Donkey Kong Country Returns

Donkey Kong Country Returns
Developer	Retro Studios
Publisher	Nintendo
System	Nintendo Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U
Release Date	Wii US November 21, 2010 AU December 2, 2010 EU December 3, 2010 JP December 9, 2010 3DS US/EU May 24, 2013 AU May 25, 2013 JP June 16, 2013 Wii U JP January 21, 2015 PAL January 22, 2015 US September 22, 2016
Rating	ESRB: E

Donkey Kong Country Returns is a platforming adventure game that acts as a successor of the Donkey Kong Country series, developed by Retro Studios for the Nintendo Wii. A 3DS version known as Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D was later made in 2013.

Plot

On Donkey Kong Island, a mysterious group called the Tiki Tak Tribe have awakened from a volcano and proceed to taken control of local animals, using them to steal Donkey Kong's banana horde. DK and Diddy Kong, finding themselves immune to the hypnosis, team up again on a classic adventure to retrieve the bananas from these new foes.

Gameplay

The game is a sidescroller which is designed with similar controls to Rare's platformers. One prime difference is the addition of motion controls: shaking the Wiimote causes DK to slap the ground when motionless, to roll when moving or to blow air while crouching. Diddy also has unique moves inspired by Donkey Kong 64, as he can fire Peanut Popguns (by shaking the Wiimote, in place of DK's ground-slamming move, but only when controlled by a second player) and get a boost from his jetpack. The game can be controlled with a Wiimote held horizontally, or with the Wiimote-Nunchuck combo.

Many staples of the original series are reprised, including familiar level types such as mine cart chases and item quests such as collecting KONG letters for extra lives. Rambi returns and as in previous games can be ridden through areas filled with obstacles that only he could smash through. Cranky Kong also runs a shop in which the player can buy extra lives and special items. One new feature is that of difficult levels in which Donkey Kong rides a wildly careening Rocketbarrel which explodes after colliding with anything. Each level also contains multiple collectible puzzle pieces. There is a time trial mode and an unlockable mirror mode.

Returns also features improved multiplayer gameplay from the original series, particularly in the form of cooperative gameplay. A second player can control Diddy, and Diddy can also jump on DK's back in order to avoid areas that are too difficult for said player. The game also follows the then-new Nintendo trend of having a Super Guide that will play through the level for the player if they fail multiple times. This game's Super Guide takes on the form of a white-furred version of Donkey Kong known as Super Kong.

Legacy

Ports/Remakes

• In 2013, it was remade for the Nintendo 3DS as Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D. This version had some tweaks to the gameplay in addition to matching the 3DS's 3D capability. The game included a new mode as well as a new ninth world.
• In 2015 (2016 for America), the original version of Returns was released for download on the Wii U on the Nintendo eShop.

Sequels

• It was followed by Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze for the Wii U in 2014. This installment features Viking-like enemies known as the Fromads as the enemies and adds both Dixie Kong and Cranky Kong as playable characters.