Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a wonderfully good game, but it would be Nintendo’s most underwhelming release in 2025. Those that’ve already played this platformer from Retro Studios on Wii or 3DS don’t have much reason to purchase the sport on Switch unless they’re itching to replay an excellent platformer. Like Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD and another straightforward remasters that Nintendo launched recently, this appears like filler in order that Nintendo can bide time until the launch of the Switch’s successor.
In the case of filler, you would do much worse. Donkey Kong Country Returns is certainly one of the Wii’s best games. Anyone checking it out for the primary time through the re-release is in for a superb platforming adventure. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is the definitive version of the Wii classic, but let’s hope it’s certainly one of the last releases of its kind for a bit moderately than one which sets the stage for Nintendo’s 2025.
Still an excellent game
Donkey Kong Country Returns comes from an era where Nintendo platformers were light on story and really straightforward in structure. It follows Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong as they fight the Tiki Tak Tribe, magical masks that stole Donkey Kong’s bananas and mesmerized the island’s animals. This quest takes place across eight worlds that contain seven to 10 levels each and fall into themes like jungle, volcano, or factory. It’s not probably the most original platformer, however it feels just nearly as good to play in 2025 because it did in 2010.
Tapping into the identical game feel as Rare’s SNES Donkey Kong Country titles, Returns‘ Donkey Kong is heavier than your standard platformer character. Each jump, roll, and ground pound has heft behind it, however it’s still possible to maneuver through levels efficiently after getting a handle on Donkey Kong’s moveset, which is enhanced with a hover if players discover a Diddy Kong barrel in a level. Returns does get quite difficult toward the endgame and through barrel blast and minecart levels.
That difficulty feels earned because Returns features creative-level design, although it really works inside the constraints of generic world themes. My favorite stage forced me to bob and weave between rocks to avoid life-taking waves as I slowly inched forward and scoured for collectibles. Returns HD does nothing to muck up the core game I loved on Wii. Those that haven’t played the sport on Wii or 3DS before are in for a pleasant platforming adventure.
While I enjoyed revisiting it, this can be a humdrum re-release otherwise. Returns HD is a basic double dip; it’s more like Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD or Pikmin 1+2 than the Switch versions of Super Mario RPG or Paper Mario: The Thousand-12 months Door. The widescreen and HD facelifts are welcome, but there’s a ceiling on how significantly better this game could make the unique look. I even encountered some lag I never experienced in the unique and located loading times to be surprisingly long.
One of the best thing the package has going for it’s that motion controls aren’t forced on players, and additional content from Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D is included. On Wii, players needed to consistently waggle the Wiimotes in the event that they desired to roll or ground pound, which got tiring and made precise platforming more difficult for minimal tactile gain. Motion controls can still be toggled on if players want, but I enjoyed revisiting this adventure without shaking my Joy-Cons like crazy.
Access to the additional 3DS levels is a pleasant touch, considering the opposite recent content is lackluster. That boils all the way down to a contemporary mode that provides players an additional heart and adds items to Cranky’s Shop, certainly one of which makes the barrel and minecart levels slightly bit easier. In comparison with the much-memed “Recent Funky Mode” that Donkey Kong Country Returns: Tropical Freeze’s Switch port received, this can be a duller technique to make the journey more approachable.
I had an odd feeling after wrapping up my time with Returns HD on Switch. I had an excellent time, but that’s only since the Wii original was just nearly as good. By default, it’s the most effective version of Returns to play now. But looking ahead toward a 12 months that can see the discharge of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Pokémon Legends Z-A, and a successor to the Nintendo Switch, I can’t help but be thoroughly whelmed by a basic re-release like this.
This straightforward HD port won’t be in contention for Nintendo’s best game of the 12 months. That’s hopefully a great sign for things to return.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD launches for Nintendo Activate January 16.
