As what is being considered a spiritual successor toSuper Mario Odyssey,Donkey Kong Bananzais giving players everything they could’ve hoped for and more. Unfortunately, that means Nintendo Switch players who have yet to upgrade are feeling more than a little left out, yet again.
That being said, given thatSuper Mario Odysseywas released six months after the original Switch, a lot of those with a Switch right now, 8 years later, still haven’t played it. If you aren’t one of the ones who bought aNintendo Switch 2 at launch, odds are you didn’t buy the Switch at launch either, which means you may have entirely missed one of its best games.
Super Mario Odyssey Is Just As Good As Donkey Kong Bananza
Donkey Kong Bananza Is Different, But That Doesn’t Necessarily Mean It’s Better
It’s hard to miss all the incredible footage showing off the new features ofDonkey Kong Bananzaat the moment, but don’t let that fool you into thinking thatSuper Mario Odysseyisn’t just as good. Keep in mind thata large part of why people have been so hyped forDK Bananzais because of the similarities it shares withOdyssey.
Maybe you haven’t playedOdysseyin 8 years, or maybe you never picked it up at all, but ifDK Bananzais at all giving you FOMO because you still haven’t been willing to drop $450+ on the Switch 2, it’s time to take a second look atOdyssey.Not only does it offer a similar 3D platforming experience, butOdysseyis full of wacky worlds and fun abilities, just likeDK Bananza, that are accessed through Cappy, a magic hat.
Super Mario Odysseyfeatures severalDKeaster eggs in New Donk City, a place that is run by another musically talented Pauline, just like the one inDK Bananza, only a bit older.
Of course, someelements ofDK Bananzaare better thanOdyssey, but this isn’t surprising since Nintendo was able to work off ofOdysseyto make this game, and even still,Odysseyhas things it does better, too.While both offer customization, fun worlds, and interesting ways to explore the environments,Mario Odysseyallows you to possess popular enemies and get creative, as opposed to just smashing your way through like Donkey Kong.
You Don’t Need A Switch 2 For Odyssey
DK Bananza Is A Switch 2 Exclusive, But Odyssey Is Available For Everyone
Aside from the fact that it is every bit as good asDK Bananza, perhapsthe most important benefit ofSuper Mario Odysseyis the fact that it doesn’t require a Nintendo Switch 2. As mentioned,Odysseywas released the same year as the Switch, so it’s perfectly playable on the Switch, no matter what model you have.
Contrarily,DK Bananzais only available on the Switch 2, making it impossible to play without one. That being said,even if you have a Nintendo Switch 2, if you haven’t played either of these, I still recommend picking upOdysseyfirst, asDK Bananzatakes a lot of inspiration from it, and it will give you something extra to appreciate when you do pick upDK Bananza.
Plus,Super Mario Odysseyhas a world that heavily focuses on Pauline and theDKfranchise, so ifDonkey Kong Bananzawill be your firstDKgame, and you aren’t familiar with any of the characters, then it’s a nice way to get a peek at the franchise beforehand.
