Nintendo has long been known for its secretive approach to game development, often keeping the identities of the teams behind its beloved titles hidden until the credits roll. However, in a refreshing break from tradition, the gaming giant recently disclosed the development team responsible for the highly anticipated Donkey Kong Bananza during a preview event that was attended by Eurogamer. This revelation confirms what many fans had speculated: the team behind the upcoming platformer for Switch 2 is the same talented group that brought us the critically acclaimed Super Mario Odyssey.
According to Nintendo, "The development team of Donkey Kong Bananza is the same as for Super Mario Odyssey." This announcement is significant, as it highlights the involvement of the esteemed Entertainment Planning & Development (EPD) group, which is renowned for creating some of the most memorable gaming experiences on the Nintendo Switch. Given the success of Super Mario Odyssey, which is widely regarded as one of the finest entries in the Mario franchise, expectations are high for Donkey Kong Bananza.
Eurogamer's review of Super Mario Odyssey from 2017 praised it as "one of the most daring and influential game designs of all time," showcasing the team's capability to deliver exceptional gameplay experiences. With such a strong pedigree, the anticipation for Donkey Kong Bananza continues to grow. Our own Alex had the opportunity to get hands-on with the upcoming title, and he noted that his time spent with the game felt like it flew by. "Even if I spent much of it doing a lot of the same wrecking ball actions repeatedly," Alex remarked in Eurogamer's preview, "time flying is always a sure-fire sign of something that's good." This suggests that the gameplay formula employed in Donkey Kong Bananza could indeed be a winning one.
For fans eagerly awaiting the release, the wait is almost over. Donkey Kong Bananza is set to launch on Switch 2 later this month, specifically on July 17th. As we count down to this exciting release, it seems that Nintendo's decision to reveal the development team has only heightened interest in what promises to be an exhilarating and banana-filled adventure.
