Bananza comes from the same internal team at Nintendo that developed Super Mario Odyssey, which is exemplified by its storytelling that prioritizes charm and good vibes over lore and dialogue.

Before they depart a level, Donkey Kong proudly pounds his chest like a drum and Pauline sings, enthralling the area’s denizens. A standout was “Zebra Bananza,” a conga-inspired tune by Pauline that sounded like a mix of Idina Menzel and Gloria Estefan. There are more than 100 songs to collect and play back.

My first thought upon starting up Donkey Kong Bananza was, “Why yes, I actually would like to go ape shit .” The game starts by having Donkey Kong smash through a wall to reveal a glittering gem waiting to be liberated from the rock.