Holy bananas! The second big title to hit the Switch 2 is almost here. Thanks to Nintendo Australia, I went hands-on with Donkey Kong Bananza at a special preview event, and I’m still swinging with excitement. With so much scope and so much to explore, I was beating my chest for more. Four hours later, the Nintendo rep had to peel me away, and now I’m counting the days until July 17th.
Odyssey’s DNA Goes Bananas
Let’s get straight to the punch. Donkey Kong Bananza is being developed by the same team behind the award-winning Super Mario Odyssey, and it shows. From the moment the game booted up, I could feel it.
The familiar UI, the lush world design, that signature soundtrack flavour… it all screamed Odyssey energy. As someone who loved exploring every inch of that game, I was thrilled to learn this, especially since Bananza lets you do something new: completely destroy the environment around you.
DK & Odd-Rock – A Wild Pair
In Donkey Kong Bananza, you play as DK, joined by his unlikely new sidekick Odd-Rock, a little purple stone who’s taken quite the tumble from the surface. This pint-sized companion hitches a ride on DK’s shoulder, but with the power of Banadiam and a burst of jungle beats, Odd-Rock transforms into none other than Pauline.
She’s been reimagined here as a 13-year-old, and she absolutely shines. Pauline is full of personality, wonderfully expressive, and completely voice acted. It gives her a real spark, and hearing her sing in-game is a treat.
DK’s updated design is a perfect match for this playful adventure. He’s got wonderfully silly facial animations, full of charm and cheek, and his big, goofy energy makes him impossible not to love. Together, this odd couple swings, sings, and slams their way through a series of colourful, chaotic layers, all in search of a mysterious power said to grant your heart’s desire at the Earth’s core.
Going Banadiam Crazy
The baddies in this game, Void Co, aren’t making it easy for DK. They’ve swiped a huge stash of Banadiam Gems and are racing you toward the centre of the Earth. In Donkey Kong Bananza, your mission is to gather as many gems as you can, power up, and stop them in their tracks.
There’s a lot of Banadiam to collect too. Like the moons in Super Mario Odyssey, you’ll follow a main quest that rewards you with a big glittery yellow stone, but you’ll also find heaps of extra gems hidden throughout the world. I couldn’t help but say “Oooh Banana!” every time I grabbed one, especially when DK gobbled it up and it transformed into a bunch of glowing banana slices. A perfect touch.
The levels are gigantic, and exploration runs deep. Literally. You’ll be smashing through dirt, punching rocks, flinging boulders, and building paths with debris. Every movement feels satisfying, whether you’re clearing obstacles or digging into the unknown. Treasure chests, fossils, piles of gold, and of course, more bananas are waiting to be found.
Fossils can be traded for outfits that affect DK and Pauline’s stats, like strength and health. And for every five Banadiam Gems you collect, you’ll earn a skill point to invest in DK’s abilities. I focused on increasing my punch power, which made digging deeper into the ground even easier.
READ MORE: Donkey Kong Bananza Swings Onto Nintendo Switch 2 In 2025
Layers of Fun
I spent a big part of my time with the preview trekking through three distinct layers in Donkey Kong Bananza: a shimmering lagoon, a rocky canyon (minecarts are back here), and a lush forest teeming with life. What blew me away was how detailed and vibrant each area felt. It’s easy to forget you’re deep underground when the sky is bright blue, the water sparkles, and the trees sway with a natural rhythm.
Each environment isn’t just pretty to look at. It shifts and responds as you move through it. In one memorable moment, I cracked open a water tank and watched as the liquid slowly flooded the space, completely reshaping the path ahead. It’s this kind of dynamic design that keeps you guessing.
Oh, and shout-out to the cheeky monkeys trying to enjoy a quiet day fishing. I may have interrupted their peace by knocking their little boats into the water. Sorry, fellas. DK’s got places to be.
