After weeks of speculation, Nintendo has confirmed that Donkey Kong Bananza has been developed by the Super Mario Odyssey team. According to VGC, Nintendo reported that the studio is based in Tokyo, which is referring to Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development Tokyo.
Recently, Nintendo held a Donkey Kong Bananza Direct, entirely dedicated to the upcoming game. It showcased more of the game’s characters, story, and mechanics. This includes the true identity of Odd Rock: a young Pauline. Pauline has full voice acting as she endeavors to get back home and fulfill her dream of becoming a great singer. She joins Donkey Kong as an ally against the dastardly Void Company, who aim to reach the planet’s core which has the power to grant a person’s true desire. Diddy Kong, Cranky Kong, and Dixie Kong will also be present in the game.
Donkey Kong has several abilities to challenge the Void Company and get to the center of the planet before them. You can dive punch to drill deep into the ground, perform a hand slap to find hidden items, and surf on a rock across the terrain. There are also transformations you can unlock with different utilities, such as granting flight, high speeds, or high strength.
Additionally, Donkey Kong Bananza has several modes. This includes co-op play that you can do via GameShare or locally. The mode allows one player to play as Pauline and unleash projectiles of destruction using the mouse functionality. You can also carve items from stone in the DK Artist mode, also using the mouse.
Donkey Kong Bananza will launch on July 17 for $69.99 for Nintendo Switch 2 alongside new amiibo, and an update for Super Mario Odyssey is also available on the platform.
