All Purpose Donkey Kong Thread

[Thegameandwatch]

Spoiler: Just came across THIS

The Nintendo of Korea website features a very different version of the Donkey Kong Bananza artwork...
View attachment 401117WHO IS SHE!? (Looks like a kid version of Pauline)

If I had to guess then it's probably someone related to Pauline. Probably will be revealed officially in the next major trailer.

Unlikely to be be in the past since Cranky Kong exists.

 

[Laniv]

Spoiler: Just came across THIS

The Nintendo of Korea website features a very different version of the Donkey Kong Bananza artwork...
View attachment 401117WHO IS SHE!? (Looks like a kid version of Pauline)

동키콩 바난자 | Nintendo Switch 2 | 닌텐도

가로막는 모든 것을 때려 부숴라！2025年x月x日（x） 발매, Nintendo Switch 2『동키콩 바난자』 페이지입니다.

www.nintendo.com

Where is it I don't see it

 

[Diddy Kong]

If I had to guess then it's probably someone related to Pauline. Probably will be revealed officially in the next major trailer.

Unlikely to be be in the past since Cranky Kong exists.

Makes sense for her to be here. Being heavily featured in Mario Oddysey too and all. She'll likely continue to feature in both Mario and DK games more often from now on to really keep the series connected.

My pessimistic self is now kind of upset that Diddy doesn't get this treatment but even I begin to bore of these thoughts...

 

[Mamboo07]

동키콩 바난자 | Nintendo Switch 2 | 닌텐도

가로막는 모든 것을 때려 부숴라！2025年x月x日（x） 발매, Nintendo Switch 2『동키콩 바난자』 페이지입니다.

www.nintendo.com

Where is it I don't see it

Can be found here, just scroll down and you'll see it

Nintendo Switch 2｜닌텐도

Nintendo Switch 2（닌텐도 스위치 2） 공식 사이트입니다.

t.co

 

[Wario Wario Wario]

동키콩 바난자 | Nintendo Switch 2 | 닌텐도

가로막는 모든 것을 때려 부숴라！2025年x月x日（x） 발매, Nintendo Switch 2『동키콩 바난자』 페이지입니다.

www.nintendo.com

Where is it I don't see it

It's on this page

Nintendo Switch 2｜닌텐도

Nintendo Switch 2（닌텐도 스위치 2） 공식 사이트입니다.

www.nintendo.com

 

[Laniv]

Can be found here, just scroll down and you'll see it

Nintendo Switch 2｜닌텐도

Nintendo Switch 2（닌텐도 스위치 2） 공식 사이트입니다.

t.co

Oh okay I see it, it just only works in landscape mode... for some reason. Huh.

 

[BirthNote]

Diddy Kong and ~ Valkyrie ~

Thanks! I wasn't sure why they looked different in the movie, so I braced for the possibility of them keeping that look going forward. Glad that's not happening

 

[LiveStudioAudience]

I think at this point Pauline (especially with her roles in the M vs DK series) is less a character belonging to either sub-franchise and more of a link/estuary between the two. Eventually after that 1981 game, Mario went one way, Donkey Kong another, but her continuing to be the one that exists in both worlds feels fitting given she was the last of that character triangle in the arcade original.

 

[~ Valkyrie ~]

Makes sense for her to be here. Being heavily featured in Mario Oddysey too and all. She'll likely continue to feature in both Mario and DK games more often from now on to really keep the series connected.

My pessimistic self is now kind of upset that Diddy doesn't get this treatment but even I begin to bore of these thoughts...

Considering she's having the material of the Odd Rock be as an armlet, I have a hunching feeling that this is who the Odd Rock really is.

What a bumming shame though because this would have been the plot twist of the century. Shame this got leaked...

EDIT: Someone theorized that Shifty Stones could be related to Odd Rock itself. Considering Pauline Jr's armlet... hmm.

But yeah, kinda bummed Diddy's still looking less and less like he plays a part in this game.

 

[MartianSnake]

I would be flabbergast if Diddy wasn't in this game to some degree. I do think he'll be an npc at some point.

Although. The game is being developed by the 3d mario team, a team that only uses Luigi sparingly. So if he were absent, I'd chalk it up to the same logic that keeps Luigi out of the action half the time and not an act of malice or anything of the sort

 

[Laniv]

In slightly off-topic news, we have a English voice for Cranky Kong in Super Nintendo World!

