Donkey Kong Bananza Review: Stunning Gameplay and Visual Innovation on Switch 2

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Donkey Kong Bananza, a highly anticipated 3D platformer, has officially been released and has immediately captured the attention of game critics worldwide.

The game has received widespread praise for its innovative approach to the platformer genre, offering a fresh and unique gaming experience.

With unique gameplay mechanics and eye-catching visuals, Donkey Kong Bananza is a strong contender for the best game on the Switch 2 console.

Reviewers have highlighted how the game doesn't simply follow in the footsteps of its predecessors but boldly experiments with new elements.

Donkey Kong's ability to interact directly with the environment, even modifying it, is at the heart of the dynamic gameplay experience.

This creates constantly changing challenges and exploration opportunities, keeping players engaged from start to finish.

However, like any masterpiece, Donkey Kong Bananza is not without its minor issues.

Some aspects, such as the consistency of difficulty and the game's untapped potential, have been points of discussion among reviewers.

Overall, however, the innovation and quality offered make Donkey Kong Bananza a must-try experience for platformer fans and Switch 2 owners alike.

One of the most striking aspects of Donkey Kong Bananza is its innovative gameplay mechanics.

The game introduces Donkey Kong's ability to destroy and modify the surrounding environment, creating interactions never seen before in the series.

This feature not only adds strategic depth but also allows players to discover hidden paths and solve puzzles in creative ways.

The variety of available power-ups further enhances the experience, though some are more effective than others.

The level design in Donkey Kong Bananza is also commendable. Each level is meticulously designed, featuring clever and varied challenges that continually surprise.

Players will find a sense of accomplishment as they explore every corner of the world, discovering a variety of collectibles that not only provide rewards but also provide a variety of character appearances.

This encourages deep and repeated exploration.Visually, Donkey Kong Bananza is simply stunning. Its high-quality graphics, combined with Donkey Kong's expressive animations, create a colorful and detailed world.

The rich environments and vibrant characters further immerse players in the adventure.

Furthermore, the emotional connection between Donkey Kong and Pauline adds narrative depth, although some reviewers felt its potential could have been explored further.

The game's ending received particular praise for being both dramatic and satisfying.The game also successfully showcases the full capabilities of the Switch 2 console.

Both visually and performance-wise, Donkey Kong Bananza makes excellent use of the latest hardware.

While there are some minor performance issues, which are forgivable given the game's complexity, the overall gameplay experience remains smooth. The available co-op mode is also a plus, allowing players to share the fun with friends.

Despite its praise, Donkey Kong Bananza also faced some criticism, particularly regarding difficulty consistency.

Some reviewers noted that the game's difficulty was uneven, with some sections feeling overly challenging, especially towards the end of the game.

This could lead to frustration for some players.

Furthermore, the repetitiveness of boss fights was also a point of criticism, diminishing the element of surprise in some moments.

Another aspect highlighted was the game's under-utilized potential.

While innovative, some reviewers felt that Donkey Kong Bananza sometimes felt a little "safe" in its approach.

The high level of creativity seen early in the game diminished slightly in later sections, leaving some players hoping for more exploration of new mechanics.

The potential relationship between Donkey Kong and Pauline also felt under-explored, leaving room for deeper character development.

Finally, while the game's overall performance was good, there were some minor frame rate issues that occasionally occurred.

These weren't too disruptive to the gameplay experience, but were noticeable in some of the game's more intense scenes.

However, given the complexity of the game's graphics and mechanics, these issues were considered forgivable.

Overall, Donkey Kong Bananza remains a highly recommended game, especially for fans of Donkey Kong and the platform genre.

It's considered one of the best games on the Switch 2 in 2025, and perhaps even on all platforms, although some reviewers feel it doesn't quite reach the level of greatness of Super Mario Odyssey.