Donkey Kong Country Returns HD feels like a shameless, disrespectful cash grab with nothing new to offer. It’s possibly a new low for Nintendo ports—which were already teetering on the edge of offensive.
This bare-bones, lazy port by Forever Entertainment does little to enhance Retro Studios’ 2010 Wii classic. Yet, despite the credit omissions, lack of improvements, and questionable design choices, the brilliance of the original game still shines through.
Watch our in-depth breakdown of this disappointing Nintendo Switch update.
Chapters:
0:00 – Intro
0:30 – Background: Donkey Kong’s Return
3:07 – It’s the Same Game
4:48 – The Positives
5:36 – Great Graphics?
6:21 – Okay Enemies
7:16 – Controls
8:05 – Story
9:00 – Replay Value
10:50 – Music & Sound
11:59 – Difficulty
13:09 – Better Presentation?
14:37 – Loading…
15:11 – Missed Opportunities
1) 15:47 – Better Graphics
2) 15:56 – Consistent Fur Textures
3) 16:18 – Redone Soundtrack
4) 16:29 – Updated Samples
5) 16:43 – New Levels
6) 17:00 – Characters
7) 17:12 – Return of King K. Rool
8) 17:35 – Better Load Times
9) 17:52 – Added…Something!
18:00 – Unforgivable Injustice
19:36 – Verdict
Article: https://nintendoup.com/review-donkey-kong-country-returns-hd-for-nintendo-switch/
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a bare-bones, lazy, and disrespectful port by a shovelware developer. Yet, despite Nintendo and developer Forever Entertainment doing everything in their power to prevent this: I still enjoyed playing the game. That’s a testament to the talent of the original developers, who were unforgivably removed from the credits of this shameless cash grab.
Background: Donkey Kong’s Return
I’m a huge fan of Donkey Kong, and Retro Studios. I loved every game they released (with Metroid Prime 2 being my least favorite, and the original Metroid Prime being at the top). When Retro unleashed Donkey Kong Country Returns in 2010 for the Nintendo Wii, it was a joyous occasion. Not only was Donkey Kong Country back after 14 years since the last Super Nintendo game, but it was being developed by perhaps my favorite developer ever (at the time).
Donkey Kong Country Returns did not disappoint me at all, and neither did the 3DS port developed by Monster Games which added a few new levels in a 9th world (the original game had 8 worlds and one secret level). We’ll talk about why I loved the game in detail later in the review.
Retro later went on to develop the excellent sequel Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze for the Nintendo Wii U (which was later ported to the Nintendo Switch with a Funky Kong mode). Many consider Tropical Freeze a better game than Returns. I’m not one of those people, but I love both games. I just think Returns is better due to more level variety, and the fact that Tropical Freeze’s levels run a tad too long (this may sound like a weird complaint, but it’s true).
Sadly, ever since Tropical Freeze’s release in 2014, Donkey Kong seemed mostly neglected by Nintendo.
For perspective, it was 14 years between release of Donkey Kong Country 3 and Returns, but in that time there were lots of ports and spin-offs like DK Jungle Climber (for Nintendo DS), the racing game Barrel Blast (for Wii), and so forth. Hell, there was even a Nintendo-developed Donkey Kong Jungle Beat game for Nintendo GameCube and Wii.
In contrast, it’s been 11 years since Tropical Freeze’s release until now, and the only Donkey Kong games we’ve gotten in those 11 years are ports of the two most recent games for Nintendo Switch.
With that in mind, when Donkey Kong Country Returns HD was announced in a Nintendo Direct on June 18th, 2024, I was excited to replay one of my favorite 2D platformers ever made. At the same time, I was perplexed it wasn’t a new game. Surely, I thought, this port would at least feature new levels or enhancements to make the long wait for a proper new Donkey Kong game a little more endurable. Right?
It’s the Same. Damn. Game.
Well, it turns out I was wrong about this port. Not only does it not feature any new levels, but it also doesn’t really have any enhancements over the Nintendo 3DS version developed by Monster Games. In fact, it seems like a direct conversion of that 3DS port, with the only “major” change being Donkey Kong’s fur.
Look, I get it. “Don’t fix what isn’t broken.” That’s a fine bit of advice, and maybe I’d agree with it if there weren’t already two different ways to play Donkey Kong Country Returns. Forever Entertainment could have, and should have, done something new with this version of the game.