There was a problem fetching the tweet

Direct link

 

[Mamboo07]

Oh okay I see it, it just only works in landscape mode... for some reason. Huh.

It's now replaced with the rock

 

[Mushroomguy12]

I am a tad bit concerned about the lack of Diddy (and by extension Dixie and Funky) in both Bananza and Mario Kart World. Hope their just being hidden and will be revealed later.

Also hope to see Pauline in some capacity in Bananza as well.

 

[MattOnwheels]

IM ALIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE!

and I have a theory:

Spoiler: PLOT THEORY!

I was thinking on who the THIEF was thst Cranky mentioned. Obviously voidco are the thieves, but, If they acted on their own, why the heck would cranky know who stole them BEFORE HE EVEN GOT THERE? it doesnt make sense to me that he would know it was them just by intuition. You dont say that unless you know who they are beforehand. There's ONE way we can tie all of this VERY neatly together, and here's my big brained theory: You're already going to dig below sea level - we know this because Ape Cape is under the ocean as shown in the Treehouse footage. Now, how SICK would it be if you finally reached deep enough that you uncover the sunken ruins of CROCODILE ISLE from DKC 2, and you find out that Voidco were collecting all the golden Bananas so that K ROOL could harness the power to raise it along with an undead/fossilized army of Kremlings? BOOM! I did it. I wrote the plot!

What say you all? Also, can any of you link me to the K rool siscord if its still active? I have a different account now!

 

[Diddy Kong]

I am a tad bit concerned about the lack of Diddy (and by extension Dixie and Funky) in both Bananza and Mario Kart World. Hope their just being hidden and will be revealed later.

Also hope to see Pauline in some capacity in Bananza as well.

I share this concern. I do think all these Kongs will show up but I have my doubts about them being playable. The gameplay doesn't allow for it it seems. Unless they go out of their way to give Diddy and Dixie some type of shovel or pickaxe to allow them to wallow through walls like DK. Cranky has a shovel, and the helper monkeys have a pickaxe.

Again I doubt it. They'll probably be NPCs am afraid. Unless we're in for a surprise. I feel more confident in K.Rool showing up than a playable Diddy and Dixie at this point.

 

[MattOnwheels]

I share this concern. I do think all these Kongs will show up but I have my doubts about them being playable. The gameplay doesn't allow for it it seems. Unless they go out of their way to give Diddy and Dixie some type of shovel or pickaxe to allow them to wallow through walls like DK. Cranky has a shovel, and the helper monkeys have a pickaxe.

Again I doubt it. They'll probably be NPCs am afraid. Unless we're in for a surprise. I feel more confident in K.Rool showing up than a playable Diddy and Dixie at this point.

Fron what I've heard, Cranky

Spoiler

Acts like Captain Toad in Odyssey and gives you hints and Bananas

when you talk to him. I think that's PERFECT for him honestly, BUT!

Spoiler

He also says "It should have been YOU riding Rambi down here (...) not me!" Complete with a Rambi character Icon.

So if thats the case and Animal Buddies are in, I think it's clear they will be too. And it wouldn't make sense for Diddy N' Dixie to fill Cranky's exact role. My guess? There will be missions with them involved. Special bananas where they feature.

The one that stumps me is Funky. I don't see what his rolw could be. However, we do know there are shops in the game from the treehouse.

 

[fogbadge]

got my pre order in

 

[~ Valkyrie ~]

The one that stumps me is Funky. I don't see what his rolw could be. However, we do know there are shops in the game from the treehouse.

I like to think he's gonna be involved with taking the fossils or whatever the collectable can be used to run his clothes/uniform store - as IIRC seeing, there was hints on making DK be able to exchange fossils (or something else) for outfits, much like Odyssey.

 

[MattOnwheels]

I like to think he's gonna be involved with taking the fossils or whatever the collectable can be used to run his clothes/uniform store - as IIRC seeing, there was hints on making DK be able to exchange fossils (or something else) for outfits, much like Odyssey.

Yup, there are costumes! If they call it "Funky's Fashion" that'd be cool! Though, what if...........SWANKY! :O

 

[~ Valkyrie ~]

Yup, there are costumes! If they call it "Funky's Fashion" that'd be cool! Though, what if...........SWANKY! :O

Swanky wouldn't be bad either - but outside of Mario Movie suddenly bringing him back, IDK how they'd suddenly picking a guy who mostly is DK on a suit since the 90s.

Could use a major redesign himself, definitely.

