Bananza comes from the same internal team at Nintendo that developed Super Mario Odyssey, which is exemplified by its storytelling that prioritizes charm and good vibes over lore and dialogue.

My first thought upon starting up Donkey Kong Bananza was, “Why yes, I actually would like to go ape shit .” The game starts by having Donkey Kong smash through a wall to reveal a glittering gem waiting to be liberated from the rock.

Donkey Kong Bananza is a welcome return for Nintendo's original icon.