{"id":73261,"date":"2023-06-21T11:22:50","date_gmt":"2023-06-21T16:22:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=73261"},"modified":"2023-06-21T11:22:52","modified_gmt":"2023-06-21T16:22:52","slug":"donkey-kong-country-returns-a-triumphant-return-indeed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=73261","title":{"rendered":"Donkey Kong Country Returns: A triumphant return indeed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BY NICK McCOY<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nintendo is easily one of the most famous and influential gaming companies on the market. While many of their business practices nowadays are\u2026questionable at best, there\u2019s no denying the quality of their titles and just how many iconic franchises they\u2019ve introduced to the world. After all, Nintendo and their landmark \u201cSuper Mario Bros.\u201d is one of the big reasons why the gaming industry was able to recover following the 1983 crash. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, with so many iconic franchises under their belt, from Mario, \u201cThe Legend of Zelda,\u201d \u201cMetroid\u201d and \u201cKirby\u201d (just to name a few), there are going to be series that will, unfortunately, be left in the dust. \u201cF-Zero,\u201d their high-speed racing title, hasn\u2019t had a new release since 2003, and it’s unlikely we\u2019ll ever get another \u201cStar Fox\u201d game. For a while, it seemed that the next franchise to fall into this trap was the \u201cDonkey Kong Country\u201d series. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First introduced as the eponymous main antagonist of the classic 1981 arcade game, Donkey Kong would later appear in his own series of games, starting with the SNES title \u201cDonkey Kong Country,\u201d produced by British company Rare. The game was a commercial and critical success and cemented Donkey Kong as another in Nintendo\u2019s iconic lineup. The game would also be the first in the DKC series, followed by \u201cDonkey Kong Country 2: Diddy\u2019s Kong Quest\u201d in 1995, \u201cDonkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong\u2019s Double Trouble\u201d in 1996, and the N64 title \u201cDonkey Kong 64\u201d in 1999, the series\u2019 first full transition to 3D platforming. Donkey, his friend Diddy Kong, Diddy\u2019s girlfriend Dixie, their grandpa Cranky Kong (who is the original Donkey Kong from the arcade title) and the rest of the Kong family would become fan favorites amongst Nintendo\u2019s community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Donkey Kong Country Returns was developed by Retro Studios, based in Austin, Texas. The previous DK games were made by British video game company Rare, who were unable to return to make the next Donkey Kong games due to their acquisition by Microsoft.
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However, following the release of \u201cDK 64,\u201d the franchise went dormant, although this is not necessarily the fault of Nintendo. Rare, the company behind all of the Donkey Kong games, as well as other Nintendo classics such as \u201cBanjo-Kazooie\u201d and \u201cGoldeneye 007,\u201d was acquired by Microsoft in 2002. With Nintendo no longer having Rare by their side, the series quickly came to a halt. It seems like Donkey would be left to the wayside\u2026that is, until Austin, Texas-based company Retro Studios teamed up with Nintendo to release \u201cDonkey Kong Country Returns.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the first game to be released in the DKC series in 11 years, fans of Donkey Kong were eager to see how the iconic ape\u2019s adventures continued. And when it was finally released, the game proved well worth the wait. With incredible level design, difficult yet fun platforming gameplay, vibrant presentation and an amazing soundtrack, \u201cDonkey Kong Country Returns\u201d is an amazing side-scrolling platformer and an incredible comeback for one of Nintendo\u2019s oldest mascots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDonkey Kong Country Returns\u201d was released on November 21st, 2010, in North America, with release in Japan and Europe the following month as an exclusive for Nintendo\u2019s landmark Wii console. Following the fully 3D, collect-a-thon style gameplay of \u201cDonkey Kong 64,\u201d \u201cReturns\u201d makes a return to the side-scrolling platforming of the original SNES games. Following its release on the Wii, a port for the Nintendo 3DS, entitled \u201cDonkey Kong Country Returns 3D,\u201d was released in 2013. \u201cReturns\u201d follows the titular Donkey Kong who, along with his best friend Diddy Kong, seeks to recover their banana stash and rid the island of the Tikis, a group of living Tiki masks who have hypnotized the island\u2019s animal population. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Following the fully 3D collect-a-thon style of Donkey Kong 64, Donkey Kong Country Returns returned the franchise to its side-scrolling routes. The game features various different environments and levels to play through, either played on foot, in vehicles, or with animal companions.\u00a0
