action

Pauline is officially joining Donkey Kong on his new journey—not just as a companion, but as a key gameplay feature. She can sing to guide the player and break magical seals, and she even has a mysterious form called the “Odd Rock.” Her dual-role setup seems integral to solving puzzles and progressing deeper into the world.

Donkey Kong’s Moveset Gets Supercharged

DK is back and beefier than ever. Here’s a look at his core abilities:

  • Punch & Dive Punch – Classic Kong combat with a little extra flair.
  • Roll Forward – Charge through obstacles and enemies.
  • Hand Slap – Shake the ground to reveal secrets.
  • Tear Off – Rip away barriers.
  • Swing & Chunk Jump – Navigate the world with power and agility.
  • Turf Surf – Ride terrain like a natural.
  • Throw – Lob objects and foes.
  • Make Music – Often done with Pauline, this ability reveals paths and secrets.

Kong Transformations: The Bananza Powers

Discovering ancient Bananza powers from Giant Elders unlocks temporary but powerful transformations:

  • Kong Bananza – Your classic mega ape form.
  • Zebra Bananza – A speedy, stripey power-up.
  • Ostrich Bananza – Graceful and nimble traversal ability.

Each form is time-limited, but offers unique movement and combat advantages.

Familiar Faces & Foes

  • Cranky Kong and Rambi (YES!) are back to help out.
  • Meet the villains of Void Company, a corrupt underground operation featuring:
    • Grumpy Kong
    • Poppy Kong
    • Void Kong

These bosses guard the lower layers of the underground realm, and defeating them is key to progression.

Explore, Upgrade, and Collect

  • Ancient Ruins hide platforming challenges like obstacle courses, time trials, and side-scrolling segments.
  • Skill Points (earned by collecting gems) let you upgrade DK’s health, strength, or unlock new abilities.
  • Collectibles can be traded for items, costumes, and more.
  • A Collectible Tracker helps you keep tabs on what you’ve found.
  • A Music Player lets you relive your favorite tunes.

🛠️ Features Galore

  • Photo Mode – Capture those jungle vibes.
  • Elevators – Traverse realms quickly.
  • 2-Player Local Co-op – Grab a friend!
  • Game Share Support – Only one copy needed for two-player action.
  • Assist Mode – For those who want some help (or just chill vibes).
  • DK Artist Mode – A new stone carving mini-game using motion controls and stylus-style precision.

Amiibo &… Diddy!?

  • New Donkey Kong Amiibo unlocks a special outfit.
  • All existing Donkey Kong series amiibo are compatible—they grant gold tiles and more.
  • And yes… at the very end, we got a shadowy tease. Was that Diddy Kong!? 👀

Conclusion

Donkey Kong Bananza is shaping up to be a bold new chapter in DK’s legacy. With deep exploration, customizable upgrades, local co-op, and more collectibles than you can shake a banana at, this could be a must-play title for Switch 2’s early lineup.

Stay tuned for more updates as we approach launch, and let us know:
Which Bananza form are YOU most hyped for?

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