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Many fans were surprised to see Pauline as a kid in Donkey Kong Bananza. This choice was driven by various factors. Here are the details.
Nintendo’s Donkey Kong Bananza surprised fans with its July 17, 2025, release. Pauline’s appearance as a kid sidekick in the latest 3D platformer was one of the more interesting things to see in the game. Fans of the franchise are familiar with Mayor Pauline, who was an adult in the previous titles, so this new iteration has raised the natural question of why the developers decided to reimagine the character. In this article, we will be discussing the reasons behind Pauline being a kid in Donkey Kong Bananza in detail.
Why Is Pauline a Kid in Donkey Kong Bananza?
According to Nintendo, Pauline in Donkey Kong Bananza was a design-focused choice rather than an attempt to establish the franchise’s lore. Additionally, the developers stated that it is a choice that came to them originally during the early stages of production. The game’s design was always intended for Donkey Kong to have a small, child-like companion. Given the title’s focus on transformations linked to a musical element, Pauline emerged as a natural choice due to her youthful personality.
Donkey Kong or any other Nintendo games have always prioritized fun and dynamic in-game mechanics over lore, narrative, and timelines. The new iteration of Pauline is a direct result of this approach. This allows players to worry less about the implications on the entire franchise and enjoy the game with all its charming quirks, playful interactions, and engaging characters. During segments like Pauline’s singing, DK’s transformations are influenced.
How Pauline Fits into Donkey Kong Bananza
In Donkey Kong Bananza, when players first encounter Pauline, she is a 13-year-old girl whom enemies have taken from the surface to the underground. There, she transformed into an “Odd Rock”. However, eventually she got her human form back and then became Donkey Kong’s charming sidekick. Then, their mission becomes to journey to the center of the earth, so Pauline can finally go back to the surface and become a singer.
Pauline’s Gameplay Contributions
Even from a purely gameplay perspective, Pauline contributes quite a lot and brings an interesting dynamic with everyone’s favorite 3D ape. Both of the characters bring a sense of balance in the game, which is evident in the following aspects:
- Pauline can speak in the game, but DK cannot. Thus, she acts as a narrative device to provide more information to the players.
- Pauline’s singing is a core mechanic in the game. It features whenever DK receives a transformation and also serves as a guide to point out the right direction to the players.
- Donkey Kong Bananza’s co-op allows players to take control of Pauline and help DK by stunning enemies with her voice.
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