Catch-Up Crew: Donkey Kong Nation – “I Favored His Huge Purple, Er, Ribbit-Bag?”

As is customary, the ranks have shifted this month. Let’s meet the crew rapidly earlier than the assembly commences:

Capt. Alana Hagues – DKC veteran, KONGfident in command
Cmdr. Jim Norman – DKC veteran, KONGsiderably well-versed
Ens. Ollie Reynolds – DKC recruit, KONGscripted
Ens. Gavin Lane – DKC recruit, inKONGruous

Alana: Good day to you all, crew! I belief you’ve all been having fun with the island’s sights? Are all of us accounted for?

Ollie: Ensign Reynolds reporting for responsibility!

Jim: Aye aye, Captain!

Gavin: Yessir.

Alana: Wonderful, wonderful. It’s been a number of weeks since we’ve sat down collectively like this, crew, so simply to remind you all, we’re all associates right here. Be trustworthy, however be good.

Now, Donkey Kong Nation, hey? Arguably one of many video games that put Uncommon on the map – visually distinctive, completely easy, however a stone-cold basic of the SNES period. However I hear there’s been some… discontent among the many crew. Ensigns Lane and Reynolds, how have you ever managed to steer clear of the Nation’s charms for all these years?

Gavin: Again in these days, I erm…, effectively, I performed a… I by no means had a Tremendous NES. I used to be a Mega Drive child, you see, Captain. It wasn’t till a few years later that I went again and sampled Nintendo’s 16-bit catalogue.

Alana: That’s okay, Lane. You recognised your mistake and resolved it in one of the best ways you may. Now, Reynolds?

Ollie: So, I’ll say that I’ve dabbled within the recreation right here and there, albeit very briefly, through the years. I performed the heck out of Donkey Kong Nation Returns and Tropical Freeze after they have been launched, so there have been definitely moments the place I believed, “Hmm, let’s give the unique ‘Nation’ a attempt.” Admittedly, nonetheless, it’s solely now that I’ve really sat down and performed the entire thing via.

Alana: Good, good. Typically it’s exhausting to return, however it’s commendable that you just’ve tried many instances. Now, Commander Norman, I perceive you could have a bit extra expertise with Donkey Kong Nation, right?

Jim: That’s right, Captain. My first rodeo, this isn’t. I too didn’t personal a SNES — it predates me a bit, I’m afraid — although my uncle did have one and I’ve very fond recollections of blasting via DKC at his home every time I might (at the least “blast via it” as a lot as a younger youngster can). Armed with these recollections, I then sped via the primary few ranges on the SNES Mini a number of years again after which once more on NSO when it launched.

Alana: No disgrace there, Norman. The SNES predates me too, although I concern if we linger on age, we could effectively trigger much more unrest. Let’s tackle that later. Reynolds, given your love of DKC Returns and Tropical Freeze, what did you count on going again to the SNES authentic, and the way does it examine?

Ollie: On condition that I’d seen lots of the sport via movies and screenshots even effectively earlier than the launch of Returns, I had a reasonably good concept of the way it may play earlier than diving into it. It’s undoubtedly the progenitor of Retro Studio’s platformers within the sense that it performs very equally with the identical type of degree construction and goals. I don’t suppose it’s aged fairly in addition to among the SNES’ different key titles, however it’s nonetheless lots of enjoyable, and it seems completely gorgeous.

Alana: We don’t have a CRT on board to check it out, however I’m positive these visuals look even higher on an previous display… (ahem, no time for nostalgia, Alana, pull your self collectively.)

Ensign Lane, I do know you could have little expertise with even the Retro Studio video games, however I’m conscious of your love of Uncommon. What have been you anticipating out of your first DKC foray?

Gavin: I used to be anticipating… hmmm. Given the love so many individuals have for this recreation (and the dev employees crossover with Banjo-Kazooie, a recreation I completely adore), I used to be anticipating one thing to rival the 16-bit greats. Maybe not in the identical league as your Mario Worlds or your Hyperlinks to the Pasts, however one thing superb.

Alana: I sense some hesitation in your remaining phrases, Lane?

Gavin: … Permission to talk freely, Captain?

Alana: Permission granted.

Gavin: In such a beloved-by-millions recreation, I don’t suppose I’ve encountered fairly a lot… ‘BS’. Sir.

Alana: Fascinating. Reynolds, Norman, are you conscious of this, um, BS, Lane is referring to?

Jim: Earlier than we throw the ensign overboard, Captain, I need to admit that I can even see a few of… that. There are nonetheless issues to love within the authentic Nation expertise, however one thing about this playthrough felt a bit off. I’m beginning to suppose that it won’t have aged fairly in addition to I had anticipated.

Ollie: Forgive me, Captain, however I shall want some elaboration on this so-called ‘BS’ earlier than I can remark.

Alana: After all. Ensign Lane, any examples?

Gavin: For me, it’s design selections the place the participant has little or no likelihood of progressing with out failing first. Sure, sure, video games like Darkish Souls and the umpteen squillion roguelites are constructed round failure, however in case you’re sufficiently expert, you may, theoretically, beat a boss or make it via a run in your first go. With DKC, that felt close to unimaginable. The sprites are big and lovely-looking – I can solely think about how gobsmacked I might have been seeing them in 1994! – however one result’s that the seen path head is massively restricted in comparison with different side-on platformers. A number of instances I’d run ahead solely to barrel right into a crocodile or off the sting of a cliff.

