News Articles
Monday16th May 2022
Random Many At Retro Studios Weren't 'Excited' To Work On Mario Kart 7
Studio was brought in to assist development
It's widely known at this point that Retro Studios - famed for the Metroid Prime series and for reviving Donkey Kong Country - was recruited by Nintendo to help out on development for the 3DS release of Mario Kart 7. The developer had just wrapped work on Donkey Kong Country Returns and according to...
Tuesday7th Sep 2021
Random Donkey Kong Blows? Of Course, And It's All Down To Shigeru Miyamoto
"We were like "What did we do wrong? What is he finding?'"
In a recent episode of Reece Reilly's Kiwi Talkz podcast, former Retro Studios developer and senior designer on Metroid Prime Mike Wikan revealed some interesting tidbits about his time working on Nintendo properties at the Austin-based studio. This included a fun anecdote involving Nintendo...
Sunday1st Aug 2021
News Nvidia Shield Shutting Down Nintendo Wii Game Downloads In China
Fortunately the Switch has found success
In 2017, rumours became real when it was confirmed Nintendo would release select Wii ports running at 1080p HD, 60 FPS on the Nvidia Shield in mainland China. It began with the release of Super Mario Galaxy and was followed by other titles like Donkey Kong Country Returns, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight...
Wednesday10th Jul 2019
Random Turns Out DK Gives Diddy Kong A Little Cuddle Every Time They Sit In A Barrel
In Donkey Kong Country Returns, at least
Let us improve your day dramatically by sharing the most wholesome piece of Nintendo trivia we've stumbled across in recent times. Anyone familiar with the Donkey Kong Country Returns series will likely remember the barrels used to transport DK around each stage; hop into one of these explosive beasts and...
Friday5th Jul 2019
News Wii's Donkey Kong Country Returns Is Now Playable At 1080p And 60fps On Nvidia Shield
See it in action
As you may well be aware, a number of Nintendo's first-party Wii titles have been ported to the Nvidia Shield in China. The latest to make the jump is Donkey Kong Country Returns, and it's looking just as tasty as you might expect. The Wii game has been treated to the usual upgrades for the Nvidia Shield release, meaning it plays...
Thursday22nd Sep 2016
Nintendo Download 22nd September (North America)
SMTIV: Apocalypse! SEVERED! River City: Tokyo Rumble! DKCR! More!
It's Nintendo Download Update time, dear readers, and the North American line-up has some gems this week. The latest major RPG release from Atlus has arrived, with an enticing localised retail title from Natsume coming later in the DL week. On the download-only front we have an...
News Donkey Kong Country Returns Swings to the North American Wii U VC This Week
*Cue bongo drums*
Rare's Donkey Kong Country trilogy is a collection of three absolutely classic games, so there was obviously plenty of trepidation when Donkey Kong Country Returns was announced back at E3 in 2010. However, if there were ever a capable studio, it would be Retro Studios, and the development team did an excellent job of revitalizing...
Monday29th Feb 2016
News Nintendo of America Confirms New Wii U, 3DS and Wii Nintendo Selects Titles for 11th March
Just $19.99 each
In mid-February a retailer listing from Canadian store VGP Video Games Plus pointed to a new batch of Nintendo Selects titles being on the way to North America. The good news is that the listing was accurate, with Nintendo of America confirming that the range of Wii U, 3DS and Wii games will be available for $19.99 - that's the US...
Saturday13th Feb 2016
News New North American Nintendo Selects Range Emerges in Retailer Listings
Includes Wii U, 3DS and even Wii titles
The European range of Nintendo Selects titles - which is available at handsome price points - has continued to grow, leaving some in North America frustrated at the lack of progress in their region. Thankfully that seems to be heading for an improvement, with Canadian retailer VGP Video Games Plus apparently...
Friday23rd Jan 2015
Video Donkey Kong Country Returns...To Wii U
It's on like Donkey Kong. Again.
