The first reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 included a promise of a strong hardware leap. However, exclusive titles like Donkey Kong Bananza don't make the most out of the system... yet.
DLSS support, smoother framerates, and boosted resolution were all at the top of the list.
Naturally, people expected that Nintendo’s own first-party titles would be the first to show off everything the new console could do.
Players found Donkey Kong Bananza to be full of inventive ideas, but oddly held back by its technical execution.
What Does Bananza Do Right?
At first impression, Bananza looks like the kind of experience that could only exist on next-gen hardware.
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+ 5Its destructible environments, layered world design, and punch-through-anything freedom system feel fresh and ambitious.
Donkey Kong’s new game lets you dig tunnels and change levels while playing. The game lets him change into animals, destroy terrain, and make escape rooms with his sidekick, Pauline.
The gameplay loop feels solid, rewarding, and addictive, just like the classic fun from Super Mario Sunshine or Banjo-Kazooie, updated for today’s standards.
Why Didn’t Nintendo Use DLSS?
But as fans examined the details, some obvious technical decisions stood out.
click to enlarge+ 5One of the Switch 2’s biggest selling points is its built-in support for Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling because it uses AI to keep games looking good while running at higher framerates.
But instead of using it, Nintendo chose AMD’s older FSR1 with SMAA anti-aliasing for Bananza. It’s a workable pairing, but it lacks the precise, clean image quality that DLSS brings.
Based on expert breakdowns, this move caused obvious image noise and distracting softness, mostly in scenes with heavy motion.
Does It Run as Smoothly as It Should?
Even more unexpected is that the lowered visuals didn’t result in flawless performance.
click to enlarge+ 5The game usually runs at 60 FPS, but there are reports of frame drops during chaotic destruction moments and boss fights.
And since the Switch 2 lacks VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) support when docked, those drops can feel more jarring than they would on other platforms.
Nintendo also uses double-buffered vsync in their rendering pipeline. It can cause choppy frame pacing whenever the game struggles to maintain performance.
How Did This End Up as a Cross-Gen Title?
As it turns out, both Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World were initially developed with the original Switch in mind.
click to enlarge+ 5Only in the final stages of production were they shifted to become Switch 2 launch titles. That means the core engine and rendering systems were never built to take full advantage of the newer console’s architecture.
Using DLSS or modern upscaling technology might have forced big changes or rebuilding some game components entirely.
So while the result is still smooth and playable, it doesn’t represent what the Switch 2 is really capable of when a game is built from the ground up for it.
Does Any of This Ruin the Game?
While there are some technical problems, Bananza still stands out as one of Nintendo’s most inventive and emotionally meaningful games recently.
click to enlarge+ 5The destruction mechanics are not only functional but also the soul of the game. Digging through layers of terrain, unearthing secrets, and forging your own paths never gets old.
The relationship between DK and Pauline feels natural and engaging, and the costume system adds a simple RPG-style progression that pushes players to explore.
Every area has its own mood, colors, and style, and the game includes small details such as conversations at rest points that make it feel carefully made. Still, it’s hard to shake the feeling that Nintendo missed a golden opportunity here.
If any game deserved to be the technical showcase for the Switch 2, it was this one. Instead, third-party developers are the ones pushing DLSS and showing off what the hardware can really do.
For a company known for setting the standard, Nintendo seems strangely content playing catch-up on the technical front.
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