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 appearance 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 features a rounder brow, softening Donkey Kong's traditionally furrowed expression. Some commenters compared it to a "reverse Kirby treatment," moving from an angry to a more relaxed demeanor.

While opinions are divided, with some expressing nostalgia for the classic design and its conveyance of both kindness and strength, others find the new look more approachable and "goofy." The merchandise provides a clearer view of the redesign than the brief, somewhat unclear appearances in the Mario Kart 9 trailer. A more comprehensive look at the redesigned Donkey Kong in action is anticipated during a Nintendo Direct focused on the Switch 2 in April.

The Switch 2 reveal trailer itself offered limited details about the console's features, primarily focusing on its aesthetic. However, it did confirm backward compatibility, a new, mysterious button on the Joy-Cons, and the functionality of the controller as a mouse.