2021 marks the 40th anniversary of the originalDonkey Kong, which first introduced the titular ape to the world. Though he debuted alongside a certain Italian plumber, Donkey Kong eventually starred in his own series of platformers on the SNES and has been a staple in Nintendo games ever since. Despite the popularity of theDonkey Kong Countryseries, and its relatively recent reboot, there hasn’t been a newDonkey Konggame since 2014.
The most recent game in the series wasDonkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, which originally came out on the Wii U. The title was re-released on the Nintendo Switch in 2018, but a current-genDonkey Kongproject hasn’t been announced yet. With the Switch four years into its life cycle, it’s possible that DK won’t receive a new game anytime soon. However, a recent change on Nintendo’s web site might hint that a new title is on the way.
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Diddy Kong’s New Look
Twitter users noticed last Thursday that Donkey Kong’s sidekick,Diddy Kong, had received an updated model on Nintendo Japan’s website. The spider monkey’s fur was rendered in high resolution, matching the character model used inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.While this could be preparation for an upcoming announcement of a newDonkey Konggame, the reality is probably less exciting.
Diddy Kong can be found in the same pose inMario Party DSandMario Kart Tour, albeit with less detailed fur. The website update brings Diddy’s model in line with his current iteration, but could just as easily be preparation for another ensemble game from Nintendo. It’s far from definitive proof that anything is on the way, but might offer a glimmer of hope forDonkey Kongfans.
Picking a Genre
Though Donkey Kong is best known from the platformer seriesDonkey Kong Country,the franchise has gone in many different directions over the years. The short-livedDonkey Kongseries saw Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong climbing through trees to solve puzzles, and the Gamecube’sDonkey Kong Jungle Beatwas a rhythm game that came packaged with peripheral bongos.
The success ofDonkey Kong Country ReturnsandTropical Freezemight lead Nintendo to sticking with a side-scrolling platformer for the nextDonkey Konggame. The 2.5D presentation served as a callback to the series' roots, adding in new mechanics that allowed players to move further away from the screen to explore other parts of the map. It created an experience unlike many of Nintendo’s other platformers, most of which have transitioned to 3D.
Of course, it’s also possible that Nintendo might attempt to recapturethe success ofDonkey Kong 64.The title was the only 3D platformer in the series, and it was incredibly popular when it released in 1999. LikeSuper Mario 64, it drastically changed the formula thatDonkey Kongwas known for. Many characters fromDonkey Kong Countrywere nowhere to be seen, and each character came armed with their own weapon and instrument. The lack of a 3DDonkey Konggame in the two decades since seems to indicate that Nintendo is more interested in returning to the series' roots.
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Familiar Faces
One of the challenges ofmaking aDonkey Konggameis that the character himself has never been especially interesting to play. The world he inhabits is incredibly compelling, but Donkey Kong doesn’t have many special abilities other than being slightly stronger than everyone else. This might be why Donkey Kong actually appears in fewer games than some of his allies, despite being the titular character of the series.
Each game in the series normally adds at least one new Kong to the roster of playable characters, making the gameplay feel fresh each time. However, Nintendo should also consider giving Donkey Kong a bit of a rework so that he can feel as fun to play as his allies. He’s meant to be the strongest of the Kongs, and gaining a few abilities that take advantage of that trait could help make him feel more unique.Super Smash Bros.toyed with the idea of Donkey Kong being significantly larger than other characters, and it could be fun to see a few stages where he turns absolutely huge.
Though the Kongs were fun to play,the true stars ofDonkey Kong Countrywere its animal buddies. Each entry in the SNES series introduced a handful of new creatures to ride or even transform into. From Rambi the Rhino to Squitter the Spider, each animal companion represented a new set of puzzles to solve and abilities to master. Sadly, the feature has become less prominent in recent games.Donkey Kong Country ReturnsandTropical Freezeonly featured two of these companions, which may not bode well for their inclusion in future titles.
Donkey Kong Turns 40
If Nintendo plans to announce a newDonkey Konggame, there’s a good chance it could do so at this year’s virtual E3 conference. Fans are already speculating that the gaming giant might use the event to reveal its plans foran upgraded Nintendo Switch,The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2,andMetroid Prime 4, and it’s possible that Donkey Kong could find himself on that list as well.
The actual anniversary ofDonkey Kong’s release is on July 9, so it’s also possible that Nintendo will wait until then. It’s hard to say if the company will celebrate, though; Nintendo was oddly silent whenThe Legend of Zeldaturned 35 this February. Then again, the company released a slew of games last year to celebrate the 35th anniversary ofSuper Mario Bros., so it really could go either way. If Nintendo plans to release a newDonkey Konggame for the Switch, this would be the best year to do it.
Donkey Kongis one of Nintendo’s oldest franchises, and its return in the past few years has shown that the series still has a lot to offer. A new entry on the Nintendo Switch would not only be an an excellent gift for lifelong fans, but would help introduce DK to a new generation of gamers.
