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DK Vine
@dkvine.com

I always thought redesigning Rare's Donkey Kong would be a deal breaker for me. While I'll always prefer the 1990s design, Bananza was a master class in how to roll out a huge change, reassuring you throughout that it's the same guy. By the time I got to the end, I didn't even notice the difference!

Josh@geekcritique.org

I've seen a bit of hand-wringing about it, especially in the brief period after the redesign was revealed but before we knew about Bananza, when people were worried DK was losing his identity. But no, overall they haven't kicked up even a FRACTION of the flamewars the Adventure redesigns did.

7 reposts49 likes

DK Vine
@dkvine.com

I said at the beginning of 2025, when the redesign was unveiled, that it was a bargain with the devil we had to accept to get consistent Donkey Kong releases from Nintendo. But as it turns out, the redesign has really grown on me! I don't mind it!

DK Vine
@dkvine.com

That looks like the mascot on an off-brand cereal box that you'd find, slightly worn and coated in dust, on the bottom shelf of a rural gas station.

Gartthew
@gartthew.bsky.social

I’m honestly impressed how much it’s grown on me as I was initially very iffy on it. I think a lot of it came from my fear that the DK series would become simplified, “Mario-ified” and lose its unique sense of identity, but actually playing Bananza quelled most of those fears and I loved it

Gartthew
@gartthew.bsky.social

I think as you said I’ll always have a bias towards the original 1990’s design, I grew up on DK64 and the DKC GBA port without even knowing it was related to Mario at all, so I definitely have that bias from childhood, but I am more than comfortable with the new design going forward, it’s still him

Axelsaurus
@axelsaurus.bsky.social

I also think that it's important to note that for the vast majority of the modern public unaffected by nostalgia, the new design is simply more likeable. Expressive and cute is way more contemporary than edgy and cool, contrary to the 90s and early 2000s (regardless of personal preferences).

Axelsaurus
@axelsaurus.bsky.social

My entire friend group found the old one ugly and thinks the new one is adorable, for example (it's anecdotal evidence but it makes sense). I had to force some of them to get into DKC before Bananza LOL

NoahZark64
@noazark64.bsky.social

I was upset when his new design was introduced, but it grew on me too. I like how expressive it is and how it incorporates iconic traits from the inferior arcade design, like the nostrils and the big toothy grin I love. At the end of the day, he’s still my big cuddly Donkey.

BOOXMOWO
@booxmowo.bsky.social

And of course we have to appreciate that now he can grin by his lips moving in a natural way instead of having teeth extend from a mouth that was never designed to have teeth in it.