Donkey Kong Bananza, Nintendo’s forthcoming Switch 2 platformer, will have a musical twist centred on a previously leaked character inclusion.
In a Direct presentation, Nintendo detailed more on how the new game will play, beyond the punching and rock deformation previously shown.
Spoilers follow, if you’re looking to keep surprises to yourself.
Donkey Kong is joined by a little purple rock companion during Bananza, but now Nintendo has revealed this character is in fact baby Pauline.
Pauline’s inclusion was accidentally leaked by Nintendo itself back in April, but now her role in the game has been officially unveiled.
Pauline is the damsel in distress in the original Donkey Kong game, meaning her inclusion here is not only a fun throwback, but means Bananza could act as something of a prequel.
She’s more recently been seen as the mayor of New Donk City in Super Mario Odyssey, singing the theme song Jump Up, Super Star! (as well as a rather sassy inclusion as a racer in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s DLC, and more recently also in Mario Kart World).