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Donkey Kong Country Returns HD | Review Thread

Draugoth

Draugoth

Gold Member

e771f400bb4be2a5bdef4fb6fda63ba4ad52a94640c03d162c04b7901b654584

Game Information​

Game Title: Donkey Kong Country Returns HD

Platforms:

  • Nintendo Switch (Jan 16, 2025)
Trailer:


Developer: Nintendo

Publisher: Nintendo




Critic Reviews​

Console Creatures - Bobby Pashalidis - 8 / 10

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a challenging platformer that will test you at every level as it holds up even by today's standards.
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Digitec Magazine - Cassie Mammone - German - 4 / 5

“Donkey Kong Country Returns HD” is a gem of a 2D platformer, and I recommend it for old fans and newcomers alike. The simple controls shine thanks to a brilliant level design that regularly provides variety and presents creative ideas.
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GRYOnline.pl - Aleksandra Wolna - Polish - 7 / 10

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is the exact same, challenging game from the past, just looking slightly better. It is a charming if difficult classic platformer, but I’m not sure it stood the test of time. If I were to score it as a new product aimed at mainstream audience, the verdict would be a bit more negative.
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GameSpot - Steve Watts - 7 / 10

The 2010 franchise revival gets a makeover and some modern conveniences, but wild difficulty spikes make it tough to recommend for anyone but the most dedicated DKC fan.
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Video Chums - Alex Legard - 7.5 / 10

As a Wii veteran, I can't help but feel a little let down but that isn't entirely Donkey Kong Country Returns HD's fault and it doesn't change how special it was when I played it originally in 2010 so if you play it as a newbie, I'm sure you'll have a great time.
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T

Tg89

Member
Metnut said:
How does this compare to tropical freeze?
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I'd say it holds up well in comparison. Retro definitely got better at level design by the time Tropical Freeze shipped but the bones are still there.

I think it's probably harder than Tropical Freeze, though still not that difficult. Not sure how you get all the way to being a game reviewer and apparently suck so much at video games.


My biggest thing with the Retro games has always been that they're a few steps below the original trilogy from an atmospheric standpoint - which was the strength of 1-3 (and especially 1/2) imo. Otherwise, fantastic games.
 
GymWolf

GymWolf

Member
diffusionx said:
they're 2D games, it doesn't work like that

so yes.
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Pretty sure nintendo has the manforce and money to remaster 3 2d games, it's not like they have a date to respect, they can work on them for 10 years and show a trailer when they are ready.
I'm not even asking for a state of the art remaster, i know that at nintendo tney have the rule of minimal work, max profit when it comes to remasters but at least make them available on a fucking switch instead of remastering a game that not much people gives 2 fucks about.
 
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D

DoubleClutch

Gold Member
saintjules said:
Wasn't this game announced 7 months ago? That's $8/month to save up leading up to release. That's not expensive when you do it this way.
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This is some crazy mental gymnastics…

According to your logic, if they announced in 2010 that one day they’d be rereleasing it, they could have charged $672 for it today.

It’s only $4/month you’d have to save up for it since 2010. They’re giving you a 50% discount on your $8/month. What an amazing deal!!1!1!!!!
 
diffusionx

diffusionx

Gold Member
GymWolf said:
Pretty sure nintendo has the manforce and money to remaster 3 2d games, it's not like they have a date to respect, they can work on them for 10 years and show a trailer when they are ready.
I'm not even asking for a state of the art remaster, i know that at nintendo tney have the rule of minimal work, max profit when it comes to remasters but at least make them available on a fucking switch instead of remastering a game that not much people gives 2 fucks about.
Click to expand...
Again, it's a 2D game. You have to redo the whole thing, like what they did with Mario vs. DK and Super Mario RPG.

Not saying they can't or won't but that's how it is.
 
playbignbox

playbignbox

Member
The game is one of the best 2D platformers available on the market. I can understand why it scores 7/10 compared to the original's 9/10, but the double standard of reviewers is funny.

When a game like TLOU2 Remastered is released with minimal graphical differences from the original, so minimal that you can barely see the difference in side-by-side comparison videos on YouTube, reviewers don't write things like "it's the same game, so the score is now 7/10".

Well, at least this game is visually acceptable to play on a modern TV, because playing the original Wii game on a current TV looked really bad.
 
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ungalo

Member
playbignbox said:
The game is one of the best 2D platformers available on the market. I can understand why it scores 7/10 compared to the original's 9/10, but the double standard of reviewers is funny.

When a game like TLOU2 Remastered is released with minimal graphical differences from the original, so minimal that you can barely see the difference in side-by-side comparison videos on YouTube, reviewers don't write things like "it's the same game, so the score is now 7/10".

Well, at least this game is visually acceptable to play on a modern TV, because playing the original Wii game on a current TV looked really bad.
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I think rating remasters is stupid and you're right in the fact there is a double standard. This one is certainly very lazy though.

But that being said when i read reviews i feel it's more than shiting on the remaster part, i don't really understand what journalists are smoking when it comes to the new DKC games. It's easily one of the best Nintendo IP and they make it looks like it's Yoshi level of quality.

Some are biased because of the difficulty but some are saying it's outdated, i don't understand what's their problem with those games.
 
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TheAtomicPile

TheAtomicPile

Member
The reviews are making it sound like Celeste or Super Meat Boy or something. It has been a while for me but I don't remember it being that hard. It's probably between DKC 1 and 2 in terms of difficulty.
 
D

dragonyeuw

Member
Kacho said:
Would love to play it but they can get fucked with that 59.99 price tag

Wii - 49.99
3DS - 39.99
Switch - 59.99

Chris Pratt What GIF
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Which were also $20 Nintendo Select titles.....

Man, I'm as excited about the Switch 2 as the next person, but Nintendo's pricing is going to be brutal when they jump to $70. Their 30% 'sales' are gonna be $50 dollars, and very clearly the 'Selects' line died with Iwata.
 
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touchfuzzy

Member
Metnut said:
How does this compare to tropical freeze?
Click to expand...

I actually think it's a better game than Tropical Freeze but I'm in a minority there. It's my favorite Donkey Kong game and I'm definitely down for this remaster even at the "too high" price point, it's a kickass game and one of the best 2D platformers ever if you ask me. Plus I haven't played it since the Wii a long long time ago, at my age it might as well be new lol.
 
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Kacho

Kacho

Gold Member
Krathoon said:
Yeah. I got it on the Wii. So, I will just pop that in.

Did it use the regular controller or what it all WiiMote and nunchuck?
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The latter so you could waggle roll. Locking an important mechanic behind waggle was such a dumb decision.

This game is special to me because I beat it back in 2010 when I moved into an apartment with my girlfriend (now wife). I'd like to revisit it with her for the nostalgia, but not at 60 bizuks.
 
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Killer8

Killer8

Member
There's a lot of nitpicking about scaled back or missing visual effects (some of which they fixed since the reveal), yet next to no praise for how much better some of the lighting looks now, plus all the work put into making the backgrounds look good in HD. Play the game in Dolphin and it looks like absolute ass due to originally being designed for standard definition. It's also a complete package including all of the 3DS levels too, enhanced up to the standard of the rest of the game.

The only thing disappointing is the price but we are all cucks for Nintendo and will reluctantly open our wallets along with our butt cheeks.
 
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