Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (Review)

Donkey Kong Country Returns has a similar history to Hyrule Warriors when it comes to its three different releases. It first came out on a console, the Wii in this case, and then later received a port on the Nintendo 3DS. That port made things easier on you and also offered new exclusive contents, but it it looked worse and halved the frame rate to get the game even running on the smaller system. Some years later you get the "definitive edition" on the Nintendo Switch, which offers the improvements of the Nintendo 3DS version without the downsides in the graphical department. And that's very nice to have, but are there really no compromises...?

The port was done by Forever Entertainment, a fairly unknown Polish studio, where this is their first time working for Nintendo. It was completely rebuilt in Unity according to Digital Foundry, where – for a Unity game – the performance is impressive overall, but it doesn't run as smoothly as Tropical Freeze does. You will encounter dips in the frame rate here and there, which you may not even notice, but they are there. This is still much, much smoother and playable than the 3DS version was, but it's not quite on the level of the Wii version.

And there is one major downside over both its previous versions: the long loading times, which even exceed those in Tropical Freeze. When playing the game normally this isn't a big deal, but it completely breaks the Time Attack mode, where they haven't bothered with fixing its main flaw. If you die, it will put you at the latest checkpoint with the timer still running, which is about as useful as the rewind feature in Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition, meaning that it's completely pointless whenever you're going for the best times. And if you chose "Retry", it will load the entire level again, which is where the loading times will make this very tedious. Too tedious. This is something that they already had overhauled with Tropical Freeze and this would have been a much needed improvement for Returns HD as well.

Overall, it seems like the port was based on the Nintendo 3DS version, which means that it comes with all of its improvements, but also with most of its flaws. It certainly looks better and has a much higher frame rate and resolution. You also have better control options, where the left analogue stick and the D-pad are active all the time and you can switch between them whenever you want, as you would expect with such a game. But there are some rough edges otherwise.

For example, the final boss still doesn't drop a shadow, which was a critical indicator for landing the last hit without being hit, making this boss fight very frustrating in Mirror Mode. Most of the enemies got their shadows back on the Switch version, though, so this feels like an oversight.

And the Super Guide pig still shows up everywhere whenever you die eight times in a level, even in the very challenging temples, which is just annoying. They should have given you the option to turn it off completely. Or at least hide the Super Guide in Classic Mode, because whoever plays in Classic Mode obviously doesn't want any help. At least the game never punishes you in any way when the Super Guide has appeared, unlike New Super Mario Bros. Wii and alike... (And it never did.)

Speaking of Classic Mode, the Nintendo Switch also comes with what's now called "Modern Mode" and works exactly like the "Normal Mode" in the Nintendo 3DS edition. So, you get one additional heart per Kong and there are other helpful items found in Cranky Kong's shop, where the inventory space was even increased now. Switching between the modes is not possible.

If you want to play Returns in it's coop mode, however, then you will face one of the biggest issues from the Nintendo 3DS version: there are no lingering bounce "boxes" left by enemies any longer. On the Wii it was possible that both players can jump off the same enemy with the correct timing, because there is still something to bounce off from after an enemy gets defeated, for a couple of milliseconds. This was missing on the Nintendo 3DS and now it's missing on the Nintendo Switch as well, making some of the harder levels nearly impossible to play cooperatively.

There are also some general issues with the game that never were fixed in either iteration, like how you can't repeat puzzle rooms without killing yourself. And the collision detection with enemies and obstacles feels overly tight, where it could be more forgiving. But that's all debatable, so there might be no need to change anything here. And some aspects are general design flaws with the game that cannot be easily fixed, like the blowing mechanic, which wasn't brought back for the sequel.

Anyway, with all this said, it's still the best version of the game and this is very nice to have on the Nintendo Switch, right next to its younger sibling, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. Being able to play both games back-to-back on the same console in 1080p and (mostly) 60FPS is a treat. And this also allows you to play the eight additional levels from the 3DS in HD for the first time, which is lovely and makes some of them shine a bit more.

Whether this justifies the full price point or not is a different question, however. In the face of Metroid Prime Remastered, which is one of the best-looking games on the system, while costing only 40€, this doesn't make any sense. Both of these were games by Retro Studios from the GameCube and Wii era, and their Nintendo Switch remasters were treated very differently for some reason. But in the overall picture of Nintendo, it's really Metroid Prime Remastered that is the outlier here, while Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is simply more of the usual.

