Relying on whom you discuss to and the platform they performed them on, you’ll hear that Donkey Kong Nation Returns is the higher recreation in comparison with Donkey Kong Nation: Tropical Freeze, and vice versa. Nevertheless, one factor is for sure: Tropical Freeze has had two clear benefits over Returns in each of its releases — it was in excessive definition, and didn’t drive movement controls on you.
Returns initially launched on the Wii, which, regardless of being an attractive recreation for its time, was restricted to straightforward definition and included annoying movement controls. We’re 15 years faraway from the unique launch, and no degree of rose-tinted glasses goes let me say that utilizing waggle for key mechanics in that recreation was in any means enjoyable. The 3DS model mounted the movement management difficulty however nonetheless suffered from low decision, regardless of being fairly the showcase for the stereoscopic 3D impact. The 3DS model additionally added new content material and, maybe most significantly, some issue aid within the type of “fashionable mode.” In its unique kind and issue, Returns is a difficult recreation. Whereas it would appear to be a easy Nintendo platformer, don’t be mistaken — it’s something however.
In Donkey Kong County Returns, DK’s banana hoard has been stolen but once more and all of his animal pals have been hypnotised. By means of the 9 worlds the sport presents you’ve bought to get DK and Diddy by means of the degrees to get the hoard again, and take down the Tiki Tak Tribe.
When you play Returns within the unique mode you’ll get all the recreation’s difficultly intact. Platforming on this recreation requires precision, with Donkey Kong understandably heavier and slower to show round than Mario is. When you’ve constructed some momentum issues transfer higher, however you’ll be punished shortly for doing the fallacious factor after which it’s again to the checkpoint or begin of the stage for you. The sport’s fashionable mode softens that blow including extra well being, purchasable gadgets so as to add extra hearts, extra lives, and even presents up a second probability do you have to fall off a stage. The sport additionally has the Tremendous Information which may play a degree by means of for you, bear in mind when Nintendo had that in each recreation?
The opposite factor the sport has a whole lot of is the acquainted platforming tropes like having all of the platforms beneath you fall, projectiles taking pictures at you and you might want to soar on them for collectables, and regardless of there being no underwater ranges on this one, there’s a good quantity of water primarily based concepts borrowed from different video games. Basic Donkey Kong Nation issues just like the mine carts, and taking pictures between barrels are right here and simply as irritating as they all the time have- which is a part of the enjoyable.
You may play the sport solo, however for those who’re keen to place a relationship in jeopardy you may play the sport with local- co-op, however actually the sport doesn’t really feel prefer it was designed for it with a whole lot of set items, on-rails cart sections and something in barrel which means the second participant can’t do issues, however they’re simply going to get in the way in which. Not solely that whenever you each die, you lose two lives, which is smart but in addition – it’s not likely a assist. Time Assault returns as properly, when you beat a stage you may undergo as quick as you may to set a file.
Making the soar to HD has made Returns rather a lot nicer, to have a look at – however it was by no means ugly within the first place. When you examine the video games facet by facet, body by body, you’ll discover many variations, rather a lot for the higher. However there are additionally a couple of lacking issues or issues that some would possibly contemplate worse. For each wave impact in a single degree that appears rather less real looking, there’s reflections in caves, or modifications made to make issues extra seen in darkish areas or the jungle simply pops out a bit extra. The whole lot is sharper and vibrant, it’s nonetheless a HD model of a Wii recreation, or a 3DS one, or a little bit of each. It actually is under that of Tropical Freeze.
Returns’ soundtrack is a well-recognized riff on the Donkey Kong Nation themes you already know and love. Tropical Freeze might be the most effective soundtrack in a Donkey Kong recreation exterior of the SNES titles, and Returns isn’t unhealthy both, all of the acquainted themes and jingles are there however it doesn’t do an excessive amount of to raise itself over the originals, which everyone knows have been wonderful.
Returns is nice, however I’m so prepared for a brand new Donkey Kong, whether or not or not it’s a Nation recreation or one thing else. We’ve had this recreation for 15 years and sure it stands up, Tropical Freeze we’ve been handled to twice as properly. Now Returns is accessible to play in one of the best ways doable, so for those who’ve by no means dipped in there’s no higher time to, however for those who’ve already performed this earlier than there’s nothing new right here actually for you. Nonetheless a contemporary traditional.
Ranking: 4.5/5