 

[MattOnwheels]

Swanky wouldn't be bad either - but outside of Mario Movie suddenly bringing him back, IDK how they'd suddenly picking a guy who mostly is DK on a suit since the 90s.

Could use a major redesign himself, definitely.

Think of it, though! Hes in a zoot suit, and he could sell cloths! XD

"I decided to share my fashion sense with the world! Aw yeah!"

 

[Laniv]

The Nintendo Music app's banner has changed to accommodate Donkey Kong's new design:

 

[Diddy Kong]

Now we see both designs in similar poses it's 100% confirmed: DK has been bulking

The new design isn't just more fluffy and big on the shoulders but he's straight up more chubby.

 

[~ Valkyrie ~]

Soo uh... Uncle Al has kinda been popping hard lately with theories and discovered details he and his friends have found. They most seem cute references and very far reaches at best regarding now Nintendo's been so long like regarding their general ignorance on using lore from previous games such as Mario or DKC post-Rare. But man... I want these to indicate so much, much more really badly.

For example... apparently the hidden map's chart is straight-up depicting Northern Kremisphere from DKC3. Yeah.

And then there's this really intriguing color motive of cyan and magenta that we've seen being a recurring color scheme in-game, featured as a sort of color gradient in promo arts for DK and on the title logo itself - which resembles the colors of the energy flowing from DKC2's Lost World.

Of course a more plausible reason for this color scheme is how it pops out better as neon color in a game that often has you in dark underground areas or vistas... but... gosh...

But like, go give this video a watch - I really wanna enjoy the theory hype train until the proverbial Goomba's Shoe drops on us by Nintendo to most likely render these theories dead:

 

[Diddy Kong]

Soo uh... Uncle Al has kinda been popping hard lately with theories and discovered details he and his friends have found. They most seem cute references and very far reaches at best regarding now Nintendo's been so long like regarding their general ignorance on using lore from previous games such as Mario or DKC post-Rare. But man... I want these to indicate so much, much more really badly.

For example... apparently the hidden map's chart is straight-up depicting Northern Kremisphere from DKC3. Yeah.

And then there's this really intriguing color motive of cyan and magenta that we've seen being a recurring color scheme in-game, featured as a sort of color gradient in promo arts for DK and on the title logo itself - which resembles the colors of the energy flowing from DKC2's Lost World.

Of course a more plausible reason for this color scheme is how it pops out better as neon color in a game that often has you in dark underground areas or vistas... but... gosh...

But like, go give this video a watch - I really wanna enjoy the theory hype train until the proverbial Goomba's Shoe drops on us by Nintendo to most likely render these theories dead:

Yeah I saw this video! Great analysis, and what a reverence! I never thought this could be a possibility, DKC3 to be represented like this. Could just be a nod to the game however. And nothing else. But I am curious about it nonetheless.

The Krem Core theory is a very curious one, and am not sure if it holds water or not. Might also just be a reference in which only we the fans know and notice, but is otherwise nowhere mentioned in the story telling. Kremling skeletons was enough of a proof to me personally to be convinced K.Rool is very likely to appear (in one form or another, I also think its highly possible we get "King Krockoid Rool").

I just wanna know where Diddy is at lol. However, the more I think about it the more I think there's a reason he wasn't shown yet. And it could just be that there's a special role for him yet to fulfill. At least I hope!

At this point the signs are more favorably for K.Rool than Diddy, and that makes me slightly anxious as I have ever so readily expressed in just about every opportunity I could get

 

[~ Valkyrie ~]

I just wanna know where Diddy is at lol. However, the more I think about it the more I think there's a reason he wasn't shown yet. And it could just be that there's a special role for him yet to fulfill. At least I hope!

At this point the signs are more favorably for K.Rool than Diddy, and that makes me slightly anxious as I have ever so readily expressed in just about every opportunity I could get

The very fact that the devs went all their way to reference Northern Kremisphere right after Cranky mentioning Rambi and the little nuggets of throwbacks to OG trilogy with crystallized Gnawty fossing + Jungle Levels, AND our beloved bit from DK64 so far? It's really made me feel even more confident on us seeing not just Diddy - but other Kongs alongside him: primarily Dixie and probably Funky. And that's all before K.Rool's possible return in this installement.

If they're gonna go all this far to dedicate themselves casting spotlight on the Rare's OG Trilogy like this, then they're more than aware of the starring Kongs in them as well. That give you bit of hope?

But again, I hadn't yet mentioned we're gonna see Diddy and Dixie still show alongside Cranky on the upcoming Donkey Kong 2026 Calendar?