Speaking of the usual Nintendo issues, the credits read again "based on the work of the original development staff", which means that they are completely skipping over the cast from both Retro Studios and Monster Games. This is not okay and never will be okay. Forever Entertainment is not the creative mind behind Donkey Kong Country Returns or any of its contents, but the credits make it look that way.

Anyway, if you're a fan of the game and want to replay it in its best version, then you can't do much wrong here. And if you haven't played it yet, it's highly recommended to give it a try, because Donkey Kong Country Returns is a fantastic platformer all in all. Just keep in mind that Tropical Freeze is the better game for the most part. So, maybe wait for a discount.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD x Tetris 99

Another Maximus Cup is taking place in Tetris 99 right now with a theme for Donkey Kong Country Returns HD. I've just beaten this remaster the other day, so the timing was very nice. And the theme is quite nice as well, I like the visuals a lot and how the Rambi blocks are used for the garbage.

The only complaint is that the music choices are a bit vanilla. It starts with "DK Island Swing", the track from the first levels, then goes into the title theme, and finally plays the "Lift-Off Launch" rocket barrel music. Those are good tracks and can make you hum along, but I would probably have swapped the title theme with something else, because it doesn't feel like the stakes are raised at that point.

Anyway, get this while you still can. The younger Maximus Cups are not up for purchase via tickets, so if you miss one of them, you probably won't have the opportunity to obtain them anytime soon.

Nintendo Switch 2: Backwards Compatibility

The end of the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal trailer answers one bigger question right away: yes, it will support Nintendo Switch games, both physically and digitally. That's what you would expect from such a successor, since Nintendo has a long history of offering direct backwards compatibility in some form. The Wii U effectively came with a built-in Wii, for example. In fact, the Nintendo Switch was the first Nintendo console in 16 years and the first Nintendo handheld ever to not support games from the previous systems, which was mainly due to the different format. But after successfully building this new brand, another full reset of their customers' libraries would have been questionable at best. People have big Switch collections and want to carry them over, naturally.

However, Nintendo notes that some games may not be fully compatible or supported at all, which is curious. One reason might be the lack of certain hardware features, where the infrared depth sensor from the right Joy-Con comes to mind, which seemingly got cut. And you can't blame them for leaving this out, since only very few titles actually made use of it, like 1-2-Switch, Ring Fit Adventure, or the Nintendo LABO stuff.

But this also raises the question of hardware compatibility. That is arguably also quite important and should be easier than ever in times of Bluetooth. In the very least I still expect my Pro Controllers to work, as well as most of the Retro Controllers (SNES, N64, SEGA Mega Drive), where all of them can be connected via USB. You won't be able to connect the classic Joy-Cons any longer or the NES controllers, at least not physically, but maybe you can still connect them via Bluetooth. In which case you could technically still play the games in question, just not out of the box.

It's also safe to assume that Nintendo will carry over the Nintendo Switch Online gaming libraries with all games still present... You don't want that Virtual Console reset for a fourth time. And on stronger hardware they can expand them with GameCube and Wii titles in the future, potentially even Nintendo DS and 3DS, since they could use the Joy-Con mouse functionality for touch inputs. Wii U probably can't be emulated just yet, but that's not required anyway, since almost all Wii U games got ported over to the Nintendo Switch already. But there is the prospect that the Nintendo Switch 2 might offer all of Nintendo's history combined at some point... Which would be delightful.

Nintendo Switch 2 Announced

The Nintendo Switch 2 was just announced, finally showing the world what they already had expected. This blog didn't really follow any of the Nintendo Switch 2 leaks from the last weeks and months, but if you did, then there was no surprise for you here – from the console's name, its design, and even the exact date of this reveal... It's a bit sad how a company that used to be absolutely airtight has become an open book these days.

Anyway, you can watch the reveal trailer on Youtube. The Switch 2 looks sexy, but this is in many ways highly unconventional for Nintendo... Which might be a good thing, given their history of ups and downs with their consoles. It looks like they want to avoid the pitfall of another Wii U at any cost.

It already starts with the name. Never before has a Nintendo system had a "2" in its name. That's really Sony's thing, where the PlayStation got stringently numbered from 1 to 6. Microsoft on the other hand tries to confuse its customers as much as possible with its different Xbox brands, while Nintendo has been somewhat in the middle of this. We got the Nintendo Entertainment System and then the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Then we got the Nintendo 64, the Nintendo GameCube, the Wii and finally the Wii U. And the handheld systems went from Game Boy to Game Boy Advance to Nintendo DS to Nintendo 3DS, with multiple iterations in-between.

