Donkey Kong Bananza, the new project from the Super Mario Odyssey development team, marks the series` return to 3D platforming for the first time since Donkey Kong 64 in 1999. It`s also the first 3D game developed internally by Nintendo since Jungle Beat in 2004. A recent interview with the developers sheds light on the reasons behind choosing Donkey Kong over a direct Mario sequel and the decision to revisit the 3D genre.
According to Donkey Kong Bananza producer Kenta Motokura in an IGN interview, the game`s development began after Nintendo executive Yoshiaki Koizumi suggested the team consider creating a 3D Donkey Kong title. Following this suggestion, the team consulted with Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of both franchises. Miyamoto highlighted Kong`s distinctive moves, such as the hand slap seen in Super Smash Bros. Koizumi, who previously directed Jungle Beat, noted Donkey Kong`s powerful, long arms as a key difference from Mario`s physique.
Concurrently, one of the Mario Odyssey developers was experimenting with voxel technology, which is used in games like Minecraft to create worlds from manipulable individual blocks or shapes. Voxel elements were even featured in Super Mario Odyssey`s Snow and Luncheon Kingdoms (for snow and cheese textures, respectively). The project came to fruition as Donkey Kong Bananza due to the convergence of these two ideas: exploring Donkey Kong`s specific abilities and utilizing the potential of voxel technology.
Summing up the project`s origins, producer Kenta Motokura stated that the team recognized the strong synergy between Donkey Kong`s defining traits – his strength and large arms – and the capabilities offered by voxel technology. This synergy, he explained, was the perfect fit that inspired the team to build the game around destruction as a central gameplay mechanic.