@squiddu-real rough translation from the japanese news section says that the next event will be the final one

Just got to the Feast Layer, and I figured this'd be a good point to put down some (messily laid out)thoughts so far:

• The choice of a strength-based action collectathon is a risk but it's one that I think paid off excellently and I'm very glad to see that my confidence in the success of this approach wasn't unfounded. It's given Donkey Kong a proper mechanical identity that I think he needed if he was ever going to do another big 3D outing. It's why I disagree with the game's detractors who claim a more standard approach(read: DKC with a Z-axis) would be ideal. There's nothing wrong with wanting that but I don't it'd be as impressive as what Bananza's doing, nor would it move the DK brand forward in as significant of a way. The Country games are stellar but they're ultimately just standard 2D platformers and we already have standard 3D platforming well covered by the guy in the mustache.
• I have to assume that when people write off the game as just "mindless digging," they're mainly talking about the Landfill Layer specifically, because otherwise nothing about the game thus far feels like it's forcing you to dig your way through everything, and the few moments where that is the case very intelligently designed to guide you to the right point. So far I'm convinced the "mindless digging" complaint is another case of "Too Many Moons Syndrome" - people taking a somewhat valid if mild issue and blowing it out of proportion to make the game look worse than it actually is. The level design is very in-line with Odyssey and 64, where you can go about completing the objectives in whatever way you desire while still being fun to play if you progress in the way the developers intended.
• Not all the layers are winners though I'll admit - the Divide didn't really need to be a divide. Just going from the Freezer to Forest to Junction would've worked fine, and while I enjoyed the Racing Layer and the great nod to the cancelled Donkey Kong Racing(game's very good at respecting almost the entire history of the franchise), I wish there was more to it. Maybe have Funky Kong offer a Turf Surfing minigame or something. Just an extra bit of content to make it feel like more than a pit-stop; the Resort Layer I felt had a better grasp of that.
• The art direction is phenomenal. They did a really good job of making these Hollow Earth environments feel otherworldly and fantastic without coming off as magical or alien in any way. The amount of detail and the commitment to strong visual storytelling throughout is impressive. There's is some amazing worldbuiling here, no environment feels like it's just a video game level*. It's the same framing and storytelling approach they used in Sunshine, the Galaxies and Odyssey but pushed even further and it's got me really excited about how EPD 8 can continue to build off of that for future titles.
• Speaking of visuals, there's the ape himself and his spiffy new facelift. I've said it before but this redesign really does a stellar job of correcting areas that weren't considered back with Bayliss' design while still maintaining and reaffirming his existing personally: not as a one-note cool character or a big serious angry brute, but as a laid-back, cheeky oaf who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. The weird Bananza designs even manage to get in a bit of DK's history as a villain by making each transformation look like they hate you.

That's all I can really say for now, I still have more to get through. I will however say this:

A. This is definitely going to be in my Top 5 DK games(not sure where it's going to be but we'll get there when we get there)

and B. Anyone expecting a new 3D Mario to come out soon after this is coping hard or just hasn't played it.

_{*The Groove Layer is the funniest one in my book because it basically explains where video game music comes from.}