And some of this was certainly a bit confusing for the customers, the Wii U being the prime example, where people thought of it as an accessory for the Wii a first. But a "Nintendo Switch 2" leaves no doubt. It's simple and clear that this is the successor to the Nintendo Switch. It's also really just that...

That's the next unconventional thing for Nintendo: they are being very conventional. We're looking at a bigger Nintendo Switch here with better performance. The only "gimmick", which they are using to make the Switch 2 stand out, is that the Joy-Cons are attached magnetically, instead of being slid into holsters. This makes the whole system look a lot cleaner and also should make it easier to detach them... in theory.

Leaks have indicated that you will also be able to use the Joy-Cons like a mouse, but the reveal trailer only hints at this. Hopefully this will see more depth than the HD Rumble or the infrared sensor of the previous Joy-Cons, where the latter seemingly got dropped. And hopefully the sticks will be improved, making them less prone to drift, but they look very similar to the old ones. They should be bigger, though, and overall the system should be much more comfortable for players with large hands (like myself).

But otherwise there doesn't seem to be something experimental, like the Wii U GamePad or a controller with three handles. Nintendo has always been innovating to some degree, but after the massive success of their last innovation – the Nintendo Switch – they certainly will want to hold onto it for as long as possible. And thus they give people exactly what they have been asking for, and not much else.

Despite the lack of innovation, the focus of this reveal was on the system itself, which is another unconventional move of Nintendo, who likes to put their games at the front. You don't buy a Nintendo system for its looks, you buy it for its games. They have given us some short footage of the next Mario Kart, which seemingly can be played with up to 24 players at one, twice as many as in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. But that's it. We will have wait until a Nintendo Direct on April 2nd to learn more and hopefully see other games.

I personally also didn't expect them to show this today, despite the fact that every leaker and industry-insider on the internet told us so. Why not? Well, today is the launch of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for the Nintendo Switch, which will now be completely overshadowed. Nintendo usually waits until the week after their next release, before they make new announcements, just to have the focus on the new product and let people digest it over the weekend. But I was clearly wrong.

It's still saddening to see how many fans have treated Nintendo's marketing in the last days. This may be an overpriced port, where a lot of people don't care for it, but it was announced months ago and naturally Nintendo will give this their attention. But everyone was just like, "Nintendo Switch 2 where?" Well, here it is...

Nintendo Music: The Wind Waker Added

Let's start the Zelda year 2025 with some small news, where another game has been added to the Nintendo Music catalogue – The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. It's based on the original Japanese soundtrack for the GameCube title, which comes with 133 tracks in total, including the "Game Demo Theme" at the end, which is from the Master Quest bonus disc trailer.

Curiously, they haven't linked The Wind Waker HD from the Wii U to this, but the remaster also got its own soundtrack in Japan with the "Sound Selection". They also had adjusted the quality here and there, which might mean that The Wind Waker HD will get an individual entry in the future of Nintendo Music. The same might be also true for Ocarina of Time 3D at some point, which got its own CD for the 25th Anniversary.

But before they add any of these more redundant soundtracks, they should focus on getting as many of the other (Zelda) games in there as possible. Tears of the Kingdom and Echoes of Wisdom would be especially nice to have.

Dawn of a New Year – 2025

It's the dawn of a new year, but also the dusk of an era: the Nintendo Switch is getting eight years old in March and its successor should be revealed by then, but in March at the latest, according to Nintendo's president, Shuntaro Furukawa (see the message from May). You can now start holding your breath.

There have been a ton of rumors and a variety of leaks flying around in the last months, where we may or may not already have a good picture of how the Nintendo Switch 2 will look like, but it doesn't really matter much. What matters are the games that come with it and here we already had a substantial code name leak that has proven to be correct: we got a new Zelda game code-named "Edward" in 2024, which means that Nintendo is probably working on "U-King-O" as well, a remaster of Breath of the Wild for the next system, code-named "Ounce". And if that's all true, then this will likely be what Zelda fans can look forward to in 2025.

