Donkey Kong Country Returns makes 2D platforming feel good again.
It suit my video game taste. It is what I have always wanted to play, and it is the type of video game that was right for me. Its genre is what a lot of video games are lacking this generation. That is platformers. They started out in 2D but then moved to 3D and looked even better and more exciting, but we haven't really seen that many platformers nowadays because they have stopped making them since RPGs and shooters came along, took over, and dominated this current generation of video games. Just like the way I feel about Klonoa, Vexx, and Frogger's Adventures Temple of the Frog.
Gameplay includes jumping on enemies, swinging on vines, flying in rockets, riding in mine carts, blasting in and out of barrels, and a lot more. There are also hidden collectibles that you can find if you are a completionist. There are four hidden letters in each level that spell out the word KONG. There are also five or nine puzzle pieces in each level. If you find all the K-O-N-G letters in each world, you will unlock a secret level to that world. If you find all of them in the game, you will unlock a secret world called the Golden Temple. If you find all the puzzle pieces in the game, you will unlock extras like artwork and music in galleries and rooms, and you can see the finished puzzles of fruit.
Balloons act as your lives in the game. The amount of balloons you have in the game are the number of lives you have in the game. There are eight worlds. There is a jungle, beach, ruins, cave, forest, cliff, factory, and volcano. They all feel right and could not be any more awesome. The style of level design and gameplay is very similar to New Super Mario Bros Wii. It's hard to say which game is harder. Instead of collecting bananas that act as your health for the boss battles like in New Play Control: Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, you collect banana coins that can be spent at the Kong Shop to purchase helpful items such as more balloons, more heart count, a bird that helps you find puzzle pieces, a key that unlocks a hidden area in each world, and more.
The only thing that kept me from giving this game a perfect 10 is that the difficulty becomes insanely hard once you reach world 3, and it almost takes away the enjoyment and pleasure of the game and can discourage players from continuing on. Donkey Kong Country Returns is not relaxing or chill. It really tests your skills, reflexes, patience, and dilligence. You will become so frustrated and steamed in so many levels to the point where you will want to throw your wii remote against the wall, hit your head in your hands, yell and scream in a pillow, or swear loudly because you just can't contain yourself. This game will make your forehead sweat and your heart beat fast. Checkpoints come too long into a level, and you will have to replay the same part over and over again that you have already past until you get past the hard part that was after that. Or even worse, you will lose all balloons, get a game over, and have to restart the whole level. This can take forever to beat it because of its cruel, harsh difficulty.
Fortunately, there is a solution to this. There is a Super Guide where you can call in Super Kong to play through the level for you, giving a lucky break to less experienced players. However, hardcore gamers will want to skip the Super Guide and beat the level themselves because it is very rewarding and they will feel a great sense of satisfaction. Some levels in this game, like the mine carts or rockets, require trial and error to figure out how to beat because every level is unpredictable. You will encounter many obstacles where you do not know how to correctly make a move or jump, and this will cause many unwanted deaths.
The bottom line is, if you are a new or casual gamer, then I wouldn't recommend this game to you because you will have to use the Super Guide on almost every level of the game, and that is a waste of money because someone else will be beating the game for you. But if you are a more experienced, hardcore gamer who is looking for a sweaty challenge, loves platformers or 2D side scrolling adventures, and don't mind the frustration of having to replay levels over and over again, then I highly recommend this game for you. Fifty bucks is nothing for this top notch game.