Nintendo's significant revamp of Donkey Kong, initially glimpsed in the Mario Kart 9 gameplay shown during the Nintendo Switch 2 unveiling, is now confirmed through a range of new merchandise. The redesign, a departure from Donkey Kong's decades-long established look (seen in titles like Mario Kart 8, Mario Tennis, and Donkey Kong Country Returns), bears a striking resemblance to the character's portrayal in the highly successful The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
While the video game redesign was only briefly visible in Mario Kart 9, Nintendo Life highlighted a Reddit post by user cookiemaster221 showcasing several Donkey Kong products featuring the new design. The post, titled "History is being rewritten in front of our very eyes," sparked considerable discussion.
The merchandise reveals a noticeably friendlier Donkey Kong, with his characteristic furrowed brow now softened and rounded. Commenters on Reddit expressed mixed reactions. Some compared the change to a "reverse Kirby treatment," noting the shift from an angry to a more relaxed demeanor. Others expressed nostalgia for the previous design, highlighting the previous eyebrow as conveying both kindness and strength. However, many voiced approval, suggesting the redesign aims for a more playful and less aggressive appearance.
This merchandise provides a more detailed view of the redesign than the brief appearances in the Mario Kart 9 trailer. A more comprehensive look at the redesigned Donkey Kong in action is anticipated during a Nintendo Direct focused on the Switch 2, scheduled for April.
The Switch 2 reveal trailer, while primarily showcasing the console's aesthetics, offered several key insights. It confirmed significant backwards compatibility, revealed a mysterious new button on the Joy-Cons, and validated speculation regarding the controller's potential use as a mouse.