Alana: There’s… a few of that, sure. I definitely struggled with the mine cart, however I really benefit from the precision platforming side of it. It seems like it’s a must to construct up a momentum and rhythm to get via each degree, and I admire that. Ensign Reynolds, any response to Lane’s points?

Ollie: Legitimate factors, to make sure, and this hyperlinks into my earlier remark that the sport hasn’t aged fairly in addition to different SNES titles. Nonetheless, I don’t suppose it was fairly a lot of a problem for me. I do agree that the bigger sprites and the dearth of any respectable view of the street forward could be a bit vexing at instances, however I believe the sport compensates for this by being typically fairly forgiving. The problem isn’t a patch on Returns or Tropical Freeze (other than perhaps the mine cart sections), so I didn’t have quite a lot of bother.

Jim: Feels like a ‘Talent Difficulty’ in case you ask me. The issue is, I’m in precisely the identical boat. I’ve labored my approach via sequences just like the mine cart ones with out NSO rewind earlier than, however there isn’t a approach that I used to be going to do this this time — these crocs-on-wheels come from nowhere, I let you know!

Alana: Now now, Norman, bear in mind we’re all associates right here – although I admire the admission.

Gavin: That’s okay, Captain. I absolutely admit I struggled with this one. Maybe it’s all the way down to the dimensions of the character sprites and hitboxes, however I discovered it difficult to know if my ape was going to pound an enemy from above or take a success. Typically I’d clip an enemy virtually from the aspect as I jumped they usually went down – different instances, bye bye Diddy.

Alana: Diddy does deserve higher, and extra, than a bit clip demise.

Let’s go away the unfavourable behind if we will, crew, and discuss one thing we like concerning the recreation. Ensign Reynolds, I’ll begin with you.

Ollie: I discussed earlier that the sport seems gorgeous. There’s one degree known as ‘Orang-utan Gang’ (I believe), and the multi-coloured sundown within the background is really one thing else. I adore it. The sprites are clearly distinctive as effectively, and I really suppose Retro’s determination to lean right into a extra cartoon-y aesthetic was in all probability a mistake. The unique recreation, and certainly your complete ‘Nation’ trilogy on SNES, is beautiful.

Alana: Commander Norman, something so as to add or anything that stands out to you?

Jim: I second all the things on the visuals entrance and I nonetheless have a specific gentle spot for the rolly momentum. However I’ll additionally throw the soundtrack a bone. Positive, it won’t be fairly as dense as what we’re used to seeing as we speak (it may possibly often be a bit stop-and-start), however virtually each single theme is a belter. Everybody brings up that first water degree for a superb purpose.

Alana: David Clever did prepare dinner up some magic. The water ranges, generally, are superb right here – Clam Metropolis is great. The music solely provides to that. Definitely higher than many different SNES-era water ranges. Ensign Lane, any optimistic ideas on DKC?

Gavin: The audio was wonderful, you possibly can’t go fallacious with DW. And the visuals should have seemed unimaginable on a CRT, with the rendered sprites mixing superbly with the environments. I favored the little snaps of humour with Cranky, and that DK arcade-inspired intro. And I actually just like the momentum you talked about, too. In actual fact, maybe that’s the supply of my gripes – I felt like I used to be given instruments however not the alternatives to take advantage of them. Each time I constructed up some steam cartwheeling as Diddy, I’d should cease to undergo some tedious barrel part or keep away from a sheer drop. The degrees have been so linear in comparison with one thing like Sonic, and even Mario, I felt I by no means bought the prospect to specific any creativity or get pleasure from myself. It was very stop-start.

Sorry, optimistic! I favored the ‘EXIT’ indicators as a result of they jogged my memory of Fort of Phantasm.

Alana: … Proper you might be then. No love for the Animal Buddies from anybody?

Gavin: Ah sure, Enguarde and the frog dude have been highlights. I favored his massive crimson, er, ribbit-bag? And DK64 gave me affection for Rambi.

Ollie: Sure, completely. Using atop numerous animals like that seems like one thing that ought to have been saved for a sequel; you do not usually see stuff like this in a primary entry. The truth that Uncommon managed so as to add these mechanics, alongside all the things else, was outstanding. Very cool.

Jim: With the ability to punt enemies out of the way in which because the swordfish is a core reminiscence from the primary time I performed this. Extraordinarily satisfying.

Alana: Wonderful, we like to listen to that the animals are cherished.

Effectively, I imagine we must always make like Expresso and go away Donkey Kong Nation behind. We managed to keep away from a rift within the crew this time, fortunately. Now, for our subsequent mission, I’m advised that Ensign Lane is taking command once more. Is that this a mutiny, Ensign?

Gavin: Under no circumstances, Captain! Simply following protocol. If it pleases the crew, I’d recommend an investigation of WarioWare, Inc. I imagine a few of my colleagues are unfamiliar.

Jim: Will probably be one other first for me. Able to set sail!

Ollie: I’ve performed a number of WarioWare video games, however by no means the primary! That is turning into a little bit of a behavior…

Alana: Effectively then, time for a lesson in early GBA silliness, I believe. Let’s head onward and upward – particularly the latter for among the crew.

Donkey Kong Nation – Recruit Report

Greatest bit:
The visuals, the water ranges
The music, the frog

Worst bit:
‘Cease & Go Station’

Feeling funnelled and confined on a regular basis

Would play once more?
In a heartbeat
Hmm, is it paid?