Nike has done it. They’ve turned Donkey Kong into a sneaker, and honestly, it kind of makes sense. The Nike Air Max 1 “Big Head Origins” is a love letter to retro gaming, bringing low-poly chaos straight to your feet. If you ever wanted to stomp around like an 8-bit primate with a tie, your time has come.
The design is a tribute to Donkey Kong Country—a game where barrels fly, crocodiles wear military gear, and physics simply don’t matter. The chocolate brown suede represents DK’s fur, while red and yellow accents scream, “I accessorize with nothing but a necktie.” Inside, pixelated bananas and coins remind you that, much like life, the goal is to collect shiny objects and not fall into a pit.
Nike even jagged up the swoosh to match the glorious polygonal graphics of the ‘90s. It’s a sneaker that looks like it just finished rendering. Fashionable? Maybe. A conversation starter? Absolutely.
Expect these jungle-ready kicks to drop on March 21, 2025, for US$160. If they sell out (and they probably will), you could always try trading a few golden bananas for a pair.
Images: Nike.
via Nerdist.
