logo
Will ‘Donkey Kong Bananza' Make Some Much-Needed Switch 2 Noise?

Will ‘Donkey Kong Bananza' Make Some Much-Needed Switch 2 Noise?

Forbes15-07-2025
Donkey Kong Bananza
Nintendo's Switch 2 has been out in the wild for over a month, and despite the launch feeling decidedly muted, there's no denying the new console's massive early success.
Droves of people purchased a Switch 2 in June—complete with nostalgic midnight launches, just like the good ol' days—though from my somewhat calloused perspective, it almost seemed like a kneejerk, Nintendo-loyalty sort of reaction. Less genuine hype and more 'well, it's a fresh Nintendo machine, and this is what we do when that happens.' Pavlovian, but for video games.
I'm trying to temper my cynicism, though. Carl Jung said the second half of life was about rediscovering the child you left behind during maturation, and I'm officially in said second half. Perhaps acquiring a Switch 2 could help with such a goal. Consumerism as medicine. Doesn't get much more American than that.
I haven't yet played it, but Mario Kart World honestly looks great, and I hear nothing but positive impressions from gamers who own a copy. That said, it doesn't feel like a system-seller, exactly, not in the traditional sense. A solid iteration on the Mario Kart formula, no doubt. Plus, the console it exclusively runs on reads as a similarly safe iteration, too. I'd wager this is by design, because Nintendo knows what it's doing… hopefully.
Donkey Kong Bananza
FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™
Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase
Pinpoint By Linkedin
Guess The Category
Queens By Linkedin
Crown Each Region
Crossclimb By Linkedin
Unlock A Trivia Ladder
However, due to playing it safe, when it came to last month's Switch 2 launch, it wasn't exactly N64 levels of wow, or even Wii or legacy Switch. I'd argue, though, we'll never see something that exciting ever again. The technological jumps are simply too subtle now, and the customers much harder to impress. But yeah, say that to the 3.5 million people who immediately bought a Switch 2 and also probably a Mario Kart World cartridge to go along with it. At least MKW it isn't on one of those dreaded key cards.
Despite console sales that undoubtedly won't be slowly down anytime soon, I still view the Switch 2's birthday as a bit, well, underwhelming. This is coming from someone who lived through the Dreamcast's 1999 North American launch, which still to this day, I view as the killer-app/gold standard lineup to beat. Power Stone, Soul Caliber, Sonic Adventure, Hydro Thunder and Blue Stinger. Okay, maybe forget Blue Stinger, but still.
Sure, the Switch 2 had plenty of third-party day-one support, boasting the likes of Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy and Street Fighter 6. These excellent titles are nothing to scoff at, but it's no secret that Mario Kart World was perhaps the only truly exciting heavy-hitter, followed maybe by performance upgrades to Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. People buy Nintendo consoles for their stellar first-party offerings, and in just a few days on July 17, we're finally getting a second hardware hype-machine: Donkey Kong Bananaza.
Donkey Kong Bananza
I've loosely followed the news on this upcoming 3D platformer, a previously Switch 1-only title that has jumped platforms and was supposedly in development for almost eight years. It's being made by the talented team behind Super Mario Odyssey, and it looks like an interesting cross between arcade romp Rampage, Xbox 360 Rare-helmed hidden gem Kameo: Elements of Power and classic N64 collect-a-thon Donkey Kong 64 (also created by Rare, strangely enough). Preliminary footage of Donkey Kong Bananza even sports the DK Rap in certain instances. I hope Grant Kirkhope is getting paid.
Even though Mario Kart is likely the more recognizable IP, DKB reads as the kind of system-seller I imagined the Switch 2 shipping with. It's vibrant, it has lots of personality and it (better?) shows off what the hardware can do (within reason, as even in present gameplay examples, you can witness some noticeable slowdown). It's very Super Mario World in a way: Inviting, welcoming and maybe less skill-dependent than Mario Kart World. It's also got a mode called DK Artist, which I imagine is Nintendo's idea of an inside joke, because for the love of all that is holy, please give us Mario Paint 2.
Donkey Kong Bananza
It all could be part of Nintendo's understated plan to trickle out first-party candy in a measured, deliberate way. Not all at once, but bit by bit, gradually saturating the Switch 2's library over the next year or so. We've got Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star Crossed World in late August, then after that, there's Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Kirby Air Riders, all due sometime in 2025. Minus any potential delays, of course.
Boasting the Super Mario Odyssey development pedigree, I think Donkey Kong Bananza could be a fun summertime adventure, a game that could make some real noise for the weirdly pedestrian Switch 2. Plus, it might just finally convince me to pick up Nintendo's newest console. Only if I can accept that dependable and predictable aren't dirty words, necessarily.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Teens increasingly turning to AI for friendship as national loneliness crisis deepens
Teens increasingly turning to AI for friendship as national loneliness crisis deepens

