Donkey Kong Bananza

*LeotheLateBloomer* · 04-04-2025, 10:55 PM

I'm super excited for this game! It's been so long since the last 3D DK game. Also, I like DK's design. This trailer doesn't show him but Cranky is in this game.

Mad Dog McMutt · 04-05-2025, 12:05 PM

I have sworn to myself that I will not buy anymore Nintendo consoles because they knowingly sold everybody crappy joy-sticks that are destined to drift. I had to replace my switch lite with a tv console because of this. So I knew that I was going to be a little sad everytime I see an exciting new release that I wont be playing. This happens to be the first one. I absolutely loves DK 64 to the point where I fully completed it. Som3 of the mini games got a little too difficult at the end, but I still loved it. This game looks absolutely amazing. After learning about the modern costs of the Switch 2 and the games, I am very happy that I'm hopping off the keeping up with modern consoles train.

Bluelightsaber · 04-05-2025, 02:12 PM

It’s rough seeing cool new stuff drop and feeling left out, but honestly, stepping off the upgrade treadmill can be freeing. You’ve still got your DK64 memories, and nothing beats that kind of nostalgia

Mad Dog McMutt · 04-05-2025, 05:25 PM

Before the Switch, I stopped keeping up after the Wii/3ds. Howevee, the switch had such a good library that I had to cave in. Plus I was dying to play the 2 Southpark rpg games. Nintendo made me so mad with their greediness that even if the Switch 2 has the best library, I am not buying one.

*sdp* · 04-06-2025, 02:09 PM

How big was Donkey Kong during the 80s and 90s? I was too young in the 90s to really appreciate how big he was, I just saw him as a Mario spin-off character because of Mario kart 64/Mario Party I didn't play. By the time I got my first DK game DK 64 the hype on the character had already died I think and passed on to Banjo Kazooie, he struggled during the whole Gamecube era with spin-off gimmicky games, and didn't make a "return" until DKC Returns but even then he hasn't really been that big until recently with the release of the Mario Movie, his own theme park and now 3D game, he feels like he is "back".

I mean in the 80s I'm guessing he was almost as big as Pac-Man? He got 3 games, got two cartoons (DK/DKjr), he appeared in Captain N as a major antagonist, his game was ported to pretty much every console at the time, he got his own cereal (though I think in the 80s everyone got their own cereal right?). Clearly it was a priority to have the DK Trilogy once the NES came out, but between DK3 not being that good and Super Mario Bros being great that era of relevancy died quickly like it did for other arcade icons.

But unlike other arcade icons, DK was able to make a comeback in the 90s, I didn't realize it then but it seems like DKC really challenged Mario as the "next big platformer", and now I realize looking back at magazines and ads, people treated DK like a huge star as big as Mario, he got another cartoon in the 90s, 3 games, 3 ports of games and whatnot. That redesign became so iconic that it stayed with him until just this year. I think not having DK be a part of DKC2 and DKC3 likely hurt his relevancy and DK64 came out way too late after Banjo had already done the whole collectathon first, there was no need for a third "Nintendo collectathon 3D platformer".

I'm glad DK got a re-design, this fits way more not only the Mario universe he belongs in, but it gives him far more personality that fits his name of being goofy. His Rare design reeks too much of the 90s and limited his expressions.

Bluelightsaber · 04-06-2025, 05:29 PM

Yeah, Donkey Kong was huge in the 80s. He was right up there with Pac-Man as one of gaming’s first true icons. The original arcade game basically put Nintendo on the map in North America, and it also introduced Mario (then called Jumpman), which is wild in hindsight. For a few years, Donkey Kong was the face of Nintendo.

By the late 80s, though, Mario started pulling ahead fast thanks to Super Mario Bros. Meanwhile, Donkey Kong 3 didn’t hit nearly as hard, and he kind of faded for a bit. But you’re absolutely right, DK made a massive comeback in the 90s with Donkey Kong Country. That game was a huge deal. Graphically it blew minds back then, and it gave DK a total rebrand with the red tie and 3D look. For a while, he really did rival Mario in popularity. Nintendo even gave him a leading role in the DKC cartoon (which, yes, was weird and Canadian and CGI)

04-04-2025, 10:55 PM	#1
LeotheLateBloomer Foot Elite Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 3,117	Donkey Kong Bananza I'm super excited for this game! It's been so long since the last 3D DK game. Also, I like DK's design. This trailer doesn't show him but Cranky is in this game.

