Home Gaming Donkey Kong Country Returns HD evaluate – bananas retro platforming

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD evaluate – bananas retro platforming

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Donkey Kong Country Returns HD screenshot
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD – 90s model platforming from 2010 (Nintendo)

Wii sport Donkey Kong Country Returns will get a brand new remaster on Nintendo Switch, however has it grow to be only a bit too retro?

There’s an apparent joke to be made right here, about Nintendo remasters scraping the underside of the barrel, however we’re not going to encourage that. We don’t wish to counsel that Donkey Kong Country Returns isn’t sport, or unfit of retaining in print, however contemplating Nintendo already remastered its Wii U sequel, Tropical Freeze, it appears clear they initially thought there’d be no level bringing over the unique.

But the Switch 2 nonetheless hasn’t been introduced, so within the meantime new titles are nonetheless wanted for the present console and this remaster of the unique 2010 Wii sport is a wonderfully affordable selection. It was one of many best-looking video games on the Wii and even with little in the best way of enhancements this nonetheless appears nice 15 years later.

The selection of remaster may additionally have one thing to do with rumours {that a} new 3D Donkey Kong sport will likely be one of many first titles to be launched for the Switch 2, probably as a brand new Super Mario title. There has been a small uptick in visibility for the good ape in latest months, together with a remake of Mario Vs. Donkey Kong, however that might simply simply be due to the brand new space on the Super Nintendo World theme park in Japan.

Of course, within the authentic Donkey Kong arcade sport, which was additionally the debut of Mario, Donkey Kong was the antagonist. In later video games and spin-offs, together with Super Mario Kart, there was the prospect to play as Donkey Kong Jr. (who, paradoxically, hardly ever turns up in new video games these days) but it surely wasn’t till the primary Donkey Kong Country sport on the SNES, in 1994, that DK himself grew to become a playable character.

The collection’ use of pre-rendered graphics was a revelation on the time, and one of many key causes the SNES ultimately outsold the Mega Drive, however the video games had been comparatively generic mascot platformers. In hindsight that appears a slightly uninspired selection, since aside from a sure fixation with barrels the Country video games don’t make any actual reference to the unique video games or the truth that Donkey Kong is a brilliant sturdy gorilla.

We’d hope that if there may be any new sport coming it could play a bit extra imaginatively with Donkey Kong’s potential, however because the title implies that was by no means the intention of Donkey Kong Country Returns. The authentic video games had been made by Rare, however since they’re now owned by Microsoft growth duties had been handed over to Metroid Prime creator Retro Studios.

Originally, they appeared an odd selection, however the two Returns video games are a wonderful continuation of the collection – assuming what you needed was precisely the identical factor solely with fashionable (or as fashionable because the Wii might present) graphics.

That means surprisingly slow-paced, precision-based platforming; a sky excessive issue stage; and loads of rote studying. The authentic model featured some unreliable movement controls, however this remaster makes that simply an possibility. Although we nonetheless discovered ourselves by chance doing a ahead roll typically, once we didn’t imply to.

It goes with out saying that the tip result’s a really old school feeling sport, the place you’re ruthlessly punished for each mistake and there’s lots of trial and error concerned, avoiding obstacles and enemies you possibly can by no means have anticipated the primary time round. Donkey Kong’s weight means he has lots of momentum and desires a little bit of house to stand up to full velocity, so that you not solely have to be very exact in your jumps, however you must plan forward too.

This might be very irritating and whereas older followers will admire it, you spend the entire sport feeling very weak (which doesn’t really feel like match for Donkey Kong) and endlessly on the sting of catastrophe. For nearly all of the time this works so as to add rigidity to the usual platform ranges, but it surely turns the minecart and rocket levels into an absolute nightmare of trial and error and pixel excellent precision.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD screenshot
Indiana Jones has so much to reply for (Nintendo)

The Switch model provides a ‘Modern mode’ which gives you extra hearts and varied perishable gadgets that may make a stage simpler. This makes the conventional platform ranges much more approachable, but it surely does nothing for the lengthy distance between checkpoints and the trial and error nature of the mine cart and rocket-powered barrel ranges. However, you can even skip any stage you need through the use of Super Kong to beat them for you, whereas watching how he will get by means of it for suggestions.

We hesitate to explain any of the problem points as flaws, since that is precisely how the video games are speculated to be. Our important grievance with the Retro titles is that they had been too beholden to the previous and never solely did they not introduce any main new concepts, however they managed to depart out some that had been within the originals.

Rambi the rhinoceros, who you may trip and is the one time within the sport you ever really feel highly effective, is just in a tiny handful of ranges and there aren’t any underwater levels in any respect (there may be in Tropical Freeze although). The lack of selection is disappointing and aside from often leaping between the background and foreground the extra fashionable visuals aren’t utilised for any new gameplay options.

You are helped by the truth that Diddy Kong is obtainable in most ranges and has a, very underpowered, jetpack. This is helpful but when he’s killed it’s important to proceed on with out him, with typically no means of getting him again. A second particular person can play as him in co-op if you’d like, however in our expertise having two individuals bouncing round solely provides to the confusion.

Donkey Kong Country Returns does precisely what it units out to, and with a substantial amount of panache. The graphics nonetheless look surprisingly good on the large display and whereas there aren’t any vital new options right here, past a small variety of new ranges from the 3DS model, it is a competent remaster. We do hope it’s not an indication of issues to return although. We welcome extra DK typically, however the world doesn’t want the return of one other Donkey Kong Country.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD evaluate abstract

In Short: Purposefully old school and steadily irritating, however regardless of being a 15-year-old retro themed Wii sport this remaster nonetheless holds up surprisingly properly.

Pros: An glorious continuation of the Donkey Kong Country collection, for higher and worse, that also appears and performs very properly greater than a decade later. Great soundtrack and enjoyable visuals.

Cons: The authentic sport by no means had any substantial new concepts and was really lacking some from the originals. Modern mode doesn’t assist with irritating vehicle-based ranges.

Score: 7/10

Formats: Nintendo Switch
Price: £49.99
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Forever Entertainment (authentic: Retro Studios)
Release Date: sixteenth January 2025
Age Rating: 3

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD screenshot
The rocket ranges are step too far (Nintendo)

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