Donkey Kong is back and ready to go bananas in a brand-new 3D platformer coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17! In the latest Donkey Kong Bananza Direct, Nintendo gave us a first juicy look at what’s going to be DK’s wildest bananadventure! And yes, it’s full of golden bananas, ground-pounding action, and even musical explosions.
Here’s a quick recap of everything revealed!
A Brand-New Adventure Deep Underground
The story begins on Ingot Isle, where Donkey Kong stumbles upon the discovery of a lifetime: golden bananas! But just before he can snack on them, a storm sends him tumbling into the planet’s underground. That’s where he meets Pauline, now going by the name Odd Rock, and yes, she can sing her way through danger!
Together, DK and Pauline team up to explore a mysterious world deep below the surface. You can play solo or team up in local co-op! It’s time to grab a Joy-Con and unleash your inner Kong!
Smash, Slam, and Sing!
DK’s back with a whole new set of powerful moves, like:
- Dive Punch – drills through the ground
- Hand Slap – finds hidden goodies
- Turf Surfing – ride around on giant ground chunks
But the real twist? Pauline’s singing powers up Donkey Kong and activates wild transformations:
- Kong Bananza – extra strength
- Zebra Bananza – speedy dashes
- Ostrich Bananza – flight and egg bombs (yes, egg bombs, you heard right!)
You will also have to collect Bananergy to trigger transformations and unlock new combos to knock out your enemies in style.
Co-op Chaos and New Tech
You can play with a friend using shared Joy-Con 2 controls, or even via GameShare and GameChat features to connect online. However, if you want to use the online connection you do need to subscription to the Nintendo online, which is a bit of a bummer, as always. Pauline has unique support abilities, including sonic attacks using the Joy-Con’s mouse function (yes, really).
Collectibles Everywhere
It wouldn’t be a DK game without collectibles! Expect to find:
- Banandium Gems – power up DK’s abilities
- Banandium Chips and Gold – trade for items and upgrades
- Fossils – unlock outfits and fur colors
- Getaways & Elevators – rest up and fast travel through the layers
Familiar Faces & New Foes
Donkey Kong and Pauline won’t be alone down there! Expect cameos from Cranky Kong, Rambi, and new faces like Grumpy Kong and the infamous Void Kong, who’s behind the shady Void Company.
Extras, Modes, and Amiibo
Need a break from smashing rocks and eating bananas? You can:
- Snap pics in Photo Mode
- Create carvings in DK Artist Mode
- Unlock special goodies with new Donkey Kong and Pauline amiibo, including Pauline’s Diva Dress and powerful Kong tiles!
We did not expect much from it, but Donkey Kong Bananza is actually looking like a real peel! It’s packed with personality, platforming fun, and tons of banana-loving energy.
If you’re interested, you can rewatch the full Direct right here:
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