Topic: The DK Franchise Discussion Thread

Well said. The games are not that bad when considered in isolation. I'd call it an above average game and well worth picking up. Something we both agree on.

Eh, I feel like DK has gotten stale. Much like NSMB, it really hasn't done much to evolve and feels very repetitive and stagnant. Still the same jumping, swinging, and rolling game after game with very minimal improvements in gameplay. And really, it doesn't feel all that fundamentally different from Mario anyway. The Kongs have a slightly different moveset than Mario but they don't really feel like they have a fundamental gameplay identity compared to the former.

What I think they can do to fix this is add in more beat em up elements. DK is somewhat of a brawler so this would fit the series. Plus Nintendo doesn't really have that hybrid platformer/beat em up in their lineup so this would add some variety. I mean look at something like this and say you can't imagine DK playing like this:

Now since this is a radical and potentially controversial move, it'd probably be best to start in 3D with this and brand it as a second branch of the series. Like what the sandbox games are to Mario, Metroid Prime is to Metroid, and what the Let's Go games seem to be trying to be for Pokemon. Then maybe if it's successful, adapt some of the gameplay in 2D.

Also, DKC3 GBA soundtrack > DKC3 SNES soundtrack. Fite me.

@Bolt_Strike I can imagine DK playing like a janky second rate 3d platformer with a terrible camera and lumbering controls. I did play DK64...

Seriously though - if "be more like Sonic and the Warehog" is the answer then I'm not sure you're really asking the right question.

@StuTwo You’re focusing on the wrong aspects of this idea. It’s not about the physics, controls, level design, or anything on the execution level. Nintendo cares a lot more about the quality of their games, so if they were to tackle this idea, it’d be a lot more refined. It’s about the gameplay style. DK64 is not comparable to this idea in terms of gameplay, 64 is a sandbox collectathon platformer, this is a hybrid platformer/beat em up. Basically treat this as a proof of concept, the idea is to have more combat elements in DK and this is simply the best idea of what that could look like, I don’t literally want it to look exactly like this.

You're making it sound as if it's an annual franchise. In the last 20 years we got two DKC titles, two.

That doesn’t excuse it from feeling so samey and generic. It doesn’t really feel like the franchise has evolved much over the course of 5 games, I think a bigger shakeup is needed. BotW and Odyssey didn’t reinvent their series because they were oversaturated, they evolved them because new improvements were possible.

Right, I forgot, you didn't like Tropical Freeze because you didn't own a Wii U

One of the best platformers ever made; I'm not sure how you can use the words "generic" and "samey" to describe TF.

Tropical freeze is one of my favorite games on switch. Top 5 for sure may be top 3. I'm kinda suprised we don't get more country games like that as they're almost always 2d platformers . Im not saying they're easy to crank out and make but I'm shocked we don't get 1 every 2 to 3 years

Because all it really has going for it is level gimmicks and themes and that's not enough to make up for it doing pretty much nothing to evolve the gameplay after 5 games? Look at 3D World vs. Odyssey. 3D World took a similar approach to TF, it relied primarily on its levels to do new things while keeping the same old tired Mario gameplay we've seen for 30 years. While some people did like that approach, that has nothing on Odyssey. Odyssey went a lot further than just unique levels, Odyssey also changed things about the gameplay. It introduced new mechanics and rethought entire conventions creating an entirely new experience that still feels distinctly Mario. DK has always been extremely conservative with its gameplay, opting for a few minor improvements at best. I think it's high time that changes.

I want a new Mario Vs Donkey Kong, without the Minis nonsense

Seriously though guys, what would you think if they introduced a DK game that had more beat em up elements? I'm curious about how the rest of the fanbase would react to a game like that since I don't see anyone else suggesting this. Is it something the fanbase just doesn't expect or do they not want this?

@Bolt_Strike I'm intrigued. it could work.

Beat em ups are not my favourite genre, but I'm sure Nintendo could make one that would interest me. I wouldn't want it to replace the 2D platformers but I'd be up for this as a spin-off or sub-series.

I like beat em ups but I wouldn't be thrilled if it was for dk.. I love the fast fluid style of dk games. Swinging and jumping are what's great about them imo

DKC, now short for Donkey Knack Country.

I agree with @Bolt_Strike. Tropical Freeze is a good game, but no way it's the greatest platformer of all time. I would put it in my top 10, but I would easily put Mario World, DKC 2, and even Shovel Knight above it. Could probably think of another game or two I enjoyed more than TF if given the time.

I would seriously balk at yet another installment in the Country series. I think the franchise is stalled right now. I think an honest-to-goodness, 1st-party effort at something in the vein of DK64/Banjo Kazooie could be the right thing. I had hopes for Yooka-Laylee, but bah... that game really didn't pan out.

I actually don't want DK to do another collectathon sandbox like DK64. That'd just be playing follow the leader, it'd be just doing one because every other 3D platformer is doing one, not because it fits the series. I mean I like sandbox platformers, but DK isn't really exploration focused so there's not much reason to go that route. I'd like for DK to carve out its own niche and not just feel like one of half a dozen Nintendo platformers.

Perhaps the first step is to have a new 3D Donkey Kong that improves on the flaws that had the 64 one. If they put beat em up elements after not being a 3D Donkey Kong for almost 20 years, I don't think the reception to be a beneficial one for this franchise.

I can see them making a minigame in a 3D DK of a beat em up to see if the fans like it and it is the best option for the time being, until they hire a team/studio that can handle well this franchise.

Exactly my thoughts. If they make it possible for the Kongs to switch at any time, it would fix problems that people had with the first one, also a moderate collection of items will help too.

For the ones that think DKCR/TF doesn't shake up the formula enough, try Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (on Gamecube or Wii).

I want a Donkey Kong, without the Mario Vs, or Minis, or Country nonsense.
A classic Donkey Kong, like the 1994 Super Game Boy version. That was one of the best sequels of a Nintendo retro classic.