Possible Timeline Implications of Donkey Kong Bananza
Donkey Kong Bananza may have significant implications for the Donkey Kong series timeline following a leak regarding the new game for the Nintendo Switch 2. A piece of artwork reportedly leaked by Nintendo of Korea, which was later shared by a user on Resetera, suggests that another familiar character from the series, not yet revealed, may feature in Bananza.
Hints of a Prequel
The potential inclusion of this character could signal that Donkey Kong Bananza acts as a prequel to Super Mario Odyssey and possibly the original Donkey Kong.
A Confusing Timeline
However, what truly defines the Donkey Kong timeline remains uncertain! Let’s explore this further, keeping in mind that we may encounter spoilers along the way.
Leaked Artwork Details
Official artwork for Donkey Kong Bananza (shown above) depicts DK alongside a purple crystal creature known as “the Odd Rock,” while similar artwork that was shared (and then removed) by Nintendo of Korea reveals a younger version of Pauline alongside Donkey Kong. This portrayal of Pauline features a bracelet that matches the Odd Rock’s color and material.
Pauline’s History
Pauline, notably from the original Donkey Kong, was the damsel in distress that Mario needed to rescue in the 1981 arcade game. She later appeared in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series and was notably featured in 2017’s Super Mario Odyssey as the mayor of New Donk City. Traditionally, Pauline has always been depicted as an adult character in Nintendo’s games.
Childlike Representation and Timeline Confusion
The version of Pauline seen in the Donkey Kong Bananza artwork, however, resembles a child. If she is indeed a child in this game, it could suggest that the events occur prior to those of the original Donkey Kong. Yet this raises contradictions, especially since Donkey Kong encounters an elderly version of Cranky Kong, who is established as the original Donkey Kong. Additionally, Cranky references past confrontations with Mario within Bananza‘s dialogue.
The Chaos of Timelines
Nintendo’s history with Donkey Kong lore demonstrates a considerable amount of inconsistency regarding the connections between Donkey Kong and Cranky Kong. There’s a potential that Bananza explores an early bond between Pauline and Donkey Kong, or that Pauline is transformed into the Odd Rock due to a curse placed by the game’s antagonists, VoidCo, who have magical ties to music—a talent Pauline possesses.
