Donkey Kong Country Returns HD

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This article is about a game that has just been released on January 16, 2025. Major changes should be made by a contributor who has a reliable source.
This notice should be removed after a month has passed since the game was first released.

Not to be confused with Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
North American box art for Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, as localized for the United States and Latin America, featuring the Entertainment Software Rating Board age rating in the Spanish language.
For alternate box art, see the game's gallery.
Developer Forever Entertainment[1]
Publisher Nintendo
Platform(s) Nintendo Switch
Release date Australia January 16, 2025[2]
Japan January 16, 2025[3]
South Korea January 16, 2025[4]
HK January 16, 2025[5]
ROC January 16, 2025[6]
Europe January 16, 2025[7]
USA January 16, 2025[8]
Language(s) English (United Kingdom)
English (United States)
French (France)
French (Canada)
German
Spanish (Spain)
Spanish (Latin America)
Italian
Dutch
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean
Genre Platformer
Rating(s)
ESRB:E - Everyone
PEGI:3 - Three years and older
CERO:A - All ages
ACB:G - General
USK:0 - All ages
ClassInd:L - General audience
SMECCV:A - All ages
GRAC:All - All ages
GSRR:P - Six years and older
FPB:PG - Parental guidance
Gmedia:3 - Three years and older
MRO:3 - Three years and older
Mode(s) Single player, multiplayer
Format
Nintendo Switch:
Game Card
Digital download

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is an enhanced Nintendo Switch port of the Wii game Donkey Kong Country Returns, released worldwide on January 16, 2025. First announced during the June 2024 Nintendo Direct, it is the second reissue of Donkey Kong Country Returns, following the Nintendo 3DS port, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, released in 2013. The game features visually remastered and updated graphics compared to the Wii game and its enhanced 3DS port, greatly resembling Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, and it features all levels from the original game as well as the extra Cloud levels included in the 3DS version.[8] It is the second reissue in the Donkey Kong Country series to be released for the Nintendo Switch, following the port of the Wii U game Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, and the seventh reissue in the series overall.

Differences

Gameplay changes

  • New Mode from Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D has been renamed to Modern Mode, which gives Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong three hearts instead of two like in the original game and adds new items to Cranky Kong's shop, though unlike New Mode, the player can hold up to nine items in one level instead of three.[8]

Graphical changes

Wonky Waterway in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, with the statue of Donkey Kong holding a Joy-Con in the background
The Donkey Kong statue holding a Joy-Con in the background of Wonky Waterway
  • As the title indicates, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is rendered in high definition, rather than the standard definition of the Wii and Nintendo 3DS versions.
  • Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong have more detailed fur similarly to their Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze models.[8]
  • The counters for collectibles such as bananas use a different font.[8]
  • The game uses the redesigned logo for the Donkey Kong franchise, first seen with the Nintendo Switch remake of Mario vs. Donkey Kong.
  • The statue of Donkey Kong's original 8-bit appearance in Wonky Waterway is now holding a red Joy-Con, replacing the Wii Remote from the Wii and Nintendo 3DS versions.[9]
  • Donkey Kong now pulls out and plays a Nintendo Switch in his idle animation, replacing the Nintendo DS Lite from the original game and matching the animation seen in the Switch version of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.[10]

Miscellaneous

  • The box art no longer shows the Tiki Tong Tower due to the smaller width of the Nintendo Switch keep case.
  • The individual names of the original Retro Studios developers are no longer listed in the credits; this version was developed by Forever Entertainment.[11]
    • The credits also scroll as opposed to being a series of screens, with the accompanying images fading in from the sides of the credits.

Controls

The game can be played while the Switch is in handheld mode, with the Joy-Con separate from the console, either the left or right Joy-Con on their own and held horizontally, or the Pro Controller.

Like the Switch version of Tropical Freeze, the Joy-Con, whether together or separate, have an additional, equippable control input where motion controls can be used for the Kong Roll, Ground Pound, and Blow abilities, similar to the Wii Remote controls in the original Wii game and the Wii U version of Tropical Freeze.

Solo and co-op modes
Action(s) Nintendo Switch Pro Controller/Joy-Con Joy-Con/Pro Controller
(primary controls)
Nintendo Switch Pro Controller/Joy-Con Joy-Con/Pro Controller
(secondary controls)
Joy-Con (horizontal) Solo Joy-Con
(held horizontally, primary controls)
Joy-Con (horizontal) Solo Joy-Con
(held horizontally, secondary controls)
Walk Left Stick Directional Buttons Control Stick
Run
Crouch
Jump A Button / B Button Single Joy-Con Right Button / Single Joy-Con Bottom Button
Barrel Jet hover (playing as/having Diddy)
Ground Pound (while standing) X Button / Y Button ZL Button / ZR Button SL Button / SR Button Single Joy-Con Top Button / Single Joy-Con Left Button
Roll Attack (while moving)
Kong Roll (while moving and having a partner)
Shoot popgun
Blow (while crouching)
Grab ZL Button / ZR Button X Button / Y Button SL Button / SR Button Single Joy-Con Top Button / Single Joy-Con Left Button
Hold
Enter pause menu Plus Button / Minus Button
Co-op mode only
Pick up partner (for player 1) ZL Button / ZR Button X Button / Y Button SL Button / SR Button Single Joy-Con Top Button / Single Joy-Con Left Button
Mount/dismount Donkey Kong (for player 2)

Promotion

Pre-Order reward for Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, 4 pins which represent KONG Letters
The KONG Letters pin set

A KONG Letters pin set and themed microfiber cloth are available as a pre-order bonus on the My Nintendo Store in Europe. The store also features an "Adventure Bundle" that costs an additional £6/€7 and contains the game, a waist bag themed after the game's silhouette levels, and a DK Barrel pencil holder.[12] In North America, the pencil holder is a pre-order bonus at GameStop.[13]

Reception

Critical reception

Upon its release, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD was met with a largely positive response from review outlets, with most calling it the definitive way to experience the game. Like Returns's previous releases, critics largely praised the game's level design and creativity, though some felt the difficulty was overwhelming, even with the options provided by Modern Mode. However, many reviews expressed that this remaster did not provide enough additional value to warrant its price point, especially in comparison to the Nintendo Switch version of Tropical Freeze, which released six years prior, with a few also criticizing Forever Entertainment's work towards updating the visuals.

