Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Donkey Kong is finally back! In this video, two die-hard DK fans react LIVE to the long-awaited reveal of Donkey Kong Bananza, the first 3D Donkey Kong game in 25 years. We break down the trailer, discuss the controversial redesign, and rate our excitement level.
We're optimistic, but there's mixed emotions right now that might cool down later down the road.
Here's some background info from DK fansite DK Vine:
It's been a long road to get here. "Donkey Kong EPD" is real, is coming to the Switch 2 in just over three months, and was Nintendo's big closing game in today's Nintendo Direct. No matter how you might personally feel about the trailer or the Switch 2 itself, let that sink in for a minute. Donkey Kong is truly back.
I first started mentioning whispers I'd been hearing about Nintendo internally developing Donkey Kong, after the first attempt at doing a 3D Donkey Kong post-Retro Studios fell through, on the Kongversation nearly seven years ago. I got louder about it with time, until bigger news sites ran with the story around the time of E3 2021. When it didn't materialize in Nintendo's presentations that year, most people in the broader Nintendo fandom moved on. DK Vine readers knew better. Something was clearly happening with Donkey Kong, from the theme park to the increased prominence as a standalone brand or via its historical ties to Mario. Nintendo really wouldn't just let the series sit dormant after the Vicarious Visions game fell through, would they? Surely we wouldn't just be getting re-releases from here on out?
The revelation that Donkey Kong's design was changing in what we now know to be Mario Kart World was the final clue, indeed the tipping point, for us to feel confident that Donkey Kong EPD was indeed on its way. And the best part? We no longer need to refer to it as such! Because as we saw at the conclusion of the Switch 2 Direct, the game is titled Donkey Kong Bananza. Be sure to catch the pun and train your spellcheckers to not constantly change that on you. (This morning had already led to humiliation on social media).
The first 3D Donkey Kong game since Donkey Kong 64 in 1999, Donkey Kong Bananza takes the hero of the DK Isles to Ingot Island, a new locale that appears to be a major mining facility. With an emphasis on excavation, rock smashing, and destruction, it might feel more like Digger T. Rock than Donkey Kong Country. That's compounded by the lack of any recognizable characters in the trailer, save for Donkey Kong himself. Why, instead of Diddy perched on his shoulders, does he now have a sentient rock pal in a situation that's vaguely reminiscent of Cappy from off of Super Mario Odyssey? Where are the Kremlings... or even the Tiki Tak Tribe, Snowmads, or Cob Cock? Are these three primates, and the organization VoidCo (a name spotted throughout the trailer and screenshots, including across the body of DK's living pebble lump Rock "The Dwayne" Johnson), the baddies of the game? Yes!
But beyond the initial Jungle Beat vibrations much of the fandom is rightfully feeling at the moment, there are actually a few familiar elements if you look closely enough. Including a Gnawty carved into a boulder, as seen in this blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment from the trailer. To put this into perspective, Gnawties haven't appeared or even been outright referenced in a brand new Donkey Kong adventure since... once again, Donkey Kong 64 in 1999! For the sake of symmetry we'll ignore the homage in Donkey Konga 2.
Additionally, a moment in the trailer that made everyone sit up and take notice was the portion of the game that pays homage to the original Donkey Kong Country. This 2D sidescrolling section not only includes neon-tinged Barrel Cannons (that also appear elsewhere in the trailer), but the classic Rare ACM-style palm trees that were one of the series defining visual hallmarks from 1994 through roughly 2003. With the preeminence of Retro's jungle aesthetic on merchandise and in the theme park, I never thought I'd see foliage with such a sickly plastic sheen ever again!
That alone tells us that while most of this game appears to be new, we've also seen a very small amount of the journey Donkey Kong has in front of him. Returning characters or cameos are still very much within the realm of possibility, especially given that it's a full 3D adventure. It's obviously okay to be disappointed or let down with what we've seen, especially considering the hopes and dreams the fan community has placed on this day for over half-a-decade. But who knows? Like Donkey Kong, I'm dug in and willing to keep PAN PANing for those nuggets of gold. In the meantime, Donkey Kong is finally home at Nintendo EPD, and this is more than just a new game. It's a new beginning.
