After the most recent game-specific Nintendo Direct, for Mario Kart World, was a bit of a fizzer, I think it’s fair to say that expectations for this week’s Donkey Kong Bananza Direct were tentative.
The roughly 15-minute presentation shattered those expectations quicker than you can say “Oh, Banana.”
Wasting absolutely no time on its biggest reveal, though unfortunately one that leaked pretty much as soon as the game was first announced, the Direct confirmed that DK’s constant companion in his explosive new 3D adventure is not a sentient, purple rock. Instead, it’s a younger version of the woman who’s been a part of Donkey Kong and Mario’s story longer than even Princess Peach – I’m talking about New Donk City’s mayor and foremost jazz songstress, Pauline!
This take on Pauline seems to be portrayed as a child, which begs all kinds of questions for Bananza’s function in the running Donkey Kong lore, if you ask any of my internet friends. I say it’s best we not treat this like a Legend of Zelda-level sacred text.
What’s truly wild is that Pauline wasn’t even the biggest unveiling of the Donkey Kong Bananza Direct. In a banana-fueled blowout of information, we learned that there is much, much more to this game than first suspected. On top of the free-form environmental destruction that we’d already seen, the video dives into a plethora of other tools at DK and Pauline’s disposals, from transformations based on some of the series’ most iconic animal allies to costume (sorry, Britches) changes and even some basic skill trees.
One of the most shocking and delightful surprises is the revelation that the game will, inexplicably, feature a detailed 3D sculpting simulation where players can carve and paint the Kong busts of their dreams and imaginations, or really anything their hearts desire! It supports the Joy-Con 2 mouse mode as well, so it’s essentially a new take on Mario Paint at this point. I expect social media to be flooded with Donkey Dongs right out of the gate.
There’s just so much to get through here, from an irresponsible number of hidden collectibles that’ll give Super Mario Odyssey a run for its coins, to familiar faces like Cranky, Dixie and Diddy Kong, a worlds-under-worlds setting that borders on cosmic horror, THE DK RAP and the ability to turn DK into a blue-haired nudist on a whim.
If any of what I’m saying here tickles your banana, do please watch the darned thing:
Donkey Kong Bananza launches exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17, 2025.
Are you more excited for Donkey Kong Bananza after seeing this Direct? Or are you even more excited? Let us know in the comments below or over on social media.