Reviews
Release Reviewer, Publication Score Comment
Nintendo Switch Logan Plant, IGN 8/10 "As a remaster specifically, it’s no more than a passable update, with graphics that can only really be described as “good enough” and some outdated elements that could have used more modern touches, like a lack of checkpoints during boss fights and a few obnoxious sections full of one-hit kill obstacles. But Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is still a competent update and easily the best way to play one of the greatest 2D platformers Nintendo has released this century. "
Nintendo Switch Steve Watts, GameSpot 7/10 "It's a little less novel than it was when it first appeared on Wii and was the first DKC game in more than a decade, and at this point a lot of its refinements and clever level ideas have been surpassed by the later Tropical Freeze. It's the best way to play DKC Returns and to revisit some truly top-class level design, though. The visual overhaul looks nice on modern displays and it encompasses the improvements made to the 3DS port."
Nintendo Switch Andy Robinson, VGC 3/5 "Overall, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a game that, despite its flaws, has aged better than I expected and made a primarily successful transition to Switch. In HD, it feels like a polished, confident platformer. However, it’s ultimately not as good as its sequel on the same platform, which has stronger levels, better ideas, more variety, and fewer sharp edges than its predecessor. It's a worthwhile experience for those who missed it the first time around, [...] but for those for whom the original is fresh in the memory, there aren’t enough significant additions here to justify a replay."
Nintendo Switch Katharine Castle, Eurogamer 3/5 "It remains a very good video game, even if it will inevitably feel like something of a step backward for those who have already played and loved Tropical Freeze, whose handsomer visuals and more ambitious set pieces easily trump this rather straightforward, no-frills remaster. If you missed it back in the day or simply can't resist the lure of nostalgia, there's still a good time to be had with Returns HD. But really, if you've yet to play either of Retro's DKC games at this stage in the Switch's lifecycle, you should probably just skip straight to Tropical Freeze."
Aggregators
Compiler Platform / Score
Metacritic 78

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Donkey Kong Country Returns HD.

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese ドンキーコング リターンズ HD[?]
Donkī Kongu Ritānzu Eichi Dī
Donkey Kong Returns HD
Chinese (simplified) 咚奇刚 归来 HD[?]
Dōngqí Gāng Guīlái HD
Donkey Kong Returns HD
Chinese (traditional) 咚奇剛 歸來 HD[?]
Dōngqí Gāng Guīlái HD
Donkey Kong Returns HD
Korean 동키콩 리턴즈 HD[?]
Dongki Kong Riteonjeu HD
Donkey Kong Returns HD

References

  1. ^ Initial post about the dev's work on Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (Polish only)
  2. ^ NintendoAU (June 19, 2024). Donkey Kong Country Returns HD swings in January 16th, 2025 (Nintendo Switch) 🍌. YouTube. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  3. ^ Nintendo 公式チャンネル (June 18, 2024). ドンキーコング リターンズ HD [Nintendo Direct 2024.6.18]. YouTube. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  4. ^ (June 18, 2024). 『젤다의 전설 지혜의 투영』, 『메트로이드 프라임 4 비욘드』, 『슈퍼 마리오 파티 잼버리』, 『마리오&루이지 RPG 브라더십!』, 『동키콩 리턴즈 HD』 등, Nintendo Switch로 발매되는 타이틀의 최신 정보를 전달. Nintendo Korea. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  5. ^ (June 18, 2024). 《咚奇剛 歸來 HD》的最新資訊公開!本作預定於2025年1月16日(四)發售。 Nintendo HK. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  6. ^ (June 18, 2024). 《咚奇剛 歸來 HD》的最新資訊公開!本作預定於2025年1月16日(四)發售。 Nintendo Taiwan. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  7. ^ @NintendoEurope (June 18, 2024). "Stomp, pound and roll your way through 80 levels of action-packed platforming – solo or in two-player co-op – when #DonkeyKong Country Returns HD swings onto #NintendoSwitch Jan 16th, 2025! 🍌 #NintendoDirect". X. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e Nintendo of America (December 11, 2024). Donkey Kong Country Returns HD – Overview Trailer – Nintendo Switch. YouTube. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  9. ^ @Andre‬Segers (November 29, 2024). [1] "DK is now holding a Joy-Con instead of a Wii Remote in DKCR HD on Switch" X. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  10. ^ Nintendo 公式チャンネル (December 12, 2024). [2]YouTube. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  11. ^ Nintendo OFFICIALLY REMOVES Retro Studios Staff Names From DKCRHD End Credits Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  12. ^ @NintendoStoreUK (November 11, 2024). "You can pre-order Donkey Kong Country Returns HD now on My Nintendo Store to receive a bonus Pin Set and Microfibre Cloth. For an additional £6/€7, you can get the Adventure Bundle including a Waist Bag and Barrel Pen Holder.". X. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  13. ^ Donkey Kong Country Returns HD - Nintendo Switch. GameStop. Retrieved November 12, 2024.

External links

Websites
Game pages