The Donkey Kong Country series has had a resurgence on the Nintendo Switch system over the past few years. With the original trilogy getting the release as part of the SNES classics collection and the beautiful port of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze making its way over from the Wii and Wii-U, it was only a matter of time (a VERY long time in this instance) for Donkey Kong Country Returns to get a port to the Switch system; finally making the entire line-up available on one console.
The game has been given a face-lift with some HD upscaling and even some extra modes for modern gamers allowing us to dive back into one of Nintendo’s best, with a refreshing blend of nostalgia and variety.
Completely Bananas!
This also originally came out on the Nintendo Wii system and was one of the best platformers on that console and in that era of gaming. Developer Retro Studios was keen to reinvigorate the love for the Donkey Kong Country legacy and bring a fresh new take on the series.
The game was an astounding success and the follow-up, Tropical Freeze, which regrettably came out on the Wii-U didn’t get in enough gamer’s hands to make an impact. Fortunately, the Switch release and the recent Super Mario Bros Movie (in addition to Universal’s theme park lands) have bolstered the resurgence of love for the tie-wearing gorilla.
The premise of the game is quite simple; DK’s supply of bananas is stolen by a tribe of tiki masks called the Tiki Tak Tribe. This sets DK and Diddy Kong racing through several different areas on the map to defeat the tribe and recover their lost food. Levels are split up across beach, factory, and jungle areas, which feels like the usual platformer business.
There are several levels in each zone, with a boss fight to beat to unlock the next area. Each level is packed to the brim with secrets, you collect hidden letters to spell out K-O-N-G, the puzzle pieces and other items like dandelions that require to be stomped to reveal items hidden behind them.
Try, Smash & Try Again
My favourite part of these games is the accuracy and timing needed to progress. You can’t just barge your way through and everything will be ok; it takes timing the right jump with moving objects in the level that makes this game such a classic. To make things easier for modern gamers with less patience, there is a “Modern Mode” that allows you to carry 9 helper items which can stop you from having to restart a level all over again. It is handy, but if you want the original experience and challenge, classic mode is the way to go.
Just like the original game, the mine cart and the barrel riding levels are still the most frustrating. They provide a really large challenge and while it can be enough to rage quit at times, the sense of achievement when you complete them is just as incredibly satisfying. When you die too many times, you gain access to Super Kong, a character that lets you kick back and either get past the issue you are having or finish the level for you.
For younger players, this can be beneficial in the more difficult levels, however, it is worth noting that it is voluntary so you don’t have to use it.
While it’s in the name, the ‘HD’ in question is where things feel a little undercooked. It essentially looks the same as the Wii version, with some brighter colours that while admittedly do look great on both the Switch’s OLED screen and when docked to a TV, feel incredibly familiar. There isn’t a huge leap forward in the graphics, it just looks upscaled to fit in with the older Switch titles, and for this classic game, that is enough. The older hardware is at its ceiling, and that’s unfortunately where we sit at this point.
Final Thoughts
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is the game you love, brought to the current-gen console you have. Some upscaled graphics make it look a bit shinier, but not enough to feel like a complete remake. The addition of modern mode will bode well with gamers who aren’t used to games with this higher level of difficulty which can make it more accessible, it does have the classic mode here as well so you can have the original experience.
That being said, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD allows you to complete your series on the Switch and still serves as a fantastic reason to jump back into this world.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Platforming at its best; Varied level designs; Completes the DK collection on Switch
Lowlights: A complete remake would have made this shine
Developer: Retro Studios, Monster Games
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Available: Now
Review conducted on Nintendo Switch with a release code provided by the publisher.
