Donkey Kong Bananza: Unraveling the Prequel Ties to Super Mario Odyssey

This intriguing discussion centers around a potential connection between two beloved Nintendo franchises. Recent developments have sparked renewed speculation about the storyline behind Donkey Kong Bananza and its possible ties to Super Mario Odyssey. The conversation started when Nintendo Korea’s official site unveiled promotional artwork for the game, showcasing the ape protagonist with a dark-haired young girl who bears a striking resemblance to a familiar New Donk City figure.

The image, originally seen during early tests in Paris, clearly features a character that many identify as the city's long-time mayor. Notably, this depiction presents a much younger version of the character, which has led some to surmise that Donkey Kong Bananza might serve as a prequel to the adventures seen in Super Mario Odyssey. Soon after, the artwork was updated to match other international versions—a change that did little to quell the rapidly spreading theory online.

Another detail adding fuel to these speculations is that the game is being developed by EAD Tokyo, the same studio responsible for Super Mario Odyssey. This connection has made some observers wonder if there might be hidden narrative threads linking the two titles. A few points that supporters of this theory highlight include:

• The notable presence of a young female character "whose origins have always been shrouded in mystery".
• The striking similarity between the purple stone embedded in her bracelet and other mysterious elements previously seen with the ape protagonist.
• The narrative quirks, such as the absence of a smaller, younger variant for this character in related titles, which further distinguish her story.

Some fans have even begun to imagine a saga where the origins of both titles are intertwined. One theory suggests that a critical event in Donkey Kong Bananza involving the young leader might trigger a cascade of ensuing events that leads to the familiar rescue scenarios in later games. Whether this includes an incident of abduction or another dramatic twist remains a subject of heated debate. Regardless of the outcome, the theory hints at a broader narrative tapestry, one that could eventually bring the entire series into a cohesive multi-universe framework on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.