Nintendo Goes All In on Donkey Kong Redesign Seen in Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart 9 First Look

Nintendo's revamp of Donkey Kong, initially glimpsed in the Mario Kart 9 gameplay shown during the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal, is gaining traction. The character's design, unchanged for decades and featured in titles like Mario Kart 8, Mario Tennis, and Donkey Kong Country Returns, is undergoing a significant transformation, reminiscent of the design in the highly successful The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

While the updated Donkey Kong design was initially seen only in Mario Kart 9, Nintendo has now unveiled a line of merchandise showcasing the new look. As highlighted by Nintendo Life, Reddit user cookiemaster221 shared images of these products, commenting, "History is being rewritten in front of our very eyes."

The merchandise reveals a friendlier Donkey Kong, notably with a less severe brow. Online comments range from comparisons to Kirby's design ("They're giving him the Kirby treatment, but backwards," said SmallBlueSlime) to expressions of both excitement and nostalgia for the classic design. Some fans appreciate the "goofy" and less "angry" appearance, while others miss the iconic furrowed brow that conveyed both strength and kindness.

This merchandise provides a clearer view of the redesign than the fleeting appearances in the Mario Kart 9 trailer. A more comprehensive look at the new Donkey Kong in action is expected in April during a Nintendo Direct focused on the Switch 2.

The Switch 2 reveal trailer itself offered limited details about the console's features, primarily focusing on its aesthetic. However, it did confirm backward compatibility, a new, mysterious button on the Joy-Cons, and the validity of a theory regarding mouse functionality via the controller.

(Note: Replace https://img.szyya.complaceholder_image_url_1 with the actual URL of the Reddit image shared by cookiemaster221. The model cannot access external websites or specific files online.)