Donkey Kong’s got a new look, and people are talking about it. Fans seem to be digging the fresh redesign that the big ape has undergone recently. It’s been a hot topic of discussion, with many embracing the changes made to the character’s appearance.
Shigeru Miyamoto, the mastermind behind Nintendo, spilled the beans in an interview with IGN about why Donkey Kong got a makeover. He emphasized the importance of making the character more expressive, drawing inspiration from the creative freedom seen in the 2004 game Donkey Kong Jungle Beat. Nintendo wanted to take things a step further and evolve the design to enhance Donkey Kong’s expressiveness.
Miyamoto shared his insights, saying, “When we were talking about trying to create new versions, evolving Donkey Kong, we created the game called Jungle Beat. We worked together with the team that made 3D Mario. With the technology that was available at the time, we were able to make Donkey Kong more expressive.” He highlighted the collaborative effort between Nintendo and Rare in the past and the decision to move forward with the new generation Donkey Kong design for an upcoming movie.
The artist behind Donkey Kong’s original design in Donkey Kong Country, Kev Bayliss, chimed in with his approval of the redesign, stating, “I don’t understand why there’s any debate to be had. It’s still DK, only better looking.” Even Diddy Kong received a makeover, albeit a more cautious one compared to the bold changes made to DK himself.
The redesign has certainly paid off, as evident in Donkey Kong Bananza. The efforts put in by Nintendo to make DK more expressive are shining through in the character’s new appearance. What do you think of Miyamoto’s reasoning behind the redesign? Are you a fan of the new look? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
Nintendo Life’s resident horror enthusiast, Ollie, dives into the world of Resident Evil and Silent Hill when he’s not indulging in a good horror book with a cup of tea in hand. His eclectic taste in music ranges from TOOL to Chuck Berry, and he enjoys long walks to clear his mind. Whether you’re knee-deep in survival horror or rocking out to classic tunes, Ollie’s got you covered with his unique perspective on all things spooky.
