Getting Started
Welcome to the RTA Getting Started page! The goal of this guide is to serve as a place for all of the relevant knowledge needed to get started with Donkey Kong Bananza RTA speedruns.
Picking a Version
The first step (and most important) is picking the version of Donkey Kong Bananza you would like to speedrun. At the moment, there are three versions that you are able to play:
- Physical 1.0.0
- Physical 1.1.0
- Digital 1.1.0
While any of these versions are perfectly fine for RTA speedruns, Digital 1.1.0 is the fastest version for all speedruns due to faster loads (an estimated ~40 seconds in Any% Restricted). If you're just starting out and only have access to the physical version of the game, don't worry, you can get still get a perfectly competitive time with a physical release.
Picking a Controller
The most commonly used controller at the top-level is the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller as the GL/GR buttons can be rebound to D-Pad Left/Right for easier Bananza switches. However, all controllers have some level of representation at the top-level, so the real answer is to pick which one you like best.
Picking a Control Scheme
As previously mentioned, runners will often rebind the Bananza switch controls (D-Pad Left/Right) to GL/GR buttons or the Analog Stick Buttons. Having some form of comfortable rebind is highly encouraged, as there are certain points throughout the run where quickly switching Bananzas is required and difficult if using the D-Pad.
Leaderboard Verification
For a run to be accepted on the speedrun.com leaderboards, video/audio proof must be provided. While pointing a camera at your TV is perfectly allowed, if you plan on playing the game often or you plan on livestreaming your runs, the convenience and quality offered by a proper capture solution can be worth the cost. Here are some pages to help you figure out what you need to record or livestream your runs:
[Under Construction]
Picking a Category
Here are routes and guides for each category. See also the Layer Directory.
Before committing to a particular category, check out the Movement Mechanics page to get an understanding of DK's movement options.
For the Any% (Restricted) category, in addition to the demo videos on each sublayers Wiki page, you can consult the Community Sum-of-best Spreadsheet to see RTA layer records with the fastest RTA layer strategies.
Main Categories
The most competitive categories, with leaderboards on speedrun.com/dkb.
- Any% (Restricted)
- Any% (Unrestricted)
- All Bosses and Bananzas
- True Ending
- 100%
For absolute beginners, it is recommended that you start with the beginner Any% (Restricted) route or the beginner All Bosses and Bananzas route, as both routes/categories acquire the Snake (or Zebra) bananza, making the final bridge section of The Surface significantly easier. However, it is also encouraged that you try strats from multiple skill levels to find what works best for you.