Nintendo Goes All In on Donkey Kong Redesign Seen in Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart 9 First Look

Nintendo's significant redesign of Donkey Kong, initially glimpsed in the Mario Kart 9 gameplay shown during the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal, 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 like "History is being rewritten in front of our very eyes." The redesign softens Donkey Kong's appearance, notably rounding out his previously furrowed brow. Some commenters compared the change to the "Kirby treatment," albeit in reverse, transforming him from a gruff character to a more relaxed one.

While opinions are divided, with some expressing nostalgia for the original design and its expression of both kindness and strength, others find the new, arguably "goofy" and less angry, look acceptable. The Mario Kart 9 appearance offered only fleeting views of the redesigned Donkey Kong. A more comprehensive reveal is anticipated during a Nintendo Direct focused on the Switch 2 in April.

The Switch 2 reveal trailer itself provided limited details about the console's features, primarily showcasing its aesthetic. However, it did confirm backward compatibility, highlighted a new, unannounced button on the Joy-Cons, and validated existing theories about using the controller as a mouse.