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This journey takes the Kongs through eight different areas of the island, along the way dealing with the Tikis and various boss battles. They also receive assistance from certain animals on the island, including Rambi the Rhino, who returns from the original games, and Cranky Kong, who offers Donkey and Diddy various items in his shop. The game can be played either solo or with a friend, who controls Diddy. The game would earn a sequel, \u201cDonkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze,\u201d released in 2014 for the Wii U and in 2018 for the Nintendo Switch.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In all seriousness, the plot of \u201cReturns,\u201d and pretty much the entirety of the Donkey Kong series, is so simple it can pretty much be summed up in a single sentence: A monkey wants to get his bananas back and save an island. However, to me, that\u2019s the beauty of Donkey Kong as a whole. Other Nintendo franchises, with some exceptions, usually have a lot deeper stories or at least have a lot more going on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMetroid\u201d sees Samus Aran fighting various alien threats, \u201cThe Legend of Zelda\u201d follows Link as he attempts to save Hyrule from the evil Ganondorf and save Princess Zelda. These basic summaries hardly even do the plots of those franchises justice. But Donkey Kong? All he and his friends want is to get their bananas back. It\u2019s so hilariously simplistic, and I love it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The real magic of Donkey Kong comes from its gameplay and presentation. Now, \u201cDKC Returns\u201d definitely isn\u2019t the most gorgeous game out there, which can be blamed on the Wii\u2019s limited hardware. However, the art style and overall aesthetic are so full of charm that it\u2019s easy to overlook the game\u2019s mediocre graphics. Each of the game\u2019s eight areas are full of vibrant colors, unique and fun enemy designs, and a love of polish and charm that is impossible to hate. Plus, the levels themselves are full of superb amounts of detail, and the care put into them is so apparent. From the mushroom-filled caves to the tar pits of the cliffs, it\u2019s genuinely amazing to me how much love and effort were put into these stages and the game as a whole. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The actual gameplay and structure of \u201cReturns\u201d is nothing short of phenomenal. To put it simply, in terms of platforming and level design, it\u2019s one of the best in the genre. The game\u2019s eight individual stages; the jungle, the beach, the ruins, the caves, the forest, the cliffs, the factory, and the volcano, each feature some incredible layouts and level design. Donkey Kong\u2019s movement feels weighty yet incredibly smooth, and it feels amazing landing some of those tough jumps or swiftly rolling through a series of obstacles. Diddy also provides a helpful assist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During solo play, Diddy is strapped to Donkey Kong\u2019s back, and provides a jetpack that allows you to hover for a short time. This is excellent for correcting last-minute mistakes or just getting some extra air. The game also makes use of the Wii\u2019s motion controls; by shaking the Wii remote (and Nunchuck if you\u2019re using it), he performs his signature ground pound. In addition to the traditional side-scrolling platforming, there are also minecart and rocket barrel levels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The former sees DK navigating a series of rails in a minecart, dodging obstacles and enemies, while the latter has you riding a rocket-propelled barrel across an auto-scrolling map. All of these gameplay mechanics make for an incredibly fun experience, as well as their own challenge. Each zone also ends with a boss battle, all of which are memorable in one way or another, and while they may not be the hardest bosses ever created, those in the later stages of the game will certainly give you a challenge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At each level, there are also various collectibles for you to gather. The two most important are, of course, bananas and banana coins. Bananas are scattered everywhere in each stage, and are the life essence of the Kongs; collecting 100 of them restores one life. Banana coins, on the other hand, serve as the currency for the Kongs; they are used in Cranky Kong\u2019s shop in order to buy items such as extra lives, extra hit points, and power-ups. Aside from these two, there are also some additional collectibles you can optionally go for: Kong letters and