It's one thing to successfully translate a secret in-game video game language, but it's quite another to translate it before the game is even out – yet that's exactly what YouTuber 2Chrispy has managed to accomplish with Donkey Kong Bananza.
Just as players unraveled the secrets in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's secret language, 2Chrispy utilized trailers, preview footage, and even the Nintendo Today app to decode the Ancient Monkey Scrolls in Kong's upcoming adventure.
"In the trailer, there were a lot of hidden details," 2Chrispy explained in a captivating video detailing his process. "But the one that stood out most to me was the banana language. Watch to see how I decoded and deciphered every monkey letter I could find."
After cleverly identifying that an in-game item was officially named "Chip Exchange," Chrispy, through meticulous frame-by-frame analysis, was able to decipher all but five characters of the banana alphabet—or "Bananabet," as he dubs it.
Donkey Kong Bananza's secret language has been translated. Image credit: 2Chrispy.
With his newly-acquired transcription skills, 2Chrispy has successfully translated nearly every sign, note, and written document seen in any footage released to date. To discover their meanings, be sure to watch Chrispy2's YouTube video.
For example, in one screenshot, 2Chrispy translated an overhead sign that reads "welcome," a neon sign that says "factory," and a snow level sign that reads "ice." He also transcribed various notices indicating "hint," "item," and a sign that reads: "Message. Thank you for reading. Someone."
A sign that reads "Message. Thank you for reading. Someone." Image credit: 2Chrispy.
"I'm excited to see what other text we'll find in the game," he added. "Could we see references to DK lore? Missing Kongs? Any mention of the Kremlings or King K. Rool?"
"Donkey Kong Bananza is on track to be one of the most visually stunning Nintendo games I’ve seen," we noted in our first hands-on preview. "It truly leverages the power of Switch 2's hardware — the environments are breathtaking, and DK’s animations are wonderfully expressive, signaling the arrival of the next generation of first-party Nintendo games."
With the release date and tech specs now revealed for the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, along with insights into the potential pricing of first-party Nintendo games on the new system, delve into our comprehensive analysis as we consult with industry experts. For more on Nintendo Switch 2, catch up on everything showcased at last month's Nintendo Direct. *Donkey Kong Bananza* is set to launch on July 17 for $69.99, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2.
