Unlocking Donkey Kong Bananza: Smart Moves for New Players

Donkey Kong Bananza is all about smashing stuff and having fun. But did you know there's more to it than just punching and jumping? Here are some smart tips to help you get the most out of the game. First, did you know you can roll during a jump to cover more distance? Just press ZL while in mid-air. This trick helps you reach those tricky platforms that seem just out of reach. Need to cover a lot of ground quickly? Try turf surfing. Donkey Kong can't sprint in his normal form, so this is the best way to speed things up. Got extra Banadium Chips? Trade them for Banandium Gems at the Hilltop Chip Exchange. Only the first one counts for your collection, but the rest still help you earn skill points. Use Donkey Kong's hand slap as a sonar tool to find hidden treasures, gems, and fossils. And make sure to upgrade this ability early on. The extra range is totally worth it! Outfits aren't just for show. They give you bonuses like increased sonar range and better chances to find treasure chests. So, pick your outfits wisely. Want to tear through walls faster? Use a chunk instead of just punching. It's quicker and clears more material, which helps the camera behave better. Don't be afraid to use your Bananza forms. Gold is plentiful, so transform as much as you can. Why waste that Bananergy? Chests, gold clusters, and Banandium Chips don't always spawn in the same spots underground. So, don't stress about digging everywhere. Not sure what terrain types are? Use ZR to pick something up and hold the button. You'll enter a first-person view with a reticle that identifies terrain types. Sometimes, breaking things is the best way to solve a puzzle. If you're stuck, try a bit of destruction to open a new path. Made a mess and want to start over? Press the Plus button when the map screen is open to reset the terrain. Take your time and explore at your own pace. Once you hit Sublayer 200, you can summon a giant eel to transport you back to previous layers. Build getaways not just for teleporting, but also for extra hearts. The more getaways you have on a layer, the more extra hearts you'll get. Don't ignore collecting gold. You'll need it to build more getaways and unlock Banandium Gems. Don't let those golden opportunities slip away! Looking for quick gold? Check out your "Smashin' Stats" tab in the Collection menu. You'll get bonus gold for completing various challenges, many of which you'll accomplish naturally while playing. See a fossil that's out of your range? Throw a chunk at it until it breaks to collect it. Got yourself stuck in a rut? Use teleporters to fast travel to any tuning fork, getaway, or gong across sublayers. It saves time and frustration. Donkey Kong can climb most surfaces. That huge cliff, the giant pipe, the tall smokestack—all easy for Donkey Kong. You might even find hidden collectibles at the top. Need a change? Respec your skills for free by talking to any of the elders. You'll get all your skill points back, allowing you to test different abilities. Capture funny moments by taking a photo. Press down on the D-pad to enter Photo Mode and snap a picture. Struggling with enemies or progress? Switch to Assist Mode in the options. There's no shame in getting a little help.