Donkey Kong Country Returns!
December saw the release of the latest in Nintendo’s line of Modern-Retro updates, this time focusing on the SNES’s finest game graphically Donkey Kong country. We’ll be looking more in depth at the original trilogy in good time, but lets focus for the moment at what Retro Studios brings to the Donkey Kong plate!
First up, the system has changed considerably, instead of using Donkey and Diddy separately, they now work as one unit (apart from in the co-op game – see later) giving you four hit-points in total, as well as an incredible array of moves, all the classic ones are still there, plus a couple of new ones. Diddy now comes complete with the jet pack from DK64, which gives an extra jump and extra range, and Donkey has the ground pound from Smash Bros, suitably controlled by a shake of the remote! One of the slight problems is that too much of the games moves come from the shake action, as well as the ground pound, holding left or right whilst shaking activates the roll, and holding down while shaking makes the Kong in question blow . Its extremely easy with this control system to pound the ground instead of rolling, which can be suicide in some of the later levels when moving quickly is essential!
Rare’s classic game has been treated with the utmost respect by Retro Studios, bringing the 15 year old title (is it really that long ago) into the modern age. The levels are extremely well crafted and there are plenty of ideas thrown into the melting pot to make a game that will last you well over 10 hours.
As with the original games in the series, DKCR is most certainly a Collect-em-up as much as it is a Platformer, as well as the usual bananas and banana coins (lives and currency respectively) hidden throughout each regular level are the letters K-O-N-G (which will be hugely familiar to players of the original) and a number of jigsaw pieces which can be hidden anywhere you might care to look within a level. As well as unlocking artwork and sounds as you collect items, the game has some hidden suprises later on, which we won’t spoil here.
You’ll be pleased (probably) to know that this is probably the most difficult Donkey Kong game, if you thought the SNES games were easy, try this on for size, it’s a guarantee that you’ll be pulling your hair out at some of the platforming antics throughout, some requiring you to just plain learn the levels and some that just need good timing to get through. All the frustration trying to complete these levels is nothing compared to the relief and sheer accomplishment you feel when you finally beat that level you’ve been stuck on for half an hour!
The game has a long lifespan (though its helped greatly by the difficulty level) and there’s plenty to do once you’ve completed the game. If your a fan of the traditional platformer then you’ll get great enjoyment out of this!
Check out the video below to have a peek at some of the action!
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