games&Tings

Just when I thought I was out…

I’ve had Donkey Kong Bananza from the very start – bought as a distraction from constant Mario Kart World sessions. And I really enjoyed what I had played – an adorable DK chaperoning an impossibly cute Pauline around levels where all you do is punch up EVERYTHING, hoping to find a banana or two. And it’s brilliant.

The game feels like it belongs on GameCube; a simple, engaging mechanic that has worlds built around it. It’s Donkey Kong’s version of Super Mario Sunshine. And yet, I bounced off of it, partly because I’m an ill-disciplined gamer that gets distracted by something else in the collection but also because I felt compelled to collect every fossil and banana – which at times got in the way of the enjoyment.

So, it was placed on the shelf – next to other launch Switch 2 games that need some TLC too.

Then came the latest Nintendo Direct. Amongst the JRPG announcements of games that I won’t have the time or patience to play, Nintendo announces the latest update to Emerald Island. To explain, with the main game, you’re leisurely walking around, fisting walls, slapping the ground, finding bits and bobs. Emerald Island puts all that on a timer. You must hit the emerald collecting goals in order to get another round in that level. Simple premise, one that I’ve largely thought I could ignore, especially as I hadn’t finished the main game. O and it’s also like 17 quid or so.

Then the Nintendo Direct announcement – To the shock of absolutely no-one, it’s Super Mario Bros collab, where Donkey Kong is Mario and Pauline is Luigi. Moustached too.

I am now Spongebob –

I buy it. Standard Efe procedure, impulse purchase with little to no research. To quote Premier League Winning Manager Mikel Arteta – “I am on fire”.

WELL MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE DONE SOME FUGGING RESEARCH. I can’t emerald until I complete the main game.

So back I went, picked up where I left off. But I had to make one compromise with myself – I can’t be chasing every banana, fossil and costume. Just do enough to progess the game. And progressed I did.

Turns out the game is fugging great. Inventive, colourful, engaging – all the buzzwords you want.

I beat the game, I did the emerald run and it’s hard. Worth every penny for me, it gave me more Donkey Kong nonsense.

And now – I’m heavily addicted. I take my Switch 2 around with me when, usually, it just lives in the dock forever and ever.

I AM ON FIRE.

So why write all this? I wanted to honour the big man. To say thank you. To say I too want to fist walls, hoping to find a banana. I too want to dress up.

Thank you DK.