It was actually Donkey Kong, and it seems like Diddy might not have been able to hold on to their bananas because they are reuniting; fans of the two could not have been more excited. Thanks to the Donkey Kong Country Returns HD release on the Nintendo Switch, the revival of one of the most fan-friendly platformers of the last several years is now possible for players. Thus, the return is not merely about the improved resolution; it is also a message of how the same crew from Metroid Prime, i.e., Retro Studios, managed to resurrect the dead and made a big change in Nintendo’s history.
Indeed, the company was in a situation where it desperately needed its next project when some of the key members of the staff were leaving the Retro for another place. At that moment, Shigeru Miyamoto, who was intrigued by the concept of a Donkey Kong reboot, came in, and Tanabe declared Retro the most appropriate team for the task. The mere thought of this one thing led to a whole new process, which eventually resulted in the production of a game, Donkey Kong Country: Returns, that not only paid tribute to the SNES classics but also went further with the series in new territories.
The developers’ Kynan Pearson, Mike Wikan, and ToIvey ‘sey’s memory of how a series of studio shake-ups internally led to the staff’s disappearance, but also their doors opening for new ideas and a vision is their most prominent recollection. Most of the newly hired ones were fanatics of the original trilogy, and this was one of their strong points in their work. Pearson talks about how love for the series as a common ground challenged them to be creative, and that the zeal of their work reached its highest point when they were working alongside the developers from Nintendo’s Kyoto branch. The joint effort helped close the gap in skepticism that Retro could do something different from Metroid.
At E3 2010, the announcement of Donkey Kong Country Returns was an absolute shock to the system. It not only revived the series’ pinpoint platforming and inventive level design but also presented a colorful new look and enticing gameplay elements. The title’s both critical and commercial success was so strong that it quite rapidly silenced all the doubters. As Tanabe later pointed out, Retro’s instinctive understanding of what made Donkey Kong Country great was the reason for its victory.
And now, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is spreading the Donkey Kong magic of the past to the whole wide world. The HD remaster will be available from January 16, 2025, and is essentially the first Wii release with all 80 levels. Besides, the 3DS version has been enriched with extra content; therefore, the Switch version is more than just a simple port. It is designed to hold onto the original’s merits, but now with enhanced visuals and a smoother performance to be in line with the standard of today’s gaming experience. Therefore, whether you are doing it alone in the mine carts or working with friends in a local co-op, the game is there for you to play.
It goes without saying that not even one of the Donkey Kong series is complete without several visually striking villains, and Retro was quite generous in that aspect. In Donkey Kong Country Returns, the main characters had to battle the hypnotic Tiki Tak Tribe; however, the real shake-up was done by Tropical Freeze, as it changed the game by bringing in the Snowmads led by the chubby, horn-blowing Lord Fredrik. One could argue that the game had obtained a certain taste from his icy takeover and Viking-inspired appearance, although his duel with the boss might not have been the most unoriginal, as it still seemed to draw some parallels with King K. Rool. Actually, he might have been at the same time a bit of a trope and a fresh injection into the series. The Snowmads had a total impact on the creation of Tropical Freeze, which was entirely different from the situations caused by Fredrik himself, who was a little bit of a mixed bag for the longtime fans from the frozen battlefields to frost dragons summoned.
Simultaneously, it is very clear that Retro Studios delivered the same level of respect and bravery. They were not afraid to interfere with the formula if it meant showcasing the classic villain characters in revolt or doing something new with the level mechanics. It was this combination of innovativeness and love of the original that enabled the developers to continue the saga while still keeping the same foundations.
The revival of Donkey Kong Country was basically a matter of deep respect for the past, and it has been a great success in going even further. Retro Studios didn’t just reprint a platformer; rather, they gave new life to a dead franchise. So, retro lovers as well as new school players will get the chance to enjoy the charm, challenge, and creativity that are the hallmarks of the series when Donkey Kong Country Returns Hisbe is available soon on the Switch. If you wish to jungle once more or play it for the very first time, Donkey Kong Country is the one that is calling, and it’s more vibrant than ever.