#donkeykongbananza #donkeykong #donkeykongcountry
Donkey Kong is finally back! In this video, two die-hard DK fans react LIVE to the long-awaited reveal of Donkey Kong Bananza, the first 3D Donkey Kong game in 25 years. We break down the trailer, discuss the controversial redesign, and rate our excitement level.
We're optimistic, but there's mixed emotions right now that might cool down later down the road.
Here's some background info from DK fansite DK Vine:
It's been a long road to get here. "Donkey Kong EPD" is real, is coming to the Switch 2 in just over three months, and was Nintendo's big closing game in today's Nintendo Direct. No matter how you might personally feel about the trailer or the Switch 2 itself, let that sink in for a minute. Donkey Kong is truly back.
I first started mentioning whispers I'd been hearing about Nintendo internally developing Donkey Kong, after the first attempt at doing a 3D Donkey Kong post-Retro Studios fell through, on the Kongversation nearly seven years ago. I got louder about it with time, until bigger news sites ran with the story around the time of E3 2021. When it didn't materialize in Nintendo's presentations that year, most people in the broader Nintendo fandom moved on. DK Vine readers knew better. Something was clearly happening with Donkey Kong, from the theme park to the increased prominence as a standalone brand or via its historical ties to Mario. Nintendo really wouldn't just let the series sit dormant after the Vicarious Visions game fell through, would they? Surely we wouldn't just be getting re-releases from here on out?
The revelation that Donkey Kong's design was changing in what we now know to be Mario Kart World was the final clue, indeed the tipping point, for us to feel confident that Donkey Kong EPD was indeed on its way. And the best part? We no longer need to refer to it as such! Because as we saw at the conclusion of the Switch 2 Direct, the game is titled Donkey Kong Bananza. Be sure to catch the pun and train your spellcheckers to not constantly change that on you. (This morning had already led to humiliation on social media).
The first 3D Donkey Kong game since Donkey Kong 64 in 1999, Donkey Kong Bananza takes the hero of the DK Isles to Ingot Island, a new locale that appears to be a major mining facility. With an emphasis on excavation, rock smashing, and destruction, it might feel more like Digger T. Rock than Donkey Kong Country. That's compounded by the lack of any recognizable characters in the trailer, save for Donkey Kong himself. Why, instead of Diddy perched on his shoulders, does he now have a sentient rock pal in a situation that's vaguely reminiscent of Cappy from off of Super Mario Odyssey? Where are the Kremlings... or even the Tiki Tak Tribe, Snowmads, or Cob Cock? Are these three primates, and the organization VoidCo (a name spotted throughout the trailer and screenshots, including across the body of DK's living pebble lump Rock "The Dwayne" Johnson), the baddies of the game? Yes!
But beyond the initial Jungle Beat vibrations much of the fandom is rightfully feeling at the moment, there are actually a few familiar elements if you look closely enough. Including a Gnawty carved into a boulder, as seen in this blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment from the trailer. To put this into perspective, Gnawties haven't appeared or even been outright referenced in a brand new Donkey Kong adventure since... once again, Donkey Kong 64 in 1999! For the sake of symmetry we'll ignore the homage in Donkey Konga 2.
Additionally, a moment in the trailer that made everyone sit up and take notice was the portion of the game that pays homage to the original Donkey Kong Country. This 2D sidescrolling section not only includes neon-tinged Barrel Cannons (that also appear elsewhere in the trailer), but the classic Rare ACM-style palm trees that were one of the series defining visual hallmarks from 1994 through roughly 2003. With the preeminence of Retro's jungle aesthetic on merchandise and in the theme park, I never thought I'd see foliage with such a sickly plastic sheen ever again!
That alone tells us that while most of this game appears to be new, we've also seen a very small amount of the journey Donkey Kong has in front of him. Returning characters or cameos are still very much within the realm of possibility, especially given that it's a full 3D adventure. It's obviously okay to be disappointed or let down with what we've seen, especially considering the hopes and dreams the fan community has placed on this day for over half-a-decade. But who knows? Like Donkey Kong, I'm dug in and willing to keep PAN PANing for those nuggets of gold. In the meantime, Donkey Kong is finally home at Nintendo EPD, and this is more than just a new game. It's a new beginning.
#donkeykongbananza #donkeykong #donkeykongcountry
