Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii) (Pre-Played - Game Only)

CONCEPT:Just as the name suggests, "Donkey Kong Country Returns" is an updated version of the beloved platforming series from the SNES. The story line is very familiar as once again Donkey Kong has been robbed of his banana treasure stash. Only this time it's not the Croc's who are the enemies but a mysterious brainwashing group of Tiki creatures.GRAPHICS:As I'm sure you've seen in still pics and game trailers this game is truly one of the most gorgeous to grace the Wii. Retro Studios has been known for their attention to detail, and on DKCR the game designers do not disappoint. The diversity between levels is also stunning, (I especially like the silhouette stage). The creativity implemented into each and every different stage makes this game retain all the charm of the original games.SOUND DESIGN:Obviously there are songs from the original game that appear in the soundtrack, (it just wouldn't be the same without that sweet jungle theme). They've been updated, remixed and compliment the atmosphere of the game nicely. The ambient sounds blend great to the backdrop of the level. Action sounds are clean, crisp, and very responsive I love when DK slams down his massive fists and my sub kicks out a double low thud...CONTROLS:At first using both the nunchuck and remote simultaneously seemed a little unneccesary and excessive for a platforming game. A few levels in though I realized there were many different movements implemented into the game. This really helped to change things up and make gameplay a lot less repetitive. Unfortunately this complicates the mechanics and there are just certain times where the controls are well... a lil' bit clumsy. Nothing bad enough to hold back this title, but this is after all a review so it does bear mentioning.ENTERTAINMENT:This game is loads of fun for fans of the platforming genre, in fact I'll go so far as to say this game would have a place in the top 5 Greatest Platformers Ever. The levels are difficult and sometimes even mentally challenging, the bosses are tricky and YOU WILL have a hard time completing this game. Although it can be played as a 2 player game, I found it to be extremely limiting for whoever was controlling Diddy.REPLAY VALUE:HIGHLots and lots of hidden puzzle pieces, K-O-N-G letters, time trials, unlockable levels... yea I'd say this game has a load of replay value to it, on top of the fact that the levels are fun to play. Mine Carts, Rocket Barrels... etc.OVERALLOne of the best games of 2010 on any console and perhaps THE best Wii release last year. A must play for fans of the franchise, Donkey Kong Country delivers both a fun and challenging game. I highly recommend this title as it will keep you entertained for weeks, especially if you want to achieve 100% completion.FINAL RATING : 9/10

I grew up playing Donkey Kong Country 1-3 when they originally came out. While I do miss the old Donkey Kong Country games, I think this game has done an excellent job at capturing the original gameplay. This game was incredibly challenging, and I actually have yet to beat it. People used to use the phrase "Nintendo Hard" to explain how difficult a game was, and this game certainly has done a good job at remembering that video games may be challenging and fun. I think this game makes good use of the Wii Remote, with the shaking making Donkey roll, pound the ground, or blow on flowers. I loved how the game makes use of the background, by making it part of the game experience. An example would be how certain enemies will come from the background to the foreground, or how you will jump into barrels that shoot you around the stage, giving this side scroller some dimension. I liked how they did this as opposed to a making the background a mere painting.I think this was a great game, and I recommend to any gamer.While I loved the game, I do have some complaints. However, my list of criticisms doesn't hinder the game at all, this is just me nitpicking. Because my complaints don't take away from the 5-Star rating, feel free to stop reading here. Again, these are simply little complaints.1) Firstly, I would love to be able to switch between Donkey and Diddy. Unfortunately, Diddy has become more of an added easy switch, if that makes any sense. All Diddy does is allow Donkey to have more life bars and float. This makes the game slightly easier. I want to emphasize, slightly easier. This is all so unfortunate because Diddy is a fun character and it would have been nice to play as him.2) I wish the bosses were a little more memorable, like Kleever from DKC 2 or the Dumb Drum from DKC.3) I would have like to have seen other animal buddies make an appearance rather than just Rambi and Squawks (who is only used as a guide to find puzzle pieces). I would love to see Winky, Enguarde, and Squitter make a return.4) I miss the DK coins, which I believe made a great challenge, especially getting to the DK Coin Kremling, appropriately named Koin.5) Lastly, I thought the Tiki's made great villains, but it would have been nice to see a Kremling, at least once; even if there was a Kremling used an opening appearance. I just want to see if Nintendo owns all the rights to the DKC games or if is Rare that owns certain parts of the game, because I want to see 'K. Rool' come back in later games.Anyway, that's it. In short, this was a great game and I recommend it anyone who loves Donkey Kong, and to anyone who also loves a challenge!

