{"id":13488,"date":"2025-04-05T00:01:22","date_gmt":"2025-04-05T00:01:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fusionmindlabs.com\/blogs\/funky-ape-revamp\/"},"modified":"2025-04-05T00:01:22","modified_gmt":"2025-04-05T00:01:22","slug":"funky-ape-revamp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fusionmindlabs.com\/blogs\/funky-ape-revamp\/","title":{"rendered":"Funky Ape Revamp"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>To experience the latest 3D Donkey Kong game, you have to go back to the Nintendo 64 era. With no new mainline Zelda or Mario title (<a data-i13n=\"cpos:1;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/gaming\/nintendo\/mario-kart-world-hands-on-the-perfect-launch-game-for-the-switch-2-130003924.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Mario Kart World;cpos:1;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><em><\/em><\/a><em>\u00a0<\/em>not being a traditional release) scheduled for the Switch 2&#8217;s launch in June, Nintendo&#8217;s beloved ape is now taking center stage in <a data-i13n=\"cpos:2;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/gaming\/nintendo\/donkey-kong-bananza-is-a-brand-new-3d-platformer-for-switch-2-143108835.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Donkey Kong Bananza;cpos:2;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><em><\/em><\/a>. After playing a demo of the game before its July 17 release, I must say I&#8217;m impressed with this revamped gorilla.<\/p>\n<div class=\"caas-iframe-wrapper\" data-embed-anchor=\"082b172e-d1c1-58f8-86af-f44c49cad415\">\n<div class=\"caas-iframe youtube\" style=\"padding-bottom:56%\" data-type=\"youtube\">\n<blockquote data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mIddsPkdX9U?rel=0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" scrolling=\"no\"><p>\n<noscript><iframe title=\"Donkey Kong Bananza \u2013 Nintendo Direct | Nintendo Switch 2\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mIddsPkdX9U?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/noscript>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Although I&#8217;m not entirely sure how DK transitioned from the jungle to being trapped in the banana mines, as the demo just dropped me in without much context, there&#8217;s no denying that this is the best the gorilla has ever looked. He boasts a fresh, nearly cell-shaded appearance similar to recent <a data-i13n=\"cpos:3;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/the-legend-of-zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom-review-a-familiar-but-fresh-adventure-120035307.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Zelda games;cpos:3;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a>, along with a more youthful and expressive look. Additionally, his time spent digging seems to have granted him new skills, including the ability to punch, dig, and butt-stomp his way through various terrain, with dirt flying everywhere as you do it.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"caas-figure\">\n<div class=\"caas-figure-with-pb\" style=\"max-height: 576px\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"caas-img-container caas-img-loader\" style=\"padding-bottom:60%\">\n<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"caas-img caas-lazy has-preview has-width\" alt=\"For his latest adventure, Donkey Kong seems to have left the jungle for more subterranean exploration.\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/aSt1i8Hbr1hhIPvMFjKt1A--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU3Ng--\/https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/os\/creatr-uploaded-images\/2025-04\/8798b470-10cc-11f0-b4d9-d2b49a9a03a6\" height=\"576\" width=\"960\"\/><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"For his latest adventure, Donkey Kong seems to have left the jungle for more subterranean exploration.\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/aSt1i8Hbr1hhIPvMFjKt1A--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU3Ng--\/https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/os\/creatr-uploaded-images\/2025-04\/8798b470-10cc-11f0-b4d9-d2b49a9a03a6\" height=\"576\" width=\"960\" class=\"caas-img has-width\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"caption-collapse\"><span class=\"caption-credit\"> Sam Rutherford for Engadget<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>This opens up a world of exploration, as DK can now tunnel to new locations or shape his surroundings with a ground pound, in addition to the usual actions like running and jumping. This type of freedom immediately changes the way you tackle obstacles compared to a standard platformer. Nearly everything is destructible in some way, and between digging, rolling, or simply throwing giant rocks at foes, it feels like there are multiple ways to progress.<\/p>\n<p>While the game still features familiar elements like collecting jeweled bananas and having a companion in the form of a friendly purple rock monster that rides on DK&#8217;s shoulder, this is not the same Donkey Kong experience. Thanks to its new traversal mechanics, <em>Bananza<\/em> reminds me more of <em>Mario Galaxy<\/em> than <em>Odyssey<\/em>, swapping out gravity-bending physics for explosive spelunking.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"caas-figure\">\n<div class=\"caas-figure-with-pb\" style=\"max-height: 576px\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"caas-img-container caas-img-loader\" style=\"padding-bottom:60%\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"caas-img caas-lazy has-preview has-width\" alt=\"The purple rock on DK's shoulder is his new companion in Donkey Kong Bananza. \" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/gwYyKePtXbn4_gVA4tDfOQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU3Ng--\/https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/os\/creatr-uploaded-images\/2025-04\/de746c30-10cc-11f0-a821-bf5469ee773a\" height=\"576\" width=\"960\"\/><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The purple rock on DK's shoulder is his new companion in Donkey Kong Bananza. \" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/gwYyKePtXbn4_gVA4tDfOQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU3Ng--\/https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/os\/creatr-uploaded-images\/2025-04\/de746c30-10cc-11f0-a821-bf5469ee773a\" height=\"576\" width=\"960\" class=\"caas-img has-width\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"caption-collapse\"><span class=\"caption-credit\"> Sam Rutherford for Engadget<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>That being said, while the game looks great and handles well, I do have some initial concerns. After a while, the constant digging and rock smashing felt a bit repetitive. Additionally, the amount of debris that gets kicked up can be distracting, making it difficult to see where you&#8217;re going. This makes me wonder if the game is aimed at a slightly younger audience, similar to many Kirby games, rather than something meant to appeal to older players.<\/p>\n<p>Despite these concerns, my brief time with the game was enough to make me want to come back. Alongside <em>Mario Kart World<\/em>, it&#8217;s clear that <em>Donkey Kong Bananza<\/em> is part of Nintendo&#8217;s strategy to carry the Switch 2 through its launch window, and I&#8217;m excited to see more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/gaming\/nintendo\/donkey-kong-bananza-hands-on-a-funky-fresh-take-on-nintendos-favorite-ape-130057272.html?src=rss\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Source Link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To experience the latest 3D Donkey Kong game, you have to go back to the Nintendo 64 era. With no new mainline Zelda or Mario title (\u00a0not being a traditional&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":13489,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[2890,90,63,809,808,3934],"class_list":["post-13488","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news","tag-donkey-kong","tag-gaming","tag-news","tag-nintendo","tag-switch-2","tag-switch-2-event"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/fusionmindlabs.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/04\/44463530-10cc-11f0-99ff-b950bb91f1b9.jpeg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fusionmindlabs.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13488","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fusionmindlabs.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fusionmindlabs.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fusionmindlabs.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13488"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/fusionmindlabs.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13488\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fusionmindlabs.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13489"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fusionmindlabs.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13488"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fusionmindlabs.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13488"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fusionmindlabs.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13488"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}