Breath of the Kong
It's been 11 years since the last Donkey Kong game, and even an eerie 26 years since the last real 3D adventure (Donkey Kong 64 from 1999). At one point it seemed as if Nintendo had forgotten about its strongest monkey, serving us only re-releases and supporting roles in Mario Kart and Smash Bros. But no, Bananza is finally here. A big, loud and devastating return to 3D form. Donkey Kong is back.
After just 10 minutes of playing, it's clear that Bananza comes from the same kitchen that made Super Mario Odyssey. The concept is very similar, a 3D world with open, sandbox levels, full of freedom and exploration, where instead of power moons we collect crystal bananas, the so-called Banandium gems. However, Kong does not have a frisbee cap like Mario. Kong is here to wreak havoc and destroy everything in his path.
Tears of the Kingdom vibe, anyone?
Monkey see, monkey SMASH!
The main novelty of this game is chaos and destruction. If you want to dig a 30-meter hole because you're curious about what's down there? Free. If you want to climb the highest cliff just to jump down and break the ground? Here you go. The game lets you be the primal, curious Kong.
DK can destroy almost any terrain, punch through a wall, break through the ceiling above him, tear off a piece of rock and swing it or throw it. Any rock can become a surfboard. And that's exactly where the charm lies, that feeling of freedom and destruction in one.
Now that we have dug this hole, we can continue with the story. Perhaps. Until the next digging urge.
New, voxel terrain destruction technology gives the game an incredible dose of interactivity. Walls, floors, ceilings - every crack can hide a secret. It's great fun and opens up a whole new approach to exploring and finding things, and it's also great as an exhaust valve. Playing regularly, I ask myself, what else can I break? Collectors will want to find each of the thousands of Banandium bananas, almost each with a unique challenge and mechanic (some you'll only buy in the shop).
The gold rush is going crazy
Kong skače i penje se exactly onako how ste naumor. Gotovo svaki teren je penjiv, you me u neku ruku ova game podsjeća stoga i na Breath of the Wild, inpravo zbog te ogromne evolucije in relation to prijašnja izdanja te dostupnosti cijelog terena as sandbox. Ako se wantsm negdje popeti – mogu. Ako wantsm iskopati duboku rupu - hoću. Čisto eto, because wantsm, i jer je vrlo zabavno i zarazno.
I like how the map remembers my chaos
30 layers of adventure
Instead of a series of traditional worlds, Bananza literally takes you down 17 floors, that is, layers below the surface. Each layer has sub-zones with their own biomes. There are poisonous forests, ancient ruins, glass caves, and each hides Banandium gems, crystal bananas that open the way forward. It's this vertical progression that gives the game a refreshing touch, especially when you return to old zones to explore what you've been doing.
These triangle-portals will lead you to new, interesting mini-sections
Layers are full of mini-challenges, from destroying walls with bombs, platforming, collecting as much gold as possible or defeating enemies within a given time limit, to teleporting to completely new mini-zones with puzzles or side-scrolling sections (a retro throwback to the first level of Donkey Kong Country), all with the ultimate goal of collecting new crystal bananas.
The 2D sections are really great. Now I want a new 2D Kong.
Interesting NPCs live in each layer, from monkey miners to anthropomorphic crystals, and you will also see some old, well-known faces. Each layer has a main hub, where you can unlock new skins or invest in a mini-apartment where you can take a nap and get a bonus health point like in the new Zeldas.
DK & Pauline – duet with soul
The game very quickly introduces you to the second protagonist, a chatty little rock who soon turns out to be Pauline from Mario Odyssey, in her teenage years. Kong and Pauline make a perfect duo. Pauline develops from a shy singer to a true heroine, gaining more and more confidence as the game progresses. The evolution of their friendship through the game is one of the most beautiful things I've seen in gaming lately. DK, although not speaking, perfectly gestures his intentions and feelings, according to Pauline and others.
Pauline in an identity crisis, but Kong helps, in his own way
During your adventure, you will encounter monkey elders, from whom you will learn various transformations. When Pauline sings, DK briefly enters Bananza mode, transforming into a powerful Super Kong, a fast Zebra Kong, or a pair of Ostrich Kongs that can fly or glide. Each transformation has its own style and changes the dynamics of the game.
The gorilla elders are the main guardians of the new, Bananza powers
If you're playing co-op, the other player can partially control Pauline, sing to remove barriers, or use explosive musical attacks. Not a bad idea to include someone else in the game, especially a younger person. Bananza also supports GameShare, so your online friend can control Pauline too.
Story and humor with depth
The story is simple, but cheerful and charming. DK headed underground to hunt for the Banandium Gems. An evil, greedy monkey, Void Kong wants to steal all the Banandium Gems and has turned Pauline to stone. DK and Pauline must descend all the way to the core of the planet to find a way out to the surface (logically) and find as many bananas as possible and defeat Void Kong. The game regularly balances between endearing humor, more serious moments and silly twists. This is Nintendo after all.
Earned Banandium gems serve as currency to unlock new abilities in the skill tree, from new combos, health upgrades to specific bananza abilities. In addition, scattered throughout each level are fossils, the currency for buying skins, of which there are a handful. You can change the clothes of both Kong and Pauline, and I was especially surprised that you can also change the color of Kong's fur. There's even a photo mode and DK Artist, a mini mode where you can carve and share your own in-game artifact.
Other currencies and collectibles include gold, which fills up the bananza meter, good old fashioned balloons, which save you when you fall into a chasm, and in-game jukebox panels in hub zones.
Although the main story lasts a solid 15-20 hours, I believe that, just like me, you will find it hard to resist the temptation to dig through every corner in search of new challenges, hidden bananas and fossils. Realistically, it's easy to spend 30+ hours without blinking.
Audio, visuals and performance
Given that the theme of the game is largely related to music, the soundtrack is, of course, excellent. Orchestral themes, electronic beats and covers of old classics fit perfectly into the atmosphere of the game. When Pauline sings in Bananza mode, the music picks up, the tempo picks up, and the game becomes spectacular, perfectly in sync with the gameplay, and if you glance at Pauline, you'll see how perfectly animated her singing is while sitting on DK's shoulder.
Graphically, this is Nintendo at its best. Kong looks detailed, in a new, enriched design with expressive fur and rich animations. The fuller the bananza meter, the shinier Kong's coat. The layers are colorful, dynamic and technically impressive, each zone is interesting, pleasing to the eye and just big enough not to get bored.
The game looks really great
The game generally runs at 60 fps, but in more complex areas (like Bananza mode with a lot of destruction) we can see performance drops. Although the game was originally planned for the original Switch, I'm glad that Nintendo decided to make it exclusive on the two. I feel that too much graphical sacrifice would be necessary to enable an adequate version on the original. I didn't come across any bugs, but the camera can sometimes go crazy and be awkward and unclear in narrow tunnels and when you dig too deep.
Kong, the king of the jungle is back!
Donkey Kong Bananza is what I wanted and expected from a 3D DK sequel: the freedom of Odyssey, the destructive power of a gorilla, and a healthy dose of Nintendo madness. Nintendo has found the right balance between nostalgia and fresh ideas. Bananza is not only the spiritual successor to Odyssey, but the next step in 3D platforming. This game is simply fun and devastatingly addictive. It is impossible not to play it with a smile on your face. It will entertain both the old veteran and the young gamer and I highly recommend it to everyone.
