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Nintendo often surprises fans with new content for their favorite games. The most recent Nintendo Direct announced Donkey Kong Bananza, released just two months ago, would receive a new DLC on the same day. This DLC, titled DK Island & Emerald Rush, introduces a new stage based on Donkey Kong’s tropical home from Rare and Retro Studios’ games, along with a fast-paced roguelite mode.
DK Island & Emerald Rush is a mixed bag. The centerpiece of this DLC is a high-definition recreation of Donkey Kong Country’s DK Island. Nintendo has done an impressive job rendering the island in all its glory, complete with familiar characters and landmarks, though it’s hard to overlook that Super Mario Odyssey included something similar as an unlockable while DK Island requires a $20 purchase.
While DK Island looks nice and evokes nostalgia, it feels disconnected from the main game. There are no new Banandium Gems or fossils to collect here, making the experience feel superficial. However, Emerald Rush mode changes this dynamic. This roguelite-inspired challenge involves collecting green gems by smashing ore deposits, defeating enemies, and finding green bananas within 99-second rounds. Upgrades found in Emerald Fossils help you survive tougher rounds.
Emerald Rush is fun but may feel too simple for some. It condenses the roguelite experience to such a degree that it can become meaningless. Picking up fossils requires constant upgrade choices, which can lead to information overload quickly.
DK Island & Emerald Rush unlocks Emerald Rush on most DK Bananza layers, requiring about six hours to unlock all new content. Even then, increasing difficulty on each layer provides more challenges. However, it’s uncertain how long the average player will stay engaged with this mode.
Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush isn’t without its charm but has a substantial $20 price tag and lacks integration into the main game. This DLC is likely to appeal only to a small subset of Bananza owners. If you’re intrigued, give it a try, but others may prefer the core Donkey Kong Bananza experience.
Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush is available now on Switch for $20.