Fox News

timea few seconds ago

  • Fox News

Teens increasingly turning to AI for friendship as national loneliness crisis deepens

A new study shows that a third of American teenagers prefer chatting with artificial intelligence companions over having real friends. Common Sense Media's report, titled "Talk, Trust, and Trade-Offs: How and Why Teens Use AI Companions," revealed that the most widespread uses of AI are aged 13-17. The report explained further that the "use of AI companions is not a niche interest, but rather mainstream teen behavior" and that teens "find conversations with AI companions to be as satisfying or more satisfying than those with real-life friends." "AI companions are emerging at a time when kids and teens have never felt more alone," Common Sense Media Founder and CEO James P. Steyer said in the press release. "This isn't just about a new technology — it's about a generation that's replacing human connection with machines, outsourcing empathy to algorithms, and sharing intimate details with companies that don't have kids' best interests at heart. Our research shows that AI companions are far more commonplace than people may have assumed — and that we have a narrow window to educate kids and families about the well-documented dangers of these products." Although nearly half of teens used AI companions as a tool, the report also stated that 33% of teens use AI companions for social interactions and emotional support. For example, teens would use them for living out relationships, emotional support, role-playing, romantic interactions and friendship. A writer at Daze who cited the study raised awareness about the loneliness epidemic among young people and that it could lead to an invasion of privacy. "Some teenagers are telling AI their most intimate problems and secrets, which poses another problem – it's not a good idea to entrust this information to tech companies, some of whom have an extremely lax approach to data privacy. Would you really want Sam Altman or Elon Musk to have access to the contents of your teenage diary?" James Greig wrote in Daze. He added that it underscores a "larger crisis of youth loneliness" as teenagers stopped hanging out at malls and going to the movies, "which has corresponded with rising rates of depression and anxiety." "Being able to speak to an AI companion might alleviate the feeling of loneliness, and some people may find it helpful, but if it's becoming a replacement for socializing in the real world, then it risks entrenching the problem," Greig added.

Sofía Vergara undergoes second knee surgery, posts recovery photos on social media
Sofía Vergara undergoes second knee surgery, posts recovery photos on social media

Fox News

time31 minutes ago

  • Fox News

Sofía Vergara undergoes second knee surgery, posts recovery photos on social media

Sofía Vergara shared a health update with fans. The 53-year-old "Modern Family" actress posted photos of herself in the hospital in a July 25 Instagram post, sharing that she had undergone a second knee surgery, although she didn't share the reason behind the operations. "Its done! Round 2 🙏🏼❤️❤️#knee," she captioned the post. One of the photos featured a makeup-free selfie of Vergara on a hospital bed, resting her cheek on her hand as she smiled for the camera while dressed in a hospital gown. The second photo showed Vergara's right leg, which showed a bandage taped on the side of her knee and a brace wrapped around her shin. Many of Vergara's famous friends wished her well in the comments section, including her "America's Got Talent" co-star, Terry Crews, who wrote, "❤️❤️❤️ proud of you!" Lauren Sánchez Bezos also commented, writing "Sending you ❤️" while Patrick Schwarzenegger wrote, "Wishing you speedy recovery !!!!" This is not the first time the "Griselda" star has needed an operation on her knee. She previously shared with her followers on Instagram stories in April 2024 that she had gone through surgery, assuring fans she was in safe hands. "If u ever get a [major] knee surgery make sure u Get a handsome doctor who will sleep with u that night... !" she wrote at the time, adding "Luv u." Vergara was referring to her boyfriend at the time, orthopedic surgeon Justin Saliman, whom she dated for over a year before announcing they had split in January 2025. Following her breakup from Saliman, Vergara sparked romance rumors with retired football player, Tom Brady. The two were photographed together while on the Ritz-Carlton yacht during a star-studded European voyage. In the photo, Vergara can be seen posing with her eyes closed as singer J Balvin kisses the top of her head, while Brady smiled at the camera as he sat next to the actress. The pair have reportedly been spending time together in Ibiza, Spain, as a source described the situation as a "summer romance," according to Page Six. "He asked to switch seats to sit next to her at dinner," a source told the media outlet.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store