When a new console comes out, some games are simply a must-buy. Such was the case back in 2017 when The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild arrived alongside the original Nintendo Switch. That was the game to show off what the Switch could do, and it proved to be an instant hit with gamers and helped propel the console to enormous heights.
With the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 back in June, Mario Kart World was the big day and day drop, and was an instant success. However, that game was instantly familiar and, while it added much to the enduring franchise, it didn’t necessarily break the mould when it came to Switch titles. No, the title that’s managed to do that is Donkey Kong Bananza, an innovation in fun for the most beloved gorilla in gaming.
Here’s the log line: With DK’s brute force and Pauline’s special singing abilities, you can crash through walls, carve tunnels with your fists, punch straight down into the ground, and even tear off chunks of terrain to swing around and throw in groundbreaking exploration. The more you smash, the more areas open up to explore.
One thing about Nintendo and their exclusive games – they’re designed for absolute fun, and that’s precisely what I’ve been having since Donkey Kong Bananza was released. The game’s open world setting allows for so much exploration, and it takes a heck of a lot of smashing to see everything. The mechanics of the Donkey Kong character are so intuitive and straightforward that I can’t help but wander around every crevice to destroy rocks and grab bananas. Dare I say, while I know there’s a plot to Donkey Kong Bananza, I’m finding it pretty therapeutic just letting my inner DK smash away.
I’ve been playing Donkey Kong Bananza strictly on my 4K television, and it’s safe to say that the Switch 2 graphics look absolutely gorgeous on the big screen. While I never took issue with the previous console’s appearance when docked, there is a significant increase in quality with the new console, which adds to any game’s appeal on a TV. I’ll take Donkey Kong Bananza for a spin in handheld at some point, but this is a game where bigger is definitely better.
When BBP!’s Anya and I test drove the Switch 2 earlier this year, Donkey Kong Bananza was one of the games on display. It immediately got our gamer hearts going, as this was something that felt new and fresh, even while firmly rooted in the classic Nintendo ecosystem. It’s safe to say that the anticipation we, and Nintendo fans at large, felt about Donkey Kong Bananza has been rewarded. For anyone with a Switch 2, it’s the console’s first definitive must-buy.
If you disagree, you’re bananas.