04-06-2025, 02:09 PM	#5
sdp Detoxed Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Tokio, Italy Posts: 11,227	How big was Donkey Kong during the 80s and 90s? I was too young in the 90s to really appreciate how big he was, I just saw him as a Mario spin-off character because of Mario kart 64/Mario Party I didn't play. By the time I got my first DK game DK 64 the hype on the character had already died I think and passed on to Banjo Kazooie, he struggled during the whole Gamecube era with spin-off gimmicky games, and didn't make a "return" until DKC Returns but even then he hasn't really been that big until recently with the release of the Mario Movie, his own theme park and now 3D game, he feels like he is "back". I mean in the 80s I'm guessing he was almost as big as Pac-Man? He got 3 games, got two cartoons (DK/DKjr), he appeared in Captain N as a major antagonist, his game was ported to pretty much every console at the time, he got his own cereal (though I think in the 80s everyone got their own cereal right?). Clearly it was a priority to have the DK Trilogy once the NES came out, but between DK3 not being that good and Super Mario Bros being great that era of relevancy died quickly like it did for other arcade icons. But unlike other arcade icons, DK was able to make a comeback in the 90s, I didn't realize it then but it seems like DKC really challenged Mario as the "next big platformer", and now I realize looking back at magazines and ads, people treated DK like a huge star as big as Mario, he got another cartoon in the 90s, 3 games, 3 ports of games and whatnot. That redesign became so iconic that it stayed with him until just this year. I think not having DK be a part of DKC2 and DKC3 likely hurt his relevancy and DK64 came out way too late after Banjo had already done the whole collectathon first, there was no need for a third "Nintendo collectathon 3D platformer". I'm glad DK got a re-design, this fits way more not only the Mario universe he belongs in, but it gives him far more personality that fits his name of being goofy. His Rare design reeks too much of the 90s and limited his expressions. __________________ *Trapt* *urself Page MiscRave!!!* Click to join The Drome Discord server

04-05-2025, 12:05 PM	#2
Mad Dog McMutt Stone Warrior Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: St. Louis, Missouri Posts: 707	I have sworn to myself that I will not buy anymore Nintendo consoles because they knowingly sold everybody crappy joy-sticks that are destined to drift. I had to replace my switch lite with a tv console because of this. So I knew that I was going to be a little sad everytime I see an exciting new release that I wont be playing. This happens to be the first one. I absolutely loves DK 64 to the point where I fully completed it. Som3 of the mini games got a little too difficult at the end, but I still loved it. This game looks absolutely amazing. After learning about the modern costs of the Switch 2 and the games, I am very happy that I'm hopping off the keeping up with modern consoles train.

04-05-2025, 02:12 PM	#3
Bluelightsaber Foot Soldier Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 101	It’s rough seeing cool new stuff drop and feeling left out, but honestly, stepping off the upgrade treadmill can be freeing. You’ve still got your DK64 memories, and nothing beats that kind of nostalgia

04-05-2025, 05:25 PM	#4
Mad Dog McMutt Stone Warrior Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: St. Louis, Missouri Posts: 707	Before the Switch, I stopped keeping up after the Wii/3ds. Howevee, the switch had such a good library that I had to cave in. Plus I was dying to play the 2 Southpark rpg games. Nintendo made me so mad with their greediness that even if the Switch 2 has the best library, I am not buying one.

04-06-2025, 05:29 PM	#6
Bluelightsaber Foot Soldier Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 101	Yeah, Donkey Kong was huge in the 80s. He was right up there with Pac-Man as one of gaming’s first true icons. The original arcade game basically put Nintendo on the map in North America, and it also introduced Mario (then called Jumpman), which is wild in hindsight. For a few years, Donkey Kong was the face of Nintendo. By the late 80s, though, Mario started pulling ahead fast thanks to Super Mario Bros. Meanwhile, Donkey Kong 3 didn’t hit nearly as hard, and he kind of faded for a bit. But you’re absolutely right, DK made a massive comeback in the 90s with Donkey Kong Country. That game was a huge deal. Graphically it blew minds back then, and it gave DK a total rebrand with the red tie and 3D look. For a while, he really did rival Mario in popularity. Nintendo even gave him a leading role in the DKC cartoon (which, yes, was weird and Canadian and CGI)