A recent leak from Nintendo Korea has set off speculation in the gaming community. A promotional image for Donkey Kong Bananza reveals a character that might be a younger version of Pauline, the iconic damsel from the original Donkey Kong arcade game. This revelation raises eyebrows and beckons questions about the timeline and storyline implications within the broader Mario universe.
The promotional image was first spotted by GamesRadar, which details how fans are now enthusiastically piecing together what role this young girl may play in Bananza. Notably, she’s depicted holding onto Donkey Kong’s tie as he barrels through an environment, suggesting she could have a prominent connection to the favorite ape.
If you’re unfamiliar with Pauline’s history, she debuted in 1981 as a side character who needed rescuing from Mario’s arch-nemesis. After fading from most games for quite some time, she returned as mayor of New Donk City in Super Mario Odyssey. Her comeback into the fold hints at intriguing possibilities for her character arc and its connection to DK’s lineage.
The artistic tease on Nintendo Korea’s website was soon replaced with an image of another character named Odd Rock. However, fan theories have multiplied following observations that young Pauline is seen wearing a purple crystal bracelet reminiscent of Odd Rock—a detail that only deepens the mystery.
This appearance opens up various discussions among fans regarding whether Bananza is indeed set before previous entries featuring Donkey Kong or if it introduces Pauline’s daughter instead. Could magic or some other twist account for this time-bending occurrence? As speculations swirl, eager gamers are left counting down the days until July 17, when we’ll finally get answers—if this little girl truly is Pauline and what her purpose might be in this latest franchise iteration.
