'Review of Donkey Kong Bananza': Justification for Purchasing the Switch 2
Donkey Kong Bananza, the latest addition to the Donkey Kong series, is now available on the Nintendo Switch 2. This 3D platformer offers a unique blend of destruction-based exploration and fluid movement, creating an engaging and immersive gaming experience.
Destructible Environments and Creative Gameplay
The game's world is built for destruction. Players can punch, dig, smash, pick up, and throw various materials such as dirt, sand, concrete, and metal. Each material has unique properties and levels of destructibility, adding an interactive and dynamic environment that is central to the gameplay. This destructible environment encourages creative ways to progress and explore.
Donkey Kong's Moveset and Transformations
Donkey Kong's moveset is diverse, allowing him to attack in multiple directions, climb, jump, roll, swim, and even surf on chunks of the environment. His movement system has a strong sense of momentum and chaining moves, reminiscent of mechanics from Super Mario Odyssey.
As the game progresses, Donkey Kong unlocks transformations like Kong Bananza, Zebra Bananza, and Ostrich Bananza, each granting unique abilities such as super powered punches, gliding, or speed boosts. These transformations use a resource called "Bananergy," charged by collecting gold, and can be swapped freely to adapt to different challenges.
Collectibles and Progression
The game rewards players with Golden Bananas from completing objectives, which function like skill points to improve abilities. Other collectibles include Banandium Gems for trading, gold, and fossils for cosmetics. This encourages exploration and offers constant incentives to engage with the environment’s destructibility.
Cooperative Play and Story
Beyond single-player mode, the game supports cooperative gameplay where a second player controls Pauline, who rides on Donkey Kong and can attack from a distance using a pointer to throw materials. This mode eases difficulty and alters gameplay dynamics, making it more accessible.
Pauline, a 13-year-old with a powerful singing voice, plays a key role by helping reveal hidden paths and remove obstacles through music. She also participates meaningfully in gameplay and transformations alongside Donkey Kong.
A Vibrant, Exploratory World
The world of Donkey Kong Bananza is painterly, almost pastel in both look and colours. The denizens, even the enemies, are made of voxels, a technology used for building out the game world’s destructible terrain.
Donkey Kong Bananza takes full advantage of the Nintendo Switch 2's increased RAM (12GB compared to 4GB on the OG handheld), offering excellent level design with well-crafted puzzles. The game runs smoothly with a stable 60 fps frame rate, despite having numerous objects moving on screen.
However, the game does not take full advantage of all Nintendo Switch 2 control options, and the climbing controls feel a little loose. The Joy-Con 2 mouse controls are only used in two-player mode.
A Game Worth the Switch
Donkey Kong Bananza is a game that players might buy a Nintendo Switch 2 console for. It features optional battle arenas and puzzle environments that showcase the Switch 2's capabilities. The game's denizens are generally happy for players to destroy their homes and belongings, making destruction enjoyable.
The game's interactions with Pauline are touching, and the developers, many of whom worked on Super Mario Odyssey, originated the game as an original Switch title. Donkey Kong Bananza is a physics-based puzzle-action title, similar to Super Mario Odyssey, and it is a must-play for fans of the series and platformers in general.
- Gizmodo's upcoming reviews are expected to highlight the technology-driven gameplay and extensive destructible environments in Donkey Kong Bananza, making it a prime candidate for gamers seeking future gadgets that combine elements of entertainment, technology, and creativity.
- In the future, Donkey Kong Bananza's robust cooperative play feature, where players can work together as Donkey Kong and Pauline, will undeniably be a talking point among gaming communities and technology enthusiasts, revolutionizing the way players interact and enjoy games.
- For tech aficionados, entertainment enthusiasts, and platformer fans, the dynamic blend of destruction-based exploration, fluid movement, and innovative gameplay mechanics in Donkey Kong Bananza make it a compelling addition to their gadget collection, offering an immersive gaming experience that promises endless reviews and discussions in the future.
