Donkey Kong Bananza, a strong contender for game of the year, is launching a paid expansion today. The new content is called DK Island and Emerald Rush.
The expansion allows players to explore Donkey Kongs home island and meet many of his friends. The main attraction is a new set of challenges that unlock after completing the main game story, known as the Emerald Rush.
This new mode features timed missions where the goal is to smash as much green ore as possible. While racing around the island, players can break open fossils to unlock various perks. These perks are designed to help gather more emeralds. Some act as multipliers to increase the haul from each piece of ore smashed, while others cause more treasure chests filled with emeralds to appear.
In a style similar to roguelike games, all perks and progress reset after each timed run. However, the locations of key items like fossils and special Banandium Gems remain fixed. This allows players to learn the layout of the levels over multiple attempts and strategically plan their routes to maximize their emerald collection.
The Emerald Rush mode is not confined to the new DK Island area. It will also be integrated into other existing layers from the main game, offering a fresh way to replay familiar environments.
Nintendo has also released a demo for the main game, giving new players a chance to try it out. The DLC is scheduled to go live today, but its price is still unknown as it has not yet appeared in the Nintendo eShop for purchase.
