Donkey Kong is one of Nintendo’s most iconic characters. Sharing spotlight with Mario since the late 80s with the original Donkey Kong, though many know DK today through his country-fairing adventures on the Super Nintendo and Game Boy Advance. While dormant for a few years, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD revived the legendary DKC series on the Wii.
The original was a classic on Nintendo’s motion-controlled console, returning on the 3DS a few years later. Re-releasing yet again on the Nintendo Switch, is this a fresh banana or one that’s not so ripe? Despite an aged taste, this banana is still enjoyable.
Developer & Publisher // Retro Studios/Forever Entertainment, Nintendo
Platforms // Nintendo Switch
MSRP & Release Date // $59.99, January 16th, 2025
Reviewed On // Nintendo Switch
Ooooh… Banana – Premise of DKC Returns
Enjoying a calm day on DK Isle, a new threat appears on the island and quickly takes over. When the Tiki Tribe tries taking over DK’s mind, it doesn’t work, and they get a quick punch in the face, starting DK and Diddy Kong’s quest to reclaim their home.
It’s simple and lacks the iconic imagery from the Rare-era games, since the Kremlings are more memorable enemies. But the Tiki Tribe has some cute animation work, and seeing Kong’s reactions to the bosses was enjoyable.
Familiar Jungle Hijinks – Progression
The adventure as DK and Diddy platform through multiple biomes on DK Isle, running through lush jungles, sand-covered shores, and smoggy factories. Each level offers four KONG letters to collect, linking to a secret level on each biome.
One standout location has to be the Factory world. This theme returns from the classic DKC games, and bringing it to life on modern hardware was a treat for the eyes. My favorite moment from this set of levels was the initial stage, where DK and Diddy needed to blow out the smoke to clear up the view for the rest of the world. While doing this, you could only see their silhouettes, adding the oppressive feel of the factory world.
Collectables for Ages – Items in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
Completing each world and collecting every KONG level earns the DK & Diddy a colorful orb. These are key to unlocking a new world to explore in the post-game. This is similar to the structure present in the Rare-Era DKC games, but more streamlined. There’s even a shop DK and Diddy can go into, using collected Banana Coins to get helpful items to make the adventure easier.
In addition to the banana coins, the iconic bananas return, acting as the coin or ring collectible for the Kongs. Collecting 100 of the yummy items earns the DK and Diddy a life. They are a treat to collect thanks to the iconic sound effect they had on the SNES return.
Apes Can Learn New Tricks – 2D Platforming
But what about the gameplay? A platformer is nothing without tight controls and great level design. Thankfully, Donkey Kong Country Returns has both in spades.
Being a 2.5D Platformer, DK runs left to right, having his iconic roll and jumping skills from prior DKC titles. Unlike the Rare-Era games, DK feels ‘heavy’, with every jump performed (whenever it’s a hop or a full jump) carrying momentum. Chained with skillful rolls, DK and Diddy Kong have immense control over their movement, making platforming a treat.
I realized this when I put down my first gameplay session, noticing I was at World 4 in three hours. DK has other helpful moves, including pounding the ground to push switches and blowing a gust of wind. Both of these are linked to more ‘passive’ level interactions, and can be used to unlock additional paths.
These paths can help you get those KONG letters, some extra banana coins, and even open paths to Bonus Rounds. While lacking the variety they had in the Rare-Era DKC games, they are still fun ‘intermissions’ in between challenging platforming challenges.
The Tried and True – Mine Cart in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
The gameplay and level design may be masterful, but one aspect of Donkey Kong Country is the Mine Cart sections. Always moving players forward and encountering skillful jump timing are the hardest challenges in the original DKC trilogy.
They return in Returns and come in two flavors. The first are similar to the original DKC games, with DK and Diddy always moving forward. Skillfully changing between ducking into the minecart, performing hops, and timing your jumps near clusters of enemies, it feels amazing nailing one level without dying.
Another type of minecart level features DK and Diddy moving forward, but they aren’t inside the cart. Rather, they ride on top of it and can only hop and jump. These can be fun, but aren’t as enjoyable as the traditional mine cart levels.
