Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush DLC Review – Feast or Famine

Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush DLC Review

Donkey Kong Bananza is an incredible game. As such, any DLC for said game has some big shoes to fill. DK Island & Emerald Rush kind of succeeds at living up to the base game’s monumental impact. While the core gameplay loop seamlessly incorporates all the mechanics from the base game in a new format, it’s still somehow a one-note performance. To be fair, Emerald Rush is a terrific new game mode. But it’s more or less all the DLC really has to offer. Whether the DLC appeals to you in the slightest is a matter of personal taste and preferred play style.

The Emerald Arcade

Emerald Rush is a fast-paced roguelite that challenges you to amass as many emeralds as possible in a limited time frame. Your new boss, Void Kong, is absolutely starving for emeralds, you see. You accumulate new skills and stats as you progress through your run. All of this disappears once the run is over, hence the roguelite label. It’s an exciting alternative to the usual Bananza gameplay. It starts off easy enough, but things get intense pretty fast.

Success eventually depends on your innate knowledge of the map, as well as your own skillset. You can’t waste a second if you want to make it all the way to the end. Again, I had a blast playing through this mode. You’re constantly being tested, your skills are being sharpened, and no two runs are quite alike. Your employee badge levels up between runs, which is a great incentive to continue. On the other hand, the DLC as a whole feels somewhat insubstantial.

Roguelite Devotees Only

The whole DLC boils down to its essential components pretty fast. For some people, this will be perfect. You’re doing high-speed runs, trying to max out your rank for each stage at the highest difficulty level. All of the skills and mechanics you learned throughout the main game come in clutch, and you see these levels through a very different set of eyes. But if you’re not into this very specific kind of gameplay, there’s nothing for you here.

The aforementioned DK Island is kind of a nothingburger. You can wander around and take in the sights, which are lovely. There are a handful of bonus stages for scooping extra gold, and the first Emerald Rush stage is set there. Otherwise, it feels very empty. Truly, the meat of this DLC is Emerald Rush. Said game mode represents a ton of gameplay, even if it’s somewhat lacking in variety.

More of a Museum than Anything Else

While Emerald Rush is very focused, it’s still a well-crafted game mode overall. You can customize every run by spending chips, choosing your routes, and focusing on certain skills. The core loop is responsive and satisfying, and there’s a little progression thrown in for good measure. But I’m not sure if it’s quite enough.

If you’re looking for a fast, frantic roguelite Donkey Kong experience, Emerald Rush is perfect for you. The core gameplay loop is focused and rewarding, with new systems turning old levels into fresh experiences. The progression system is simple yet effective. And the mechanics of the base game are given new life in the DLC. On the other hand, the whole thing feels pretty insubstantial. After a couple of hours, you feel like you’ve seen it all, more or less. While there’s a lot of potential meat on the bone, it’s all wrapped up in perfecting your runs. If you’re not in love with that arcade, roguelite style, there’s really nothing for you. Though it’s definitely not for everyone, you might end up having a lot of fun with Donkey Kong Bananza’s DK Island & Emerald Rush DLC.

***A Nintendo Switch 2 code was provided by the publisher***