Nintendo has officially confirmed the age of the classic character Pauline in the latest game Donkey Kong Bananza, and the news has immediately captured fans’ attention. Pauline was spotted in leaked promotional art shortly after the game’s reveal back in April. Many suspected that the girl was a younger version of Pauline, who had appeared in the original arcade Donkey Kong and Super Mario Odyssey. That theory was confirmed this week during Nintendo’s Direct presentation.

In Donkey Kong Bananza, Pauline first appears as a mysterious stone creature named Odd Rock, which is later revealed to be her true form. She is a young girl who was trapped in an underground world called Ingot Isle. To return to the surface, she teams up with Donkey Kong to reach the planet’s core, where a wish is said to be granted according to legend.

Many fans noticed that Pauline appears much younger in this game compared to her previous incarnations, sparking theories that Donkey Kong Bananza might be a prequel to Super Mario Odyssey. While this remains unconfirmed, Nintendo did reveal one crucial detail—Pauline’s actual age in this game. According to her official character bio on the Japanese Nintendo Store, Pauline is described as “a 13-year-old girl who loves to sing.” The description also states that she used to live above ground but was somehow transported to the underworld and transformed into the Odd Rock creature that DK encounters during his quest for the Golden Bananas.

In her journey with DK, Pauline has unique abilities that aid in their adventure. One of them is her “Make Music” skill, which helps guide Donkey Kong to his next objective or unlocks mysterious seals blocking their path. Her singing also triggers DK’s new transformations into Kong Bananza, Ostrich Bananza, and Zebra Bananza.

Pauline’s role in Donkey Kong Bananza serves as a nostalgic callback to the original arcade days when Donkey Kong was her captor. Now, the two work together, and her youthful appearance raises plenty of questions about the continuity of the Mario and Donkey Kong universe. Those questions may be answered when Donkey Kong Bananza officially launches for the Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17.

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