Do the Donkey Kong: GeekDad Reviews ‘Donkey Kong Country Returns HD’
In 2010, Donkey Kong Country Returns was released to rave reviews on the Nintendo Wii. In 2013, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D made its way to the Nintendo 3DS, swapping the original’s motion-heavy control scheme for a more polished 3D-enabled experience. And now, in 2025, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD arrives on the Nintendo Switch, boasting enhanced visuals, multiple play modes, and all the bonus levels originally included in its 3DS outing.
On the off chance that you missed the setup from any of its previous iterations, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD begins with the arrival of the Tiki Tak Tribe. These freaky tikis hypnotize the jungle animals to steal Donkey Kong’s banana horde. Unfortunately for them, their magical melody doesn’t work on DK, so he (along with his second banana, Diddy Kong) begins making his way across Donkey Kong Island, collecting bananas, bashing baddies, and navigating treacherous levels in this distinctly musical adventure.
Crab pirates… Why is it always crab pirates? image: NOA
Visually, DKC Returns HD is a real treat, and its all-important soundtrack has never sounded better. Controls are nicely intuitive, as DK rolls, leaps, and occasionally extinguishes flaming enemies with his considerable lung capacity. In a nice nod to the Wii original, the Ground Pound can be executed using both button inputs or via Joy-Con motion controls. Speaking of, you and a friend (or your younger geekling) can also control DK and Diddy independently in two-player mode — -even with a single pair of Joy-Cons, which is always a nice feature for newer Switch adopters.
The only control issues are sort of baked into the Donkey Kong Country product writ large. On his own, DK is rather sluggish and lumbering — -until he busts out one of those lightning-quick rolls. The addition of Diddy Kong, when he’s released from one of his conveniently placed barrels, not only doubles player health but also puts a little zip in the proverbial step and allows for a longer, floatier jump thanks to Diddy’s Barrel Pack. For DKC newbies, this can obviously feel a little uneven and provide a bit of a challenge early on.
Easy two-player support is great for couch co-op. image: NOA
Alongside those beloved bananas and copious coins — -which are helpful for purchasing buffs like extra Balloons (lives), Heart Boosts, and invincible Banana Juice from Cranky Kong’s Shop — -this virtual collectathon also includes the trademark hidden puzzle pieces, to help fill out the game’s gallery, and K-O-N-G letters. Nabbing all four letters unlocks an even more devious secret level per world, much to the player’s delight or dismay (depending on skill level).
The inclusion of a new Modern Mode — -as opposed to the alternative, Original Mode — -promises to make the game more forgiving, providing Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong three full hearts apiece rather than two and allowing for more inventory items to be procured from Cranky Kong’s shop. The only problem is, at least in my opinion, that it doesn’t quite go far enough. Even in its earliest incarnation, Donkey Kong Country Returns was notorious for its difficulty. From navigating cleverly designed levels to its regular mini-boss fights, the game’s variety is both a blessing and a curse.
Mine cart levels are fast and furious. image: NOA
From hairpin platforming in stark silhouette to racing a mine cart (or rocket barrel or… rhinoceros) at breakneck speeds, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is at its visual, stylistic, and creative best when it’s also at its most challenging. Sure, those life Balloons are available in great abundance, but losing them one after another because you keep colliding with the same object or hesitating on that same calculated jump can cause real frustration — -even for hardened gamers.
If this sort of rote gameplay starts to get you down, you can turn to Professor Chops. In addition to offering helpful control tips and marking the mid-point of each level, the piggy Prof. will let you tag in Super Kong, DK’s silver-furred clone, to play the level for you. In theory, this is to show you how it’s done, but his more practical purpose is to allow green players to progress through the heartiest of platforming pandemonium. It’s a nice concession, of course, but I can’t help but think that toggling on long-term invincibility or even turning off fall deaths instead would’ve made this helping hand feel a little less gratuitous.
The silhouetted visuals still impress. image: NOA
Look, a little-known fact (that I’ve just made up) is that Nintendo fans are separated Hogwarts-style into one of two separate platforming houses. House Super Mario values speed and simplicity, power-ups and branching paths. House DK, on the other hand, is more deliberate, more calculating. It’s not that fans of one property can’t thoroughly enjoy the other, it’s only that, for those not already enamored by Donkey Kong Country’s style of gameplay, this title won’t likely be the one to sway you toward the other side.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD looks great and sounds even better. But, like its titular gorilla, it is big and lumbering and sometimes hard to love. Still, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth your time if you’re looking for a hearty, handsome challenge on your family’s Nintendo Switch system.
Review and promotional materials provided by Nintendo of America. This post contains affiliate links. “Do the Donkey Kong Song” is legitimately my favorite Buckner & Garcia deep cut.
