Donkey Kong Nation Returns has returned as soon as once more! The critically-acclaimed Wii recreation, a reboot of the Donkey Kong Nation trilogy on SNES, first launched in 2010, with a 3DS port arriving just a few years later. Quickly thereafter, a sequel was launched for Wii U, Donkey Kong Nation: Tropical Freeze (2014), which has since made its solution to Swap. Over a decade later, the predecessor is again, absolutely remastered, and prepared for one more banana-slamma on Swap with Donkey Kong Nation Returns HD.
DK followers have been patiently awaiting the subsequent entry within the Retro Studios-developed Donkey Kong Nation collection, and sadly, the wait nonetheless continues, as Donkey Kong Nation Returns HD doesn’t embrace any new content material. Whereas it does function the 8 bonus ranges that had been beforehand unique to the 3DS model, the Swap model doesn’t have any distinctive ranges of its personal. As a substitute, the principle selling-point this time round is that the sport now runs in an HD decision with up to date lighting and numerous different graphical enhancements. Nonetheless, this comes at a small value, as in accordance with my very own assessments, loading occasions at the moment are 5-8 seconds longer than on Wii and 3DS. That is removed from being a dealbreaker, but it surely does come as a little bit of a shock when, traditionally, different remasters on Swap have truly improved upon load occasions fairly than elevated them.
Equally to different Wii-to-Swap remasters like Kirby’s Return to Dream Land, Donkey Kong Nation Returns has definitely held the check of time with its shiny and vibrant visuals that now look higher than ever in HD. Whereas the 3DS port halved the framerate of the unique because of {hardware} limitations, the Swap model luckily maintains the identical constant 60fps as on Wii. Other than graphics, the one different main distinction in Donkey Kong Nation Returns HD is the up to date management scheme, as the sport can now be performed solely utilizing a typical controller, with movement controls now a toggleable possibility within the settings. As anticipated, the controls are tight and responsive, even when the movement controls are enabled.
After a tribe of evil tiki heads emerge from a volcano, hypnotising the animal residents of Donkey Kong Island and stealing Donkey Kong’s banana stash, our understandably indignant protagonist and his little buddy Diddy Kong crew as much as take again what’s rightfully theirs. The plot is an easy gateway into the platforming shenanigans; nothing extra, nothing much less. Diddy Kong primarily works as a short lived power-up, offering two further hearts and the power to hover for brief distances when obtained. 2-player co-op mode alternatively permits a good friend to independently management Diddy Kong with a moveset much like Donkey Kong’s, with a jetpack for hovering and an added Peanut Popgun to fireplace projectiles at enemies. Multiplayer is a chaotically enjoyable solution to expertise the sport, now extra handy and accessible with the usage of Pleasure-Con controllers.
The gameplay of Donkey Kong Nation Returns holds up remarkably nicely. Donkey Kong can stroll/run, bounce, crouch, roll, floor pound, blow, decide up/throw barrels, swing from vines, and extra, with the expertly designed ranges taking full benefit of this moveset. Regardless of sharing many similarities with the 2D Mario collection, being a side-scrolling platformer with ranges separated by linearly unlockable worlds on a map, the variations is what actually makes the sport excel. No two areas really feel precisely alike and there’s an awesome number of stage sorts, whether or not it’s extra conventional platforming challenges, leaping from monitor to trace in a minecart, navigating the sky and avoiding obstacles in a rocket barrel, using a fast-paced rhino, or taking over boss battles. There are additionally loads of secret areas and collectables to seek out alongside the way in which, together with puzzle items (a few of that are very nicely hidden) and letters to spell out Okay-O-N-G. As if that wasn’t sufficient, every stage additionally has a Time Assault mode that unlocks after finishing it usually, with a medal awarded relying on how briskly you may beat it (going for gold gained’t be straightforward).
For these unfamiliar with the Donkey Kong Nation collection, chances are you’ll be in for a impolite awakening with simply how troublesome Donkey Kong Nation Returns could be, particularly when making an attempt to acquire all of the collectables. Some ranges could be very unforgiving, requiring exact timing and platforming abilities. For those who’re not assured in your talents, the simple mode from the 3DS model, now known as “Fashionable Mode,” provides you with a further coronary heart and extra helpful gadgets from Cranky Kong’s Store. For these courageous sufficient to decide on “Unique Mode,” nonetheless ensure to reap the benefits of the store on the extent choose map the place you should use the banana cash you gather to buy helpful gadgets like further lives, a coronary heart increase, or banana juice for momentary invincibility.
Donkey Kong Nation Returns HD is the definitive solution to play the nonetheless phenomenal predecessor to Tropical Freeze. Whereas the complete retail value level and lack of recent content material would possibly make it laborious to justify a double-dip for people who already performed it on Wii/3DS, the decision bump and visible enhancements makes the most effective Wii platformers really feel contemporary for a brand new era, so long as you may look previous the elevated load occasions. Donkey Kong Nation Returns HD launches for Nintendo Swap on 16 January 2025.
8.5/10
A duplicate of Donkey Kong Nation Returns HD for overview functions was offered by Nintendo UK.
