It's crazy to think about, but despite the history and excellence of the "Donkey Kong" series, it laid dormant for a while and seemed to go through an identity crisis after "Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble" in 1996. Personally, I feel like that crisis started with "Donkey Kong 64," which despite receiving some critical acclaim in the past, would go on to be considered in some circles as the "killer" of the collect-a-thon 3D platformer (personally, from what I played, I feel like it could arguably be one of the worst first-party, Nintendo-published games). Most will tell you, though, that the identity crisis began after Rare was sold to Microsoft: several "Donkey Kong" games were canceled as a result, spinoffs of hit-or-miss quality were put out, and the only platformer to release was the wonderful yet underrated "Donkey Kong Jungle Beat." It wasn't until 2010 with "Donkey Kong Country Returns" where Nintendo was able to put the series back on the map. Personally, even for the fact that I played this after the latest installment in the series, "Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze," I can safely say "Returns" doesn't feel dated at all. In fact, it's still an absolute blast.
"Donkey Kong Country Returns" absolutely nails it as a fresh, fast-paced, and addictive take on the 2.5D platformer. The controls are smooth, even with the Wii Remote waggle that could irk a few players, and it features the same excellent level design that "Donkey Kong Country" is known for. There's plenty of variation to the gameplay thanks to the numerous styles of play, and with plenty to collect and unlock, there are lots of reasons to return to it. Top it off with some lovely, colorful visuals, a wondrous artistic design, and a solid soundtrack (much like many of the "Donkey Kong Country" games), and it's easy to see how this one became such a winner.
If I can say one thing that holds the game back a bit, it's the difficulty spike in the final level. While the game as a whole has its share of challenge, the final world jumps a little too much, almost feeling like it came from a different game.
Overall, "Donkey Kong Country Returns" was a winning revival for Nintendo, and it's a game that's still loads of fun today. If you enjoy 2D platformers and have been itching for a retro platformer that'll wow you, make it a point to try this game. And then, you should also give "Tropical Freeze" a go, too. Both are excellent signs of how Nintendo continues to nail 2D platformer games, even in the modern era.
Final rating: 9 out of 10 "Awesome"