Every Future 3D Platformer Should Have This Donkey Kong Bananza Mechanic

The popularity of 3D platformers, as a genre, has waxed and waned routinely over the last few decades. 3D platformers were at the height of their popularity in the 1990s, with games like Super Mario 64, Banjo-Kazooie, Crash Bandicoot, and Spyro the Dragon all breaking new ground for the genre. Platformers were then quickly overshadowed by the rise of open-world adventures and third-person shooters, but the last decade or so has seen a resurgence in the genre, with games like Super Mario Odyssey, It Takes Two, Astro Bot, and now Donkey Kong Bananza all proving platformers still have plenty of life left in them.

The mascot’s first foray into the world of 3D since 1999’s divisive Donkey Kong 64, Donkey Kong Bananza marks a revolutionary step forward for the four-decade-old Nintendo franchise. Just like Mario Odyssey before it, Donkey Kong Bananza delivers a bevy of intuitive and innovative mechanics, one of which is worthy of becoming a new staple of the 3D platformer genre.

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Donkey Kong Bananza’s Sonar Mechanic Should Become a New 3D Platformer Staple

Donkey Kong Bananza’s Sonar Mechanic Explained

Available right out of the gate, Donkey Kong Bananza gives players a “Sonar” ability that lets them see hidden collectibles through the game’s various types of terrain. By pressing the Joy-Con’s ‘R’ button, players will make DK perform a quick hand-slap. The resulting shockwave travels outward and temporarily pings any Banandium Gems, fossils, treasure chests, or secret stage gateways that are located in the immediate environment.

Donkey Kong Bananza‘s Sonar ability can be upgraded several times during the game, with each tier increasing the shockwave’s range.

Why Donkey Kong Bananza’s Sonar Mechanic Is So Helpful

Modern 3D platformers will often throw players into a large open area that they’re free to explore at their leisure. While there’s usually a clear, linear path to the stage’s main objective, players are often encouraged to hunt for hidden collectibles and secret areas off the beaten path.

In a more open-ended 3D platformer, the knowledge that there’s an onslaught of collectibles hiding just out of sight can be a little overwhelming for new players. Though a sense of discovery can feel rewarding, those first few minutes of each level can easily intimidate some players if they’re unsure of how best to approach the game’s exploration.

That’s especially true for a game like Donkey Kong Bananza, where players are presented with a vast area that includes multiple layers and underground networks that need to be manually located via the game’s destruction mechanics. Thankfully, Donkey Kong Bananza‘s Sonar ability keeps the game’s level design from becoming too overwhelming.

The ability to see collectibles through walls and other surfaces helps to keep the player focused on the immediate area surrounding them, and encourages them to take exploration one step at a time. The natural flow afforded by this Sonar mechanic helps to make Donkey Kong Bananza feel like a fast-paced adventure that’s constantly rewarding the player for their time.

Donkey Kong Bananza Should Be Just The Beginning of This Sonar Mechanic

Abilities that let players see through walls are nothing new for the gaming industry, with 2009’s Batman: Arkham Asylum being one of the first to popularize them in the modern age. But it’s not a mechanic that’s seen often in the realm of 3D platformers, and after Donkey Kong Bananza, it’s clear that needs to change. Moving forward, all 3D platformers should have a mechanic similar to DK Bananza‘s Sonar, allowing players to take exploration into their own hands while keeping the adventure from feeling too overloaded.

Donkey Kong Bananza

Systems

Released

July 17, 2025

ESRB

Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence

Developer(s)

Nintendo

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Number of Players

Single-player

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