Topic: Donkey Kong Bananza

The Direct was definitely the one this game needed. This absolutely feel like the DK answer to Mario Odyssey now in terms of quality as well as structure.

Definitely getting this now. The only thing slightly annoying me is that the digital copy is $10AU more than what most retailers are charging. And there's no equivalent of a voucher program on Switch 2 yet, or possibly ever, also no gold coin rewards to close the gap

I guess I'm going physical for this one?

I like the look of the singing sections! I can't wait to mute my Switch!

Direct sold me on this - was very much on the fence leaning towards not buying, certainly not excited for it. After the direct - sold!

@FishyS the transformations are mildly disturbing but it fits within the Jules Verne bizarre subterranean theme, so in that light I accept the strange presentation of this game

Anyone else notice that there will supposedly he 5 bananza transformations in total? When they show off the skill tree, you can see the 3 right most columns are for the transformations, one for kong, one for zebra, and one for ostrich. To the right of those are two more empty columns, suggesting that there will be 5 bananza transformations in total, unless more columns appear as the game progresses. But at least 5 for sure

One thing I couldn't quite work out.
Is it full open world? Or is it more like Kirby Forgotten Land or Mario Oddessy? With levels, but a little bit of free roaming space to it? I prefer levels myself.

@Mana_Knight The Direct showed different levels of the underground world with different themes and each with their own map. So yeah, it's gonna have levels, both literally and figuratively.

@Polvasti Oh, cool.

A youtube comment I read. No idea of the source he got it from.
"Pauline was cursed by The Rock, apparently it de aged her, so it's not a prequel to the original DK."

This would make sense. Again, no idea if any truth to it at all.

I mean.. Forgotten Land has tons of pretty small/linear levels and Odyssey has relatively few but pretty huge and open. I'm guessing Bananza will be more like Odyssey in that respect.

In the direct I think she says she has a dream of becoming a singer? So young would make sense, definitely pre Odyssey.

Edit: Oh, apparently Nintendo confirmed she is actually 13. there was just an article about it.

Maybe the Pauline in this game is not the Pauline from the original game but her daughter or grand-daughter, just like the Donkey Kong in most DK games is the grandson of the original game's antagonist?

If we want to imagine there's any kind of continuity between various Mario universe games, then Pauline as seen in Odyssey certainly should be old enough to have a 13 year-old daughter. You don't become the mayor of a big city while you're still in your twenties.

@FishyS It is funny how this really is the biggest complaint now, if we can even call it that. Just...wanting to know how it all fits with the original arcade game and Oddessy. Bodes well if that is the main thing we are hung up on!

@Mana_Knight Nintendo should make some kind of official Nintendo multiverse crossover game (like an RPG, not Smash) just to allow for parallel time lines and shut up all the complaints about lore 😆

The half DK half other animal transformations are revolting.

I really don't want lore to mess with me in a Donkey Kong game. Leave that to Splatoon or even Zelda. It hurts my head just thinking of the Donkey Kong Country games as prequels. I don't think Nintendo cares about lore in DK games anyway.

But one thing is for sure... the ending will be emotional. After beating K. Rool Void in the final battle, Donkey Kong will give the core's wish to Pauline and they'll say their goodbyes before they separate and not see each other again for many years. That already makes me feel a little touched!

@Dev-N Nooo. Stop. She promised they'd get to the surface together. They made plans! They made plans!
😥

At the Switch 2 direct I was a no to this game, planned to skip it altogether.

NOW....

I CANNOT for the life of me understand how this isn't the Oct/Nov game???