Switch 2 Aims to Succeed Odyssey with Donkey Kong

During a presentation prior to my two-hour hands-on session with Donkey Kong Bananza, Nintendo confirmed what many suspected since the game's first reveal: the same team behind Super Mario Odyssey is developing this 3D platformer. This connection became immediately apparent during gameplay – Bananza follows the Odyssey blueprint to perfection. The expansive open fields filled with hidden collectibles (Bananas replacing Moons), NPCs offering discovery hints, environmental puzzles rewarding exploration, and a versatile movement system all bear Odyssey's unmistakable influence.

Donkey Kong Bananza Direct Screenshots

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While maintaining this familiar structure, Bananza never feels derivative. Swapping Mario for our hairy ape hero proves transformative. Within just two hours, I was completely charmed by DK's powerful yet surprisingly agile movement, his environmental destruction capabilities, and his undeniable personality. This appears to be everything fans could want from a 3D Donkey Kong adventure.

My demo included several save files – beginning with the Ingot Isle mines tutorial section. Here I learned DK's intuitive yet unique control scheme: A jumps while X punches upward, Y punches forward, and B stomps downward. This punch-based movement allows creative tunneling through terrain, with different materials requiring varying strength levels. Standard DK can smash through dirt and crystal, but tougher rocks demand makeshift pickaxes crafted from harder materials.

This destruction feels tremendously satisfying to execute. Watching DK plow through walls, send enemies flying with single punches, and leave craters with ground pounds delivers perfect power fantasy. Yet he maintains surprising agility via sprinting, rolling, and object-surfing. His moveset blends traditional DK elements with something akin to the Hulk's raw power.

It's a super fun set of tools to play around with that feels like a mix of traditional Donkey Kong, plus The Incredible Hulk.

Following the tutorial, I explored Lagoon Layer – the first proper level, structured similarly to Odyssey's kingdoms. The main quest involves restoring water flow blocked by invading creatures, creating classic "rising water level" platforming sequences. While the critical path is clearly marked (via L-button navigation), the real joy comes from exploration. Bananas (this game's equivalent of Odyssey's Moons) reward environmental puzzles – one required ground-pounding water to reach an underwater banana, while others demanded platforming gauntlets or combat challenges.

Fossils serve as currency for cosmetic upgrades (replacing Odyssey's outfits). These collectibles are so numerous they're almost overwhelming – perfect for completionists. The multi-layered level design sets Bananza apart; each zone features vertically stacked sublayers roughly equivalent to Mario Sunshine's levels. Completing a sublayer's main objective unlocks the next, with clever environmental connections encouraging backtracking. Fast travel between checkpoints maintains Odyssey-style convenience.

Later sections introduced deeper mechanics: minecart sequences and explosive rock-throwing in a mining town, then jungle traversal with hazardous purple pools. The highlight was Bananza transformations – temporary powered-up states activated by collecting gold. Kong Bananza amps up DK's strength, while Ostrich Bananza enables aerial traversal. The light skill tree (unlocked via banana collection) primarily enhances existing abilities, though some unlocks like mid-air rock jumps add welcome variety.

The two-player mode features Pauline as a Galaxy-style co-op partner, using vocal projectiles for assistance. This family-friendly feature utilizes Switch's pointer controls beautifully, though it's clearly designed for casual play rather than serious co-op.

After my preview session concluded, I was left desperately wanting more. As a longtime DK fan, Bananza appears to be the definitive 3D interpretation we've waited decades for. For Mario enthusiasts awaiting Odyssey's successor, this stands as the perfect stopgap – familiar yet fresh, delivering the evolutionary leap Donkey Kong deserves.