True story.First copy: It came with my Wii. But then someone kicked the my apartment door open and took it (along with my wife's wedding ring). I was super sad but it helped me relate to Donkey Kong when his banana hoard got stolen.Second copy: I bought it from some dude on Craigslist. But then, like a total idiot, I left it at my friend's house. For a year or two my friend told me he'd find and return it. He never found it. I don't think he really looked that hard.Third copy: After losing the game twice I debated whether I should to shell over more cash to get a third time. After waiting a year or so I finally broke down and bought it again. So worth it! This game immediately puts me in a good mood. I can't describe how stupid happy this game makes me.If you like platformers at all, BUY THIS GAME. Here's what I love:-Incredible gameplay. Every level is platforming genius. This is easily one of the best designed 2D platformer out there. Every level is clever.-Tons of extras to find. True to form this DK game has SO many secrets tucked away. There's a lot of replay value here folks.-Beautiful graphics, gorgeous vistas, and set pieces. I really wish Wii was in HD to do this game justice.-Nostalgia overload. This game brings back so many fun elements of the original DK Country game but with a fresh twist. The entire soundtrack is a beautiful rearrangement of the first game. It takes me back to when I first saw this game at my friend Dylan's house in second grade. A lot has changed since then! Dylan has been in and out of jail a few times but he's got a good heart. Really.BUT BE WARNED. The creators of this game are sadistic. It starts off fine but the difficulty ramps up quickly. You will want to scream. You will want to punch a monkey in the face. I know that you don't wear that little gray wiimote wristband. No one does. But you should wear it for this game. That way you won't break your TV when you throw your remote in a fit of frustration.

I play a lot of games (I have every system) and this game quickly made its way to the top of my list of games with great cooperative gameplay. My boyfriend is not much of a gamer; he comes from the Atari era and hasn't really played games since then. So I'm always on the lookout for games that he and I can enjoy together. It's great to see such a classic come back in such a spectacular manner. Donkey and Diddy each have their own strengths and weaknesses. Donkey Kong runs faster but Diddy has a little jetpack that allows him to hover in the air for a few seconds. I love the controls and the beating motion that will cause Donkey Kong to pound the ground or Diddy to shoot his bananas.The best part about this game is that Diddy can ride on Donkey Kong's back and shoot his bananas from there (as well as allowing Donkey to use Diddy's jetpack to hover! The best of both worlds!). You'll need to do it for a few boards where the cannon blows up after one use or you're riding a rail and it's just easier for the one player to control when to jump. I much prefer this over the New Super Mario Bros when multiplayer turned out to be a nightmare where you get in each other's way or someone falls way behind. I also like that the lives are shared between both Donkey and Diddy. In Mario, every person had their own set of lives so if they ran out, they couldn't play until you finished that particular board. Just make sure you have enough balloons/lives when you first start a board, especially the Temples.Another bonus is the railway boards. I loved the one board they had in New Super Mario Bros (world 8-7) with the bone roller coaster. Each world in DKCR has at least one of these boards where you are on a rail car and required to time your jumps (as well as how far you jump).I highly, highly recommend this game, for kids and adults alike. The replay value is high, as you go back to each board in order to get all the KONG letters, and again to get all the puzzle pieces, and then again when you unlock the special mode after you finish the game. I know I went on and on about the cooperative gameplay, but it does have a great single player mode too.