It may feel too soon for a remaster of Breath of the Wild, but keep in mind that Breath of the Wild is also getting eight years old soon. It has been this long and this is the next 3D Zelda in line to get a remaster or remake after Skyward Sword HD in 2021. In addition to better visuals, it could also profit from a better integration of its DLC contents, as well as many of the quality of life improvements that came with Tears of the Kingdom. But let's talk a bit more about this in the next weeks...

At least this time we won't get a dual release, where new Zelda game launches for two Nintendo systems at once, put right between the old and the new. This role might go to Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, however, where we have seen a first trailer back in June and where we know that this will still come to the Nintendo Switch, as promised many years ago. But it's getting quite late for that and Retro Studios might be able to offer a much better looking version for the Switch successor.

But being the third most successful video game system after the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS, the Nintendo Switch will certainly see some more support going forward for its massive install base alone, with titles such as Donkey Kong Country Returns HD and Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, both coming in the next three months. Maybe we will finally get those ports of The Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD in 2025? Or will we have to settle for the GameCube versions of these games as part of Nintendo Switch 2 Online offerings? Let's find out together...

Happy New Year!

2024 – Year of the Princess

With the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in 2023, we had a big year for the Zelda franchise behind us. It was such a massive game that you may have been playing it in 2024 still, so that rarely anyone expected a new Zelda game to follow this year... Especially not one that puts Princess Zelda in the role of the playable protagonist for the first time in the main series.

You could see the launch of Princess Peach: Showtime! in March as a foreshadowing, where Princess Peach got a game of her own as well. It wasn't her first, but it had been almost two decades since Super Princess Peach on the Nintendo DS. And she was setting an example here, giving a taste of what might follow in the later year.

But before Nintendo revealed the next Zelda game, they still had some open business with Tears of the Kingdom, which led to two announcements in May – the game was getting a nine-disc-long soundtrack later in 2024, and a more comprehensive artbook, called "Master Works". Both were also a thing for Breath of the Wild and are currently exclusive in Japan, however.

If you were looking for something completely different, then maybe the LEGO set of the Great Deku Tree had you covered. Announced in May and released in September, Nintendo's newest cooperation with the famous plastic brick company brought into the worlds of Ocarina of Time and Breath of the Wild, where you can recreate the Great Deku Tree from either game, alongside a variety of extras.

They had also announced the Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition back in May, picking up the mantle of NES Remix, scheduled for July. Here you can compete in a large number of speed-running challenges in 13 different NES games, which of course includes The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II - The Adventure of Link.

The Zelda series also played a role in other releases by Nintendo throughout the year, mainly in the audio department. There is the Alarmo alarm clock, which can get you out of bed with the sound of Guardian lasers. And there is the new Nintendo Music app for smartphones, which currently features the soundtracks of Ocarina of Time, Skyward Sword and Breath of the Wild, among others.

In June then came the big Nintendo Direct, the only one of the year. We finally got to see Metroid Prime 4: Beyond for the first time, which likely will become Nintendo's last big game for the Nintendo Switch. But we also learned that a brandnew Zelda title had been in the making in the style of the Link's Awakening remake for Nintendo Switch, which came out five years prior, titled The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom.

It certainly left an impression, where the footage started off with Link fighting Ganon, only to be swallowed by a mysterious rift soon after. And then the player would take Zelda's role, which caused a lot of excitement all over the internet. This change came with a completely new gameplay idea for the series, where you can summon all kinds of objects and monsters to your aid. Nintendo kept this one close to their chest, where the game was already set to release three months later.

To entertain the Zelda fans in the meantime, Nintendo also released the Game Boy Advance classic A Link to the Past & Four Swords on their Nintendo Switch Online service, where it's possible to play this with friends online. This made the multiplayer game a lot more accessible than it used to be, so that some fans out there finally had the chance to experience it for the first time.

September 26th was the launch date of Echoes of Wisdom, where Nintendo also released the golden "Hyrule Edition" of the Nintendo Switch Lite on the same day. Otherwise the newest Zelda game entered stores without much fanfare – there was some merchandise to get, like a scroll, but no Special Edition of the game, no new amiibo, or anything else of the usual. But after Nintendo had done the full program with Tears of the Kingdom in 2023, this was a much needed break from straining the wallets of the fans.

The game itself offers the biggest world for a top-down Zelda yet, while giving a similar amount of player freedom like the recent 3D Zelda titles, thanks to its echo system. But it's still on a much more digestible scale, comparable to classic Zelda titles, which makes it just the right adventure after Tears of the Kingdom. It's also a perfect game to play after Christmas, before the year ends...