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I'm just grateful they're finally making new models for a Mario game. I feel like a lot of recent games, especially spin-offs, lack their own individual identity because they've basically been passing the same models around since the Gamecube.

The original Switch only uses the default Nintendo Switch **click~!** sfx whenever you slide in one of the two joycons into their respective rails. Well what if this time, Nintendo gives users the ability to customize the Switch 2's magnetic Joycon snap-on sound indicator? I mean they could roll out different SFXs monthly for Nintendo Online subscribers like they did for profile icons on the original Switch. For instance, instead of a **clumph~!** sound fx when you connect your joycons, it'll instead make a coin sound from Super Mario Bros. Or even DK's iconic monkey noises from Mario Party and Mario Kart 64.

There's a likely chance he's only getting redesigned to fit in the Mario universe better; the DK we all grew up with is gonna be the main one, the Mario style is a lot more chibi looking and more rounded and stubby, something that Rare's more pseudo realistic look kind of clashes with, I guess the redesign changing just feels like a massive shock because of how long its taken to change

Something about that artstyle has yet to be matched

People are ignoring a simple thing. Do you really think this game is gonna run at 1080 60 with 24 fucking players on a switch? No chance in hell

since punch out is likely not coming back, DK boxing game would be cool.

I think pikmin should be higher bc its actually so iconic that just about anyone I ask will recognize the pikmin

What I find weird about Flagship is that it founded was for hiring more professional screenplay writers for capcom games. Yet the games they assisted in writing have the most off the wall writing, talking specifically Resident Evil:Code Vernonica and Resident Evil 0. If you look at the writers previous work it's mostly Tokusatsu shows. Which are like power rangers adjacent shows, although not all of them are like that. This does explain the campyness of RE games from that era.

I do not like the New Donkey Kong Desgin, I want Nintendo to Fix Donkey Kong.

I don't know if I like this look for DK but only because it was first saw with the Mario movie and I hate Illumination

My question is: considering DK seems to be getting rethought or at least reintroduced into the greater Nintendo sphere, does Nintendo see him as more of a foe or friend to Mario? Within a year, they released a game where you play as DK and another game literally called "Mario vs DK". I'll be interesting to see what they do.

I think this is a rare (pun not intended) miss for you. Not for the logic and analysis, it’s all as quality as ever. But it missed the key detail that a few people pointed out of seeing a DK animatronic on the ride. Even beyond that, the fact the park is so heavily associated with Returns, Cranky even asking you to stop the Tiki Tak Tribe in the lead up to the ride, I would have a hard time buying they’re wholesale upending the current DK design altogether.

Please don’t let this happen…

Mk 8 didn't even resemble his previous versions so I'll take another change

If they're "rebooting" DK, I shudder to think of what that will actually be.

One important thing to note is the official Nintendo redesigns of the Kong family that came about in the mid 2000s. With Rare out of the picture, Nintendo redesigned every character that would go on to be used in the Paon DK games. The most notable of these, in my opinion, is Cranky Kong. In the Rare games, Cranky's head was very similar to Donkey Kong's. But following the redesign, he received a number of changes to make him appear more in-line with classic Donkey Kong. His nostrils sit below his eyes and protrude out of his head. His eyeballs and pupils are now oval-shaped. His mouth sits lower on his face and Furthermore, his eyeballs are connected at the center as well. And while DK's mouth was made to be more curved, Cranky's mouth is flat. All of these changes are lifted directly from Classic DK's design. The modern DK would remain with flat nostrils for another decade. And artwork from the last 10 years had begun to make him appear more classic as well. The new DK design in Mario Kart keeps many key features of Rare's DK design. His eyeballs, pupils, mouth, brow shape, and hair are all still derivative of the design Rare created. DK's 2D artwork from the last 10 years gives him a bulkier, rounder body, a philtrum, and more oval-shaped eyes. DK has also received new art in the last few months that gives him sideburns like Classic DK, as well as a more expressive flesh-brow. The expressive flesh-brow and larger, rounder body are present in the Mario Kart design, but it's too early to tell if he has the sideburns or philtrum. And then there's Super Nintendo World... plans for the DK park have existed since 2016 and they've barely changed. The most recent DK Island game at that time was Donkey Kong Country Returns. So they went all out on referencing that era of DK. Something that's really interesting to me is that a lot of the 2D art used at the park was almost ALL outdated within a month. As we got updates of many of the artworks used that add the features I mentioned earlier. Super Nintendo World was just too set in stone to change before launch. But here's the thing-- The new DK design isn't even that drastic! Yeah, he's bigger and bulkier. Yeah he's got a thinner, less angry flesh-brow. But he's still clearly Rare DK. His brow is so expressive now that if it was posed correctly, it'd just look like Rare DK but rounder. In fact, I think that's the problem. The way Mario Kart is portraying this new design's neutral pose is not the same neutral pose we are used to seeing Rare DK have. But most of the new 2D art we got uses that angry-brow pose. When we see the new DK design without that neutral expression, things will start to click. This new 2D art is crucial in realizing that no, there are not going to be two different DK designs. Because they wouldn't update all this DK branding just to only have it apply to Mario games.

