Donkey Kong has been pulled up to the majors. The 2D platforming star is back in a 3D adventure for the first time since the absolutely terrible Donkey Kong 64. Fortunately, things look way better in Donkey Kong Bananza for the Switch 2.
A trailer revealing the game during today’s Nintendo Direct showed the hero with his retro redesign smashing through obstacles across a varied set of worlds that reminded me a lot of Super Mario Odyssey, one of the launch year pillars for the original Switch. Donkey Kong Bananza is slated to arrive on Switch 2 in its second month on July 17.
Here’s the trailer:
“Crash, bash, and climb through nearly everything in DK’s path and tear off chunks of terrain to swing around and throw in groundbreaking exploration,” reads the official description. “The more that is demolished with powerful punches, the more areas open up to discover.”
Donkey Kong Bananza will also be $70, suggesting a price hike for all Switch 2 games across the board, with some like Mario Kart World as much as $80. The physical version of Donkey Kong Bananza will be $10 more too, which diehard collectors will no doubt pay but is a huge bummer for everyone else. Now all we need is a new Donkey Kong amiibo, though hopefully the prices on that don’t get jacked up as well.
You’re reading part of Kotaku’s ongoing coverage of the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct. Check our roundup for more news from the showcase including launch games, pricing information, release date, pre-order information, and what that mysterious C button Nintendo keeps teasing actually does.
We’ll be continuing to update stories with news and analysis throughout the day as Nintendo pulls back the curtain on its most anticipated console launch ever. You can find more details about today’s Switch 2 Direct and Nintendo online Treehouse Live demos going on throughout the week here.
.