
Developer: Retro Studios, Forever Entertainment
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Switch
Tested on: Switch
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD – Review
The buzz surrounding the imminent Switch 2 Nintendo Direct overshadowed the first ‘big’ Nintendo game of the year: Donkey Kong Country Returns HD. Yes, DKCR returns… again. This is the third time that Retro Studios’ inaugural Donkey Kong platformer has been released, after debuting on the Wii and then getting a second lease on life on the 3DS. We definitely have fond memories of playing DKCR, and the idea of revisiting Kong Island fills us with nostalgia rather than excitement, but there is also a bit of an underlying fear. Has DKCR stood the test of time or will we be presented with the harsh reality that the game isn’t as good as we remember?
Story
The game opens with a short cutscene, depicting the arrival of the Tiki Tak Tribe on Kong Island. These mask-wearing miscreants don’t waste any time in trying to take over the peaceful island, hypnotizing its animal inhabitants and forcing them to do their bidding. The first order of business is to steal the banana hoard beneath Donkey Kong’s house. This is of course much to the dismay of our simian protagonist. Tiki Tak Tribe member Kalimba attempts to hypnotize the ape, but Donkey Kong is simply too dumb to be affected. After punching Kalimba out of his window and into the sky, Donkey Kong sets out to reclaim every single banana that was taken by the tribe.
Graphics
The big draw for this re-release of DKCR is the quality of the game’s visuals, hence the ‘HD’ in the title. Now, in a world where 4K is the standard, having HD graphics may not seem like a big deal anymore, and the Switch is known for not exactly being a graphical powerhouse. However, as we’ve seen throughout the Switch’s lifespan with games like Pikmin 4 or New Pokémon Snap, the Switch is still capable of impressive visuals, provided the developers play to the platform’s strengths. In the case of DKCR, it was up to Forever Entertainment to optimize Retro Studios’ framework, and they lived up to expectations. This is one of the best-looking Switch games out there, with a buttery smooth performance to match. The only real downside is that the game’s load times are on the longer side, but once you’re in the game itself, it’s smooth sailing.
Sound
While the new visuals definitely improve on what already existed, we’re not really sure whether DKCR’s audio could have been improved upon in the first place. The music is as iconic and catchy as ever. While there is no true voice acting present, that’s fine as Donkey Kong isn’t known for being a talking ape (unless you count the awful CGI cartoon show from the ‘90s). Instead, the inhabitants of Kong Island communicate through animal sounds. DKCR’s sound effects further add to the cheerful, cartoonish atmosphere.
Gameplay
If you’ve never played a Donkey Kong Country game before, and you’re joining us from the Super Mario series, then you may be caught off-guard by the increase in difficulty. It would be an easy mistake to make, as DKCR is also a 2D side-scrolling platformer set in what is essentially a shared universe inhabited by both Mario and Donkey Kong. You’ll be making your way through nine different worlds, with a boss waiting for you at the end of each one. The level designs are inventive and filled with different mechanics, from mine carts to vertical levels that utilize DK’s climbing abilities. Along the way, there aren’t just plenty of bananas to grab, but also hidden puzzle pieces to find and ‘KONG’ letters to collect. DKCR doesn’t break the mold with unnecessary gimmicks. In fact, the HD version even makes the unnecessary gimmick from the original release optional. When you start your playthrough, you’re given the choice to play DKCR’s original version, which relies on motion controls, or in modern mode, which removes the need to wiggle with your Joy-Cons to perform Donkey Kong’s signature Ground Pound move.
It’s a welcome change, but not an entirely unexpected one, as the newer control scheme is something that is carried over from DKCR’s 3DS version. It speaks to the strength of DKCR that Nintendo didn’t feel the need to expand the game with new levels or modes. That’s not to say there aren’t any tweaks here and there, like the expanded selection of Cranky Kong’s shop, but these additions serve to make the overall experience more enjoyable without removing the game’s sense of challenge. It makes DKCR HD the definitive version of the game, even if it doesn’t bring a whole lot of new stuff to the table. This approach brilliantly showcases just how good of a platformer DKCR remains, even a decade-and-a-half after its debut. Controlling Donkey Kong works like a charm, and mastering trickier moves like rolling and then jumping across gaps to grab tricky collectibles remains as satisfying as ever. Having Diddy Kong strapped to your back helps with trickier jumps in single-player, while in co-op the second player is given full control of the smaller ape. What Diddy lacks in sheer power, he makes up for by being more forgiving when jumping, as well as having a ranged attack with his peanut gun.
Of course, it does warrant the question of whether or not this remaster is a worthy addition to your Switch library. The game arrives at the tail-end of the Switch’s lifespan, although backwards compatibility means it isn’t necessarily obsolete when the Switch 2 releases sometime this year. DKCR’s core experience isn’t very long, clocking in at roughly 11 hours if you know what you’re doing. Of course, before you get to that point, there’ll be plenty of trial and error attempts to master the game’s different levels, and if you’re truly looking to 100% DKCR, then there are Time Attack and Mirror Modes to look forward to as well. It’s a comprehensive package for sure, but then again, this has been the case since the original Wii release. The €59.99 price tag for what is essentially just a new coat of paint seems a tad excessive, given that this puts DKCR in the same price range as full-fledged new games like Super Mario Bros Wonder or Echoes of Wisdom. It would have probably felt more appropriate next to Metroid Prime Remastered or Captain Toad, in the €39.99 bracket. Given that the game also exists on 3DS, there isn’t even the portability factor to redeem DKCR HD’s price tag.
Conclusion
At this point, we’re happy to call DKCR a timeless classic. The game remains one of the best 2D platformers out there, especially if you’re feeling like amping up the difficulty compared to what Donkey Kong’s mustachioed rival has to offer. Not only that, but the addition of modern controls and tiny tweaks here and there make this remaster the definitive way to play DKCR. That said, slapping a full price tag on what is essentially a 15-year-old game is difficult to justify, even with the new visuals. If this is your first time playing DKCR, then this is an easy one to recommend, but otherwise, there really isn’t anything here to justify double dipping.
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[…] for more monkey business! After taking a trip to Kong Island in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, we’re going to our backlog to spend time in the company of DK’s even more famous cousin: King […]