Donkey Kong Country Returns

2010

platform
action
single player
multiplayer
co-operative

The story

Under the influence of a group of evil Tikis, the animals of Donkey Kong Island have raided Donkey Kong's banana hoard and stolen his stash of bananas - and being an ape of large appetites he understandably wants them back. Good thing that you are along for the ride. With Donkey Kong Country Returns, Retro Studios brings Donkey Kong back to a banana and platforming hungry public in a new side-scrolling adventure with familiar characters and new levels that reignite the passion players had for the Super NES original and all things Donkey Kong.

What it’s like

Bright, saturated jungle worlds rendered in a painterly 2.5D style, with lush layered foliage, sun-dappled canopies, rain-slick caves and smoky volcanic ruins, all drifting past at a crisp 60 frames per second. The camera tracks side-on with parallax depth, so every leap feels weighty and readable. The soundtrack is brassy and tropical, full of bouncy percussion, marimba and swelling strings that lift when a level's rhythm clicks into place. Its vibe is sunny, energetic and playful, with a streak of cheeky humour and the occasional tense boss arena. It suits a weekend afternoon, a couch co-op session with a friend, or a short burst of play between other things. Pacing is brisk and tightly tuned: levels are compact, checkpoints are generous, and the satisfaction comes from memorising a stage and nailing its banana trail. Intensity is mild: enemies are cartoonish critters, crabs, bats and octopuses, defeated in puffs of dust, and failure means a brief restart rather than any real menace, though some boss fights and later stages demand sharp, persistent reflexes. It is for platforming fans, collectors chasing every hidden puzzle piece, and anyone who wants a cheerful, skill-based challenge with a gentle, good-humoured edge.

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