Ready to dig, fight, and fling your way to victory? In Donkey Kong Bananza, the dirt is your playground and the treasure’s always just one (or five) punches away! In this video, we’re sharing 12 essential tips to help you master terrain-smashing combos, find hidden goodies, manage your currency and collectibles, and make the most of your underground adventures.

Donkey Kong Bonanza challenges players to dig through diverse terrain, battle enemies, and manage resources efficiently. Players can reset terrain to restore gold and treasure, use terrain chunks as powerful weapons, and identify indestructible surfaces by checking toughness levels.

Resource management is crucial, with various currencies like Bonandium gems, fossils, and gold each serving different upgrade and purchase functions. Players are encouraged to save skill points for significant upgrades, utilize balloons to avoid gold loss, and master advanced movement techniques for efficient exploration.

Donkey Kong Bananza: Essential tips to master fighting and upgrades

Ready to dig deep and dominate in Donkey Kong Bonanza? Whether you're punching through dirt or battling tough foes, knowing how to manage the terrain and your resources can turn the tide in your favor. Let's dive into the essentials that'll keep you digging smarter, fighting harder, and building your way to victory. Since you're able to destroy most surfaces, except for certain bedrock-type areas, it's easy to dig yourself into a hole, literally, and lose track of how to get back on course. Luckily you can reset the terrain at any time by pressing the plus button while viewing the map. Resetting the terrain is also extremely helpful for restoring gold deposits and giving yourself more material to dig through again in search of treasure chests. Different types of terrain behave in unique ways, so it's important to know what you're working with in each layer. You can quickly get information by grabbing a chunk with ZR, then holding ZR to aim. This lets you see both the terrain type and its toughness. If no toughness is listed, it usually means you're looking at indestructible bedrock. When facing tougher enemies, don't underestimate the power of hurling a terrain chunk at them. Most surfaces allow you to hit harder than your regular attacks, which can be vital for breaking through the armored shells of skeletal foes. There are several currencies to keep track of in Donkey Kong Bonanza, and it helps to know what's worth collecting. Bonandium gems unlock more skill points. Fossils let you purchase outfits specific to that layer. Gold can be used to buy items, maps, and unlock constructions like getaways, blast barrels, and more. You can also collect Bonandium chips to trade for Bonandium gems if you'd rather not spend time searching for more bananas. At first, digging through the earth with your fists might feel a bit aimless, but you'd be surprised at what you'll find. Gold and Bonandium gems can show up almost anywhere, and there's always a chance you'll stumble upon a treasure chest. These can contain anything from piles of gold to helpful supplies like balloons or apple juice, and most importantly, treasure maps that reveal the location of a fossil on your map. Once you reach the canyon layer, keep an eye out for NPCs shaped like little houses. They'll offer to build getaway homes, and the more you unlock in a layer, the more amenities they'll offer, like bonus hearts when you sleep, access to shops, and more. Plus, they serve as fast travel points, making it easier to move around the map. Don't be afraid to go full bonanza whenever you want. The extra power makes tunneling and fighting enemies much easier, and it doesn't take much gold to refill your meter, letting you activate your stronger forms almost any time. While it's tempting to spend skill points right away, saving them up for bigger upgrades is often the better move. This is especially important if you're in a layer where you're trying to unlock a new bonanza. Stockpile your points so you can immediately invest and strengthen your new abilities. Don't overlook smaller enemies. Like tossing chunks, they can often make the best accidental projectiles. Even if they charge at you, stand your ground, land a punch, and send them flying into other foes. You can even use the terrain they crash into to clear your path forward. Buy lots of balloons. When you die in Bonanza, you lose 10% of your gold, up to a maximum of 500. Since you'll need as much cash as possible for Bonandium gem missions, items, getaways, and more throughout the game, buying balloons in bulk from the stuff shop on each layer is a smart investment. If you fall off a ledge, whether it's the edge of a layer or in a challenge room, a balloon will lift you safely back to the last platform you stood on. This gives you the freedom to attempt high-risk moves without worrying about your wallet. And finally, you can free jump in midair after rolling off a ledge, just like in classic Donkey Kong Country. You can cover long distances by chaining a roll-jump-roll combo, similar to the second dive you get after bouncing off Cappy in Super Mario Odyssey. And that's a wrap on our Donkey Kong Bonanza tips. Master the art of digging, terrain tactics, and resource management, and you'll be swinging through layers like a pro in no time. For more on Donkey Kong Bonanza, make sure to head on over to IGN.com and check out our growing wiki for the game. Also make sure to watch our full video review. And for more on the world of Nintendo, Donkey Kong, and everything in between, keep it locked on IGN.

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