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Nintendo Switch had a good run. Hell, it had a phenomenal run. The ever-popular console has managed to create a whole new world of hybrid portable consoles just like the Game Boy inspired countless other handhelds. But it’s 2025, and most of us are waiting for Switch 2 and the inevitable barrage of incredible new games. That might explain why Donkey Kong Country Returns HD was not met with any particular enthusiasm. It’s more of a case of “It’s good that it’s here, but have you seen that Mario Kart 9 footage?”
I get that, I truly do. And I guess I won’t be able to make you feel hyped about the return of a 15-year-old game. But I will try to at least tell you what it is.
So, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is exactly what the name says. It’s a game called Donkey Kong Country Returns… in HD, which isn’t all that exciting in 2025, when the word HD itself sounds a bit anachronistic. Does it mean that in 2026, DK might return in UHD? Is that what’s going to be happening with Switch 2?
But jokes aside, it’s generally a good thing when an older title becomes available on modern hardware. For a while, one of the best Donkey Kong games was only accessible to people with the Wii or the 3DS. Well, not anymore: just like Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, the Switch now has all of the modern Kong games ported. Both were received very well, but history mostly remembers Tropical Freeze now as the perfection of a formula that started with DK Returns. Does that make that game redundant? Not quite.
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Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a traditional 2D platformer. You control the famous ape, going from platform to platform collecting bananas and escaping certain death. It’s pretty simple in concept, and it’s one of the most respected platforming series of all time. Both games are also reasonably challenging, and despite the cover looking child-friendly, those used to more forgiving platformers might find themselves stumped.
Thankfully (for me as well, I suck at these!) the Donkey Kong Country Returns HD provides a more accessible experience than the original Wii version with its new Modern Mode. Players now have three hearts instead of two, allowing them to take more hits before losing a life.
Additionally, the item capacity has been increased from three to nine per level, and more items are available at the start in Cranky Kong’s shop. The Super Guide feature activates sooner to assist players who are stuck, and the motion controls have been removed (but can be brought back in the Settings), and replaced with standard button presses.
If you think that the OG difficulty was fine, there’s an Original Mode, which maintains the high (?) difficulty of the Wii version.
I have been playing the game with my wife: not only does it provide me with an understanding of how a more casual player finds it, but I could also review the multiplayer mode, which seems to be somewhat forgotten in most reviews. And that’s a shame since this is where the remaster seemingly drops the ball. In the original Donkey Kong Country Returns, both players had the ability to jump on the same enemy, which allowed for precise platforming and cooperative strategies.
However, in the version for Switch, only one player can successfully bounce off an enemy, while the second player attempting to jump on the same enemy simply passes through without bouncing. This change has several negative impacts on gameplay, such as leading to unexpected deaths for the second player, disrupting the teamwork and strategy that was possible in the original version, and making some levels significantly more difficult. Now, is it a game-breaker? I’d say no. But it’s disappointing to see the co-op mode once again being an afterthought.
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There are a few small issues worth mentioning. While the core gameplay remains solid, certain aspects have been a bit problematic. The on-rails sections, such as the minecart and rocket barrel levels, are often overly punishing, as they rely heavily on trial-and-error gameplay. Additionally, the vehicle sections feature one-hit kills, meaning any hit results in instant death, which can be frustrating.
Furthermore, boss fights can be tedious due to the absence of checkpoints.
It all sounds like I am being overly negative, but in fact, even with all this, I am happy to get an opportunity to play this again. And I can understand Nintendo not doing their best work now, when all of their efforts are focused on the successor system. It’s still an incredibly inventive game with fantastic game design and humor. It still looks fantastic, and the passage of time has barely affected my enjoyment of it.
If you liked it back then, you will like it now, especially with improved controls. And if you like the genre, it’s bound to become another favorite of yours. The only thing I find hard to accept is the price: this was never meant as a full-price title, and the work that’s been done does not warrant this price. But that’s often the case with these remasters. Ultimately, I’ve been enjoying myself, and I believe you will too.
Verdict
Donkey Kong Country Returns was an incredible game then, and it can still wow new players. It’s smooth, gorgeous and funky, even if Forever Entertainment, known for subpar remasters, did the bare minimum, and in some way even hurt the game.