Appreciate the shoutout, thank you!! 3D Mario or not, I do think there’s more to this redesign than meets the eye - hopefully it leads somewhere fun and interesting 🧐

This as feels a bit of an overreaction. Whilst it’s maybe more of a change than we’re used to there have been slightly different designs of DK over the years such as the stylised cuter one from DK King of Swing and an angrier looking one from Jungle Beat. Maybe let’s wait until we have a proper look at him before we see how different it is, some blurry zoomed in shots from a trailer are not enough for me

Taking a good look at the Mario Kart footage, I can see that not only did Donkey Kong get a redesign, but there's subtle redesigns for the rest of the roster as well. They all look much closer to the chibi style we see in Super Mario RPG and Super Mario Wonder for some reason. But hey, I kinda like it.

A twenty minute video about a clip from a console reveal trailer regarding a character from a neglected franchise is why I love Nintendo fans 😌

The 2D DK at Super Nintendo World is already the new classic styled DK being used

It's a change that'll have to grow on me, will need more reference material. I did find it baffling to see such a significant departure from DK's classic design in the film, made especially unsettling by how similarly facial features line up with Seth Rogan, who lends his voice to the barrel-throwing menace, likely due to animating from a motion capture reference. I wouldn't have concluded a permanent update could be imminent, but that would explain the alternative design featured in the film. Looking at DK's comically awkward appearance, I can imagine why Nintendo might seek to update his current model to a softened design, to be more appealing to the kids of this generation. At present, the new design makes the Donkey Kong look like a knock-off of himself, but beyond a little second-hand nostalgia, I don't have strong feelings towards the tie-clad ape, and I'm sure I'll accept the redesign over time. I'm just glad DK doesn't still have Seth Rogan's face.

No idea how the bigwigs at Nintendo feel about it but to me Flagship's games were pretty mediocre so I don't care whether they get revived.

I tought that was Junior

You are aware the Mario Movie is it's own thing

I agree with the video, although I feel you downplayed the DK park a lot. Those suits are mad expensive, and DK does have a presence in the ride, simple branding renderings are also expensive, and it's generally tied overwhelmingly to games in the franchise related to Rare and their design.

Donkey Kong Senior

not a good choice

I think the point about the new design existing in an uncanny valley that would be confusing to exist alongside Rare's design is a bit of a stretch, really the "redesign," is just smaller eyes and a bit rounder shape design, but thats it. Enough to give the character a distinct energy for this particular game, but still easily identifiable as the same exact character as Rare's design I think. No one is ever confused about who is and isnt Link for example, at least to my knowledge, and while some iterations of Link are more different than others (N64 design -> Toon Link, Green Tunic -> Blue Tunic), there are also cases like going from Twilight Princess to Skyward Sword, where the difference in character design is more or less comparable to this DK redesign; Skyward Sword Link appeared a bit softer and conformed to the general art style difference between the games, but still more or less had the same design feature wise to Twilight Princess Link. Personally, as someone who doesn't love the DK design for the new mario kart all that much on its own, I still think itd be great for more characters to get this sort of treatment where they are subtley redesigned more often to fit with a particular game or subseries.

I couldn't possibly care less what one character in a racing game looks like. Looks similar enough i know who he is like people can't find anything else to talk about

Im pretty sure Diddy wasnt born from any of the Kongs, rather he was born from god as a sort of jesus like figure

Can‘t it be DK Jr.?

