Nintendo's significant redesign of Donkey Kong, initially glimpsed in the Mario Kart 9 footage shown during the Nintendo Switch 2 unveiling, is now confirmed across a range of merchandise. This marks a departure from Donkey Kong's decades-long consistent design, seen in titles like Mario Kart 8, Mario Tennis, and Donkey Kong Country Returns. The new look, reminiscent of the character's portrayal in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, is generating considerable fan discussion.
Reddit user cookiemaster221 shared images of the new merchandise, prompting comments about the character's noticeably softer appearance. His previously furrowed brow is now smoother, leading to comparisons with Kirby's design philosophy, albeit in reverse – a shift from angry to more relaxed.
While opinions are divided, with some expressing nostalgia for the original design and its implied blend of strength and kindness, others welcome the change, suggesting it aims for a more playful, less aggressive aesthetic. The Mario Kart 9 trailer offered only fleeting glimpses of the redesigned Donkey Kong, but a more comprehensive reveal is expected during Nintendo's April Switch 2-focused Nintendo Direct.
The Switch 2 reveal trailer itself provided limited details about the console's features, primarily focusing on its visual appeal. However, it did highlight backward compatibility, a new, unannounced button on the Joy-Cons, and confirmed the functionality of using the controller as a mouse.