Fans have plenty of ways to replay the original game if they want to. And, hell, nothing was stopping Nintendo from offering both the original experience and something new in one cartridge.
Sure, this version of the game looks better than the Wii and 3DS originals—but just barely…
Read the full review on NintendoUp.com
#nintendoswitch #gamereview #donkeykong
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I hope they’re listening, but this is a dead horse at this point
Thank you for saving me 60 bucks. I'll continue to play my Wii U. I'm convinced we won't get a new Donkey Kong game any time soon. Couldn't believe they didn't do something for the anniversary a few yrs back.
Nintendo is getting lazy these days… But I bought Donkey Kong Country Returns HD as I never played original Nintendo Wii version
Good review of a rant
As Kong Kompendium pointed out they messed up multi-player mode
Hey Nintendo fans! You don’t have to buy games you don’t like! You can ALWAYS emulate the games you think are overpriced or undelivered! You don’t owe Nintendo anything! Stop saying “meh, I’ll buy the game anyway because wah wah I didn’t like the motion controls.” Just emulate the 3ds game!!!!!
they also broke the multiplayer because they got ripped the half a second you have to jump on a enemy the other player jumped on making some levels unplayable for 2 people at once
How dumb do you have to be to think there was gonna be extra content…..?
Great Port 👍
Wait u will bitch more with wii2
12:45 When I was 12, playing the original DKCR was tough but I honestly never found it unbearably difficult, I 100% it and everything. Tropical freeze however was kinda kicking my butt when it first came out lol
Nintendo responding to the backlash by saying the value contributions of all devs is such a slap because that’s just a blatant lie.
Please don't use a delayed RGB effect on the chapter name screens, it's hard on the eyes.
This should not be overpriced.
I don’t really like how many people crap on the soundtrack as it’s always been one of my top favorites even if more could have been done with it
As for the port itself idk why i would buy it for 60$ when i own the Wii and 3DS versions already especially after hearing about all the issues the switch port has, waggle controls aren’t really a turn off for me ether given that i grew up with the Wii version and NSMBW as my first platformers so it never takes me long to get used to it again
Holy crap those credits made me mad.
I was so hyped to see some news of a new DK related game, but so disappointed to see it was just a port. As usual they sell the same game from back then for $60 when I can just turn on my Wii and play the original there or get an emulator.
I really hope DK gets a new Country game with the Kremlins soon. It’s unlikely since Nintendo only cares about Mario, Zelda, and Kirby, but one can only hope.
12:01 hard???? Lolll you’re just bad
Yes
Hard pass. I still have a working 3ds and a copy…
If they had just added funky mode here as in tropical freeze on switch that would have made it a little more interesting
This is my last Nintendo system. What a disrespectful company🤮 and I am from the NES era.
I’m on the fourth area now, the caves, and haven’t had a single frame rate issue yet.
I’m on the fourth area now, the caves, and haven’t had a single frame rate issue yet.
best reason i can think of why this exists is because they remember donkey kong country as a franchise existed and that the fans probably needed something to live off of, so they pushed out this dry port hoping we would be satisfied. I feel like nintendo thinks people don't like donkey kong country anymore because 'mario is just better' or something like that. I loved tropical freeze so much more as a game and a platformer than wonder, but those are just my takes. Mario wonder is still an incredible game; i just prefer tropical freeze if i want to play a great platformer on the switch.
CRY LOUDER!! WE STILL DON'T HEAR YOU OVER THE FUN WE HAVE WITH THE GAME!
Seriously.. it's an amazing game, if you can't stomach the price or the little imperfections, don't buy it, easy as that
I bought it because I didn't play it back when it released. As someone who grew up with and loves the original trilogy, beat DK64, and also loves Tropical Freeze, I had to finally play Returns. My verdict? It's a great game, and I had a great time. The music really triggered my DKC1 nostalgia. However, charging these prices for ports with an HD upscale is ridiculous.
all that hardwork. all that focus. all that money. all that years. not even a new epic DK Game was made. from 2018 to 2024? that's it?!
why is nintendo focusing on bigger IPs? where's the fun? like seriously they have new mechanics on 2025 and yet they won't do much on other IPs like starfox or even make their own fun inspired 64 adventure?
splatoon is iconic yes but i'm more into adventures and boss battles. not turf war 24/7. geez.
sega team makes a lot of effort at least. and fans can also help sonic fans as well!