Metroid Musing: Could Metroid Take Anything Away From Donkey Kong Bananza?

Donkey Kong is one of the few Nintendo IP’s that is older than Metroid, and as we’ve seen from trailers and gameplay of Donkey Kong Bananza, Nintendo is not afraid to push the envelope of that game with flashy new abilities. So where does this leave Metroid? Even though most Donkey Kong games couldn’t be further from a traditional Metroid game, there may still be some exciting potential gameplay overlap between the two franchises going forward.

Timed Transformations come to mind. The Donkey Kong Bananza Direct revealed DK has the ability to transform into different animals for a short time, and this actually already has a precedent in Metroid with Hyper Mopde in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. A timed transformation into the Metroid Suit could also make sense in a post Metroid Dread 2D game. With the power of the Switch 2, it isn’t hard to imagine how both combat and puzzles could be reimagined with timed transformations.

Another would be Skill Tree’s. A skill tree, or level up system, would certainly be uncharted territory for the series. It could add a layer of depth not previously achieved through the traditional pick up/upgrade system, while letting expansions still maintain their relevancy. Depending on the size and depth of a potential skill tree, there may be a whole new style of Metroid game developed that is best suited to that gameplay hook!

Content separate from the main game has been something fans have been longing for.  Donkey Kong Bananza has a litany of things to do that are adjacent to, if not wholly separate from, the main game mode. Between the soft two player co-op, numerous customizable aesthetic options, and the DK Artist mode, there is tons of content for the player to engage in, while not directly advancing or interacting with the main plot of the game. Metroid Dread had Boss Rush, Metroid: Zero Mission had the Metroid (NES) game mode, Metroid: Samus Returns and Metroid Prime both had optional aesthetic unlockables. Would customizable gameplay features or unrelated modes like a collection of one-off missions be too big a jump for Metroid?

Do you think going forward Metroid could take anything away from Donkey Kong Bananza? Let us know what you think in the comments or on our socials!

Metroda

Hey I’m Kendall or Metroda. I first saw Samus on Smash 64 but never played any Metroid until getting Fusion & Echoes 20 years ago and it’s been my favorite series ever since. I also love Zelda, Elder Scrolls, Civilization, and most 2D platformers. When I’m not hanging with my kids or gaming I also love basketball, reading, and I will talk your ear off about biology, astronomy, archaeology, or history.