Nintendo's Donkey Kong Triumphant Return

Nintendo is fully embracing the Donkey Kong redesign initially glimpsed by fans in the Mario Kart 9 gameplay showcased during the Nintendo Switch 2 unveiling.

Donkey Kong's design has remained largely unchanged for years, even decades, consistently appearing in titles like Mario Kart 8, Mario Tennis, and Donkey Kong Country Returns. However, Nintendo is now shifting towards a new aesthetic, one that many believe resembles the character's highly successful portrayal in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

While the revamped Donkey Kong design was only previously seen in Mario Kart 9, Nintendo has now unveiled a line of merchandise featuring this new look. As highlighted by Nintendo Life, user cookiemaster221 shared images of these products on Reddit, commenting, "History is being rewritten in front of our very eyes."

History is being rewritten in front of our very eyes
by u/cookiemaster221 in donkeykong

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The merchandise reveals a Donkey Kong with a noticeably friendlier appearance; his previously furrowed brow is now softer and more rounded. Online comments reflect a mixed reaction. Some users express nostalgia for the original design, highlighting the iconic furrowed brow as a key element of the character's simultaneously kind and strong persona. Others find the new look acceptable, suggesting it aims for a more playful, less aggressive feel. One user even compared the change to the "Kirby treatment," but in reverse—a shift from angry to relaxed.

This latest merchandise provides a more detailed view of the redesign than the brief, somewhat unclear appearances in the Mario Kart 9 trailer. A more comprehensive look at the new Donkey Kong in action is anticipated in April during a Nintendo Direct focused on the Switch 2.

The Switch 2 reveal trailer itself offered only limited glimpses of the console's features, primarily focusing on its visual design. However, it did confirm backward compatibility with most existing Switch titles, showcased a mysterious new button on the Joy-Cons, and seemingly validated a theory about using the controller as a mouse.