In the Forest Layer, the resident ostriches, who work in the lodging business, are concerned with Void’s arrival, which was followed by the location’s healthy, safe forest being affected with poison floods and thorny bushes. They are directed to seek the Ostrich Elder’s help in the Eggshell Hotel. The Elder worries the problems brought by VoidCo will affect the quality of their services, and helps the heroes by directing them to retrieve an Ancient Record, enabling Pauline to trigger Donkey Kong’s Ostrich Bananza transformation. In the next sublayer, 602, Donkey Kong and Pauline destroy the poisonous plants affecting the location. They eventually get to a much larger mass of thorns, and find out it is Abracajabya, a giant, magic plant grown by Grumpy.
Landfill Layer
The heroes learn from them at this point that they too plan to reach the planet’s core. VoidCo leaves for the next layer, leaving Peekabruiser behind to fight Donkey Kong and Pauline. In the Freezer Layer, the resident zebras, who work in ice cream production, face problems due to the excessively cold weather. He tells them Poppy Kong stole their bananas, and task them with retrieving another Ancient Record, enabling them to use Donkey Kong’s Zebra Bananza transformation.
After a rumor spreads about a material known as Banandium appearing on Ingot Isle, an island far off the shores of DK Island, Donkey Kong and a crew of Prospector Monkeys explore the island’s mines to search for it. During their expedition, a group of primates known as Void Company arrives on a giant, planet-like boulder and steals the Golden Bananas known as Banandium Gems. The boulder then pushes Ingot Isle further into the ground, with the resulting storm sending Donkey Kong and the Prospector Monkeys into the depths along with it. After regaining consciousness, Donkey Kong surveys the scene of Ingot Isle’s cave-in, when a purple rock entity falls from the sky. Upon investigating, Donkey Kong discovers that the entity is called the Odd Rock, who decides to join him. Together, Donkey Kong and Odd Rock make their way up to the summit of Ingot Isle, where they find a mysterious stake plugging a hole.
Bananza forms
- Find release dates and scores for every major upcoming and recent video game release for all platforms, updated weekly.
- Upon leaving the Freezer Layer or the Forest Layer, Donkey Kong and Pauline reach The Junction, sublayer 700, a location highly affected by VoidCo’s metal, and find out they must clear the metal coming from both sides of the split path.
- The heroes fight the VoidCo leader in the Hilltop Layer, the Lagoon Layer and finally defeat him in the Junction.
- They find and defeat Muckety-Muck, the source of the muck, and open another sinkhole.
- On top of that, the Snake Bananza also comes with a Glare skill, which lets you slow down time in the environment while you continue to move at normal speed.
- “Bananza” is a portmanteau of “banana” and “bonanza,” referring to the game’s gold rush theming.
Donkey Kong and Pauline go after him and find him aggressively demanding Banandium Gems from the residents of Hilltop Layer. The heroes fight the VoidCo leader in the Hilltop Layer, the Lagoon Layer and finally defeat him in the Junction. In the Hilltop Layer, sublayer 200, Donkey Kong and Pauline meet the Fractones, a civilization of crystalline creatures found throughout the Underground World. With their help, yet another sinkhole is opened, leading to the Canyon Layer, sublayer 300. There, the resident Fractones express their worry regarding VoidCo’s presence and Banandium Gem theft, and mention they are headed to the Banandium Refinery.
Story
Donkey Kong can interact with the gramophone at a Getaway to access the Music Player, where the player can listen to music from the game. There are 110 tracks in the Music Player, which are unlocked by collecting discs. In the post-game, Donkey Kong can speak to Grumpy Kong in the Groove Layer to have him repair the Massive Speaker for 20,000 gold, after which the player can listen to music there at a higher quality.
They are able to reach the Cooling Tower and defeat Poppy, who gives them the key to the next sublayer. In Hot-Hoof Heater, sublayer 502, they solve the location’s excessive heat by defeating the Inflammonite in the Compressor. When Donkey Kong collects enough Banandium Gems, he earns Skill Points, which are spent towards upgrading various attributes, such as his maximum health and punching strength, on the “Skills” menu. Many skills have multiple strength levels, with higher levels requiring more Skill Points to unlock. A total of 200 Skill Points are required to fully master every skill, which equates to 1,000 Banandium Gems.
Main story
In a lovely nostalgic touch, some of these adopt a 2D platforming approach, reminiscent of Rare’s classic Donkey Kong Country games. Bananza is developed by the same team behind the original Switch’s Super Mario Odyssey, and sees a return of that game’s supporting songstress Pauline. Here though, she’s a 13-year-old girl (don’t overthink Super Mario continuity – that way madness lies) still finding her confidence, joining DK in hopes of finding a way back to the surface. The Planet Core is said to have the power to grant wishes to those who reach it.
Rool into the core, but are unable to prevent him from claiming the root; they defeat him and make their wishes. Rool pursues them, and the three emerge in New Donk City, Pauline’s hometown; K. The gong also summons Pauline, who asks Donkey Kong to help prepare for a show at New Donk City Hall.
Pauline and Bananza powers
- He causes the city to be taken by his minions and lethal banandium mush.
- After destroying the stake causing the block, they come across the following sublayer’s residents, who tell the heroes about the water shortage in the region.
- Those powerful transformations are meant to be limited, ostensibly restricted to having enough “Bananza Energy” on a meter to trigger a change.
- Rool into the core, but are unable to prevent him from claiming the root; they defeat him and make their wishes.
- This is crucial in certain challenges with fast-moving obstacles, and can be upgraded via the Skill Tree to last for longer.
- A total of 200 Skill Points are required to fully master every skill, which equates to 1,000 Banandium Gems.
He tells them the Root is dormant, and Pauline’s singing has the power to awaken it. Pauline refuses to sing, and Donkey Kong fights Void, this time unable to use any Bananza powers. Void Kong, then defeated, uses his All-Mine Remote to turn Donkey Kong to an Odd Rock form, rendering him immobile in order to force Pauline to sing to save him. Donkey Kong is regardless able to generate a beat through the rock, and Pauline sings, freeing Donkey Kong and also stimulating the golden dome. As Void Kong reaches for the dome, it is revealed to be King K. Rool, who knocks Void Kong out.
Smashin’ Stats are a record of how much terrain Donkey Kong has destroyed throughout the course of the game. By reaching certain milestones, Donkey Kong can earn rewards such as gold and Banandium Gems. The player can view their Smashin’ Stats from the Collection screen or by talking bananza city to Smashintone.
Along the way, Donkey Kong and Pauline fight Grumpy Kong and win, being then given the key to the Refinery sublayer by him as an acknowledgement of defeat. At the Refinery itself, they defeat the Mad Mixer, and reach Mechaneck Isle. A Fractone inform them a “monster” left by VoidCo stole their bananas and headed to Click-Clack Smokestack.