Donkey Kong Country Returns HD

Tue 14th Jan 2025

Nintendo Life said:

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a fine way to play the 2010 original, but it’s also lacking any real reason for fans to double-dip beyond waggle-free controls. It’s less of a remaster and more of a port, to be honest, which would be all well and good if it wasn’t being sold at such a premium. There's plenty of fun to be had, but we can't help but walk away from it with a slightly sour taste in our mouths. Our advice? Grab the superior Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze instead.

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7/10

Sat 22nd Feb 2025

JJtheTexan said:

This is my third time purchasing and playing Donkey Kong Country Returns. The HD version doesn't do much to improve the original game, but that's just fine. Retro Studios' original work does all the heavy lifting, and the game stands solidly on its own merits.

The good:

• The entire original Wii game is here, plus all of the extra content from the Nintendo 3DS version
• HD upscaling makes the original visual elements look very nice
• Same great gameplay and solid challenge as the original
• Fantastic soundtrack that largely uses arrangements of Donkey Kong Country tunes
• Solid 60 FPS performance throughout gameplay
• Welcome accessibility features from the 3DS port are here, ensuring players of all skill levels can enjoy just about every course

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The meh:

• This is almost as low-effort a remaster as possible, without anything new for 2025
• Some animations, such as barrel cannon blasts, have been "downgraded" from the Wii original and look inferior
• Long load times before and after each course, with some weird stuttering during the loading animation
• Difficulty can be punishing at times (though in-game help is available)
• I take it personally when I fail multiple times at a course and one of those pigs offers to beat the level for me

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Highly recommended, especially if you haven't played this game before.

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8/10

Wed 5th Feb 2025

eShopperReviews said:

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a solid remaster of an excellent Platformer from Wii and Nintendo 3DS, but this release doesn’t add much, and overall does little to justify its $60 price tag, especially when Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is also on Nintendo Switch and an overall superior game. By comparison, this feels a bit like taking a step backwards at this point.

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8/10

Mon 20th Jan 2025

Jdsampsonite said:

They got this wrong. I played this on Wii and I’m playing this now on the switch. Was always beautiful and now looks even better.

There is an easier mode but I beat originally so feel confident I can use the old rules and be fine.
I have always thought the levels in this were more creative than Tropical freeze. (Even though the fruit factory is pretty neat and the giraffe level. TF is pretty amazing as well) The octopus trying to crush you, dodging from waves crashing over you, it’s all pretty epic. Would it be nice if they added more content sure but not sure if I trust a non retro studio to do that. This is one one of the best 2d platformers of all time.

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9/10