Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Reviews
Check out Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Review Scores from trusted Critics below. With 30 reviews on CriticDB, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD has a score of:
Donkey Kong Country Returns for the Wii is one of the best 2D platformers of the past 20 years. It’s a hyperbolic statement I would typically avoid in a review, but revisiting the game on Switch and years of reflection have given me the confidence to commit. The Switch transition does have some downsides making it a somewhat underwhelming port of a fantastic game, but it doesn’t change the fact that Returns is a classic and I am glad I no longer have to break out a Wii Remote and Nunchuck...
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While this remaster doesn’t do justice to this game’s significant legacy, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is still a good way to play a very addictive game.
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Donkey Kong began his career as the titular villain in the early '80s arcade game. It was over a decade later when he got the starring role as a hero in Donkey Kong Country, which ended up becoming a successful platforming series. Known for 2D gameplay with advanced 3D character models, the distinct art design and compelling gameplay led to many sequels over the years. Donkey Kong Country Returns marked the return of the beloved series in 2010 to the Wii. It was ported to the 3DS three years later as Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D with extra features, and...
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Even with these problems and judged in a vacuum, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a masterpiece 2D platformer. Charging $60 for what is essentially a better-looking take on the 3DS version of a game that is 15 years old, however, won't sit right with everyone. Those who played Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D on 3DS may want to wait for a sale, but those who have never played the 3DS version or have never played DKCR at all will get a ton of value out of the game. If nothing else, it's nice to have all the Donkey Kong...
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Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is still a great game, but it's not quite worth its hefty price tag if you've played it before.
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It's always a treat to go hands-on with Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, even if this isn't the most ambitious of HD remasters. Still, it's a solid platforming game, with over 80 levels to sink your teeth into — all with collectibles and extra challenges, too. It's just a shame the controls aren't quite as tight as they should be.
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Donkey Kong Country Returns HD remains a classic and often challenging platformer brought to new life with a gorgeous HD makeover. Unfortunately, aside from a new gameplay mode which makes the game slightly easier and its updated visuals, this remaster is relatively lacking in new features. Still, fans of Donkey Kong or well-designed platformers will find a lot to love here.
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Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a fun time for any platformer fan. The levels are creative and will leave gamers with their jaws on the floor with how imaginative it gets. With some of the levels, the difficulty gets cranked up to 10 and will leave players frustrated. Players might sometimes find the game unforgiving, even when it offers more items and hearts. The modern additions are fine, but there should be more, considering the price tag. Still, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a great...
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Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is the definitive way to experience the game if you haven’t played it already. Its included 3DS modes, levels, and original gameplay offer the best features from its previous two versions in a shiny package so it’s great for first-time players.
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Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a bit of a hard sell at full price, especially if you still have a Wii with a copy of the original lying around. Its visual improvements are welcome but are marred by enough inconsistencies and technical setbacks that fans may find themselves dreaming of what could have been.
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Considering how there are basically no more Wii U games left to be remastered and released on Switch (as a friendly reminder, at the time of publishing, Xenoblade Chronicles X is due to finally drop in a few months), Nintendo’s console has been receiving a surprising amount of remasters of titles from the Wii and Gamecube era over the past few years, as I completely understand they don’t want to dedicate too much of their time on new titles when the Switch 2 is due to come out sometime in...
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You could call Donkey Kong Country Returns HD a sort of definitive edition. It brings with it the levels and features that were added to the 3DS version as well as the graphical upgrades you’d expect, though the main purpose of this release is obviously just to bring Donkey Kong’s triumphant revival to join the Switch’s library of games. The game is still excellent after all these years, even if its sequel, Tropical Freeze, was released on the console years ago. For those fans who haven...
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Updated review [15 January 2025]: Another system, another version of a classic. 2010’s Donkey Kong Country Returns first debuted on the Wii, before 2013’s Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D spiced things up on the 3DS. Now, 2025 offers another chance to play — and with less difficulty, even compared to the 3DS version — thanks to Donkey Kong Country Returns HD on Switch.
