Get ready, Donkey Kong fans! With the upcoming launch of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for the Nintendo Switch on January 16, 2025, the Switch is set to become the ultimate destination for Donkey Kong Country aficionados. This remaster was a surprise when announced during the June 2024 Nintendo Direct, and the excitement doesn’t stop there. In anticipation of this release, the Game Boy Donkey Kong Land trilogy joined the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack lineup between November and December 2024. With the addition of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze’s 2018 Switch version and the original Country trilogy available on NSO, you can now experience the complete Donkey Kong Country journey all in one place.
For longtime fans, this is nothing short of a dream come true. Donkey Kong Country has been a beloved classic, famous for its challenging yet rewarding gameplay and high replay value, marking one of Rare’s crowning achievements during the SNES era. Retro Studios, known for developing Metroid Prime, breathed new life into the series with Donkey Kong Country Returns on the Wii, 3DS, Wii U, and eventually on Nintendo Switch with Tropical Freeze. It’s great to have DK’s famous titles together on modern consoles, but some may feel that the Returns HD misses the mark by not borrowing one of the best features from Tropical Freeze’s Switch version.
While the release focuses on providing a pure remaster experience, there are a few tweaks to look forward to in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD. The most notable new addition is the Modern Mode, an easy mode accessible from the start of a new save file. While some may view this as a necessary compromise, it offers a gateway for those less experienced. Since this game is often touted as one of the toughest Wii titles out there, Modern Mode might just be the go-to for players who shy away from demanding challenges.
Modern Mode spices things up by enhancing the player’s health and available items. Instead of the usual two hearts, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong each carry three in this mode, allowing you to take six hits when they’re together. It’s a small tweak but dramatically changes how you’ll zip through some of the game’s toughest levels. Additionally, the item limit in levels is increased from three to nine, and Cranky Kong’s Shop boasts a more extensive selection, echoing offerings seen in the 3DS version. Items like the Crash Guard, which protects vehicles, and the life-saving Green Balloon make returns, offering players ample resources to succeed.
These updates align Donkey Kong Country Returns’ shop closer to Funky’s Fly ‘N’ Buy from Tropical Freeze, yet it’s missing something critical from Tropical Freeze. Dixie Kong and Cranky Kong, introduced as partners in Tropical Freeze, added a “New Funky Mode” that was notably absent here. This feature in Tropical Freeze let players cruise through the game with Funky Kong who could endlessly roll, hover, stand on spikes, and withstand more damage. He’s practically a mash-up of all the Kong abilities, making him an unrivaled powerhouse.
Introducing Funky Kong or other iconic characters from Tropical Freeze in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD could have added a refreshing twist and perhaps even new gameplay elements for seasoned players. Had the developers included this, the remaster might have obtained a unique standing, offering something particularly special even for those familiar with the original game. It could have matched up against Funky Mode by allowing players to flip between Funky and a robust DK lineup with extra hearts, pushing Returns HD to new heights.
If you’re itching to set off on an adventure with Donkey and Diddy, you’ll be able to fend off the mischievous Tiki Tak Tribe, barrel through enemies, and zoom around in rockets and mine carts. All this action will be visually stunning in HD on the Nintendo Switch. Plus, it includes additional levels from the 3DS version, letting you and a friend dive into the entire journey together and reclaim that precious banana hoard!
With the game’s release just around the corner, fans, both old and new, are sure to have an adventure waiting that’s packed with nostalgia and a fresh coat of paint.
