The Unwritten Rules of Donkey Kong Bananza Explained

Given the company's family-friendly focus, Nintendo has often been saddled with a reputation of having quite simplistic games. This commentary was particularly prevalent during the Wii era, but in the last decade or so, that reputation has shifted quite dramatically, with games like Super Mario Odyssey, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and now Donkey Kong Bananza all delivering a bevy of intricate and engaging gameplay systems.

Though its story remains fairly straightforward throughout its runtime, Donkey Kong Bananza's gameplay evolves gradually with each subsequent level, its systems growing deeper the closer DK and Pauline get to the planet's core. With such depth in its gameplay, even seasoned Nintendo fans might want to take on board some of the unwritten rules surrounding Donkey Kong Bananza.

Donkey Kong Bananza Says A Lot With A Little

Donkey Kong Bananza Says a Lot With Very Little

Donkey Kong Bananza usually keeps its dialogue to a minimum, but that doesn't stop it from being an incredibly expressive game.

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By Cameron Swan

The Unwritten Rules of Playing Donkey Kong Bananza

Play At Your Own Pace

Arguably the most important thing to keep in mind when playing Donkey Kong Bananza is to play the game at your own pace. Each level of DK Bananza drops players into a sprawling open area that they have free rein to explore and pummel their way through. Though there's always a clear objective up ahead, players are encouraged to scour the environment for fossils, Banandium Gems, and other collectibles hidden deep within the area's terrain, along with secret gateways that lead to bonus stages.

It's very easy for new players to become overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught of content at their disposal, but the key is to take everything one step at a time, and for players to follow their curiosity in a natural way. Rather than set out to collect everything in a level or destroy every inch of terrain in sight, players should simply venture where they'd like, complete what they want, and if they become tired of exploration, it's more than okay to call it a day and head to the end of a level.

Donkey Kong Bananza allows players to return to levels at any time, including after the credits roll, so there's no need to collect everything the first go-round.

Don't Worry About Wasting Bananza Transformations

One of Donkey Kong Bananza's most intriguing features is its titular Bananza Transformations, which sees DK turn into one of five super-powered animals. These power-ups can be activated at any time as long as the player has obtained enough gold to charge them.

Given their special nature, some players might be tempted to hold off from using these Bananza powers until they're completely necessary. But given how often players will be able to find the gold to recharge them, players should feel free to transform as often as they'd like. Doing so will make Donkey Kong Bananza's traversal and destruction mechanics feel even more satisfying, and it'll keep the game's momentum barreling forward.

Players can swap between the different Bananza animals during an active transformation.

Skill Points Are More Important Than They Might Seem

Skill trees are still a relatively new thing for Nintendo platformers, and the one in Donkey Kong Bananza is surprisingly robust. Though players should always prioritize the abilities that sound the most fun for their own personal playstyle, there are a few key skills that all players should focus on getting as soon as possible.

Punch Power and Better Sonar are undoubtedly two of the best skills in Donkey Kong Bananza, with the former allowing players to smash through terrain much quicker and the latter increasing their ability to see hidden collectibles through dense environments. Getting these upgraded early on will make exploration much smoother.

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