Donkey Banana Delicacy Confirmed Super Mario Odyssey's Pauline is your new partner – DK can now turn into a zebra or a flying ostrich

Nintendo reveals new Donkey Banana Details of gameplay in today’s Nintendo Direct, which also confirms that Super Mario Odyssey’s Pauline will be your partner in the game.

this Pauline's younger version was leaked by Nintendo beforeand then quickly scrub from the internet. However, it remains to be seen how Nintendo’s upcoming 3D platformer is suitable for a wider Kong storyline.

Here, Pauline can use her singing to temporarily transform DK into several new forms – a rechargeable zebra or a flying ostrich that can discard egg bombs. Pauline can also be controlled by the second player, turning Bananza into Pauline's vocals into an explosive explosion, and can be aimed at it through Joy-Con's mouse controls to help DK destroy DK.

With Gameshare, this collaborative product can be played on multiple local switches, including Switch 1, without your partner, and your own copy of the game.

Other new gaming features confirmed today include the ability to skate in a DK tear environment, and even glue them together to form new structures such as bridges. Then there is the DK artist, a mode that allows you to gain creativity through Bananza's destructive effects and carve your own statue with stone.

Hawkeye audiences may find a return to classic characters Cranky Kong and Rambi The Rhino, but have you also found Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong? They are included, although their role remains uncertain.

Discovered: Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong at Donkey Kong Bananza. (They are still alive!) #ignsummerofgaming pic.twitter.com/qgblhy4jtx

– IGN (@ign) June 18, 2025

Nintendo itself also confirmed the return of Diddy and Dixie respectively, here, the opponents were seen in Bananza's racing mini-game:

pic.twitter.com/eyligdsgzg

– Nintendo UK (@nintendouk) June 18, 2025

Speaking of other familiar elements, today’s Nintendo Direct also features a new version of Donkey Kong 64’s iconic DK Rap, which will be on display in Bananza. (Here hoped composer Grant Kirkhope is considered for the version because he had previously complained that he was excluded from Super Mario movie credits.)

Speaking of credits, one of the notable omissions for Nintendo is that any confirmation that Nintendo development team lags behind Donkey Kong Bananza. Fans have previously speculated that the game is the job of the company's talented Super Mario Odyssey crew. Whether Pauline’s reappearance here is another clue remains to be seen.

In the game, Nintendo also announced a new Donke Bananza Amiibo character, which includes DK and Pauline. This will be available with the game and provide costumes for Pauline than you can unlock otherwise. All other Amiibo characters are also compatible and will produce useful terrain materials.

Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 -Donkey Kong Bananza