Spoiler

Funny that we see still some bit of remnants of Rare DK here, with some reused arts.

(I hope Nintendo's not gonna keep us waiting too long in suspense - because not only I wanna see our mainline gang show up, but getting to see Pauline Jr. to join the Kong Ensemble kinda excites me! )

 

[Thegameandwatch]

My opinion is that Cranky being in the new game is enough to know that Nintendo will continue to use the DKC characters but they are just inconsistent in general.

 

[Laniv]

Yet more Cranky Kong dialogue, found here

There was a problem fetching the tweet

Spoiler: kinda large images

Guys, I'm not gonna lie to you, I've been burnt before and hope is scary. But surely they wouldn't bring in this many Rare references and not bring in the big man himself, right?

 

[Wario Wario Wario]

I would rather K. Rool not appear in Bananza. I'd rather VoidCo get the time to shine on their own.

 

[Louie G.]

Void Co can get plenty of time to shine with K. Rool simply playing a role in DK's world. I'm still of the belief that K. Rool is a red herring, that if he is in the game that it's kind of a Dedede or Octavio esque misunderstanding that distracts from the greater, unknown threat. Meanwhile K. Rool gets to be kind of a passive, begrudging ally after he and the Kremlings were displaced by the new guys.

Long and short of it to me is K. Rool can still be in the game without distracting from anyone, much like Bowser is in the Mario RPGs for example. He can still be a foe, he can still be doing what he's always been doing in this organic living world of Donkey Kong's without always being the center of attention. It would make for some really strong world building, affirmation of K. Rool still existing at all and allow them to explore brand new character dynamics with him at zero expense to a more serious looming threat.

I'm trying to keep my expectations in check but there's a lot working in his favor and I'm honestly agreeing with Wario x3 here that I want new villains to get a time to shine, but I feel like this can be in service of this K. Rool appearance if they explore some of what I'm proposing above.

 

[Gorgonzales]

I would rather K. Rool not appear in Bananza. I'd rather VoidCo get the time to shine on their own.

It's been so long since K. Rool last showed up in a mainline DK. We've had original villians get the time to shine on their own (Evil Kongs, Tikis, Snowmads) and none of them have resonated with fans as much as the Kremlings. The newbies had their fun, it's K. Rool's time to shine again.

 

[Diddy Kong]

The very fact that the devs went all their way to reference Northern Kremisphere right after Cranky mentioning Rambi and the little nuggets of throwbacks to OG trilogy with crystallized Gnawty fossing + Jungle Levels, AND our beloved bit from DK64 so far? It's really made me feel even more confident on us seeing not just Diddy - but other Kongs alongside him: primarily Dixie and probably Funky. And that's all before K.Rool's possible return in this installement.

If they're gonna go all this far to dedicate themselves casting spotlight on the Rare's OG Trilogy like this, then they're more than aware of the starring Kongs in them as well. That give you bit of hope?

But again, I hadn't yet mentioned we're gonna see Diddy and Dixie still show alongside Cranky on the upcoming Donkey Kong 2026 Calendar?

Spoiler

Funny that we see still some bit of remnants of Rare DK here, with some reused arts.

(I hope Nintendo's not gonna keep us waiting too long in suspense - because not only I wanna see our mainline gang show up, but getting to see Pauline Jr. to join the Kong Ensemble kinda excites me! )

Diddy appears just as many times on the calendar as DK does. That's curious to say the very least. It does give me a little more confidence. However, it has been growing ever more steadily with just everything that's being discovered.

I just think it would be a good idea to implement Diddy alongside DK in Bananza. Not just for the character, who is famously ever more popular and favored in the mainline games, but also gameplay possibilities. Diddy isn't just a green dressed DK with a higher jump. He offers a lot DK couldn't. And vise versa. Diddy couldn't deliver destruction the way DK does.

Dixie and Funky would be great too. I don't expect playable roles for them just yet however.

 

[MartianSnake]

Yet more Cranky Kong dialogue, found here

There was a problem fetching the tweet

Spoiler: kinda large images

View attachment 402011
View attachment 402012
View attachment 402013
View attachment 402014

Guys, I'm not gonna lie to you, I've been burnt before and hope is scary. But surely they wouldn't bring in this many Rare references and not bring in the big man himself, right?