The second Wii re-release has arrived on the European eShop, and it's a doozy. Are you ready for Donkey Kong Country Returns? As we have come to expect from Retro Studios, they knocked it out of the park with a game that apes (pun intended) the original SNES trilogies' gameplay, but is it worth revisiting on Wii U?...
Monday19th Jan 2015
Nintendo Download 22nd January (Europe)
Triple Donkey Kong, Citizens of Earth, Hazumi, NES themes and more
It's Monday again, but it's time to turn that frown upside down as we have the European Nintendo Download Update, promising some goodies for later in the week. We have a dual Wii U and 3DS release published by Atlus, three Donkey Kong games including one of the last generation's best...
Wednesday14th Jan 2015
News Wii Disc Software Heading to the Wii U eShop
Wii have been waiting...
Since the launch of Wii U the only way to play original Wii games was to enter 'Wii mode', which effectively emulated the Wii system menu. Whilst it was great that the Wii U contained this backwards compatibility it's implementation always felt cumbersome and unfinished. However, during today's Nintendo Direct it was...
Friday28th Feb 2014
News Retro Studios Talks Up Wii U And Has Been Working On A New Title Since November
Speculation ahoy!
With Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze now settling into stores around the world, its developer Retro Studios is looking back on the development and hinting at what's to come. As a first-party studio with high-profile experience on GameCube, Wii and now Wii U, it's also in a position to share its perspective on the hardware...
Wednesday8th Jan 2014
News Kensuke Tanabe Highlights Potential Return of 3D Donkey Kong Games
Retro Studios used the Metroid Prime engine for Returns on Wii
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze arrives on 21st February, and combines the established skills of Retro Studios with many of the outstanding foundations laid down in Donkey Kong Country Returns on Wii. It may not be the game or franchise that some of the most vocal of Nintendo fans...
Thursday12th Sep 2013
News Four New Titles Added to Wii "Nintendo Selects" Budget Range in Europe
Karting chaos, brawling and monkeying around included
Late last week Nintendo of America revealed three Wii classics getting a price reduction in the region ahead of the Holiday season. Nintendo of Europe is now making the same move, in its case adding four new titles to the Nintendo Selects range. Although recommended prices aren't provided in...
Friday7th Jun 2013
News Armature Studios Gains Another Ex-Retro Staff Member
Donkey Kong Country Returns designer Tom Ivey moves on
As we all know, Armature is a company founded by former Retro Studios staff members — and it would appear that they've added another to their ranks. According to his CV on LinkedIn, Tom Ivey — who was one of the designers on Donkey Kong Country Returns, which was recently ported to the 3DS...
Thursday14th Feb 2013
News Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D Swinging Onto 3DS
It's a 3D Wii-make
Today's Nintendo Direct broadcasts in both Europe and North America saved a big surprise for last, with confirmation that Wii title Donkey Kong Country Returns is on its way to 3DS, not surprisingly titled Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D. It's a remake, so we don't anticipate much if any new content — though there's always a...
Tuesday18th Oct 2011
News Blue Wii Heads Down Under with Donkey Kong In Tow
Hide the bananas
The reconfigured Wii console continues to spread its roots around the world, with Australia due to receive the blue machine on 3rd November. Whereas Europe gets the new colour with Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, the Australian bundle comes with Donkey Kong Country Returns instead, and all for $198 AUS. It's...
Tuesday5th Apr 2011
News After Nine Years, Retro Studios Thinks Like Nintendo
Two companies "share a vision"
While many of us would love to work 10,000km away from your boss, when you're creating new instalments in some of Nintendo's best-loved series, it's not ideal. That's the situation at Texas-based Retro Studios, but after years of working with Nintendo's Japanese headquarters the developer has learnt a valuable skill:...
Monday31st Jan 2011
News Donkey Kong Country Returns Sells Over 4 Million in a Month
Worldwide sales as strong as DK's ground pounding
It hasn't been out for long when compared to the other big sellers of last year, but that hasn't stopped Donkey Kong Country Returns from flying off the shelves. The return of the Donkey Kong franchise by way of Retro Studios has been selling like hot cakes ripe bananas since its North American...
