Mario Kart Switch 2 Game Makes Big Change to Donkey Kong

The first look at what appears to be the next Mario Kart game has revealed a big change in the appearance of Donkey Kong, one of the series’ longest-standing racers. Footage of the game was shown during the reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 and shows the big ape looking even bulkier than in past Mario Kart games, also boasting a slightly different hue to his fur.

Donkey Kong has undergone a lot of transformations over the decades, first appearing as the antagonist of his self-titled arcade game in 1981. His popularity saw a big resurgence in the 1990s, starring in multiple top-rated games on the Super Nintendo, including the launch of the Donkey Kong Country franchise. While he didn’t appear in that console generation’s Mario Kart game, with one of its eight spots reserved for Donkey Kong Jr., he made his debut in the series’ second installment on the Nintendo 64 and has been a mainstay ever since.

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Donkey Kong’s physical appearance in the Mario Kart series has been relatively consistent, adapting to modern hardware but still retaining the look first presented in Donkey Kong Country. However, the official reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 on January 16 has given players their first look at what is likely Mario Kart 9. The trailer for the upcoming console mainly focuses on the hardware itself, and the Mario Kart game is the only one shown during its roughly two-minute runtime. However, keen-eyed viewers spotted Donkey Kong in the background, featuring a fur tone that’s lost its reddish hues in favor of a deep chocolate, a rounder brow, and an even heftier physique, as he sits hunched over the steering wheel, barely fitting into his kart.

Switch 2 Reveal Shows New Look for Donkey Kong

While not an exact replica, the character model in the new game shares some closer similarities to the Seth Rogen-voiced Donkey Kong in The Super Mario Bros. Movie from 2023 than with the model used in Mario Kart 8. These similarities include Donkey Kong’s arms, which appear less defined than in the racing series’ last installment in favor of more muscle mass, and his eyes, which appear to be spaced much closer together, though the trailer shows his face locked in a constant wide-eyed gaze. A brief view from behind indicates that Donkey Kong is still wearing his trademark tie, though it’s lost completely in a frontal view due to the massive mammal’s hunched-over posture while driving.

The change in appearance may be an unexpected one for fans, as Nintendo just released another Donkey Kong game with the character taking on a much more classic look. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD was released on January 16, the same day as the Switch 2 trailer dropped. While it is a remastered version of the 2010 Wii game, the updates to its graphics leave Donkey Kong’s base design in the familiar form that players have grown accustomed to since 1994.

Mario Kart

Mario Kart is one of the many video game franchises that see Mario take a break from platforming to bring his friends, and even his enemies, for some sporting competition. 

The kart racing series has been going strong since the original Super Mario Kart in 1992, largely thanks to how enjoyable the games are to pick up and play for casual and hardcore gamers alike.