Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Review: Gameplay Impressions, Videos and Top Features

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a supreme version of one of the best games in the Donkey Kong series.

Although Donkey Kong hasn't received a brand new game on Nintendo Switch, DKCR HD is a welcomed remake to boost the Switch's legendary library and start 2025 with a phenomenal release.

Whether fans are new to the series, never played DKCR or are returning from the Wii and 3DS versions, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a must-have for Nintendo fans.

Gameplay Impressions

The Donkey Kong series is known for its tight controls, epic soundtracks, unique level designs, entertaining characters and, of course, its difficulty.

Compared to the Super Mario Bros. series, Donkey Kong games are often regarded as being the more unforgiving platforming experiences. It's an extremely precise platformer with tight controls and players must monitor their placement, enemy placement and pitfalls. It can be easy to fall into pits by jumping too far and accidentally pushing forward so precision timing is essential to success. Still, every level feels fair and the perfect amount of challenge.

To account for different skill levels, DKCR HD features two difficulty options: Modern (three hearts by default and more items in shops) and Original (Wii version). Similar to Nintendo's port of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze from Wii U to Switch, the revamped difficulty settings make the game more accessible for new gamers or children, which is a much-needed option.

However, even for gamers who want to experience the joy of Donkey Kong games in a less punishing fashion, the Modern difficulty setting is absolutely a fantastic inclusion. For each unique hub world, Cranky Kong's shop becomes available to purchase very helpful items, which are worth taking advantage of, especially for newer or younger players.

Most important for any platformer game is the control scheme. For DKCR HD, the controls are responsive, which is critical for a platformer and especially one that can be as difficult as this series. Donkey Kong himself feels much different than Super Mario as he's a heavier character and not as nimble as Mario is in his series. It's not just a major difference when comparing to Mario, but especially when comparing just Donkey Kong to when he has Diddy Kong available to assist. Diddy Kong adds a much-needed layer to ease the difficulty as he allows Donkey Kong to hover a bit and increases the amount of health points available.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD features some of the most tightly-designing and creative level designs in the series and among platformers in general. Each level features incredible visuals that are captivating and the effects are organic as Donkey Kong progresses through the stage. There's several levels that are spectacularly epic and presented with a grand sense of awe. It's impressive how the game plays with the player's sense of perspective by switching between the foreground and background of certain levels. It makes for a unique twist that shakes up the gameplay experience.

As expected from a Donkey Kong game, there's a plethora of secret areas to find, plus the traditional Donkey Kong series staples of collecting the K-O-N-G letters and puzzle pieces. While spoilers will be avoided, there's unlockable extras, which are excellent for Donkey Kong fans.

The Donkey Kong series is widely regarded for having some of the best soundtracks in any gaming series. The music is simply sublime as each level features extremely catchy music that fits the aesthetic and enhances the experience. Beyond the soundtrack, the sound effects are also perfect for Donkey Kong's actions, enemies, boss battles and collecting items. It's impressive how much polish went into remaking DKCR HD for a modern console from the sound effects to the graphics.

The movie-quality art style boasts vibrant colors and smooth textures. Without knowing this was a remake of a Wii and 3DS game, one could easily assume this was a brand new Donkey Kong game for the Switch. The amount of details packed within each level is extraordinary, on top of the character models for Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, general enemies and other characters. Perhaps where DKCR HD shines brightest in character design is during the awesome boss battles as they feature creative patterns and distinct challenges as they steadily increase in difficulty as the game progresses. While DKCR HD can be played with two players, the game is true to its roots being suited for solo gaming.

Conclusion

Overall, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is the best version of a beloved classic. When DKCR first released in 2020 for Wii, it felt like the perfect callback to Donkey Kong Country 1 and 2 on the Super Nintendo. Even after the phenomenal Tropical Freeze, DKCR HD still holds up as one of the best games in the series. It's impressive how one could easily feel this was a new entry in the series because the visuals are absolutely stunning.

DKCR HD sets the bar high for remakes in 2025 by staying true to its original release while including additional features to improve the visuals and accessibility. This is the perfect entry point for those new to the series or gamers returning as they await for the next entry. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is easily a must-play game for Switch owners.