Donkey Kong Bananza Includes Exciting Co-Op Mode Compatible with Switch 1

Donkey Kong Bananza is one of this year’s flagship releases for the Nintendo Switch 2. The new Nintendo Direct gave us a look at many of the game’s exciting features, but perhaps one of the most intriguing features was the co-op play? Have you been unable to purchase a Nintendo Switch 2? Well, if you own a Switch 1 and you have a friend with a Switch 2 and a copy of Donkey Kong Bananza, you’re in luck.

Donkey Kong Bananza‘s Co-Op Mode

The Nintendo Direct for Donkey Kong Bananza advertised an interesting co-op mode, where one player plays as Donkey Kong and the other plays as young Pauline. The Pauline player can attack with Pauline’s voice, utilizing the Nintendo Switch 2’s mouse controls. In addition, the Pauline player can use material from the environment to enhance her attacks. It looks like it will make for a dynamic experience where the two players will have to coordinate their attacks to defeat enemies and bosses.

But What if You Don’t Have the Game . . . or a Switch 2?

The game supports GameShare, where you can share the game locally with a friend on a separate Switch 2. Perhaps most intriguing, the GameShare will work with an original Switch, even though Nintendo has stated that games like Donkey Kong Bananza would be impossible on the Switch 1. One has to wonder if the game’s performance would be compromised on the Switch 1. Perhaps the co-op fun would be hampered by intense slowdown as the Switch 1 player struggles to break through the environments.

Conclusion

The Donkey Kong Bananza Direct was amazing, and the co-op mode looks unique. It will probably lead to plenty of laughs, though I have to wonder if the Switch 1 will be able to handle it. We can only wait and see about that, but if the co-op mode does run smoothly on the Switch 1, another question rises. Was Nintendo lying when they said the game couldn’t be realized on the Switch 1?