00:00When we talked about the original Switch's monumental first year, it was surprising to
00:05remember how many big launches Nintendo dropped in the first few months of its new console's
00:09lifespan. With the Switch 2, Nintendo looks to be repeating history, as just over a month after
00:15the console's launch date, we're getting Donkey Kong Bonanza. The first 3D Donkey Kong adventure
00:21since Donkey Kong 64 on, well, the Nintendo 64. Over 25 years ago, Bonanza looks to scratch the
00:29itch for the Nintendo 3D platformer we've been pining for since Bowser's Fury released with the
00:35Switch ports of Super Mario 3D World in 2021, which in turn only minorly tied us over after the
00:42phenomenon that was 2017 Super Mario Odyssey. Speaking of Odyssey, there's some similar vibes
00:47in Bonanza, and when I played DK's new title at the London hands-on event, this brand new game felt
00:53very, very familiar. So let's take a closer look at the Switch 2's first major, post-launch,
00:59first-party release. Howl from GamesRadar here, and welcome to Switch On, where we talk all things
01:04Nintendo Switch 2.
01:07While I surprised even myself with how much I enjoy Mario Kart World, and Metroid Prime 4 Beyond on a
01:13Nintendo Switch 2 really impressed with its graphics and performance, none of the games I played for
01:18the new Nintendo console filled me with as much maniacal glee as Donkey Kong Bonanza, the new 3D
01:24Donkey Kong title that's all about digging holes and breaking blocks. This is coming from someone who
01:29can appreciate a good Donkey Kong game, but isn't an aficionado by any means. I played my fair share of the
01:36rare developed games, for example, but I've no strong attachment to the character beyond an undying
01:40Smash Bros-affiliated hatred. I was excited to see the announcement, but had no specific emotional
01:46attachment to it. It is good that Donkey Kong is getting a new game, but after playing through roughly 20
01:52minutes of Donkey Kong Bonanza, it has quickly shot up the list of my most anticipated upcoming Switch 2 games.
01:58It would be reductive to say that Donkey Kong Bonanza is just a Nintendo version of popular hole-digging
02:03games like Minecraft, just to name one example. But the influence is fairly clear. The whole premise is based
02:10around DK being a miner of sorts that digs up golden bananas, as one does, and other valuables before getting
02:16caught up in some kind of scheme from a sinister group called Voidco. While my demo only touched
02:21on the earliest parts of Donkey Kong Bonanza, the initial mining area serving as a tutorial, before
02:26opening up to a gorgeous underwater lagoon, the emphasis on the destructible environment was
02:31immediately clear. Nearly everything in your path can be smashed through by decay, whether that's going
02:37down by diving or slapping, up by jumping to the side by punching, or… you get the idea. There are some
02:43materials that are more sturdy than others, but even earlier on some of that could be cleared by
02:48grabbing explosive rocks and tossing them at the tougher objects and enemies. In practice,
02:53there are clear objectives that might align with a traditional platformer. Get to this place, find this
02:58item, traverse this area. But because so much of the game's map can be stomped through in one way or
03:03another, I regularly found myself completely ignoring whatever I was supposed to be doing, in favor of
03:08just digging around to see what I could discover. I found buried treasure chests, an abundance of gold,
03:13hidden fossils, prism challenges, and even an entire second level hidden underground. I only got a
03:19brief glimpse of the latter though before the demo version walked me back upstairs.
03:23The way Bonanza handles and presents itself is probably where it's the most similar to Odyssey.
03:28The colourful expansive levels, the UI, traversal moveset, even the way DK interacts with NPCs strewn
03:35across the world, it's all out of Nintendo's handbook of what makes a 3D sandbox style platformer.
03:40Odyssey really set the bar with just how much content was crammed into its various vibrant levels,
03:45with nearly 900 unique power moons to collect over the course of the game, the total reaching 999,
03:52including those buyable in each level's shop. Odyssey just kept going, even after the credits rolled,
03:58and besides a handful of laborious minigames, it never felt like a chore. And it's this near
04:04perpetuity that seems to return in Bonanza. There's collectibles everywhere, and various
04:09sub-objectives to climb, roll, and smash your way to find. The result is a game that feels designed to
04:15make hours feel like minutes, in the most satisfying way possible. It speaks to the Nintendo Switch 2's
04:22hardware's performance that I never saw any graphical dips or issues no matter how many blocks I had DK
04:28slam through, or how fast for that matter. Little pieces of the environment flooded the screen with
04:33more being produced constantly, and yet the Switch 2 took it all in stride, despite the fact that
04:38rendering a bunch of small, destructible objects can be a logistical nightmare. What's also pretty
04:43impressive is your 3D map updates in real time to reflect your destructive mayhem, so navigation won't
04:49be a nightmare when you've flattened an entire area. It's worth noting that while the trailers showcase a
04:55little purple rock buddy on DK's shoulder, Odd Rock, my demo only included that character for
05:00a brief period of time, and so I'm unable to speak to what it does exactly or how useful it might be.
05:06In my case, I was near the end of the demo area and I couldn't figure out where I was supposed to go.
05:10By holding down a button, musical notes appeared from my PAL and guided me in the correct direction,
05:16allowing me to pinpoint exactly where a key was and start actively working towards it.
05:21Despite having a good time with Donkey Kong Bonanza, it does stick out a bit from the
05:25rest of the Switch 2 Direct's reveals. While ostensibly a big first-party release,
05:30it's not part of the immediate launch lineup. Looking at it through a different lens however,
05:34maybe Nintendo knows it's good, and releasing a month after the Switch 2 hardware puts it in a
05:39strong position to be the first truly new game someone picks up for the console after launch.
05:44It's a big slot to fill, and one many will have no doubt thought Metroid Prime 4 would take.
05:50When we look at the Switch 2 games set to release in 2025, Donkey Kong Bonanza has its unique place
05:55as a single-player, first-party title that feels Nintendo, with its bright, cartoony aesthetic
06:02and simple yet gripping gameplay design. The fact it's giving everyone's favorite gorilla
06:07a chance to shine in the 3D space again, it's just icing on the cake.
06:13So, Mario Kart World, then Donkey Kong Bonanza, with even more on the way.
06:18The Switch 2's first year is certainly looking to live up to its older sibling's legacy.
06:23But what do you think?
06:24Will you be picking up Donkey Kong Bonanza?
06:26Are you excited to let loose and completely level its colorful environment?
06:30Let us know in the comments, and we'll see you next time on Switch On.
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