Nintendo shared more gameplay footage for Donkey Kong Bananza, revealed a surprise sidekick, and shared even more surprising transformations.
Donkey Kong Bananza is the first 3D game in the series since Donkey Kong 64 in 1999, and the first standalone game for the beloved Nintendo character since Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, which released seven years ago.
Bananza follows the story of Donkey Kong after the planet he is on discovers a treasure trove of golden bananas. A group of miners, called VoidCo, steal the bananas, and Donkey Kong goes on a journey to get them back.
New Donkey Kong Bananza Gameplay Revealed
Most notably, Bananza supports two-player co-op. You can share it with a friend on another system locally, even if they didn’t purchase it, or play online with a friend who does own the game. Additionally, pre-orders are live now on the Nintendo Switch 2 Store.
In Bananza, the unlikely duo of Pauline and Donkey Kong travel to the planet’s core of the underground world so he can get the gold bananas back, and she can reach the surface again.
The scenery changes the deeper you go, and DK can use the world around him both as a tool and as a weapon, as you can punch and smash the surrounding environment to go deeper and uncover collectibles.
Pauline comes in handy, as her singing removes seals and guides the way when you get lost. The elders of the world also possess ancient Bananza powers. Pauline can tap into these powers with her singing and transform DK into different forms, such as a powerful Kong Banana, speedy Zebra Bananza, and even a flying ostrich.
Along the way, there are challenge courses to complete that earn skill points, which improve attributes such as health or punch power, or even unlock new moves.
Some of the moves include a dive punch, forward roll, hand slap, and tear. Using these abilities, you can rip pieces of the terrain or even chunks of enemies. It’s also possible to throw chunks of the terrain and use them to double jump or surf on.
All Gold and Fossils found can be traded for valuable consumables or cosmetic items. Without giving too much away, there is plenty more to explore. Donkey Kong Banaza officially launches on July 17.
In other Switch 2 news, Borderlands 4 won’t be on the console at launch, PlayStation responded to growing competition from the system, and Switch 2 is the fastest-selling hardware in company history.
How do you feel about Bananza? Let us know on the Insider Gaming Forums.




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