Donkey Kong Country Returns: A Classic Thrill with a New Twist on the Switch

For a game centered on gathering bananas and tossing barrels, Donkey Kong Country Returns proves to be remarkably innovative. Originally debuting on the Wii in 2010, this game reimagines the classic SNES side-scroller by adding new ideas to create an experience that's at once tense and exhilarating. From flying a rocket through bat-infested caverns to dodging a giant squid’s tentacles, each moment is loaded with excitement. Known for its difficulty, the game has been re-released on the Switch with a slight increase in accessibility, allowing players to immerse themselves in its challenges without excessive frustration.

The Switch port is called Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, featuring polished graphics while maintaining the core essence of the original. The story, involving an ominous mask that turns creatures against Kong, stays the same, alongside familiar levels to explore. However, this version brings a bonus: stages that were exclusively available in the 3DS version of the game.

Modes and Features

Similar to its handheld predecessor, the Switch version offers two modes: "Original," a direct port of the Wii title, and "Modern Mode," which adds convenience but does not reduce difficulty. Modern Mode includes more helpful boosts, allows players to carry nine items concurrently, and offers an extra heart as a default. Additionally, the "Super Guide" feature reappears, presenting a tutorial for levels where players struggle, and even offering the option to skip and revisit challenging stages later.

These enhancements are crucial, as the game's formidable difficulty remains. Players face precarious leaps, timed barrel launches, and complex, multi-stage boss battles that can test even the most patient players. Despite this, the improved support system makes enduring these challenges worthwhile, ensuring that the game's exquisite design can be appreciated by a wider audience.

The Thrill of Adventure

Though it lacks the whimsical charm of similar titles like Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Donkey Kong Country Returns captivates with its creativity. Levels often take on a cinematic quality, such as perilous minecart rides demanding quick reflexes as landscapes disintegrate around the player. Other levels involve evading destructive forces like squids or massive waves, fostering a high-stakes atmosphere reminiscent of an action film—albeit one where the protagonist is a tie-wearing gorilla.

While the Switch’s lifecycle might be nearing its end, the platform benefits from ports of timeless games like Returns and upcoming titles such as Xenoblade Chronicles X. The series' sense of adventure and scale continues to distinguish Donkey Kong Country from its side-scrolling peers, with Returns potentially pushing these themes to new heights. Now, it becomes slightly more approachable, all without sacrificing its original intensity.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD launches on the Nintendo Switch on January 16th.