puzzle pieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Puzzle pieces unlock new images for the game\u2019s art gallery, and can be found in secret areas or by completing bonus stages. Kong Letters are arguably more impactful. Collecting all four Kong letters in each level of a particular stage will open a bonus level. By completing these bonus levels, you gain access to the golden temple at the end of the game. These collectibles add plenty of replayability, and give players a good reason to play through the game\u2019s excellent levels a few more times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is one important aspect of \u201cDKC Returns,\u201d the game is incredibly difficult. Even with its charming presentation and top-notch design, \u201cReturns\u201d requires an insane amount of precision and timing in order to avoid obstacles and make it to the end of a level. Now, you might be able to breeze through the first three areas, but the cave is where it truly begins to get difficult. From that point onward, you will need some incredible platforming skills and a considerable amount of patience if you want to get past some of those levels. I remember when I first played this game a while back, I completely gave up on the Cliffs area, as I struggled so much on one level. Going back and trying to beat the game, I can tell you with full confidence, the Cliffs have nothing on the last two areas. The volcano, the last area in the game, has sections that will make you want to pull your hair out. The boss fights can also be incredibly tough. The final boss in the Factory zone was the bane of my existence for a while. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, this level of difficulty only makes completing each level that much more satisfying. This is especially true for me – as much as I love the genre, I am often terrible at platformers, usually due to a combination of impatience and terrible depth perception. Basically, it could be the simplest jump imaginable, and I\u2019d find a way to mess it up. Combined with the game\u2019s difficulty, it only made the experience harder. At the same time, I genuinely had fun playing this game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite messing up countless times, and several game-overs, the game\u2019s level design and frantic platforming just made it so much more cathartic when I finally made it to the end of a level. Being able to make all those tight jumps, hop across the enemy’s head and bunch the final barrel is just an amazing feeling, especially after a game-over. While I can\u2019t promise you\u2019ll enjoy how difficult this game is, I can assure you that you\u2019ll have a great time just scrolling through each level and listening to that soundtrack. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kenji Yamamoto, the music director for Nintendo, is one of the composers behind Returns\u2019 amazing soundtrack. Outside of this, he is best known for making soundtracks to various games in the Metroid series.\u00a0
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Ah, yes, the soundtrack. Nintendo games are known for their iconic music, with the Super Mario theme ingrained in everybody\u2019s heads. Donkey Kong is certainly no exception to this rule. From the track that plays when you boot up the game, to the iconic \u201cDonkey Kong Country\u201d theme that you hear as you traverse the first level in the Jungle, there is a lot to love with the music. The music was composed by famous video game composer Kenji Yamamoto, Nintendo\u2019s music director, along with composers Minako Hamano and Masaru Tajima. Bumping basslines, excellent percussion, and fantastic use of woodwind and brass instruments makes for music that is charming as it is groovy. The themes for Jungle Hijinx, King of Swing and Krazy Kart are just a few of the stand-out tracks. Seriously, the soundtrack is an absolute treat to listen to, even when you\u2019re not playing the game.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even with my limited skill set with platforming games combined with the game\u2019s difficulty, \u201cDonkey Kong Country Returns\u201d still earns its place as one of my favorite platformers. Its incredible level design and presentation, satisfying gameplay and amazing soundtrack propel \u201cReturns,\u201d at least in my opinion, into one of Nintendo\u2019s classics. While it may be hard to get your hands on due to its exclusivity to the Wii and the 3DS, I highly suggest you give it a try. Platforming fans will find endless entertainment with \u201cReturns,\u201d and even those who aren\u2019t big on the genre will still find some enjoyment with how the game looks, feels, and sounds. This was the return to form Donkey Kong needed, and I desperately wish for more \u201cDonkey Kong Country\u201d games. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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