After being largely absent from the original Nintendo Switch, save for a port of his Wii and Wii U outings, Donkey Kong has returned with a brand new game and pants for some reason. Donkey Kong Bananza was announced for the Nintendo Switch 2 during the Nintendo Direct, giving us our first look at what’s next for him following the characters model revamp that was announced last year.
In the trailer, the titular character appears to be getting a similar treatment to that of Kirby in Kirby and the Forgotten Land in that he will have a variety of 3D environments to smash his way through. While this isn’t the first time Donkey Kong has taken on a 3D world, it has been a while since the character has branched from the 2D space, having done so previously on the N64 in 1999 with Donkey Kong 64.
Donkey Kong looks to be focusing on his strength this time around with an environment that appears to be highly destructible. At one point, he pounds straight into the ground only to dig a hole before punching his way out, and at another, as he rips a chunk of rock out of the ground and uses it as a weapon, destroying parts of the world to collect coins. In fact, the trailer spends a lot of time letting you know the monkey can destroy literally anything standing in its path.
In an official blurb from Nintendo, it was stated:
Get ready for Donkey Kong Bananza, a brand-new 3D platforming action adventure – available exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. Crash, bash, and climb through nearly everything in DK’s path and tear off chunks of terrain to swing around and throw in groundbreaking exploration. The more that is demolished with powerful punches, the more areas open up to discover. Break on through this adventure full of mayhem, surprises and bananas when Donkey Kong Bananza crashes onto Nintendo Switch 2 July 17.
Donkey Kong Bananza will not be launching alongside the Nintendo Switch 2, instead releasing a little over a month later on July 17th, within the launch window. It will be priced at $69.99, 10 dollars cheaper than Mario Kart World.
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