Today, Nintendo held another Nintendo Direct. This one was not about any games though. This isn’t the first time this has happened though. They did one for the Super Mario Bros. Movie, and they did one for the Super Nintendo World amusement park. Today’s is actually about the first expansion to Super Nintendo World, Donkey Kong Country. So what kind of stuff did they have to say?

Much like the other non-game ones, this Direct was hosted by Mario and Donkey Kong creator, Shigeru Miyamoto. He walks us through the current park and to the entrance to the expansion. In the tunnel leading to the Donkey Kong area, he points out that the bricks on the wall change to stones, as the environment begins to shift to more of a jungle. Then, we’re greeted with the sight of Donkey Kong’s tree house.

But before we get to far, Miyamoto begins to demonstrate one of the activities you can do around the park. It’s a rhythm game where you and two other people must hit a pair of drums in time to some lights that flash on and off. If you do this correctly, an animatronic of Rambi the rhino will bust through a crate above the drums. I’m curious if any of Donkey Kong’s other animal buddies are present somewhere in the park.

Next, we’re taken to Donkey Kong’s house. After commenting on how many bananas are in DK’s banana hoard. Afterwards, Donkey Kong himself shows up. It’s a person in a surprisingly big costume, that honestly looks really good. Miyamoto and Donkey Kong exchange pleasantries before taking a photo.

The park also features a new restaurant and a new gift shop. The restaurant, Jungle Beat Shakes, has two new exclusive foods, a Donkey Kong themed sundae and a Donkey Kong themed hot dog. If I go, I’m absolutely having the hot dog. The gift shop is based on Funky Kong’s shop from the video games. It’s called Funky’s Fly N Buy, and features exclusive Donkey Kong merchandise.

Finally, we’re given a tease of the new thrill ride, which is themed like one of the minecart levels from the Donkey Kong Country games. In the queue, animatronics of Cranky Kong and Squawks tell people the plot of the ride, which is basically that they need to protect some kind of special banana. I’m not sure if there’s any kind of interactivity like there is with Super Nintendo World’s Mario Kart ride, they only showed a brief bit. But still interesting.

While not the most exciting Direct, this was still a fun one. The park itself looks great and Miyamoto always seems like he’s enjoying himself when he does these sorts of things. The expansion will be open in Japan in about a month, but Universal Studios Florida will also be getting in next year. Hopefully I’ll have a chance to visit some day.