Thursday6th Jan 2011
News Drool Over This Donkey Kong Country Returns Concept Art
Then throw a barrel maybe
The art style in Donkey Kong Country Returns is pitch-perfect, showing respect to the gorilla's history and containing countless tiny references to his previous outings as well as other Retro Studios titles. The concept art that went into producing this unique art style is every bit as impressive as you'd expect,...
Friday3rd Dec 2010
News Yes, People Really Did Buy Donkey Kong Country Returns with Bananas
Photographic proof!
Remember the news that Donkey Kong Country Returns would cost bananas for speedy UK gamers? If you thought it was just a marketing stunt, well, you were right, but it clearly worked as plenty of gamers turned out to swap a bunch of ripe ones for the ape's latest title. Despite the freezing cold weather currently gripping the UK...
News Latest Iwata Asks Opens Eyes to Nintendo's Tough Standards
Retro Studios in the hot seat
Donkey Kong Country Returns developer Retro Studios recently sat down with Nintendo top man Satoru Iwata to discuss the game's development and the difficulties of long-distance relationships. The Texas-based studio spoke of the inherent troubles of 5am teleconferences with Japanese producer Risa Tabata, who often would...
Wednesday1st Dec 2010
News You Can Buy Donkey Kong Country Returns with Bananas
Strange but true
Gamers in the UK wanting to get Donkey Kong Country Returns for a steal might want to head down to selected Gamestation stores this Friday where the game will cost them... a bunch of bananas. The first 20 customers in line at Game Oxford Street, Game Merry Hill or Gamestation Hull can exchange a bunch of the yellow fruit for a brand...
Sunday21st Nov 2010
News The DK Rap Isn't the Greatest Donkey Kong Song Any More
If it ever was, in fact
Lucky American readers can get their simian fingers on Donkey Kong Country Returns today, but to give your gaming thumbs a rest have a listen to this Donkey Kong song. Put together by Chad Nikolaus and Angie Griffin, the song takes more than a bit of inspiration from Taio Cruz's Dynamite but with a distinctly DK twist. It's a...
Thursday18th Nov 2010
News Shopping Malls to Bring Gamers Together as Part of Nintendo's Tour
Sample some of the top Wii and DS games of the year
With Christmas only a few weeks away, shopping malls are already getting crammed with people wearing a ridiculous amount of layers and all rushing about, reluctantly spending an amount of money that's even more ridiculous. Well, if you want to take a break from all that gift-buying, or even if you...
News UK Gamers, Choose Your Donkey Kong Pre-Order Bonus Now
T-shirts, figures, in-store credit and more
North America gets a banana, whilst Australian gamers receive a plush DK, but UK gamers have the luxury of choice when it comes to their free pre-order item. Stick your name down against Donkey Kong Country Returns at
Wednesday17th Nov 2010
News Ant and Dec's Jungle Romp Kick Starts Donkey Kong Campaign
In multiplayer they're both Diddy
Diminutive Geordie rascals Ant and Dec have been a staple of Nintendo's advertising campaigns for a while now, so it's no surprise to see them turn up again to promote Donkey Kong Country Returns with a series of web videos. With the latest series of jungle-based endurance test (for all concerned) I'm A Celebrity,...
Tuesday16th Nov 2010
News Lots of Monkey Business in New Donkey Kong Country Returns Trailer
Ape escapade
It's not long until Donkey Kong Country Returns bashes its way into the paths of Wii owners, riding their hearts like a minecart through a cave filled with nostalgic memories. This new trailer should help to stir up recollections of those 16-bit glory days, filled as it is with 2D platforming capers, catchy music and the series'...
Tuesday9th Nov 2010
News If Donkey Kong Country Returns is Too Hard, Use Super Guide
Like the Force, only more monkey-like
Remember the controversial Super Guide from New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Super Mario Galaxy 2? If not, it's one of Nintendo's newest software features to keep gamers interested by allowing them to proceed past difficult parts of stages if they lose too many lives there. Whether you liked it or not it's here to...
