As we were all watching the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, you couldn’t help but wonder what was going to end the show. There were honestly multiple paths that Nintendo could’ve taken to end things with a bang, including dropping another big Mario title, showing off a certain fighting game from Masahiro Sakurai, or even revealing an all-new IP that could’ve sent us reeling. Instead, Nintendo decided to listen to fans in a different way and give them the announcement of a title that they had been asking for since the Wii U…and that wish became Donkey Kong Bananza!
Yes, we’re FINALLY getting a new original title featuring Donkey Kong! You know, like we predicted we would get yesterday? Anyway, this new title with DK is special in all the ways that matter, including the very look of Donkey Kong himself! Many people noticed that DK was reverting back to his OG look before the SNES titles streamlined him a bit. Well, now his OG look is back, and what’s also back is a 3D open world to have fun in!
For the first time since the N64, you’ll be set loose on the world and get to take it on as you see fit! One of the key things explored within the reveal trailer was that Donkey Kong will get the chance to destroy just about anything he wants with his massive strength. That includes punching through walls to open up new paths or grabbing chunks of the floor to throw at enemies!
Now, as for where DK actually is, that’s the big mystery. The trailer and Nintendo made it clear that the game would be set in an “underground world,” which would make sense given DK’s arrival in a mining hat. That would also explain all the new scenery that we see in the trailer, including the very simian-looking enemies that pop up.
While we don’t see the rest of the Kong family, that doesn’t mean they won’t turn up before the end. Arguably, the best part about this trailer is that Donkey Kong Bananza will arrive on July 17th, which means it’ll be one of the first 1st party games to arrive on the Nintendo Switch 2! Check out the trailer below:
For Donkey Kong fans, this is a dream come true, as he’s been stuck with ports for the entire Switch run. It’s good to see him get his due on Switch 2, and hopefully, we’ll get more titles like this for other “in need” Nintendo characters.
