Donkey Kong Bananza is Nintendo’s big-hitting debut on the Switch 2 — a tremendously ambitious single-player game that perfectly complements Mario Kart World. But it’s also the latest game from the team behind Super Mario Odyssey, with the Bananza concept even sprouting from a ludicrous idea where the team put arms on a Gooma. While the links with Odyssey are clear to see, not as obvious is the other major Nintendo game that’s inspired it — Splatoon. Now I know that might sound bizarre at first, and while you may not see that similarity from a quick glance, many of Bananza’s core elements feel like they find their roots in Nintendo’s revolutionary neon-drenched shooter trilogy.
Now, when I talk about the ties between Splatoon and Bananza, I’m not really talking about the multiplayer elements of the former, or even its shooting mechanics. More specifically, I’m talking about Splatoon’s campaign structure, world interaction, and vibe. The more ethereal elements of the game are harder to pin down and don’t reveal themselves at first glance.