While you forecast a solo game, I didn't see a forecast for whether or not Nintendo would be making a strong push on Donkey Kong IP the way they did for Pikmin or Metroid. Low chance? High chance? I personally can't see it as too high of a chance because where do we go with DK? Most of his games are platformer style, and in this regard DK is clearly second banana (pun intended) to Mario. Pikmin and Metroid play unlike other Nintendo IPs, as do the other mega-IPs in Zelda and Splatoon. And if Nintendo felt the need to push one more major IP, why not go with something like Star Fox which not only plays differently, but may be more receptive to a design change (since Star Fox wears clothes and uses tech equipment in a visor and sidearm, while DK only has a tie.) So then why risk diminishing Mario by uplifting a minor platformer series to major status? You may be too young to recall, but this already happened once in the mid-90s, when for a short while it looked like Donkey Kong would be the choice platformer series going forward. DK had the showy graphics, edgy style, and big sales numbers, while Mario was literally in diapers. Super Mario 64 swung the pendulum back into Mario's favor, but I don't know if Nintendo risks overshadowing Mario in a similar style again. A new Donkey Kong game, sure. Overdue. But positioning the DK IP on the same tier as Mario may not add as much value as it potentially takes away. I'm really quite surprised they've done this in the theme parks already. (The minecarts and balloons make for a natural theme park tie-in, but I didn't think it made a great IP to channel when they've got fantasy-land Zelda, futuristic Metroid, or microscopic Pikmin as alternatives.)

He looks worse now imo

I think it's finally time for the rumoured DK platformer game developed internally by EPD(?) Tokyo I believe it was. If so, the change in design is a way to differentiate Nintendo's DK platformer from Retro Studio's DKC. Seems like a reasonable theory

Diddy isn’t his son.

Didn’t the two ex-Nintendo employees suggest that DK could come to the next big 3D Mario? I’d love that honestly. They’ve been pushing DK a lot recently so I’d happily welcome his style of gameplay into a 3D Mario game. In terms of Mario Kart, I think it’s just gonna be a design choice for that game specifically. Like Mario Wonder, it’s just its own art style, even Bowser and Peach looked a bit different. I think it’s just gonna be an art style exclusive to MK9

“Donkey Kong Plastic Surgery” was not in my 2025 bingo card

Test

the trailer shows mainstay and regular characters, even if they were going to be multiple dk the one they showned will be the standard one and simply called donkey kong no one on earth is saying this isnt dk beside cringe haters who dont like the cool redesign

The DK replacement protocol sounds dark, nuts, and kind of plausible actually.

I dislike the new design, that's not the DK I know

I kinda doubt it just based on the DK theme park, this would be a decision made far in advance (far enough to affect the park), and it'd be a bit expensive to redesign the necessary things there.

I think Nintendo has a long history of underusing (and then trying to quietly dispose of) character lore. I know Miyamoto (and lots of fans) prefer to tell narrative through action, but I _loved_ how much Mercury Steam drew from Samus's deep back story (including details that would be easily missed if you were only familiar with the games). And though ostensibly simpler, I think the Kong family has been nothing more than window dressing since the 90s. Whatever Nintendo is planning with DK, I hope it includes teasing out more of the rivalry with the Kremlings and family dynamics. I'm not saying I want a psychological thriller, but I am certain a competent writing team could bring a good deal of humour to the Kong family. One counter example to end my rant: I always suspected that there was a strong character in Zelda, and she was done such justice in BotW, AoC, and TotK... only to be turned into a soulless avatar when she finally got her own game. They can do as they think best for their brand, but I've outgrown some of their most successful IPs, and I don't think that's necessary or inevitable. I will play the next 3D Mario because, I am sure, my kids will want it. But if it weren't for them, I wouldn't spend the money on it.

Im all for this new era. Its bringing back a colourful, expressive Nintendo that ive sorely missed.

Diddy is his SON? Playing DKC3 in the 90s I didn't think any of these apes were closely related except maybe Granny and Cranky

15:55 As someone whos way more of a DK fan than a Nintendo fan I have my doubts they take the temperature of this fanbase at all, us DK fans are going insane waiting 11 years for our next game lmao. I'm positive the next game is gonna happen one day but if they're making me wait until 2028 to get it, then that's when I'll be buying a Switch 2 and not a moment sooner. The new design is fine though. Need to see how this DK looks alongside the other kongs, animal buddies, kremlings etc before I'm completely sold on it though.

*@Nintendo Forecast* I don't know why you're being so negative about Donkey Kong's future with Nintendo, as though it will be quite a while before we get a *_new_* Donkey Kong video game! 😑

I don’t like it, but then again I’ve not liked most of the redesigns Nintendo have done as of late. Redesigning Donkey Kong after 30 something years of one consistent design would be a very risky move for Nintendo, and it doesn’t help that they’ve just made an entire theme park where Donkey Kong looks normal. There’s just something off about the overly cartoony and squashed DK that makes me pray that it’s only an alt or a one off.

It might just be an indicator of how he looks in a soon to come DK game, not necessarily a general redesign. And with 24 players racing, skins might play a role in distinguishing players apart aside from actual new characters.