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Donkey Kong Country Returns is set to return yet again. The fourth entry in the Donkey Kong Country series bounded onto Wii in 2010, was revived as Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D on the 3DS in 2013, and now, over a decade later, Nintendo returns to the well with Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for the Switch. You definitely can’t say The Big N hasn't recouped their original investment on this one.
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Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a remaster of the classic Wii title with improved graphics so now, it looks more in-line with a modern Switch game. If you liked other classic Donkey Kong Country games then you're sure to enjoy this.
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Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a fine remaster of the Wii platformer, bringing along all the tweaks from its Nintendo 3DS port. It's not much more than that, but it's still a great platformer.
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With improved presentation and controls, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is the definitive version of a classic platformer. Though it lacks the variety and bold ideas of its sequel, and offers little new content, it's a worthwhile experience for those who missed it the first time around.
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Though I did have a couple of grievances, this game was a lot of fun. My stress levels went way down once I stopped trying to 100% every stage. The boss fights are all clever, the controls allow for precise maneuvers, and the visuals are nice and crisp. It took me a little time to get used to the controls, and I kept feeling slower than I would have liked. But the level design is excellent, the soundtrack is choice, and the difficulty never felt unfair. If you haven’t played this classic Wii game, now’s the time. Donkey Kong Country...
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Play as Donkey Kong or join the fun as Diddy Kong in two-player local co-op to take down the evil Tiki Tak tribe. You’ll meet some wild characters along the way! Switch version reviewed. Review copy provided by company for testing purposes.
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Now if only they remastered the DK Rap... wait this is the wrong game.
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Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is finally a definitive way to play Retro Studios first Donkey Kong adventure that’s untethered from forced motion controls of the Nintendo Wii or the performance of the Nintendo 3DS. However, outside of that, it brings nothing new to what is probably the weakest entry in the series, apart from a high price point.
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Donkey Kong Country Returns HD might be a remaster, but it's one of the better platformers of the last fifteen years. There is a striking balance of old and new mechanics, which will challenge players of all ages, and it has some incredible moments that few games can replicate.
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Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a phenomenal platformer and a must-play Nintendo Switch title, but it could be skippable for the fans that own the 3DS port.
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Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a passable remaster of an amazing platformer – more modern improvements and a larger graphical update would have been nice, but this is still one of the greatest 2D platformers Nintendo has released this century.
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And while Donkey Kong Country Returns HD doesn’t revolutionize the game, it still manages to become the definitive version of the title. If you haven’t played it before, you owe it to yourself to try it out. Retro Studios outdid themselves. They took what came before and expertly expanded and improved on it. It’s an astounding display of creative level design that is near unmatched in sidescrollers. And now you can play it without having to shake your controller.
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It does feel a bit overpriced, being the same cost as a brand-new game, especially as there are many people who are still actively playing games on their Nintendo 3DS systems. It would have been nice to see some new content added, but as a remaster it was not expected. Overall, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is still a fantastic addition to the Nintendo Switch lineup and is a truly enjoyable experience.
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Purposefully old-fashioned and frequently frustrating, but despite being a 15-year-old retro themed Wii game this remaster still holds up surprisingly well.
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Mario may be Nintendo’s mascot but you shouldn’t discount Donkey Kong, who’s been around just as long – and the original star/antagonist of the company’s smash arcade hit more than four decades ago. These days however, we know the ape better for his own console platforming series, which actually celebrated its 30th anniversary last year.
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Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D's voyage to a portable system comes with new problems, but this is still an exciting platformer.
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The same can't be said of Donkey's barrel roll or blowing action. If you're using a remote on its own, held sideways, pulling these off involves holding down a direction on the d-pad while you waggle. This isn't too difficult, but it feels awkward and interrupts the flow of the gameplay.
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