Donkey Kong Bananza is a brilliant successor to Super Mario Odyssey and a groundbreaking adventure that surpasses expectations. This 3D platformer masterfully balances nostalgia with fresh ambition, crafting a game world that’s both timeless and innovative.
The game takes place in Donkey Kong’s world, where every breakable corner is bursting with Nintendo magic. Bananza beautifully honors DK’s various incarnations over the decades while fearlessly forging its own path. The story follows DK and his sidekick Pauline as they pursue an underground legend that will grant them one wish.
The gameplay is a constant crescendo across its 20-hour campaign, hitting its pinnacle with an unforgettable finale. Bananza’s fully destructible environments are a highlight, allowing players to tear through the world in a way that feels both technically impressive and fun.
DK’s set of abilities is endlessly enjoyable and fulfilling to pull off, with a simple action like tearing a chunk from the ground leading to many dynamic possibilities. The controls are polished, and when chained together, everything sings together in perfect harmony.
Bananza excels at rewarding discoveries through smart destruction, with visual cues masterfully drawing your eye to areas worth exploring. While there’s some room for improvement, the open-world nature of the maps fits well within modern Nintendo trends.
The game’s world is designed to maximize DK’s destructive abilities, but it never feels like a gimmick or the only tool you have to solve every problem. Bananza offers a mix of exploration, platforming, fighting, and collecting in a vast world where destruction is an integral part of the design philosophy.
Bananzas – DK’s powered-up transformations – add a fun twist to the gameplay, but their immense power sometimes trivializes puzzles. The boss battles are cool, but can be completed too quickly due to Bananza’s abilities.
Overall, Donkey Kong Bananza is a fantastic 3D platformer that offers something for everyone. With its engaging mechanics, optional challenges, and post-game content, this game is a must-play for fans of the series and newcomers alike.
Source: https://www.ign.com/articles/donkey-kong-bananza-review