Nintendo has unveiled a prototype build of Donkey Kong Bananza designed for the original Nintendo Switch, offering fans an exclusive look at the game’s early evolution before its transformation into a flagship title for the Switch 2. Discover how this foundational test version shaped the core mechanics that define Bananza today.
The Origins of Bananza’s Gameplay: A Goomba With Arms
Nintendo has officially shared a prototype version of Donkey Kong Bananza built specifically for the original Nintendo Switch. While the final release is optimized for the enhanced capabilities of the Switch 2, this early iteration provides fascinating insight into the game’s development journey.
Development began in 2019 at Nintendo EPD Tokyo, where the team set out to create a system allowing players to permanently alter the game world. To test this concept, they started with a simple but powerful idea: attaching oversized arms to a Goomba.
“As strange as it sounds, we really did that,” laughed Game Director Wataru Tanaka. “In Super Mario Odyssey, there’s a boss named Knucklotec who attacks with giant hands. One of our programmers attached those same arms to a Goomba as an experiment. Suddenly, it could smash terrain, rip off chunks to use as weapons, and throw them—boom!”
This initial prototype ran entirely on original Switch dev kits. As a result, textures were more compressed, environmental assets were reused more frequently, foliage density was reduced, and draw distances were shorter. Despite these limitations, the team used this version to block out early levels, implement basic destruction mechanics, and prototype animations—all without relying on the advanced features of newer hardware.
How the Switch 2 Unleashed Full Destructive Potential
The pivotal moment came in early 2021 when Nintendo approved the move to Switch 2 hardware. This shift empowered the team to fully realize their ambitious vision:
⚫︎ Real-time voxel-based terrain destruction
⚫︎ Seamless world transitions with no loading screens
⚫︎ Dynamic lighting and responsive audio systems
⚫︎ Enhanced companion AI for smooth co-op gameplay
Most importantly, the upgrade meant no compromises on Donkey Kong’s fluid, large-scale animations or the game’s deeply interactive environments. What started as a visual novelty in the prototype evolved into a core gameplay mechanic—terrain deformation became essential to progression, not just a flashy effect.
“We looked closely at how we could enhance what we’d built for Switch 1 once we moved to Switch 2,” said Art Director Daisuke Watanabe. “One major improvement was the ability to place significantly more objects in each environment. This didn’t just make the world feel richer—it opened up new design possibilities for puzzles, combat, and exploration.”
In terms of narrative, Donkey Kong Bananza ties its destruction theme directly into the story. Players face off against VoidCo, a villainous syndicate led by Void Kong, Grumpy Kong, and Poppy Kong, who seek control over the island’s rare Banandium Gems—and the mythical wish-granting power hidden deep within the planet’s core.
As players explore diverse underground biomes—from volcanic caverns to crystalline forests—they encounter multi-phase bosses tied to VoidCo’s forces and elemental threats. The terrain reacts dynamically: breaking through walls changes the landscape visually and physically, revealing hidden paths or triggering biome-specific hazards like gas vents or collapsing floors.
Game Director Kazuya Takahashi emphasized continuity as a core design principle: “Take the Hand Slap move—when Donkey Kong slams the ground, it’s not just an attack. It acts like sonar, highlighting buried items nearby.”
He added, “You might see something glowing through a wall. Break through, dig up the fossil, and suddenly you uncover a hidden chamber behind it—leading to even more discoveries. At its heart, Donkey Kong Bananza rewards curiosity and keeps exploration feeling fresh and rewarding.”
Donkey Kong Bananza launches July 17, 2025, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2. Stay tuned for more updates—[ttpp].
