With all the buzz around Donkey Kong’s fresh look in Donkey Kong Bananza, an artist decided to take matters into their own hands, imagining what the iconic character might have looked like in the upcoming Switch 2 game if Nintendo had held onto their earlier design.
“I’m not a fan of DK’s portrayal in Bananza, so I modified some of his quirkiest faces to better align with Rare’s design,” shared Felipe Valdés in an original X post on April 20. He invited followers to share their thoughts on the alterations.
The tweaks focus primarily on scaling down Donkey Kong’s large mouth and giving his soft eyebrows a more defined, rigid appearance.
In Bananza, Donkey Kong is lively and whimsical, but Valdés’ rendition draws inspiration from vintage games like Donkey Kong Country, giving him a more classic, robust look. Personally, I’m a fan of the nostalgic style, even if I do recognize Nintendo’s efforts to inject more playful, ape-like charm into Bananza’s animations.
Of course, we must remember these are static images. As appealing as they are, the old Rare design might not have meshed well with the artistic vision Nintendo intended for Bananza. While Valdés’ work is impressive and reflects admirable dedication, it’s crucial not to jump to “Nintendo, hire this man” conclusions over some appealing edits. Crafting a video game is a complex and meticulous process. While some of us might lean towards Donkey Kong’s classic look, we shouldn’t overlook the creativity and hard work of the Bananza development team. The game still looks fantastic.
