Donkey Kong Country Returns HD

I am surprised and disappointed that they didn't add a Funky Kong mode this time. Now I actually have to get good at the game... I'm just kidding, playing Donkey Kong Country is like riding a bike to me. Those secret challenge levels in Tropical Freeze turn boys into men 😶.

Speaking of, Tropical Freeze is essentially the same game but with more features, which is why these two games should've been bundled together Rayman Legends style. Being able to play the Returns levels as not only Funky Kong but also as Dixie and Cranky Kong would've made for an awesome 10/10 package. Instead, Nintendo decided to squeeze even more money out of idiots like me by selling me the same game with less content than the one they had already sold me. I still get to play a fun game though so I guess I can't complain too much.

If you’re looking for an extremely challenging and imaginative 2D platformer, look no further. Donkey Kong Country Returns is a classic, and with the new control scheme on the switch (that doesn’t require a shake of the Wii remote) all those challenging moments become a battle of skill and determination. By far the best worlds in this game are the beach and factory ones, they add in background effects and progression challenges that are not in any other worlds. My only complaint is that world 8 feels almost like consistent trolling by the developers. Maybe that’s just due to my skill, but it can be frustrating when something happens that you could have never predicted unless you already memorized the level. Besides that, collecting every Kong letter and reaching the end of the special world was exhilarating. I truly felt like a kid again!

The newer Donkey Kong games are master classes in 2D platforming, and though the theming in this entry is a little generic, I still regard it as a near perfect game.

But, as an HD remaster, I expected a bit more effort put into it, especially considering the hefty price tag. It’s surprisingly glitchy, the load times are no better than what I experienced on the 3DS many years ago, and certain cutscenes just seem to chug. It’s still a great time, but I’d recommend picking it up second hand if you’re absolutely dead set on playing it on the Switch.

Good ass level design

Wow. What a game. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD stamps its place at the top of the food chain for 2D platformers. This is the pinnacle. What a beautifully, wonderfully crafted game. This was an absolute delight from start to finish. Tight, responsive controls, bombastic, foot tapping music, stunning visuals with each and every level popping, what negative things can I even say? Each level oozes with quality, from luscious jungles, to minecart madness, to rumbling rockets, each one has been masterfully designed with a level of care that goes unmatched by another other game of the genre that I have experienced. It’s so clear to see the developers poured their heart and soul into this game, there’s so much passion anywhere you look, it’s honestly breathtaking. The world themes are well varied so to ensure that your experience is kept fresh and exciting and the game is incredibly well paced. It comes at you with some spikes of difficulty towards the latter end, and by the finale of the last world I went from a comfortable 80+ lives just a couple of worlds earlier to dropping into single digits, though it’s a testament to the well designed difficulty that I did not get frustrated whatsoever and held the mental ground against it, with a “just one more try” attitude carrying me through. Every mistake made can only be accounted to human error, which is a challenging feat for a lot of videogames to achieve. It’s just an absolute gem, and i’m shocked to see that I place it above its older brother in Tropical Freeze - both of these games are classics, masterpieces of design and quality, and it’s baffling to see how this series hasn’t flourished with many more entries, as I can’t possibly be the only one that can see how damn good they are. Welcome to the #1 spot on my 2D platformer list, and my top 10 of all time, Country Returns. Well earned.
10/10

A great and accessible remaster to an already amazing game