When talking about older games, context is important. Sometimes, you can appreciate an older game for what it did at the time, even if it doesn’t hold up as well today. In others, the game is still fantastic, no matter when you experience it. But Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a different situation. It’s the third time players might have experienced Donkey Kong Country Returns. And while it was a great game back then and today, it’s since been eclipsed by its sequel, which was also re-released on the Switch six years ago.
Donkey Kong Country Returns follows a familiar storyline – Donkey Kong’s treasured banana horde is stolen by a bunch of animals controlled by a shamanistic group called the Tiki Tak Tribe. Naturally, it’s up to Donkey and Diddy to save the day – freeing the animals of the islands and kicking the tribe out of the area. It’s a simple story, peppered with short but humorous cutscenes that help build the Tikis’ character, who replace the previously ubiquitous Kremlings from the original trilogy.
This is the first major area where Donkey Kong Country Returns pales in comparison to the games that came before and after it—the Tiki Take Tribe is uninspired. They lack the personality of the Kremlings from the original trilogy and the Snowmads, who would be introduced in Tropical Freeze several years later. The result is a roster of enemies and bosses that are fun to fight but ultimately quite simplistic and drab.
Despite this, it’s hard to argue that Retro Studios’ take on Donkey Kong Country has been anything but solid. Both games capture the vibe and feel of the original games mechanically. The wide breadth of levels on offer in Returns is excellent, as well as implementing a gimmick or mechanic that helps keep things fresh as you navigate beaches, caves, jungles, and the like. While some series staples are missing – like underwater levels – the level variety on offer here is satisfying.
If you’ve never played a Donkey Kong Country game, they’re classic platformers similar in style to the New Super Mario Bros. games. You play as Donkey and Diddy as you try to guide them through a level, jumping across platforms, on enemies, or both. There are many collectibles to find on each level, too, with some unlocking artwork, extra lives and even paths to new levels. At the end of each world, you’ll do battle with a boss before doing it all again in a new world. Each world is well-paced, with the minecart segments especially standing out here.
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Though if you’ve played Donkey Kong Country Returns twice already, through the Wii and the 3DS, the question remains about what’s exactly new with the jump to Switch. Honestly – not a lot. A new “Modern Mode” decreases the game’s difficulty by giving you more health, more items to buy and the ability to take more items into each level. It’s a retooled and rebalanced version of the “New Mode” included in the 3DS version, admittedly, but it does make things easier for newer or less experienced players. Some other visual improvements help bring the game in line with the already fantastic Tropical Freeze, but that’s about it.
Though I’m quick to say “that’s about it, ” that doesn’t diminish the experience Donkey Kong Country Returns offers. It’s still very well-paced with heaps to do – around eighty or so levels to conquer, heaps of collectibles and secrets to find and the ability to play it all in co-op. It’s hard to fault the game for all that it offers. But something intangible about Returns makes me, ironically, not want to return to it. It’s satisfying on your first run, but I rarely find myself revisiting it.
Of course, the big improvement, having made the jump from the Wii and the 3DS, is obvious. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD runs and looks great on the Switch. It’s more than a simple upscale, especially compared to that oft-forgotten port for the Nvidia Shield, with some models being touched up to bring them more in line with how they looked in Tropical Freeze. For consistency’s sake, it’s excellent, and it’s incredibly encouraging to see some of these worlds have received excellent care and attention beyond a simple upscale. It’s a minor improvement in the big scheme of things, but it easily makes Donkey Kong Country Returns HD the best way to play Returns.
Another integral aspect of the presentation of the Donkey Kong Country games is their soundtracks. Unfortunately, Returns does come up short compared to other games in the series. While Kenji Yamamoto’s work does a great job at emulating the whimsical nature of the incredible work by David Wise, Eveline Fischer and Robin Beanland, the music in Returns does little to differentiate itself from the other games in the series, both past and present.
That’s really my biggest issue with Donkey Kong Country Returns HD. It’s an incredibly competent platformer with some great moments and a nice if subtle, visual improvement. But Tropical Freeze, which was released for the Switch almost half a decade ago, has since eclipsed every aspect of its design.
Conclusion
While it’s not as strong a game as Tropical Freeze, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a great way to introduce younger or less skilled players to the wonderful world of Donkey Kong Country. However, those familiar with the game already through its two previous releases may struggle to find much value in another revisit, even if the visual improvements are numerous but sparse.
Positives
Subtle but nice visual improvement
Strong level design and platforming
More approachable difficulty option
Negatives
Tropical Freeze has done everything better since
Barely anything is new
