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Donkey Kong Bananza

Is Donkey Kong Bananza a Prequel?

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Is Donkey Kong Bananza a Prequel

Young Pauline's appearance in Donkey Kong Bananza may hint that the game is a prequel to Super Mario Odyssey. Read on to learn more on our theories about whether the game is a prequel, when does it take place, and why Pauline is a child in Donkey Kong Bananza here!

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Is Donkey Kong Bananza a Prequel?

Could be Seen as a Prequel to Odyssey

Could Be Seen as a Prequel to Odyssey
Many fans have jumped to the idea that Donkey Kong Bananza is a prequel to Super Mario Odyssey due to the existence of a Young Pauline, who appears as an adult Mayor Pauline in Metro Kingdom's New Donk City in Mario Odyssey.

Many gameplay elements also make Donkey Kong Bananza feel like a spiritual prequel to Odyssey such as the game's focus on discovery and exploration.

Is Donkey Kong Bananza Open World?

Cranky Kong's Appearance Contradicts the Prequel Theory

Cranky Kong
Pauline's adult appearance in the Donkey Kong Arcade however conflicts with the theory that Bananza is a prequel. In the arcade game, Pauline is kidnapped by a then-young Cranky Kong who appears in Bananza aged-up and elderly.

Having both a Young Pauline and an elderly Cranky Kong causes a bit of a contradiction from the canon and established timeline as we know it.

List of All Characters

Why Is Pauline A Child in Donkey Kong Bananza?

A Possible Timeline Reset

Timeline Reset

One explanation for Pauline appearing as a child in Donkey Kong Bananza is that Nintendo might be hitting the reset button on the Donkey Kong timeline. Instead of following the events of the original arcade game or Super Mario Odyssey, DK Bananza could be a sort of a soft reboot.

In this version, Cranky Kong could still be the original Donkey Kong from the arcade era, but everything else, including Pauline’s age, has been rewritten to fit a new narrative.

Alternate Universe Theory

Pauline Alternate Timeline

Another popular theory is that Bananza takes place in an alternate universe, similar to how Nintendo treats games like Paper Mario or Mario + Rabbids. In those games, characters are familiar but not bound by canon.

Under this theory, Young Pauline isn’t meant to be the same character from Odyssey or the arcade game, she’s just a version of Pauline that fits the tone and story of Bananza.

All Easter Eggs and References

When Does Donkey Kong Bananza Take Place?

There is No Official Timeline

Ultimately, It Doesn
While some fans enjoy placing these games in a timeline to try and make coherent sense of the games of a franchise, Nintendo hasn’t given any concrete narrative connections between this game and others in the franchise.

Whether it’s a full reboot or an alternate timeline, Donkey Kong Bananza stands on its own, and that may be exactly how Nintendo intended it.

Donkey Kong Bananza Related Guides

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Donkey Kong Bananza Walkthrough Team
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