Donkey Kong Country Returns HD

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD was provided by Nintendo for review. Thank you!

When I think about platformers, Nintendo is usually the first company that comes to mind. While there are some awesome games out there, Nintendo has been the champion of engaging and creative 2D and 3D platformers. While the Super Mario series is usually the go-to for these, Nintendo has made some other amazing games in this genre, and Donkey Kong Country Returns is one of them. With the HD remaster, we get to experience this incredible game in all its glory on the Switch, and it’s a fantastic experience through and through.

For some context, Donkey Kong Country Returns was originally released on the Wii in 2010. This new version is a full HD upgrade over the original, with new textures, models, and effects, and includes the extra content that was added in with the 3DS port that was released in 2013. This includes a new game mode with extra items to make it easier to get through levels and a new world. However, we still retain some of the features from the Wii version like optional motion controls.

As someone who never played the original, this was a brand new experience for me that I had a blast with. On the surface, the 2D platforming gameplay of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is quite simple. You run through levels, jump over obstacles, grab onto objects, smash the ground, and roll to speed yourself up. Although, it’s the way you can interact with each of these, and how tight the controls are, that keep it from feeling dull.

From swinging on vines and throwing barrels to stomping on enemies and rolling through levels to gain momentum, it felt like I was always being challenged to get through each world without feeling overwhelmed or annoyed with whatever was thrown my way. It felt satisfying to get DK through the obstacles in front of me utilizing his moveset.

It also helps that you can find Diddy Kong in barrels to roll for longer periods of time and get a little jet-pack boost to keep you in the air longer, which saved me on a couple of occasions. But by combining the roll with jumping and the jet pack, I was able to keep the momentum and jump further. Getting that longer jump at the right moment was so satisfying and ended up being something I tried to do on every level. And with how easy it was to control, I very rarely missed my mark. There were a couple of spots here and there on some levels that frustrated or confused me, but it was never enough to stop me from playing.

There is a multiplayer mode as well where you can play as Donkey and Diddy Kong, which is a nice option if you have someone to play with. I played solo, but I can see co-op being a good time too.

Part of the reason I felt the controls were so enjoyable is the variety in how they can be used, and a lot of that comes from the uniqueness of every single level in the game. Each level feels different from the other with a theme fitting for the world they exist in. For example, one level would have me jumping from crumbling ruin to crumbling ruin, the next I was shooting myself from barrel to barrel with precision, and after that timing my jumps on spinning platforms and dodging sharks. And thanks to the levels not being too long and overstaying their welcome, I was engaged and excited the entire time. It all felt extremely creative and distinctive, which made the experience that much better.

While the levels had different mechanics dictating what you’d do throughout, they all had their own aesthetic as well that kept it feeling unique. They still kept the same theme as the world they belonged to, but each had their flair to it. My favorites were the levels where it would be illuminated in silhouette-like outlines of characters and the surroundings. The levels all looked great, and thanks to how different they all were, I was always so excited to see what the next level would offer.

There are also different collectibles you can find on each level, which can unlock extras like movies, images, and dioramas to view at your leisure. There is also a time attack mode for each level to try speedrunning yourself,

Apart from some very minor rough edges and sharp outlines, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD looks phenomenal. The use of vibrant colors and semi-detailed models works extremely well with the OLED screen of my Switch and highlights the cartoonish vibe that was prioritized. I have always liked minimal graphics, never really caring much about super high-fidelity, and I feel this is a great example of the kind of visuals I prefer.

The soundtrack is also quite pumping. Running through the jungle to the sound of drums and the iconic Donkey Kong songs to the sound of Trumpets blaring while trying to dodge spiky boulders on a cliff, the music and beats captivated me and served as a great motivator to continue playing.

The story itself doesn't go over and above to stand out, but it gets the job done. All of Donkey Kong's bananas are stolen by an evil tiki mask and his minions, who use songs to control the animals on the island. So, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong set out to recover their bananas and find the culprit behind this atrocity. It's a serviceable story that sets the stage for why DK is running around across the island, but it won't be anything thought-provoking.

Performance

For the most part, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD performs admirably on the Switch in handheld mode. It runs at a solid 60 FPS throughout most of the levels, and I don't have much to complain about. There were a few spots that could drop a little and feel slightly stuttery, but these rarely happened. Cutscenes were the main culprit, but there were one or two levels with one spot that quickly dropped the frame rate. It wasn't super noticeable, but as someone who is constantly looking at performance stats and checking the framerate constantly on the Steam Deck, it has become noticeable for me.

When playing docked, I didn't notice as many framerate drops, and the visuals are clearly improved. This makes sense considering docked mode plays at 1080p and handheld is at 720p. Still, I am pleased with the performance in both handheld and docked mode. Usually, I prefer handheld for portability but docked felt just as good.

For full transparency, I do not have any programs set up to watch and record framerate, though it is something I am working on. This evaluation of performance is based on pure eyesight, which is sensitive to framerate changes. Almost every level felt completely smooth, except for those few spots mentioned above and cutscenes where the framerate jolted enough for me to notice.

None of the drops break the immersion or momentum throughout the level, but they are still worth mentioning.

Conclusion

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a fantastic platformer that shines on the Switch. The gameplay is tight with fantastic, memorable levels that challenge me in different ways each time. The creativity of each level, the visuals, and the soundtrack kept me engaged even further as I powered through forests, caves, and even a volcano. The story is really just there to justify Donkey Kong's journey, and the performance does have some minor drops, but none of it takes away from how great this game is.

It may be hard to justify spending $60 if you have already played and beaten the game before on the Wii or 3DS, but if you are new to the experience like I was, this is going to be a blast and definitely worth the investment.

Our review is based on the Nintendo Switch version of this game.

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