Nintendo Shows Off What Donkey Kong Bananza Would Look Like On the Switch 1
Although Donkey Kong Bananza is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, that wasn’t always the case, as it started its life originally as a Nintendo Switch 1 title. Given the limitations of the console and the studio’s ambitions, they made the tough choice to move the development to Nintendo’s next-generation console, the Switch 2.
Well, Nintendo has revealed a first look at what the game looked like on the original Switch, as well as some technical details and what they were able to achieve thanks to the newer console.
Donkey Kong Bananza Was Almost 30 FPS, With Worse Visuals
As revealed in the latest Ask the Developers Volume, Nintendo has given a first look at the original Switch version of Donkey Kong Bananza.
As you can see, there is a noticeable amount of improvements made to the game thanks to the Switch 2’s hardware. From improved lighting, particle effects, to foliage, and just in general, far more objects on the screen. In addition to that, the original Switch version of the game ran at 30 FPS, whereas the current version now runs at 60 FPS.”We first looked into how we could upgrade what we’d originally built for Switch to take advantage of Switch 2. One of the most obvious improvements was that we could place far more objects in the environment than before. Being able to place more objects in the terrain didn’t just enhance the game’s visual richness. More importantly, it increased the amount of things players could destroy, which amplified the exhilaration of being able to demolish anything and everything. That went hand in hand with the game’s core concept of destruction. It convinced us that this game would be even more fun if we developed it for Switch 2.” Daisuke Watanabe, the game’s art director, said in the post.
He continues,
“As well as running at a smooth 60 fps, the core gameplay of smashing got way more satisfying. The physics of smashing involve lots of things all happening at once. Donkey Kong throws a punch, the terrain and objects break apart, and visual effects show debris flying outward. All of that is packed into a single moment. At 30 fps, we couldn’t fully capture everything that happens in that instant. But at 60 fps, we saw that sense of destruction coming through much more clearly. We thought to ourselves, “Now we’ve got something seriously satisfying!”. Not only did Switch 2 enable the game to run well, it unlocked the game’s full potential – no, it made the game possible.”
Considering the aging hardware the Switch 1 has been facing over the last few years, the shift to the new hardware isn’t much of a surprise, as we’re sure other upcoming Switch exclusives have also shared a similar experience.
Donkey Kong Bananza is now officially available worldwide.
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