Donkey Kong Bananza crashes onto the Nintendo Switch 2 and it’s as big as the name suggests. Made by the same team that brought you Super Mario Odyssey this 3D platformer is a mix of new and old.
You play as Donkey Kong, as he runs through underground worlds to find the Planet Core, a legendary artifact that can grant any wish. Next to him is Pauline, a singer from Donkey Kong’s early days, reimagined as a sidekick perched on his shoulder. Her singing powers up Donkey Kong and lets him turn into powerful forms like the red hot Bananza state where he can smash through concrete like it’s nothing.
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LEGO Super Mario: Mario Kart Donkey Kong & DK Jumbo - Collectible Toy Building Set for Kids, Boys and...
- SUPER MARIO KART COLLECTIBLE – Kids can race to the finish line while aiming for targets with the help of Donkey Kong on his DK Jumbo
- DONKEY KONG TOY – This toy playset includes a Donkey Kong figure, plus a banana with face decorations
- MARIO KART TOY – Place Donkey Kong on his DK Jumbo kart, drive and drift, and launch shells at the target to knock the banana off
The gameplay is all about Donkey Kong’s ability to wreck the environment. Walls, floors and ceilings crumble under his fists, revealing hidden paths and collectibles. Powered by voxel technology, this destructible world feels like a playground where everything can be broken. Unlike older games that only hinted at destruction, Bananza goes all in – every level is a sandbox. You might dig a tunnel to get a golden banana or smash a wall to reveal a secret room. The freedom to shape the terrain keeps exploration exciting and the game tracks your destruction so each area feels personal.
Controls are tight and responsive, balancing Donkey Kong’s brute strength with surprising agility. He moves with a heavy thud but dashes and jumps with speed, every jump and punch feels great. Pauline’s singing adds a rhythm – her songs trigger transformations like an ostrich form to fly through the air or a zebra form to unlock new paths.
Visually Bananza is a treat. The Switch 2’s hardware delivers crisp, colorful worlds full of character. Underground mines sparkle with gems, lagoons shine with water effects and every level feels unique yet connected. Donkey Kong’s grunts and chest thumps are charming, the animations are great. The audio is lively and 5.1 surround sound makes every crash pop.
Some players have noticed slight frame rate dips during destruction scenes but they don’t ruin the fun as the game stays at 60FPS most of the time. Levels are designed for exploration, with 3D hub worlds and platforming challenges. Each area has collectibles like golden bananas and gems to find.
Originally planned for the original Switch, Bananza was moved to the Switch 2 when the team saw they needed more power. The voxel tech that powers the game’s destruction was too much for the older hardware.
