Image via Nintendo

Review: Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Is a Straightforward Remaster

You could suggest the end of the Nintendo Switch’s lifespan is coming quite soon when Nintendo revisits older titles like Donkey Kong Country Returns. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing! After all, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a straightforward remaster that includes some neat quality-of-changes that make it worth a look 15 years later.

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If there is one element in recent platformers that I find a bit annoying at times, it is the breezy difficulty. Games like Super Mario Wonder and even Astro Bot rarely challenged me. That isn’t the case at all with Donkey Kong Country Returns HD. If you like 2D platforming levels that will push you to your limits, this is the one to check out.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Review
Image via Nintendo

Across 80 levels set in multiple worlds, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD features countless different activities. From rocket-jumping your way through danger and riding a mine cart to bashing through foes atop the rhino Rambi, one of the best parts of the game remains its variety. I never got bored, since there was always something new to see and do as a first-time player of this particular entry. The Jungle world looks notably lush and vibrant with the game’s remastered visuals. Meanwhile, the Beach feels bright, cheery, and reminiscent of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. More importantly, though, was the ever-present difficulty of this experience.

Much of the beauty of this comes from the distinct separation between the background and the foreground. Levels often have the player shoot out of a barrel to a part of the level closer to the screen. Then, they might complete that section and fire further back into the background to keep going. This isn’t just for show, either, as the mechanic plays into the challenges as well.

One of my favorite uses of this mechanic came during an octopus level. The entire level, we see a menacing octopus just chilling in the background and being all creepy. This isn’t for show, as the octopus will randomly bust its tentacles through the wall or ceiling to increase the difficulty and threaten Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong. This type of gameplay element still surprised me, even though we see the concept in other titles, and it kept me on my toes in an engaging way.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Review
Image via Nintendo

It ties into an important element of this title that remains as true now as it did in 2010. What Nintendo does best with Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is continuously surprise and delight a player with challenges and a wealth of experiences. Each of the core 80 levels is already enough of a hurdle to overcome when dealing with the speedy and well-thought-out obstacles and enemies, but there is so much to else to do and collect as well.

Even beyond the already substantial number of worlds, there are some secret levels you can unlock. There are four letters that spell out “KONG” in most levels, and finding all of them unlocks a special level in each world. These are by far the most difficult ones. They usually require precise movements and perfect timing to complete. In addition to that, there is a co-op mode. One player takes on the role of Donkey Kong, while the other plays as Diddy. I had the most fun exploring each 2D level with another person. You can feed off of one another and help each other out, which relieves some of the stress.

Of course, this remaster of Donkey Kong Country Returns wouldn’t be complete without some quality-of-life improvements. There is a general sharpening of the visuals. Each level pops with vibrant color and none of the grainy, blurry details of the Wii and 3DS versions.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Review
Image via Nintendo

More importantly, though, it is possible for things to feel a bit easier time with the new Modern Mode. This is an optional mode that gives you more hearts and lets someone hold more items. Naturally, the Classic Mode is still there for purists. But I find the Modern Mode is a neat addition for those fear they’ll be frustrated.

Beyond a handful of graphical changes and a couple of meaningful changes like Modern Mode, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a pretty straightforward remaster. In fact, I would say Nintendo plays its pretty safe here. I wouldn’t recommend going into it expecting anything too radically new. That said, if you are a newcomer like myself, it is well worth a look since this is one of the most rewarding Nintendo platformers. However, if you are a veteran, just know that this is mostly the same game from 15 years ago, but for the Switch.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD releases for Nintendo Switch on January 16, 2025. It also appeared on the Wii and 3DS.

8
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD

Play as Donkey Kong or join the fun as Diddy Kong in two-player local co-op to take down the evil Tiki Tak tribe. You’ll meet some wild characters along the way! Switch version reviewed. Review copy provided by company for testing purposes.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is as straightforward of a remaster as you can get. It contains all of the content from the original Wii and later 3DS releases, plus some neat quality-of-life modern improvements. At the same time, it plays everything pretty safe to make for a solid but not must-have platformer.

Food for Thought
  • Modern Mode is far more forgiving for players
  • Collect all four “KONG” letters to unlock a secret level in each world
  • Cooperative play is possible with two people splitting Joy-Cons

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Author
Image of Cody Perez
Cody Perez
Cody is a writer who has been sharing his love for video games and anime since his high school days in 2012. When he isn’t writing about the latest JRPGs and anime series, he can be found in Final Fantasy XIV, occasionally playing some Call of Duty, or lurking on Twitter @SoulcapCody.