![\"Donkey](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/SEI_266152526-48fb.jpg\")
\n\t\tDonkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush \u2013 it makes Silksong look like even more of a bargain (Nintendo)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tDonkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush \u2013 it makes Silksong look like even more of a bargain (Nintendo)<\/p>\n
Nintendo<\/a> Switch 2 exclusive Donkey Kong Bananza gets its first paid-for DLC, including a new location, a new game mode, and a sky-high price tag.<\/p>\n If we told you that the recent Nintendo Direct<\/a> saw a shadow drop of new DLC, for one of the Switch 2<\/a>\u2019s major launch window games, you\u2019d probably think that was the perfect timing for some new Mario Kart World<\/a> courses and characters. As it turned out though, Nintendo didn\u2019t mention that game at all and it is in fact Donkey Kong Bananza<\/a> which got an expansion.<\/p>\n Bananza is a big game, that\u2019s not short of content, but getting more of a good thing is seldom reason to complain \u2013 except in this case.<\/p>\n The awkwardly named DK Island & Emerald Rush is some of the worst DLC we\u2019ve seen in a long time. Not because of its quality, but because of its absolutely shocking price tag. As we describe the expansion, and its pros and cons, bear in mind that it\u2019s actually slightly more expensive than Hollow Knight: Silksong<\/a> in its entirety.<\/p>\n Considering it has an expansive and rewarding endgame, there was never anything very obvious to do with a Bananza expansion. However, fans of the Rare games would not doubt liked to have seen more of the ancillary characters from the franchise, which were only hinted at before, and so it is that the DLC includes a fully explorable version of DK Island, complete with Donkey Kong\u2019s hut and huge piles of bananas.<\/p>\n It also features returning characters such as Squawks the parrot and\u2026 that\u2019s it. Maybe you can get to meet Funky Kong and the like through some obscure unlock but beyond Squawks the only members of the Kong family we can confirm are Cranky, Diddy, and Dixie from the main game.<\/p>\n Sadly, DK Island is disappointingly empty. Apart from Void Kong, who we\u2019ll get to in a minute, and a few Fractones, there\u2019s no one else on the island, with no enemies to fight, and no additional subterranean levels. All you can do is search for six bonus stage challenges (the gold-collecting types that only last 60 seconds or so) and pay Banandium chips to Squawks, for him to unlock a random statue of an ally or enemy from the game.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tExpert, exclusive gaming analysis\t\t\t<\/p>\n Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter<\/strong><\/a> for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n And that\u2019s it. The island is small and easy to traverse, so there\u2019s really nothing to do but stock up on gold from the bonus stages and go and talk to Void Kong. Since you have to beat the game to access the DLC we\u2019re not going to spoil why Void Kong is there but he\u2019s not very repentant and insists on employing you to mine emeralds, which take the place of gold from the rest of the game, when playing Emerald Rush mode.<\/p>\n Emerald Rush is a little contrived, but it mixes elements of a roguelite and MOBA, although only in a fairly superficial way. The idea is that you have to collect a certain amount of emeralds in a series of rounds, primarily by either smash outcroppings or Banadium gems. You start off on DK Island and then slowly unlock the ability to play on other existing layers \u2013 although not all of them support the mode.<\/p>\n Once you start an Emerald Rush all your skills and abilities are removed, except the ability to transform into the various animal forms, and you have to earn them back by collecting specific Banadium gems. Also, if you collect fossils these allow you to pick one of three perks that are offered at random, most of which take the form of a multiplier for how many emeralds are generated via the various means, including destroying enemies and digging up treasure chests.<\/p>\n This is all quite fun and if it had been an unlockable at the end of the game, it would\u2019ve been lauded as a clever reuse of the game\u2019s existing levels. Although, like the rest of the main story, it\u2019s very easy on the default setting. And yet the more you turn up the difficulty the more rounds are added, which drags down the pacing.<\/p>\n You also have to repeat runs multiple times in order to unlock the ability to play Emerald Rush on other layers, via what is essentially a battle pass \u2013 which also unlocks unique new clothing and additional perks to add to the mix.<\/p>\n Emerald Rush isn\u2019t amazing but if it had been part of the existing game, or free DLC, it would\u2019ve been regarded as a welcome addition, that adds a few extra hours to the game\u2019s playtime. But this DLC is not free. At \u00a317 it is monstrously expensive, and we can only imagine Nintendo would\u2019ve rethought their plans for it if they\u2019d known Silksong was going to offer such a stark comparison in terms of value for money.<\/p>\n Traditionally, Nintendo isn\u2019t a particularly prolific producer of DLC and what it does release tends to be quite modestly priced but the obvious fear here, is that DK Island & Emerald Rush is a sign of things to come for this new generation. We\u2019ll have to wait and see on that but what we can say for now is that while this is a moderately entertaining diversion in theory, the ridiculous price tag means only Nintendo\u2019s most dedicated and\/or richest fans need apply.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDonkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush review summary\t\t\t<\/p>\n In Short: <\/strong>A relatively entertaining new mode and a mostly empty new island result in one of the most overpriced releases Nintendo has ever produced.<\/p>\n Pros: <\/strong>Emerald Rush is quite enjoyable, requiring some fairly careful strategising and prioritisation.<\/p>\n Cons: <\/strong>Absolutely outrageous pricing, especially given DK Island is mostly empty. Too easy on standard difficulty, while harder settings go on for too long.<\/p>\n Score: <\/strong>5\/10<\/p>\n Formats: Nintendo Switch 2 \t\t Email\u00a0gamecentral@metro.co.uk<\/a>, leave a comment below,\u00a0follow us on Twitter<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n To submit Inbox letters and Reader\u2019s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our\u00a0Submit Stuff page here<\/a>.<\/p>\n For more stories like this,\u00a0check our Gaming page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow
Price: \u00a316.99
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo EPD
Release Date: 12th September 2025
Age Rating: 7<\/p>\n![\"Donkey](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/SEI_266152520-8504.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe best bit of DK Island is the GameCube bongo reference (Nintendo)<\/p>\n
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