Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Review – Quality Kongs

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Review

Donkey Kong Country Returns is back! Now with an HD facelift, the revered Wii game looks sharp, feels great, and plays quite well. I've always loved the DKC series, but the Returns games never felt the same to me. However, after playing this one, I'm ready to revise my original judgment. This is as charming, difficult and clever as the old Super NES games. Why didn't I have this revelation back in the Wii days? Bottom line: I can't stand motion controls. And that is a serious error that the remastering corrects, although not completely.

To be clear, you will never have to use motion controls in Returns HD. Every action is based on buttons, just as our ancestors intended. But the game was still designed around motion controls in certain aspects. And somehow, you can know it. It's something in the way DK moves, he and Diddy are a little floaty, a little slow. Not even all the controls were motion based! You just had to do a couple of things with a flick and a flick of your hand. Even so, it seems that the pace of the movement still takes that issue into account. You get used to it pretty quickly though.

I have to say that although Nintendo's graphics are more timeless than other major developers, Returns HD still shows its age. All images are still quite sharp and colors still pop with crystal clarity. But there's a simplicity to the characters and the world that feels dated. Sometimes I feel like Nintendo games have always looked like this, but there is a clear evolution. We've come a long way since the days (and resolution) of the Wii, and Returns HD proves it.

Looks good for a Wii game

Although the visuals seem a little dated, the soundtrack is quite timeless. Part of this is due to the sheer number of classic themes from the original trilogy. If you're a fan of older games, Returns HD is packed with familiar themes. Everything from the menu music to the underwater theme sounds fantastic and familiar. The boss music is new, but still sounds great. Not all the tracks are all time, but I haven't heard any flops either.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a fairly difficult, but accessible game. Many stages required a dozen attempts or more, but you have almost endless possibilities. Lives are cheap and easy to acquire. There is a modern mode that gives you more hearts. On the other hand, you will need all of these bonuses. Death stalks these apes with relentless fervor. You're pretty comfortable watching the Kongs die in a hundred different ways with little to no warning. But the difficulty almost never seemed unfair. Rather, it was a learning experience. I learned about many stages of dying over and over again. There were only two places I really got stuck, and the game has a solution for that.

Super Kong to the rescue

If you're completely stumped, if you've spent dozens of lives crashing into a particularly difficult level, Super Kong is there for you. The game will ask you if you need help. If you say yes, Super Kong takes over. Perform perfectly, the stage is conquered and you can move on. However, it seems pretty gross to do so. Returns HD also makes it very clear that YOU didn't do this, that YOU never finished the stage. It's frustrating, but that's how it must feel. They push you to go back and finish what you couldn't at a later date. Sometimes just watching someone else achieve is all it takes to help you win. However, getting 100% at each stage is something completely different.

As with previous DKC titles, Returns HD has a much higher bar for full completion than for finishing the game. Which is amazing news if you're looking for a more serious challenge. For me, I was a little deflated when I realized everything they were asking of me. Those races against the clock are downright unpleasant. Speaking of running, I would love to have a dedicated run button in this game. You can get a little speed with one roll, but it doesn't last long. There were many times where I felt like a clumsy, wobbly mess thanks to standard foot speed. I guess the Mario games have really spoiled me in this regard. Even if it's an illusion, I really like being able to move a little faster with the push of a button.

Good luck in the time trials

Although I had a couple of complaints, this game was a lot of fun. My stress levels went down a lot once I stopped trying to do 100% at every stage. The boss fights are all clever, the controls allow for precise maneuvering, and the visuals are nice and sharp. The controls took a little getting used to and still felt slower than I would have liked. But the level design is excellent, the soundtrack is varied, and the difficulty never felt unfair. If you haven't played this classic Wii game, now is the time. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is an excellent platform game that holds up perfectly today.

***A Nintendo Switch code was provided by the publisher***