Donkey Kong Bananza's Super Mario Odyssey Prequel Theory…

Donkey Kong Bananza was one of the most exciting announcements out of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct in April. The first major Donkey Kong game since 2014’s Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Donkey Kong Bananza sees the famed orangutan in a brand-new, open-ended 3D adventure with a heavy emphasis on destruction. Set to release in July, this title looks to be one of the most notable games for the Nintendo Switch 2 in the early part of its life.

Hype around Donkey Kong Bananza has undoubtedly reached a fever pitch, especially as the Nintendo Switch 2 reached historic pre-order numbers and looks primed to see similar success to the previous Nintendo Switch. As fans await the new system, speculation has mounted regarding what should be expected from the game. One prevailing theory concerns its connection to Super Mario Odyssey, suggesting that this new Donkey Kong game may secretly be a prequel.

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By Liam Ferguson

Donkey Kong Bonanza May Be Connected to Super Mario Odyssey In A Big Way

Leaked Donkey Kong Bananza Key Art May Hint At Pauline’s Appearance

One of the biggest pieces of speculation regarding Donkey Kong Bananza being a Super Mario Odyssey prequel comes from a leaked alternate key art for the game. First noticed on the Korean version of Nintendo’s website, this since-removed alternate key art shows what looks like a young woman riding on Donkey Kong’s back. The website has since removed this version of the key art, but not before fans speculated the young woman to actually be Pauline, the damsel-in-distress character from the original Donkey Kong arcade game who would go on to play a major role in Super Mario Odyssey.

Naturally, Nintendo is hiding some of its bigger secrets until the game is closer to release, a practice not too unfamiliar for the publisher. If the character in this key art truly is a younger iteration of Pauline, though, Donkey Kong Bananza could essentially be something of a prequel to Super Mario Odyssey that shows how Pauline went on to become the mayor of New Donk City. If Nintendo is really planning to tie the two games into each other, this new entry could even show how New Donk City came to be.

Donkey Kong Bananza Already Wears Its Super Mario Odyssey Influence On Its Sleeve

While Super Mario Odyssey didn’t prominently feature Donkey Kong, the New Donk City setting in itself was loaded with Donkey Kong references. Several stores and streets within New Donk City were named after Donkey Kong characters, specifically those hailing from the Donkey Kong Country franchise. The level also ends with Mario traveling through a 2D sequence designed after the original Donkey Kong game, complete with Mario defeating an 8-bit Donkey Kong to receive a Power Moon from Pauline.

Whether the prequel storyline appears in the game, Donkey Kong Bananza could at the very least be viewed as a spiritual successor to Super Mario Odyssey. Beyond being Donkey Kong’s first proper 3D adventure since 1999’s Donkey Kong 64, Bananza’s open-ended nature seems to be taking a lot of inspiration from what Odyssey had previously done in 2017. Given how prominently this new game wears the Odyssey inspiration on its sleeve, it’s fair to at least consider it a pseudo-sequel even if it doesn’t take on the “prequel story” concept.

Whether the prequel storyline appears in the game, Donkey Kong Bananza could at the very least be viewed as a spiritual successor to Super Mario Odyssey.

Donkey Kong Bananza May Be Developed By The Super Mario Odyssey Team

Donkey Kong Bananza and Super Mario Odyssey may also have a deeper connection beyond the games themselves. While Nintendo is known to be coy about what team is specifically developing each new game, reports of Donkey Kong Bananza’s existence previously implicated that the Super Mario Odyssey team, Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development, was the one at the helm. Gamers won’t get to know until it releases, but considering the current similarities between the two, it wouldn’t be surprising if Nintendo EPD was the one behind Donkey Kong’s newest adventure.

Of course, any discussion of Donkey Kong Bananza being a prequel to Super Mario Odyssey should be taken with a grain of salt. Nintendo has been quick to hide the alternate key art after it first popped up, and the publisher may remain coy about who the woman in the picture is until the game’s release. Even so, Donkey Kong Bananza will nonetheless be a must-play title on the Switch 2, and it appears primed to do for the new system what Super Mario Odyssey did before.

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