Drool Over This Donkey Kong Country Returns Concept Art
Posted by James Newton
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, particularly the radically different design for DK himself; without his red tie he'd be unrecognisable from his final form, but the art itself completely captures the spirit of the game that will be familiar to players.
These pieces are just a few picked from the gallery available over at ConceptArt.org, so be sure to check out some of the other pictures available there and be impressed by the game's arty origins.
 Experts date this statue as being at least three years old |
 Donkey Kong in a good barrel blast for once |
[via conceptart.org]
#1
zezhyrule said:
Wow... So beautiful! I especially like the one with DK holding up the Wii remote
#2
J-Forest-Esq said:
They are rather fetching
#3
Aronos said:
The gallery and many other concept art is available in the game itself if people are wondering.
Also, many of the drawings looked really good, and I was dissapointed that much of it never made it into the final game.
Oh well, maybe in the sequel they will have much more.
#4
Mikau94 said:
These are really nice. Are these some of the pics you get if you beat everything in the game?
#5
IAmNotWill said:
^Yep.
#6
Machu said:
Already drooled over these in-game, but yes, they are very nice indeed.
#7
SuperMarioFan96 said:
Why couldn't that one on the side of the article been in the game?
#8
Golgo said:
So cool. I think Retro knows Nintendo almost better than Nintendo knows itself. Please Nintendo, give them another franchise to rescue, something else that you've left to die!
#9
komicturtle said:
Amazing. I'm going to have to really work hard if I ever want to be part of Retro Studios' team. Man, can't wait to start Game Art. This along with the concept art I've seen for Metroid Prime have really inspired me
#10
EdEN said:
And when can we expect and artbook with all of the concept art?
#11
CanisWolfred said:
That's your cue, Otaku.
But really, they look really nice.
#12
motang said:
Saw that this morning, man I do wish the waterfall level would have made the cut, that looks jaw dropping awesome!
#13
Dev said:
They definitely are drool-worthy. They are very beautiful and lush, and the realistic Donkey Kong is a nice touch. My favorite one has to be the "Undersea Adventures" one because it has him swimming underwater. All of them including the retro ones are fantastic though.
#14
Robo-goose said:
There isn't a single moment in DKCR where the aesthetics can be ignored.
#15
Peacock said:
Oh my god... that Retro DK statue looks epic.
#16
Hokori said:
:EEEEEEE hay the caption said so
#17
Gameday said:
Represent
#18
KaiserGX said:
That statue is in the game alot.
#19
Fuzzy said:
If there was a kind of sillhouette level with those waterfalls in the background, that would have been awesome.
#20
Philip_J_Reed said:
"Lovely stuff."
Not my words, Michael. Those are the words of Shakin' Stevens.
#21
amk93091 said:
Breath takingly beautiful
#22
shinesprite said:
Personally, I'm quite fond of this one.
#23
Philip_J_Reed said:
My goodness shinesprite that's *****ng beautiful. I want a poster of that.
#24
Raylax said:
@22, 23: Spot the hidden Jumpman
#25
Woots said:
I can't see it...
#26
Fuzzy said:
@Wooton. Look at the bigger picture.
#27
KaiserGX said:
I see it.
#28
pixelman said:
Do a barrel throw!
#29
pikku said:
stunning
retro ftw
#30
JustaGerm said:
This brings me a new respect for the game. I'm getting Brother Bear vibes from the art style. Dopeness.
#31
JustaGerm said:
JumpMan traced for your pleasure.
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/5698/derph.png
#32
Monkeh said:
Damn wouldn't mind seeing a DKC on the next Nintendo console with those kind of graphics. Really great concept art.
#33
LordTendoboy said:
Breathtaking. I love Retro!
Retro has some of the best artists in the industry, along with Bungie (Halo) and Sony Santa Monica (God of War).
Check out the Halo Encyclopedia, it has some amazing artwork.
#34
StarDust said:
I want the DK statue on top of that mountain!!!
#35
nice_shirt said:
I really hope Retro is at work on the sequel. DKCR was amazing!
#36
aaronsullivan said:
Hmm... what would a Retro version of Kid Icarus or Star Fox be like on the next-gen Nintendo console? That would be interesting.
#37
LittleIrves said:
@shinesprite et al.: You beat me to the punch. Was gonna highlight the awesomeness of that pic, what with all the console parts and controller ports making up the structure. "Barrel &/or Barrel" - funny. Though that hidden Jumpman is straight ridiculous. Never would've found that. Kudos, Retro.
#38
CHOVI3 said:
It's cool
#39
SuperLink said:
Absolutely beautiful.
@LittleIrves very nice with the controller and console parts
#40
InsanityPika said:
Woah. Completely beautiful. I know there's places like this in the real world. But you rarely see them. I guess that makes them even more great. sigh Why doesn't life just be like this?