Donkey Kong Country Returns originally swung onto the Wii in 2010 and ushered in a new era for the Donkey Kong Country Series. Originally developed by Retro Studios, it was incredibly well-received and spawned a 3DS port in 2013, and a sequel in the form of Tropical Freeze later on for the Wii U. Unfortunately for me, my brain explosion means I either played it and can’t remember, or didn’t play it and can’t remember, so I’ll be experiencing Donkey Kong Country Returns for the first time… again… maybe? What’s it Like? Pick up some barrels, swing on some vines, and prepare to go bananas as we review Donkey Kong Country Returns HD on Nintendo Switch.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD tells the story of Kong Isle being invaded by the troublesome Tiki Tak tribe, who manage to possess all the creatures on the island to do their bidding, which just so happens to be stealing Donkey Kong’s Banana Horde. You’ll play across a variety of worlds to secure your bananas back from the Tiki Tak Tribe from lush tropical jungles to rickety mines deep underground, swinging, jumping, and barreling through this bright and colourful world. It’s no easy task by any means, as Donkey Kong Country Returns will test your skills and reactions with some deviously tricky levels and over-the-top set pieces that will have you gripping your controller with white-knuckled platforming. There’s a new difficulty mode called “Modern Mode” which allows for more hearts and a more forgiving experience, and there’s an option for 2 player co-op, allowing a second player to take control of Diddy Kong while Donkey Kong sets the pace for the gameplay.
Each world introduces a new mechanic that manages to keep the gameplay and the challenge exciting. Just when you feel you have the game mastered, along comes flying barrels or minecarts with big set pieces to try to wrestle your collection of spare lives from you. There can be moments of genuine frustration, but the reward for patient gamers is the satisfaction of surviving close calls to finally reach the end of the course. That’s really the strength of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, it just feels amazing to play and pull off some of the moves. The controls are tight, allowing for precision platforming, and combining a roll off an edge with a timed jump feels great to be able to do. There are amazing set pieces like rushing behind cover as waves crash around you, or avoiding cannonball fire from a pirate ship as you scuttle along in a rocket-powered barrel, or even using cannon barrels to blast yourself out of danger as a jungle ruin collapses around you. Boss fights are also a standout, offering a fun mix of mechanics like the simple jump and stun of the first boss, to more complex fights like the Mole Banana train. Each encounter offers something different, exciting, and challenging.
While Donkey Kong Country HD has indeed had a glam up with an HD makeover, it is showing its age with significantly less detail than the likes of Tropical Freeze. It’s not a deal breaker to me in the slightest, as you barely have a moment to sit around and take in the sights, and the environments still look great despite a lower polygon count. Each world is lovingly crafted to be set aside from the previous. One moment you’re travelling dense jungles, the next you’re escaping tidal waves and cannon fire on the beach, then deep diving on minecarts underground. It’s a bright and colourful affair, and the animations in some cutscenes are genuinely laugh-out-loud funny. The game largely plays at 60 frames per second, but surprisingly, there were a few moments during my playthrough where the framerate stuttered only for a brief moment. I’m not sure if this was similar to Echoes of Wisdom and how that would drop from 60 to 30 frames, appearing to stutter, but it did feel similar. That being said, this only occurred around 3 times during my playthrough in some of the earlier levels, and not really during any action sequences, so never hampered my gameplay experience.
Then there’s the soundtrack… oh the soundtrack, a delightful soiree of big brass band elements, 8-bit punches, and tribal woodwinds. David Wise’s legacy is handled with due care with Kenji Yamamoto at the helm, using a mix of older Donkey Kong Country tracks with a modern twist. It’s a perfect execution of orchestral, cinematic, and tribal vibes that will be stuck in your head long after you’ve turned off your console. The music is expertly tied to set pieces with a slow build of a drum symbol beat while the bass ups the tempo before hitting a crescendo hinted by the playful piano announcing the arrival of the brass and woodwinds, while you gallantly swing along through the jungle, barrelling towards your objective. It’s relaxing and playful on the overworld map, with gentle tropical beats and even when beginning a level lulls you in with a playful tone. Once the action heats up, however, so does the tempo which helps create a sense of urgency and adventure.
For my Kong’s looking into accessibility, there aren’t any specific options to toggle, although there are some difficulty changes that may assist some gamers. Kranky kongs shop sells additional lives in bundles of 1,3, and 7. You can purchase a ballon that assists if you fall down a hole once per level, as well as banana juice or crash guard which makes you or your minecart invincible for a short period of time. If you get stuck in a particular area, you can summon “Super Kong” who will autocomplete the level for you. You won’t be able to keep any of the items Super Kong collects, but you will be able to progress through the game, which can help reduce some difficult-level frustrations.
At $79 AUD, Donkey Kong Country HD’s value ultimately boils down to one of two points. Players who experienced the Wii and 3DS versions won’t really find anything new here, although it does include the 3DS content missing from the Wii Version. It’s still a great time, even if you’ve played it before, and the modern difficulty options make the game less frustrating for those looking to just enjoy the game at a slightly more relaxed pace. But for those who haven’t experienced Donkey Kong Country Returns, you will find a fantastic platformer here that’s hard to put down.
Donkey Kong is back and better than ever in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD. It’s a perfect follow-up to the outstanding DK Country series on the SNES, and a wonderful opportunity for those who may have missed it on the Wii or 3DS to experience the game for the first time. Its airtight gameplay provides moments of genuine thrills, and finally beating a level (I’m looking at you Minecart levels) gives you such a rewarding feeling. While Donkey Kong Country may be “returning” to Nintendo Consoles, the fact that this game still holds up against the best of them 15 years later proves Donkey Kong has always been at home as a wonderfully challenging platformer.
So, What’s It Like? Donkey Kong Country Returns is Like The SNES games, all glammed up in 3D.
In the interest of full disclosure, a review copy was provided by Nintendo, but this doesn’t influence my score.
