Stop wasting your time to worry about Donkey Kong Bananza Lore

Donkey Kong Bananza is less than a month away, and the boy looks incredible. Yesterday, a whole Nintendo saw directly dedicated to the game and sent the fans even more bananas for Donkey Kongs Switch 2 debut. It holds the open nature of Super Mario Odyssey and uses it to reinvent what it means to be a Donkey Kong game. But that means leaving much of the past behind, including pieces of Lore that fans have held dear for a very long time.

Ever since the release of Super Mario Bros. At Nintendo Entertainment System, titles in the series have added what we know about characters, where they came from and what they have gone through. But just like the Zelda time line first, as formally introduced in rental history, this feels like a loose interpretation of where every game and character sits instead of something we should take as a gospel. The same goes for Donkey Kong Bananza, which basically reinvents both its titular character and legendary heroine Pauline.

Donkey Kong Bananza is already undermining our narrative expectations

Pauline originally debuted as 'The Lady' 1981's Donkey Kong and acted as the only lady in distress Mario needed to save by reaching the top of the stage. It was her role, and years later she would be expanded to a more meaningful character with a real personality. It reached a new peak in Super Mario Odyssey, where Pauline returned as mayor of New Donk City and talented singer of the game's main theme.

This iteration of Pauline would continue to show up in Mario Golf Super Rush, Super Mario Party Jamboree and Mario Kart World in a number of new clothes, which makes it clear that it is who she will be from now on. The same goes for Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Bowser and other characters over the legendary universe. Things change.

A younger Pauline in Donkey Kong Bananza.

But for a long time, Donkey Kong has been within the framework of games such as Donkey Kong 64, Country and Tropical Freeze. Of course, when his character design and origin apparently invented, we would react with confusion, or at least try to justify why Nintendo decided to change a character that maintained for decades.

I would not be surprised if Donkey Kong Bananza brings with him a new origin story for the APE character, especially considering familiar faces like Kranny, Diddy and Dixie also appears with fresh designs of their own. His relationship with Pauline, who he previously tried to kidnap a lot as Bowser is obsessed with Princess Peach, is now transformed into something more related to a surrogate father figure.

Think Sully and Boo or Wreck It Ralph and Vanellope. It provides the same energy, and in order for this dynamic to be possible, the past must be thrown aside. I'm all for it, and you should also be, if you can release Lore who never mattered.

And I can't wait to join the ride with Kong and Pauline

Pauline on Donkey Kong's back in Donkey Kong Bananza. — Via Nintendo

While her design leaked months ago, yesterday's direct revealed that the singing cliff that cools out on Donkey Kong's shoulder during the early hours is not just a stone, but a younger version of Pauline. The freckling teenager is far from home and needs help from Donkey Kong to leave this underground world behind. She starts the journey as shy and tentative, unsure of who to trust or who she wants to be, but even before the last moments of the direct we see her to bite songs and form a genuine band with DK.

Introduce a younger version of Pauline at all – Nintendo has confirmed that she is 13 years old in Bananza – opens many questions. Is this the same Pauline that Donkey Kong would continue to keep hostage, or has an adult version of Pauline aged by any magic formula that you will spend the game and try to turn? It is unclear, but I really hope it is a Retcon for the Mario universe.

Pauline has never played a lead role like this before, so why shouldn't Nintendo use it as an opportunity to explore its origin as never before? Although it means to reinvent them a lot as if they are Donkey Kong. I want to see that the two characters form a meaningful band over the campaign that culminates in a finale where they work together to overcome impossible obstacles, even if it means bumping their heads or split on the road. Yes, I can already say that this game will make me cry.

If you are worried about how Donkey Kong Bananza will write about Lore and how it will fit into the established cannon, my advice is just to let that stress ride from the back that Donkey Kong and Pauline float down a delicious waterfall to a pile of waiting gold. It is not worth it, and besides, this may be the best iteration of these two characters we have ever seen.