Game review: Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (Switch)
The original release of Donkey Kong Country Returns came out way back in 2010 for the Nintendo Wii console. Developer Retro Studios took inspiration from the old Donkey Kong games in the Super Nintendo era because it featured a 2.5D gameplay perspective and not the 3D platformer that Donkey Kong 64 was.
I remember my brother buying Donkey Kong Country Returns for the Wii back in 2013, and the game was hard because you had to use the Wii remote to control Donkey Kong. As a person who mainly plays on PlayStation and Xbox consoles, I found it hard to get used to the Wii remote's control scheme at the time.
Thankfully, Nintendo has re-released the game in the form of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for the Nintendo Switch in 2025. This is actually the second time the game has been remade, as a 3DS version of the game was released in 2013.
The Nintendo Switch version of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is arguably the best way to play the game for a variety of different reasons. The first reason is that this version is in full HD, meaning the graphics are much sharper and clearer compared to the original Wii iteration.
Another reason I prefer the new version is the updated control scheme. Players can now play the game using a standard control scheme using the Switch's controllers. There isn't a huge laundry list of abilities to learn because Donkey Kong only has a few moves in this game.
You can press either A or B to jump and X and Y to pound the ground. Pressing the R button allows Donkey Kong to open barrels, and sometimes Diddy Kong is hiding inside these barrels. When you get Diddy Kong, you can jump a bit further, and you also get three extra hearts.
The last control command you have to remember is that you can press down on the joystick to make Donkey Kong duck. Donkey Kong does not need to duck too often in this game, but you will need to use it to avoid some obstacles that might kill him.
Continuing on with the gameplay, players will need to master the art of jumping a lot in this game because there are tonnes of obstacles and enemies that Donkey Kong will have to encounter to get back his stolen bananas.
For example, sometimes you will need to tap the jump button because holding it for too long can lead to your death! Other times, you may need to hold the jump button in order to make further jumps. It's an art form that you need to get used to because there are TONNES of jumping in this game!
Aside from the normal types of levels, Donkey Kong can also ride on some mine carts, too. The mine carts drive on their own, so Donkey Kong again will need to jump to avoid falling to his death. Some levels may also include boulders and even some animals that will chase Donkey Kong for a brief period of time.
When you complete enough levels in a world, you will encounter a boss battle. Unlike the normal levels, I think the boss battles were slightly easier because all that Donkey Kong needed to do was jump on their heads. Seeing a boss' pattern is also easier than in games like Elden Ring.
While Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is indeed a very tough game, new developer Forever Entertainment has added a lot of new features to make the experience easier for new or unskilled gamers like myself (laughs).
The developer has added a "modern mode" to the game, allowing you to buy upgrades from Cranky Kong's shop. These upgrades can include buying more continues, buying an extra Diddy Kong, getting more hearts, and even a temporary invincibility mode. All you need to do to get these items is pay for them with the banana currency that you can collect when going through the levels.
If you are feeling extra lazy and cheeky, you can even let the AI complete the levels for you. If you die four or five times on the same level, you can call "Super Kong" during checkpoints to complete the level for you.
Super Kong is a silver version of Donkey Kong that the AI controls, and it can finish the hard levels for you. You can choose to play the level again at any time, or you can choose for it to finish everything for you. The only other game I remember that had a similar feature was an AI Luigi finishing levels for Mario in New Super Mario Bros. U.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is also great because there is a lot of replay value on offer here even after you finish the game. You can replay levels again to collect the letters 'Kong' or obtain special puzzle pieces that are cleverly hidden. The letters and puzzle pieces can be in hard-to-reach places, so I missed a lot of them the first time around.
Not to mention, there is a time trial mode for people who can finish the levels in a fast time. You have to have a good knowledge of the levels, though, to complete them in a fast time because I kept dying a lot of the time attempting it!
I also forgot to mention this version of the game also has extra levels that were not featured in the Wii edition. Whether or not you want to buy the game again for extra levels is up to you, but this is a good score for newer players.
There isn't much else to say about Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, other than the fact that it is a perfect remake. The controls are better than the original, and there are new modern features to make the game more accessible for players. You should definitely pick this game up if you own a Nintendo Switch.
Verdict: 9.0/10
