Nintendo's recent reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart 9 has sparked excitement, but one character's redesign has captured particular attention: Donkey Kong. His appearance seems heavily influenced by his design in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
While most characters in the Mario Kart 9 trailer looked familiar, Donkey Kong's noticeably different look stands out. His design has remained consistent for years, featuring in titles like Mario Kart 8, Mario Tennis, and Donkey Kong Country Returns. However, the movie's successful reimagining of the character appears to have inspired this game update.
The brief glimpse of Donkey Kong in the Mario Kart 9 trailer doesn't allow for a detailed comparison, but the differences are already apparent. A more thorough side-by-side analysis will likely emerge following April's Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Direct. This event is anticipated to provide further details about the console and its games.
The Switch 2 reveal trailer primarily showcased the console's aesthetics, but also hinted at backward compatibility, a new Joy-Con button, and confirmed a previously speculated controller-as-mouse function.
Although a 2025 release window has been given, the Nintendo Switch 2's launch is unlikely before June due to numerous planned hands-on events worldwide, with registration opening shortly.
