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Back in July, I played through Donkey Kong Bananza like an ape. The punch-based puzzling was satisfying, however after many sessions, I was left with a growing fatigue. The smash-heavy gameplay grew stale the deeper I dug. I finished the game satisfied, though unsure if the formula had sufficient flavor to leave me hungry for additional content.

Unexpected DLC

I wasn’t expecting, added content was released in a recent presentation. Titled DK Island + Emerald Rush, the premium add-on transforms the base game into a roguelike. Rather than expanding the loot, it brings a nostalgic central location and a fresh gameplay mode.

Inside the Expansion

When I fired up Bananza with the new, I was quickly whisked off to DK Island. The area functions more as a museum full of references to series history. As an example, one section resembles shaped like familiar items. It can be smashed typically, however it lacks few rewards. Aside from exploring the references, the main activity is trade currency for cosmetics.

That’s disappointing given the cost, though the real purpose functions as a tutorial area for Emerald Rush.

Core of the Expansion

The concept of Emerald Rush is that the Void Company tasks DK with earning resources in familiar zones. As part of the challenge, he’s dropped into procedural attempts in which nearly most objects becomes an emerald. Each run includes up to 10 short timed stages, and each one requires players to hit a certain collection goal escalating exponentially each time.

Despite requiring a few tries to grasp the demands, the design fosters some genuine challenges. I need to work efficiently, knowing the layout in each layer for obtaining reliable caches of emeralds in a pinch. During early attempts, side objectives emerge which require defeat some enemies, break specific objects, or achieve further challenges for gaining a large amount of points.

The Thrill Wears Thin

The excitement rapidly declines, in spite of a roguelike hook upgrade mechanics designed to encourage replays. Each time complete a task or grab a fossil, I can choose a buff similar to found in Hades. Many improvements focus on boosting resource collection. Players might earn more emeralds via objectives, eliminating threats, destroying environments. None of those modifications alter significantly what I’m doing; they just make the scores. There’s very little in terms of deep strategy.

Lingering Critiques

As I moved through similar attempts, progressively obtaining new abilities, available zones, cosmetics, some of my lingering critiques regarding the original were reinforced. Players feel quick satisfaction through the destruction mechanics, yet it lacks depth. Beyond certain points, every challenge becomes repetitive. A large progression system aims to up the complexity of DK’s moves, however numerous of the abilities on it feel superfluous. Nothing is better, engaging, compared to relying on core mechanics.

The problem manifests with Emerald Rush approaches upgrades. During attempts, players begin empty-handed requiring progression via earning currency. It became clear there was little reason to choose except for survivability, damage, and an occasionally handy Bananza form perk such as gliding. Abilities are essentially the core purpose in Bananza. Few motivations are present to gather resources other than progression – and that toolkit are missing meaningful diversity in it.

Lack of Direction

This results in the endgame of the experience feeling aimless while heading into the conclusion, navigating more layers that cannot provide novel tests. Emerald Rush faces identical issues in a more compact form, via upgrade mechanics unable to create variety. Worsening matters, layers and gem locations never change, reducing the procedural appeal characterizing great examples.

Final Thoughts

DK Island + Emerald Rush doesn’t reduce my enjoyment of Donkey Kong Bananza greatly, but it does make me feel limited potential exists for additional content unless with substantial creative flexes. The base adventure largely utilizes most concepts, dropping in numerous biomes and tons of mechanics. One gets the impression that everything has been experienced repeatedly after completing Bananza. When even a radical shift isn’t enough to make that hook feel new – like with Splatoon 3 through its standout Side Order DLC – this title may be ideal as a standalone experience rather than an ongoing series to Nintendo’s menu.