Donkey Kong Bananza is the first new title in the Donkey Kong franchise in over a decade. That alone should provide some hype, even for folks like myself who aren’t avid fans. But what about this game is so exciting? Well, aside from gorgeous visuals, stunning music, and a lot of charm; Donkey Kong Bananza looks like one of the most fun platformers I’ve seen in quite some time.

The platformer genre has been the sturdy backbone of the gaming world. While it may not always be the core feature of games, there are elements of exploring the 3D space that started with humble 2D platforming origins. Some games like Star Wars: Jedi Survivor have platforming elements to keep gameplay fresh. Other games like the Dark Souls franchise—prior to Elden Ring—had areas that required clever, albeit clunky, maneuvering to reach hidden areas.

Obviously there is a massive network of ideas that make a game subjectively “good”. But when it comes to platformers, fun movement is almost always the number one objective. Classic games like Super Mario 64, Doom and Quake all use movement as a key part of the games’ dynamic play. Contemporary games like Astro Bot, A Hat In Time, Ultrakill or Super Mario Odyssey have inherited this “schmovement” and utilize the incredible maneuvering of their characters to add depth and challenge to the game. Based on the trailers and footage so far, Donkey Kong Bananza looks like it’s going to have some very fun traversal.

It’s entirely possible that the options for running around and climbing aren’t quite as fun or fluid as they seem. However, even if the movement isn’t the best part of the game there are other fun things to explore! Donkey Kong Bananza reminds me, in part, of Kirby and the Forgotten Land. The promise of exploring something new and enjoying new mechanics, boss fights and levels is still a reason to be excited. This new game also shows that Nintendo may still cooking up some delicious content for franchises and IP they have been holding on to.

I personally think Donkey Kong Bananza is going to be an all-time gem embedded in Nintendo’s platforming game lineup. What do you think? Will Donkey Kong Bananza be a smash hit on par with games like Super Mario Odyssey? You can let us know in the comments below and over on the Boss Rush Network’s Discord!

Featured Image: Nintendo