From the second Nintendo revealed Pauline’s presence in Donkey Kong Bananza, I knew one factor for sure: I used to be going to be writing a function on the DK timeline within the subsequent two months.
Look, you realize I like Bananza. DK and Pauline have such a healthful little relationship, I adored listening to the identical senile rant from Cranky on every layer, and the little nods to the nice ape’s earlier endeavours had been completely balanced. It felt like a wall-to-wall celebration of all issues DK whereas additionally serving as an introduction to the fashionable age of 3D platforming for considered one of Nintendo’s oldest characters.
After which the ending occurred. It is a great set piece that I performed with the largest, cheesiest smile on my face, nevertheless it, together with the mere presence of a 13-year-old Pauline, throws up plenty of questions on the place Bananza sits within the wider canon, and let’s be trustworthy right here, DK does not want that.
When you’ve stayed with me this far and also you assume there’s an opportunity I will make it by means of the following 800 phrases with out spoiling the tip of Donkey Kong Bananza, you’re very a lot mistaken. I will be speaking concerning the ultimate sequence of Donkey Kong Bananza in depth. Heck, there would possibly even be some screenshots thrown in for good measure.
If you do not need that spoiling (and I would actually suggest seeing it contemporary for your self — it is superior), then wrap up your studying right here and solely scroll previous the next picture whenever you’ve seen all the things for your self, as there are main spoilers under.
The place was I? Ah sure, the ending!
The ultimate stage of Donkey Kong Bananza lastly sees DK and Pauline get again to the latter’s dwelling turf on the floor, which is… New Donk Metropolis! Yep, the very one seen in Tremendous Mario Odyssey. There’s some extra platforming and a boss battle (I’ve damaged all of it down in an Ending Defined information, in case you want reminding of the deets), however the tl;dr of it’s that NDC returns to its rot-free glory, DK returns to the mines — like Steve, he yearns for them — and Pauline will get to stay out her goals of singing in entrance of the entire metropolis. Hmm.
That final word bought below my pores and skin once I first performed by means of the grand finale, and I have never been capable of shake it within the weeks since. That is Pauline. That is New Donk Metropolis. That is singing. Nintendo may have performed the riff from ‘Soar Up, Celebrity!’ over the whole sequence, and it would not have made it any extra apparent that the sport goes, “Look, it is identical to that 2017 3D Mario sport!! See??”
All these threads come collectively in an ideal huge Odyssey-shaped signpost, actively encouraging us all to consider the prized plumber’s earlier platforming exploits and begin to query the place Bananza matches in round it.
And give it some thought I did. I used to be so prepared for Bananza to finish with Pauline saying one thing like, “You already know what my actual dream is, DK? To be mayor of this nice metropolis!,” nevertheless it does not. As a substitute, it ends with a picture of a very-much-still-13-years-old Pauline singing on the roof of Metropolis Corridor (after the post-credits missions, that’s), and all of these references to her grandma — which she’s been banging on about all through the sport, let’s not overlook — ringing in your ears.
This is not the Odyssey prequel that I assumed it could be, however as a substitute a sequel. One other youngster within the Pauline household tree (additionally known as ‘Pauline’, confusingly), studying to like the enormous ape that had prompted a lot drama for her ancestors. Aw.
No! Not “Aw“! That is precisely why I began this piece within the first place. I’ve put an excessive amount of thought and power right into a timeline that, let’s admit it, is a load of garbage.
Do not even get me began on Cranky Kong. Everyone knows that this aged ape is the DK from the unique arcade machine (it is even referenced in considered one of his Bananza speeches), so what’s he doing nonetheless up and about all these years later? And what about his son, Donkey Kong Jr? Are we simply going to imagine that vest-wearing chimp light away as he headed again to his dwelling planet?
Do not get me unsuitable, I can get behind a BS timeline. I do know the Zelda yet another than most and really take pleasure in slotting issues into it. However a minimum of Hyrule Historia relies loosely (and I imply loosely) on the video games’ narrative occasions and never solely on “how previous is that this child now, do you reckon?”
A Donkey Kong timeline — or, casting the online even wider on this occasion, a Mario timeline — is a idiot’s errand proper from the bounce as a result of there’s virtually no narrative to hold issues on. No person is saying “Donkey Kong Nation: Tropical Freeze has to return after DK: King of Swing as a result of you possibly can see DK nonetheless driving the excessive of the Jungle Jam Competition”.
And I actually need to hammer this dwelling, I love Donkey Kong Bananza, I simply do not assume that good issues essentially have to be strung as much as different good issues. I needs to be relishing within the glow of post-Bananza pleasure, however as a substitute I am getting myself wound up over lore that did not exist till a month in the past.
If we will preserve pretending that the narrative occasions of DK or Mario matter to the broader pantheon of Nintendo video games, a minimum of give us a properly sure lore e-book so as to add to the espresso desk. The DK Dictionary? Kong Kompilation? Gorilla Glossary?… I will work on it.