This immediately seems fake to me, considering nobody else has found this dialogue despite seemingly coming right after the dialogue we've seen footage of a bunch of times. Not to mention, it's pretty repetitive with the dialogue we already got, if this were in the game he'd be explaining why he and rambi were here twice in a row.

Not to mention, people already found the font used for the game and have used it for fake Cranky dialogue before, there was a meme going around for a bit about Cranky burying his wife

 

[Thegameandwatch]

Diddy Kong not being playable isn’t that surprising since the 3D Mario developers is inconsistent with Luigi for example like he isn’t playable in 64, Sunshine and Odyssey while being completely absent in the first two games.

 

[LiveStudioAudience]

K Rool being in Bananza, even if he wasn't the main villain or opposing antagonist would be fitting because it feels like this game is effectively paying tribute to all of DK's past. The Retro titles adapted/evolved Country's gameplay, but the lore elements always felt like they were broad strokes; seemingly because either Nintendo put limits on what they could reference, or Retro didn't want to lean on Rare's creations that much. Jungle Beat of course had virtually no interest at all in any of the concepts introduced in the previous 11 years other than DK's design and the use of bananas. One could jump from the DK arcade games to JB and realistically not feel like they missed much for how little the game built on what came before.

With Bananza including elements like the Northern Kremisphere map, the Gnawty, and various little Country era shout outs, K Rool's inclusion would feel appropriate. It's a game forging a new path for the series while also tipping its hat to what came before and him being there while VoidCo are also getting the spotlight fits into that paradigm.

 

[fogbadge]

I wouldn't be surprised if K. Rool was running the fashion shop

 

[NintenRob]

If K Tool does show up, which I think is increasingly likely, I'm curious what design he'll have

His classic Rare look had a detailed texture, big crown and generally off proportions

His Nintendo look stripped away a lot of the extra detail but personally I feel made him more expressive in the face

And Smash Bros, being the GOAT it is, gave us this perfect middle ground of the two.

I hope we get something in like with the Smash Bros design. The Skin texture probably won't be as detailed but I hope we keep the gold belly. Also looking at the three designs like this, I'm kinda impressed how consistent the detailing in the cape has been. I know that's a detail people are pointing out showing up in Bananza so maybe they're onto something

 

[chocolatejr9]

If K Tool does show up, which I think is increasingly likely, I'm curious what design he'll have

His classic Rare look had a detailed texture, big crown and generally off proportions
View attachment 402083
His Nintendo look stripped away a lot of the extra detail but personally I feel made him more expressive in the face
View attachment 402084
And Smash Bros, being the GOAT it is, gave us this perfect middle ground of the two.
View attachment 402085


I hope we get something in like with the Smash Bros design. The Skin texture probably won't be as detailed but I hope we keep the gold belly. Also looking at the three designs like this, I'm kinda impressed how consistent the detailing in the cape has been. I know that's a detail people are pointing out showing up in Bananza so maybe they're onto something

Personally, I'm thinking something like the Nintendo design, but a bit more detailed. Not sure if they'd give back the gold belly, but I'm imagining a sort of middle ground between this and the Smash look, with MAYBE some slightly tweaked proportions.

 

[Diddy Kong]

Diddy Kong not being playable isn’t that surprising since the 3D Mario developers is inconsistent with Luigi for example like he isn’t playable in 64, Sunshine and Odyssey while being completely absent in the first two games.

You can say that, but Luigi also doesn't always appear in 2D Mario games either. Also, Mario games tend to release quite frequently. DK games don't. And up until now basically all games staring DK, Diddy is there too. With the exception of Jungle Beat (which didn't have any DKC elements) and DKC2 (where Diddy is the main character), DKC3 obviously doesn't count cause both aren't playable.

So yeah, Diddy is quite a bit more important. He also offers more than Luigi can offer a difference in gameplay compared to Mario.

 

[MartianSnake]

You can say that, but Luigi also doesn't always appear in 2D Mario games either. Also, Mario games tend to release quite frequently. DK games don't. And up until now basically all games staring DK, Diddy is there too. With the exception of Jungle Beat (which didn't have any DKC elements) and DKC2 (where Diddy is the main character), DKC3 obviously doesn't count cause both aren't playable.

So yeah, Diddy is quite a bit more important. He also offers more than Luigi can offer a difference in gameplay compared to Mario.

Correct if I'm wrong but doesn't Diddy play the exact same as DK in half the DKC games he's in, specifically the Rare ones.

Also, luigi's only missed two 2d Mario games, and those were on the Gameboy, kinda a special case.