image credit to gamespot
A decent remaster of a fantastic platformer
Based on my observations and experiences, I laughed incredulously at its initial announcement because, in addition to being the third time Nintendo has given us a version of this 2010 Wii platformer, this is also the third re-release of Donkey Kong for the Switch that has been seen in the past ten years without offering a completely new experience. The disclosure of this remaster seemed like an improper game at an inappropriate instant, but it merely took a few minutes of traversing crosswise an adequately enhanced Donkey Kong Island to comprehend Returns is still one of the best 2D platformers Nintendo has formulated this century. It possesses all the aspects I want from this style: satisfactory motion that necessitates ability and exactness, a huge lineup of replayable challenges filled with secrets to uncover, and a practically unrivaled attention to detail in its superb stage design that’s essentially only rivaled by its sequel, Tropical Freeze. Even though the remaster itself seems barebones and a few components could have exploited a somewhat more modern touch, this is unquestionably the best way to play Returns and one of the top bananas in the Switch’s impressive platformer roster.
I realized how rarely games like this are developed these days as I blazed through 80 levels that were located in caves, jungles, and other locations. Returns stands distinctive in a time when most contemporary platformers, such as Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Astro Bot, concentrate on entertaining you with their handcrafted digital theme parks and wow you with spectacle. You must become proficient in its core jumping, rolling, and swinging mechanics to get past its most difficult stages and suspenseful moments. Not to disparage the two games I just mentioned—I love them both—but it’s refreshing to play Nintendo’s take on this timeless platformer type again, and I appreciate how it doesn’t hesitate to challenge you.
This is a lot harder than Mario and Kirby, which is another excellent way to set it apart from the other platformers in Nintendo’s lineup. The level design is really amazing: each stage presents a fresh concept and fully explores it while increasing the difficulty without ever leaving it unclear what is expected of you. You must evade hordes of ape-eating spiders, dodge massive, deadly waves, and perform flawless jumps across falling platforms in order to retake Donkey Kong’s house. It’s always thrilling to see what challenge will be presented to you next.
The challenge is kept entertaining by DK’s flawless controls and fulfilling skills
Donkey Kong’s flawless controls and incredibly fulfilling powers ensure that the difficulty remains enjoyable rather than aggravating. The movement in Retro Studios’ two Donkey Kong games has a noticeable weight, as though you can actually feel the weight of this large ape as you move. This makes the platformer more momentum-focused, requiring you to frequently plan your moves in advance and prepare for that next big leap. When you execute a crazy manoeuvre to save yourself or obtain a hard-to-reach treasure, the game’s sophisticated rolling-jump mechanic—which gives Donkey Kong a free jump in midair after rolling off a ledge—leads to some of the most satisfying platforming available. You have options.
Breaking Diddy Kong out of a barrel expands your possibilities even further. In addition to doubling your maximum health, he gives you a very useful hover ability that is crucial in more difficult areas.
For those who prefer not to test their mettle, the optional Modern Mode, which is slightly different from the 3DS port’s New Mode, allows you to take more consumable recovery items into each level, adds more hearts to DK and Diddy’s health, and expands the inventory at Cranky Kong’s shop with more helpful aids (such as a Green Balloon that saves you after falling into a pit). Additionally, Super Kong will ultimately appear and offer to instantly beat any stage that you are unable to complete. I adore difficult platformers. I never looked back, so I stayed in Classic Mode, but these are at least excellent choices for those who dislike becoming trapped. Returns’ on-rails minecart and rocket barrel levels are the only places where it can occasionally get a touch too cruel. There can be a lot of trial-and-error in these regions, and I often died to unexpected foes or obstructions that I couldn’t have fairly avoided on my first try.
This is even worse if you’re aiming for the hidden collectibles in each stage, as you’re nearly certain to miss some of them the first time around until you become familiar with the patterns of the level. The fact that everything in these parts is a one-hit kill makes it particularly annoying; Tropical Freeze eventually resolved this issue by adding health bars tailored to individual vehicles. To be fair, it’s not a major problem because Cranky’s shop now has an item from Modern Mode that can make these portions less annoying, and I still find them to be very enjoyable because they provide a change of pace from the typical stages, but I can’t help but think they should have been a little more modern. In a similar vein, although the boss fights are often excellent, they still lack checkpoints, and having to restart after dying in the last stage seems more like a time waster than a worthwhile challenge.
Actually, this is nothing more than a fresh coat of paint
The fact that these issues have not been fixed shows how basic Returns HD is as a remaster. This is nothing more than a reimagined version of Returns that has been updated for the Wii and 3DS. Although it’s a good upgrade, it falls far short of Metroid Prime Remastered, the other Retro Studios title that received a slick update for the Switch. Even Tropical Freeze’s 2018 Switch port looks substantially better, even though it doesn’t look horrible and nearly always plays at a smooth 60 frames per second. This is particularly noticeable when contrasting the character models of Donkey Kong in the two games: In Tropical Freeze, DK’s fur looks fantastic, but a little too
in Returns. From the stages to the cutscenes, it is very evident that this is still a Wii game in high definition, which is perfectly acceptable. However, I would have rather to see some more attention paid to the graphics since the movement otherwise held up so well. Though the Wii version’s necessary waggling motion controls have been thankfully made completely optional, and the additional 3DS levels have been saved from the version’s degraded graphics and co-op that required two systems and copies, this is still without a doubt the greatest way to play Returns. It’s wonderful to see that Returns HD is the first time you can play this adventure on your TV with conventional button controls and have all of its material preserved.
In relation to multiplayer, Returns Although HD may be played in two-player cooperative mode, when a second player assumes control of Diddy Kong, I wouldn’t necessarily want to play the entire game that way. It feels more like a cool add-on to a single-player game than its modern counterpart, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, which was designed with multiplayer in mind from the start. These levels are obviously made for a single player because of the large number of falling platforms and swiftly moving hazards, as well as the camera’s extreme zoom, which makes it simple for someone to lag behind. Multiplayer is still enjoyable and not at all a poor experience, but unless you have a fantastic co-op partner that is prepared to cope with
If you have minor irritations (or a young sibling or child who is happy to accompany you), your best option is to fly alone or pass the controller back and forth, as was also the case with the Wii.
However, the fact that virtually nothing was altered for this remaster and the finished product is still so excellent is a tribute to the original. Its level design exhibits an impressive level of detail. There are no mysterious floating platforms or blocks like Mario has. Instead, every platform DK traverses is incorporated into the terrain, frequently thanks to its deft use of foreground and background. This results in one of the most striking and well-designed worlds in any platformer. The most notable aspect of these is the industrial world, where the primary means of transportation are excellently implemented conveyor belts, gears, and other machinery. When compared to its sequel, the soundtrack and surroundings play it a touch safe, but it’s vital to keep in mind that the original Donkey Kong Country Returns was entrusted with reviving the franchise after years of absence, thus Retro Studios naturally decided to bring back some of the franchise’s mainstays.
There are many puzzle pieces hidden in nearly every corner of each level, along with the iconic KONG letters and a ton of mysteries to discover. The generally frantic pace is occasionally slowed down more than I’d like by exploring; blowing air upon every dandelion, flower, and candle you pass feels awkward and is an antiquated technique that I had a great time spending about 15 hours finding every letter and finishing my save file, even if Tropical Freeze was correctly eliminated. I also tackled a ton of valuable stuff that comes up after the credits rolled.