Challenging levels and great artistic design keep this trip down memory lane enjoyable all the way through.
(-) motion controls occasionally get in the way
One of Nintendo's biggest strengths as a video game company, besides their multi-million selling consoles and hand-held systems, lies in their own franchises. Mario himself is already enough to keep the company afloat, but there's all kinds of other worlds which offer different experiences for gamers everywhere. Not only have they adapted to the move to the 3rd dimension well, a game like Donkey Kong Country Returns shows that even their earlier efforts have staying power to this day and age, and with a little extra gloss and polish, can still be an enjoyable affair today whether or not you've actually played the original game which this was based on. It brings you into the cheerful wilderness with the strong, slightly husky, and confident Donkey Kong, pacing through levels which are surprisingly difficult, and having a ton of fun all the way through.
In a universe full of tie-wearing monkeys and hypnotizing goons you wouldn't expect much in the way of a story, and you'd be correct on your expectations. Donkey Kong just has his delicious bananas stolen from him, and he sets himself on a quest to get them back. It's a goofy little story and it helps add to the game immediate charm. The game is laid out in much the same way as New Super Mario Bros. Wii, a slick map screen that divides the many different worlds and the levels you've already conquered or still have yet to unlock. The basic controls work well enough. You have adequate control over Donkey Kong's running speed and the height of his jump. Doing a ground pound to stun nearby enemies can be accomplished by flailing the Wii Remote and Nunchuck, and doing a roll while running can be done by the same action with your controller only while you're running. While these controls are responsive, they feel a bit tacked on and like the could have been done totally without. It can also take some precious time to accurately swing the controllers when you'd rather just jump through Donkey Kong's beautiful world without these obtrusive moments getting in the way.
As a side-scrolling platformer, you'll just have to make some careful jumping and evading enemies to get to the barrel at the end of the level, where you punch the heck out of it in an effort to get some bonus bananas. But don't think it'll be that easy, actually the challenge ramps up pretty quickly. They'll be moments where you're getting launched from barrel to barrel, and you need to be really precise with your shot because you could end up missing the target. You'll also stampede in fear as you see the ground behind you dissipate and crumble away. Donkey Kong Country Returns will be known by many to be one of the hardest games they've ever played, though extra lives are abundant and you can always have the computer AI controlled Donkey Kong complete the level for you if you can't handle it. Of course its always best to beat the level illegitimately, but we all know that especially the younger players need to have some slack cut if they're going to enjoy the game.
What makes the levels so fun to play through is how they constantly change the further you go. It's a lot of fun riding on a mine kart and jumping over pits and popping the head on evil flying birds. And watching Donkey Kong barrel blast way across the screen is an amazement all its own when you expect things to be a little more laid back. The level design aims to keep things as varied as possible, and of course pretty difficult while its at it. At some points, when you see a barrel with DK on it, you can also get Diddy Kong to help you along the way. Not only does Diddy Kong give you a few more hit points, he also offers a flotation device through his jet back which is immensely useful during those trickier jumps, and his presence alone adds a lot to the experience. The game also includes a co-op mode, though you needn't bother with it. The experience is already challenging just with Donkey Kong, but if another player controls Diddy Kong, then not only will you lose out of the benefit from his jet back, but two players need to struggle through the levels together when they're not really co-op friendly.
Donkey Kong Country is already a huge game with a lot to do. There's 8 different worlds, mostly changes in scenery like a beach, forest, and factory (what?), with a good number of challenging levels to but your skills to the test, and a boss at the end. The boss battles are fun in their own right, though they don't quite keep up the pace with the rest of the game. It's all about slowly observing their actions and looking for a pattern in which they operate, before landing blows on them. They're not very inventive either, one is a trio of pirate crabs that'll step on top each other once and a while, and a more endearing boss would be a high octane mine kart chase with a bunch of moles. They'll halt your progress just the same way as a difficult level would, but watching Donkey Kong punch the crap out of the floating mask that hypnotized the innocent animals is not only uncharacteristically violent for Nintendo, but it's a hell of a lot of fun to watch while your swinging the remote and interacting with the brutal beating.
Even after you seen all the levels, there's plenty left to do in this game. Throughout the levels there are some hidden collectibles, like the letters K O N and G, and seven or so different puzzle pieces. Some of them are in plain sight and can be gotten easily, others you need to know a specific method like holding A just when you bonk an enemy to get a boost in your jump and reach it mid-air. The levels are already so challenging however that many people might think "screw this! I just want to make it out of here in one piece!" and then finish the level after dying so many times. However they're always there if you want to play the game later, and because its already fun replaying levels thanks to their ever-changing and chaotic nature, there's actually a substantial reason for doing so and it enhances the appeal of this game much longer than its initial five hour run.
The graphics look great in Donkey Kong Country Returns. Granted in 2D games it doesn't take as much effort on the developer's part to make something that looks good as it would a fully 3D world, but the quirky, funny animations of our furry protagonist and the wacky enemies threatening him look appropriately cute and colorful, the backgrounds also look fantastic which host all sorts of visual effects like steam and dripping water. Even Mr. Game & Watch can be found as a hidden ornament at one of the factory levels. Perhaps the levels that stand out the most is where the level is shading down to full silhouette at a beautiful sunset, which is not only insanely clever but its just nice to look at. The music keeps up with the visuals, nice and happy with appropriate drums to keep the mood fresh, and fitting the Donkey Kong spirit superbly.
Nintendo has proven with New Super Mario Bros. Wii that old gameplay styles can still be modernized and fun to play at this day and age as long as the characters and the core gameplay holds out well. Donkey Kong Country Returns not only meets all of those qualifications, it's also a fun game in its own right for anyone who likes platformers and isn't afraid to be pushed to their limit. Donkey Kong Country Returns has all the classic Nintendo charm you'd come to expect, and a ton of levels to see and things to do to back it all up. You're going to be playing this one for a long while.