任天堂大举革新《大金刚》，任天堂 Switch 2 和马里奥卡丁车 9 首次亮相

Nintendo's significant overhaul of Donkey Kong's design, initially glimpsed in the Mario Kart 9 gameplay shown during the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal, is now confirmed across a range of merchandise. This marks a departure from the character's decades-long consistent appearance in titles like Mario Kart 8, Mario Tennis, and Donkey Kong Country Returns. The new design, reminiscent of the character's portrayal in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, has generated considerable fan discussion.

Images of the new merchandise, shared on Reddit by user cookiemaster221 and highlighted by Nintendo Life, showcase a noticeably softer Donkey Kong. His previously furrowed brow is now smoother, leading to comments comparing the change to a "reverse Kirby treatment"—a shift from angry to more relaxed.

While opinions are divided, with some expressing nostalgia for the classic design and its blend of kindness and strength, others find the new look more approachable and less aggressive. The limited views in the Mario Kart 9 trailer have been supplemented by this merchandise reveal, offering a clearer picture of the redesign.

A more comprehensive look at the redesigned Donkey Kong in action is anticipated during a Nintendo Direct focused on the Switch 2, scheduled for April. The initial Switch 2 reveal trailer provided limited details about the console itself, primarily focusing on its visual design. However, it confirmed backward compatibility, showcased a new, mysterious button on the Joy-Cons, and validated fan theories regarding the controller's potential use as a mouse.