The Broken Barrel – Rocket Barrel
The biggest new gameplay change from the original DKC games that Retro Studios added was the Rocket Barrel. This has DK and Diddy hop inside a barrel, and it turns into a powerful rocket. Always moving forward, DK can move it up or down depending on how long players press the jump button.
In many ways, it’s a more nuanced Flappy Bird-style gameplay approach, forcing players to avoid getting hit or the barrel blows up. Early on, this isn’t bad, as levels are more forgiving due to teaching players how to use the mechanic.
However, later in the game, these levels become harder and more severely punish mistakes. In the original release of Donkey Kong Country Returns, this was one of the worst aspects of the entire package. The one-hit kill system forced players to lose their lives consistently. It contrasts with the fairer nature that DKC Returns’ other gameplay styles offer.
Thankfully, in this Switch release of DKC Returns, players can buy items to give additional ‘hits’ to make these levels more manageable. But it still doesn’t excuse some Rocket Barrel levels being overly difficult.
Presentation
Adapting Rare’s iconic style for the Donkey Kong Country series, Retro Studios created a handsome-looking game on the Nintendo Wii, and it only looks better on Nintendo Switch.
Featuring a stylized art direction with bright colors, DK and Diddy look fantastic running and rolling through the game’s many levels. In particular, I enjoyed how the game’s many Tiki Tribe enemies looked. They have hollow, cartoony eyes that are very emotive and organically react to DK; seeing a fire Tiki look depressed after DK blew out their flames was charming, for example.
Going into the foreground often, the game utilizes shadows effectively and keeps you engaged, which is my favorite aspect of the game’s presentation.
Visual Differences from the Wii Original
While the game is very handsome and runs like a dream on Nintendo Switch, bringing the game to the platform resulted in some visual issues. Unlike the Wii original, some effects can look worse. But overall, it looks fine, and I enjoyed the game’s presentation on Switch.
Music
When playing a Donkey Kong Country game, players expect amazing soundtracks. Similar to other iconic platforms, like the Sonic series or the Super Mario Bros titles, Donkey Kong has a distinct style to its music. You can have music tracks that are catchy but feel grounded. Or you can have some of the most hauntingly beautiful music ever gracing underwater levels.
So, when Retro Studios created Donkey Kong Country Returns, matching up to the groundbreaking scores that David Wise and Grant Kirkhope brought to the franchise is a tall ask. While they don’t surpass the work those amazing composers brought to gaming, the tracks in Returns are enjoyable to listen to.
From solid remixes of iconic tunes to some original pieces that fit alongside said remixes, it’s quite an enjoyable soundtrack to listen to. The standouts are the remixes for the Factory stages, featuring the same oppressive sounds of the original SNES titles.
Sound Design
If there is one area where Retro Studios audibly surpasses Rare’s work on the DKC games, it’s the sound design. Every object has a sound, with the best sound effects stemming from how DK and Diddy interact with the world around them. Aggressive slams against the earth when ground pounding, an impactful ‘bop’ when jumping off foes, and even carrying over the iconic sound bites from the SNES titles, Retro nailed the sound design of DKC.
Closing Thoughts on Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
I was surprised how easily I rolled and jumped through jungles alongside DK and his buddies. Offering amazing platforming controls, tight level design that invites exploration, impressive usage of the foreground and background, and solid presentation that holds up generations later, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a fantastic 2D platforming romp for everyone.
While it doesn’t surpass the master class work Retro Studios created with its sequel, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, it’s still an adventure worth returning to.
This game was reviewed using a copy borrowed from my local library
Score: 8.5 out of 10
Pros:
- Solid Presentation that holds up generations later
- Fantastic controls
- Amazing level design
- Enjoyable Mine Cart Levels
- Plenty to Collect and a Sizable Post-Game
- Great Sound Design
- Very Accessible to Platforming Veterans and Newcomers Alike
Cons:
- The Rocket Barrel
- Decent Soundtrack, but it doesn’t surpass the SNES DKC Titles
- …The Rocket Barrel
