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.

The Nintendo San Francisco store is holding its third major event since it opened in May with the launch of “Donkey Kong Bananza.” The game marks the popular character’s second foray in a 3D platformer, and it’s also the second major first-party game built specifically for the Nintendo Switch 2.

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.