Key Takeaways
- Donkey Kong Bananza draws direct inspiration from Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, adopting its open-ended and curiosity-driven design.
- Gameplay prioritizes chaos and destructibility, with players encouraged to punch, transform, and explore freely.
- Transformations and a fully destructible world create a sandbox of discovery, offering a fresh take on Nintendo’s platforming formula.
Nintendo’s latest entry in its legendary platforming franchise, Donkey Kong Bananza, isn’t just another banana-fueled romp — it’s a chaotic love letter to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. While the two games differ in tone and pacing, Bananza borrows core principles from Zelda’s open-ended exploration and then gleefully smashes them into a frenzied playground of destruction.
Zelda’s Exploration DNA Lives on in Donkey Kong Bananza
At first glance, Donkey Kong Bananza may seem like a wild departure from the elegance of Tears of the Kingdom, but their game design philosophies are closely intertwined. Much like TotK encouraged creative traversal using tools like Ultrahand, Bananza puts power in the player’s hands — quite literally. With one simple command, “Press Y to Punch,” players are dropped into a destructible jungle world begging to be broken.
The destructibility doesn’t just look cool — it’s purposeful. Secrets, hidden maps, and alternate paths are revealed only through exploration, often led by curiosity rather than markers. Like Zelda, Bananza rewards experimentation, but it swaps quiet contemplation for pure, joyful chaos.
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Transformation Powers Add Creative Freedom to Platforming
One of Bananza’s most innovative features is its “Bananza” transformations, which parallel Zelda’s Ultrahand in function if not in tone. These transformations grant Donkey Kong new traversal options and strength boosts, allowing players to approach obstacles with a fresh set of tools. Crucially, there’s rarely one “correct” solution — and Bananza makes that clear through its design.
By encouraging experimentation over perfection, the game shifts away from traditional, linear platformer challenges. It feels more alive, more spontaneous — and undeniably more unhinged.
From Grace to Chaos: A Joyful Departure From Zelda’s Tone
While the inspiration from Tears of the Kingdom is clear, Donkey Kong Bananza doesn’t try to mimic its meditative vibe. Instead, it turns the dial to eleven. Where TotK asks players to build with care and precision, Bananza practically begs you to break the world apart just to see what happens.
Despite its chaotic nature, the game manages to stay relaxed. There’s no looming danger or ticking clock — just a free-form sandbox where every button press can lead to mayhem or magic. In that sense, it captures the spirit of TotK while carving its own hilarious path forward.
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