I have very fond memories of playing through the original Donkey Kong Country trilogy on the Super Nintendo. Those games were some of my favorite platformers growing up, so it doesn’t take much to get me excited for anything Donkey Kong-related—especially when it comes to a Donkey Kong Country title. That said, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for the Nintendo Switch is a remaster of a game that has already seen two previous releases. Originally launching on the Wii in 2010, it was later ported to the 3DS in 2013 with some additional content. Now, more than a decade later, the game makes its way to the Switch in what is undeniably the best version to date—though, admittedly, it’s also the safest.
Despite being nearly 15 years old, Donkey Kong Country Returns remains one of the best 2D platformers out there. The game has aged gracefully thanks to its rock-solid gameplay mechanics and brilliantly varied level design. At its core, it’s a side-scrolling adventure that perfectly captures the spirit of the SNES originals while bringing fresh ideas to the table. Even in 2024, it’s a joy to play, offering fluid platforming, tight controls, and an ever-evolving set of stage mechanics that keep things engaging.
The story is simple but charming. The villainous Tiki Tak Tribe has hypnotized the animals of Donkey Kong Island and stolen DK’s banana hoard, setting the stage for another adventure. It’s a simple and classic setup that doesn’t get in the way of what really matters: the gameplay.
One of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD’s greatest strengths is its incredible level design. The game constantly introduces new mechanics, ensuring that no two levels feel exactly the same. Whether you’re dodging waves of lava, hopping between collapsing platforms, or riding in mine carts at breakneck speeds, there’s always something fresh to experience. Even when a level reuses an existing mechanic, it often puts a new twist on it, preventing the game from ever feeling repetitive across its 80 levels.
Diddy Kong plays an important role in gameplay as well. When you find him in a DK Barrel, he gives you an extra hit point and allows you to hover for a short period using his jetpack. This small addition significantly changes how you approach platforming sections, adding a welcome layer of strategy to jumps and movement.
Speaking of movement, Donkey Kong’s platforming feels incredibly satisfying. His movements are fluid yet weighty, giving a real sense of momentum and impact. Every jump, roll, and pound of his fists feels deliberate, making the platforming feel both responsive and rewarding.
This Switch version of Donkey Kong Country Returns introduces Modern Mode, a new way to play that adjusts the difficulty. In Modern Mode, Donkey Kong has more health, and Cranky Kong’s shop offers a wider range of items that can help you through tough levels. This makes the game more accessible, particularly for younger players or those who found the original release too punishing.
However, for purists, Original Mode keeps everything the same as the Wii version, including the original difficulty level. I mostly stuck with this mode, but I appreciated that Modern Mode exists to make the game more approachable for newcomers.
The boss fights in Donkey Kong Country Returns are a blast. They feature quirky, oversized creatures, each with unique attack patterns that make for some intense encounters. These fights often have multiple phases, keeping you on your toes as you adapt to new attack patterns and hazards. While they can be challenging, they never feel unfair, and finally taking down a boss after multiple attempts is always satisfying.
Graphically, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD looks solid, but it’s clear this is a remaster of a Wii game. While the environments and animations hold up well, some of the character models and textures look noticeably dated, particularly in cutscenes. It’s not a dealbreaker, but if you were hoping for a complete visual overhaul, you won’t find it here.
Performance-wise, the game runs great for the most part. The Switch handles the fast-paced action well, and the controls remain responsive. However, there are some noticeable frame drops during certain boss battles, which can be a bit distracting. It’s not a major issue, but given that this is a remaster, I expected smoother performance throughout.
While this is the definitive way to play Donkey Kong Country Returns, it’s also a fairly basic remaster. It combines the original Wii version with the features of the 3DS port, but that’s about it. There are no new levels, no extra content, and no real surprises.
Given how Nintendo handled Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, I was hoping for something similar here—maybe a short new campaign or a few fresh levels to make the package feel more enticing. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. If you’ve already played through the game on Wii or 3DS, there isn’t much here to justify the full price tag.
Final Thoughts
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is still a fantastic platformer. Its level design, tight controls, and fun boss fights make it one of the best 2D platformers featuring Donkey Kong. The addition of Modern Mode helps open the game up to a wider audience, and this Switch version is easily the best way to experience the game today.
That said, it’s hard to ignore how barebones this remaster is. If you’ve never played Donkey Kong Country Returns, it’s absolutely worth picking up. But if you’ve already played it before, the lack of new content makes it tough to justify at full price.
A Nintendo Switch review copy was provided by Nintendo for the purpose of this review.
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