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.

Movement & Exploration

• Roll During a Jump: Press ZL while in mid-air to cover more distance and reach tricky platforms.
• Turf Surfing: The fastest way to move when Donkey Kong can't sprint in his normal form.
• Climbing: Donkey Kong can climb most surfaces, including cliffs, pipes, and smokestacks. Hidden collectibles await at the top!

Combat & Abilities

• Hand Slap as Sonar: Use Donkey Kong's hand slap to find hidden treasures, gems, and fossils. Upgrade this ability early for extra range.
• Bananza Forms: Don't hesitate to use your Bananza forms. Gold is plentiful, so transform as much as you can.
• Chunk for Walls: Use a chunk instead of punching to tear through walls faster and clear more material.

Collectibles & Upgrades

• Banadium Chips: Trade extra Banadium Chips 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.
• Outfits: They aren't just for show! They provide bonuses like increased sonar range and better chances to find treasure chests.
• Respec Skills: Need a change? Respec your skills for free by talking to any of the elders. You'll get all your skill points back.

Puzzles & Challenges

• Breaking Things: 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.
• Terrain Types: Use ZR to pick something up and hold the button. You'll enter a first-person view with a reticle that identifies terrain types.
• Fossils Out of Range: Throw a chunk at it until it breaks to collect it.

Quick Tips

• Reset Terrain: Made a mess and want to start over? Press the Plus button when the map screen is open to reset the terrain.
• Explore at Your 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.
• Collect Gold: You'll need it to build more getaways and unlock Banandium Gems. Don't let those golden opportunities slip away!
• Smashin' Stats: Check out your "Smashin' Stats" tab in the Collection menu for bonus gold by completing various challenges.
• Teleporters: Use teleporters to fast travel to any tuning fork, getaway, or gong across sublayers. It saves time and frustration.
• Photo Mode: Capture funny moments by pressing down on the D-pad to enter Photo Mode and snap a picture.
• Assist Mode: Struggling with enemies or progress? Switch to Assist Mode in the options. There's no shame in getting a little help.