Donkey Kong Bananza Succeeds Super Mario Odyssey on Switch 2

Just before my two-hour hands-on session with Donkey Kong Bananza, Nintendo confirmed what many had suspected since the game’s reveal: the same team behind Super Mario Odyssey is developing this 3D platformer. And it shows — Bananza captures Odyssey’s essence perfectly. Vast open areas brim with collectible bananas (replacing moons), helpful NPCs drop hints about hidden goodies, and clever environmental puzzles reward curiosity. Even Kong’s versatile movement options feel straight out of Odyssey, cementing this as a spiritual successor.

Donkey Kong Bananza: Official Screenshots

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Despite the familiar mechanics, Bananza carves its own identity by swapping Mario for Kong’s brutish charm. Within minutes, I fell for DK’s raw power — smashing environments with thunderous punches, yet moving with unexpected agility. His weighty movements make every action impactful, from tunneling through terrain to sending enemies flying. This isn’t just Odyssey reskinned; it’s the 3D Donkey Kong adventure fans deserve.

My demo began at Ingot Isle’s mines — a tutorial area introducing DK’s unique combat. Unlike Mario’s acrobatics, Kong relies on directional punches: X for uppercuts, Y for jabs, B for ground slams. This system lets you carve tunnels creatively, though material hardness affects progress. Soft dirt crumbles instantly, while tougher rocks require makeshift pickaxes. Environmental destruction isn’t just cosmetic; it’s central to navigation and puzzle-solving.

DK’s moveset blends Hulk-like destruction with surprising finesse. Beyond punching, he rolls like a barrel, grinds torn-up boulders like surfboards, and leave craters with seismic slams. While traversal lacks Mario’s precision jumping, Kong compensates with sheer physicality — every action reinforces his powerhouse persona. Even simple movements feel exhilarating when entire landscapes crumble beneath you.

The Lagoon Layer revealed Bananza’s structure: multi-tiered worlds with interconnected objectives. Here, contaminated water sources created platforming challenges reminiscent of classic DK Country stages. Main objectives appear as exclamation points, but true joy comes from deviating — whether breaking into submerged caves via well-timed ground pounds or uncovering fossil currencies for cosmetic upgrades. The density of secrets rivals Odyssey’s moon hunts.

Later stages introduced “Bananza Transformations” — temporary power-ups fueled by collected gold. Kong Form amplifies DK’s strength for demolishing indestructible obstacles, while Ostrich Form grants aerial mobility via short glides. A minimal skill tree enhances these abilities, though most upgrades feel incremental. Still, finding every banana (earning skill points per five collected) becomes addicting thanks to clever environmental puzzles.

The co-op mode mirrors Mario Galaxy’s assistive approach: Player 2 controls Pauline, firing musical notes as projectiles. Using Joy-Con pointer controls, they can charge shots by absorbing environmental materials. While clearly designed for parent-child duos, it lacks depth for seasoned players. Conversely, the layered level design shines — vertically stacked zones recall Mario 64’s compact creativity while incorporating Odyssey’s exploration. Quick travel between sub-layers maintains momentum.

After two hours, I left utterly captivated. Bananza doesn’t just transplant Odyssey’s framework — it reinvents it through Kong’s physicality and destruction mechanics. For DK fans, this feels like the definitive 3D interpretation we’ve awaited since the 90s. And for Mario devotees? It’s the perfect stopgap until Nintendo’s next platforming masterpiece arrives.