I like the idea that the wrecked remains of the gangplank galleon are from DKC2 after crocodile isle sunk into the ocean but after so many years it finally washed up on DK island

I was so expecting to see other kongs on the island, like Funky, Swanky, Candy; but then… Nah. Just the usual Kongs. And Squaks too, I guess.

If you you go to the forbidden layer after beating void you'll find Poppy and Grumpy and they'll tell about how they rescued void from his machine.

19:08 boy do I have bad news for ya 😂

Man this would’ve been such a cool opportunity to see Funky and Swanky and all the other Kong’s chillin’ on DK Isle. What a disappointment. I wanted a DK Isle level so bad since even pre-launch you could see it on the map screen in trailers. At the very least if there was an actual level to play with collectables besides Emerald Rush. What a bummer. I’m not paying 20$ for a mini game.

Emerald Rush is brilliant. It recontextualizes the entire game and gives you a reason to come back again and again, making use of the incredible gameplay of this masterpiece.

They just messed up with the way of distributing it.

Any of these would have been nice:

- Make DK Island a full layer with 2-3 sublayers, bananas, fossils.

- Make New Donk City into a level you can explore with bananas, clothing.

- More race courses for the Rambi mechanics.

- Add a cut Bananza transformation (Lion from the Feast Layer?) with a couple areas to use it.

- Combine the DK artist mode with the regular game for a kind of crude level designer or sculpture-maker.


-Some short new story chapter, at least.

-More unique clothing pieces, similar to Odyssey: Retro DK, Diddy/Dixie outfits for Pauline, etc.

There is a simple reason I can think of for why the development team didn't put Banandium Gems on DK Island - it absolutely destroys the plot of the main game. DK left to find Banandium Gems, DK Island can be visited before beating the game if you purchase it, emerald is unripened Banandium sprouting up 3 months after DK and Pauline wake up the root.

As a result, as you said, there is not much to do on the island other than Emerald Rush.

Glad you like the DLC as much as I do. I highly recommend going for bananza builds as well because they can make emerald rush feel quite different as you are pushed to use the mechanics for them. Now we wait for the events (don't have big expectations but want the extra trophies haha)

Hero Mode in Wind Waker and Twilight Princess only became a thing on Wii U.  They were not in the original.

The price is rough but... Y'all... It's so worth it. I got it a week ago and mostly just played on DK Island but I've been having a blast. Real "hard to put the game down" stuff, you get into a groove and just want to keep trying again and figuring out the most optimal path, when you should get each fossil and banana, it's so freaking good. The game itself is already peak but with this DLC you really will be playing it for years and years to come.

8:09 This is what played the second I put my airpods in☠️

I honestly like the Emerald Rush. It gives you a challenge and that you have to work to get your Bananza forms and skills. Also the statues are cool, I tend to like collecting them. Plus most of the challenges do test your skills.

I love Squawks so much and am really happy that he was chosen to be the returning character for this DLC. He’s my absolute favorite Animal Buddy.

Genuinely, perfect analysis of this whole package. I know my initial impressions were more lukewarm, but this is a fantastic DLC that didn’t do much, but what it DOES do is incredibly replayable and easily justified my personal purchase.

I feel, this more than anything, is very much a thing that will depend on the player if they want it. It’s definitely something you can get 20 dollars from if you like Roguelites or are a completionist, or just like throwing on a game to play and not needing to commit to a full playthrough of a game.

But if you’re not that kind of player in one or any of those regards, it’s absolutely not worth it. And I can’t fault anyone for feeling bad about any of this because Nintendo really didn’t advertise this mode well, in my opinion.

But now Donkey Kong Bananza is a live service game with rotating events, and just call me Enguarde because I’m hooked.

Emerald Rush is awesome!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

i think voids reintroduction is the oddysey team screaming for help

crazy good video, thank you for being so in depth and putting so much personality into this! i was really wondering about this dlc and you summed it up really entertainingly :)

i definitely agree with the pricing issue and dk island itself isn't TOO interesting especially for a non-DK fan but i'm glad you enjoyed emerald rush as much as i did. i think a lot of people overlooked it as a boring mode with no replayability but it's sooooooo addicting

3:57 IMO Squawks was the most obvious choice since Bananza would have otherwise been the only mainline DK since Country not to feature him besides Jungle Beat. No other character that wasn't already in the game is as prominent as him.