Bananza Powers – Jungle Beats and Transformations
One of the most exciting parts of my time with Donkey Kong Bananza is the Bananza abilities. By collecting gold, you fill up your energy meter, allowing DK to power up with a rhythmic chest beat while Pauline belts out a pop tune that gave me serious Splatoon vibes.
Suddenly, DK goes from brawny to beast mode, charging through obstacles and flattening enemies like they’re made of twigs. Punching through tougher materials and knocking out baddies in one swoop felt incredibly satisfying.
Also, I have to say it… Kong Bananza has the jiggliest butt I’ve ever seen. Those power squats sessions are working!
But the monkeying around doesn’t stop there. DK can also transform into a sassy ostrich, complete with a confident strut and new fluttering powers. Need to reach a far-off ledge? Just flap your way there. See an enemy below? Drop an egg bomb right on their head and watch them go flying. As you power up your bird form, you can glide even further, which came in handy more than once when a Banadiam Gem was just out of reach.
The powers aren’t just for getting around either. I put them to good use in the first boss fight against Grumpy Kong. He was buried beneath three layers of dirt, with a golden skeleton hidden underneath. I had to use my powers, tunnel below him, and unleash a powered-up punch to reveal the snarling gorilla. DK gave him the clobbering of a lifetime, and it felt so good.
Secret Levels and Musical Throwbacks
Donkey Kong Bananza is full of playful nods to the past, and longtime fans are in for a treat. From the iconic Donkey Kong Country soundtrack to the return of the infamous DK rap, the music hit all the nostalgic notes.
But it’s not just fan service. The new soundtracks I heard were genuinely fantastic, with bouncy beats and catchy hooks that tie directly into gameplay. At one point, I had to wake up an ancient Elder by placing a record on a turntable. It felt just like Cranky’s old player from DKC1, and I was grinning the whole time.
The real treasure, though, lies in the secret challenge areas hidden around the world. Some are sealed behind Void Co’s purple tape, which you can shatter with Pauline’s vocals or DK’s fists.
These bite-sized trials reminded me of classic bonus stages like “Bash the Baddies,” complete with tight platforming and big rewards. One was packed with brambles straight out of Donkey Kong Country 2, complete with that iconic tune. It was tough, chaotic, and the perfect kind of throwback.
READ MORE: Nintendo Switch 2: The Final Preview
Monkey Business – Chaos in Co-op Mode
I also got to try co-op mode in Donkey Kong Bananza, and it was pure chaos. While one player controls DK, the second takes charge of Pauline in a support role that feels a bit like Cappy in Odyssey, only louder and more destructive. You’ll be blasting out musical words, scanning materials, and shouting “Yeah!” with enough force to crumble walls.
The pairing works surprisingly well. DK brings the muscle, Pauline brings the mayhem. We punched, sung, and yelled our way through the underground together. I can already picture kids howling with laughter as they try to keep up with the action.
Swinging Toward Something Spectacular
From the moment DK crashed onto my screen, I was hooked. Whether I was flinging boulders at enemies or building bridges from rubble, Donkey Kong Bananza kept rewarding my curiosity. This is the kind of adventure I could see myself jumping into after a long day just to monkey around and unwind.
From its Odyssey-style curiosity to clear touches of modern Zelda design, this is exploration done right. I spent my four hours diving deeper and deeper underground, and still felt like I’d only scratched the surface. It’s packed with clever interactions and surprises that make the world feel truly alive.
And what a world it is. Lush, layered, and full of character, brought to life by expressive animation, fantastic voice acting, and one infectious soundtrack. It left me wondering just how big this adventure really is. How many layers are out there, and how on earth am I supposed to collect all those juicy bananas?
My time with Donkey Kong Bananza left me buzzing. This is shaping up to be one of Nintendo’s most ambitious 3D platformers in years, and I can’t wait to see what’s waiting when the full game swings onto Nintendo Switch 2, July 17th 2025.