When my wife and I saw previews for this game, we both decided together immediately that we would get it. We both had hyper levels of nostalgia for the classic trilogy of Donkey Kong Country games on the SNES, and when I saw that Retro studios, the geniuses behind the best Metroid games in the franchise (I'm referring to the amazing Metroid Prime Trilogy, for those sadly unacquainted), I knew this sequel/reboot would be of the highest quality.We were not disappointed.We had an absolute blast playing together through each level to the end barrel, collecting red ballons, banana coins, and literally hundreds and hundreds of bananas along the way. We jumped around on evil sentient tiki torches, ran away from mountains of ants, and pounded on weird yet ridiculously fun bosses ranging from toad-armadillo-rhino hybrids, to a chicken operating a mech. All the while, we laughed, we fought, we screamed at the television, and we high fived when we actually got through a particularly difficult patch. This is not an easy game by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, it is one of the most challenging games I have ever attempted to play in my life. Oh, it starts out easy enough, but by the fourth world, every level will leave you breathless and your adrenal gland aged at least a couple more years. Playing it on co-op, as me and my wife did, makes it even harder as you have to be almost one minded in jumping at the same time in rapid succession across platforms that collapse within one or two seconds of landing on them. We didn't have too much of a problem though, and it was made all the funner for it. Who would have thought Donkey Kong would be awesome for husband-wife bonding? Plus, if a sequence is too difficult OR requires you to be too precise for two players to get through, the second player as Diddy can jump on DK's back and let player one get through that rough area. It's a brilliant, yet simple, design choice on Retro's part. This game has a ton of replay value as well, as you can't see everything this game has to offer without all the KONG letters and puzzle pieces. Heck, we were even playing optional levels, just to experience the greatness that is DKCR in every way we could.Obviously, I am smitten with DKCR's gameplay, its strongest suit, but is there anything else that is great about it? The answer is a resounding YES! The graphics are fantastic by any system's standards. The backgrounds are full of depth and amazing originality. Because of this advancement in graphical technology, Retro could do things unheard of in the day's of DKC 1-3. For instance, some of the barrel shooting sequence send you in full 3-D trajectories and may land you way off in one of the background courses, only to send you crashing through giant stone totem poles to get you back to the main ground. Some levels also feature foregrounds being only black silhouettes with the only color being DK's tie and Diddy's hat and shirt. These levels were very, very unique and visually stunning. The animations are fantastic in every way, as well as the animal designs. The music is a perfect blend of nostalgic tunes and very cool new tunes that resonate with surprisingly deep atmosphere. I was very impressed.All-in-all, Donkey Kong Country Returns is a brilliant and triumphant return to platform for DK, who has spent too long being cameos in Super Smash games and Mario Kart or starring in bizarre titles like Jungle Beat. After playing this, I can't help but wonder what took the big guy so long to come back, but boy am I glad he did! My wife and I can't recommend this game enough! BUY IT! PLAY IT! LOVE IT!

Nintendo made a bold move returning to a side-scroller instead of making a follow-up to DKC64. Perhaps the reason that Donkey Kong didn't translate as well to the 3D format as Mario is because Nintendo's technology simply wasn't and isn't up to the task of rendering the lush jungles and environments of the Donkey Kong universe. So for the time being what we have is a basically side-scrolling gameplay, but done exceptionally well.The game, being rendered in 3D, plays with a third dimension by tossing the eponymous ape into the background or foreground, almost reminiscent of pinball games with a second, vertical component on the back board. This opens up a whole new set of possibilities that weren't there on the 16-bit offerings. Levels can be absolutely gigantic in scope, as the camera simply pans out to accommodate the size, or zooms into claustrophobic caves and catacombs. The level design itself is almost always brilliant with new and occasionally infuriating challenges guaranteed on every level. Donkey Kong is at one point forced to run along a beach being bombarded by tidal waves that wash away good guys, bad guys, and any spare items lying around, and he must make use of whatever meager shelter he finds. Another level is set against the backdrop of a tropical sunset, and all foreground objects, be they static or otherwise, are rendered as black silhouettes. Complete with a jazzy soundtrack, the level would be downright relaxing were it not for the parade of vermin looking to kill you. There are plenty of mine cart levels, some of which require you to jump into and out of carts, and others in which you must make the cart itself jump. Unlike in previous games, the game gives you a visual clue as to which is which. There is no shortage of creativity flowing in the levels and the sense of discovery is constant.Unfortunately the game is definitely not perfect and prominently features some faults, both major and minor. The biggest is that the controls are absolutely awful. You never quite feel fully in control of Donkey Kong as he unpredictably bumbles along, falling to his death more often than he should. One of the mine cart levels requires a type of physically impossible double jump which is neither explained with in-game text or in any way intuitive or even logical. The game essentially requires that you die several times and memorize jumping spots to beat some levels. Very lame.The second notable issue is the intangible aspect, the atmosphere and "feel". DKCR is not made by Rare and the hip attitude and character of those games is conspicuously absent. The vast majority of music in the game is simply a more advanced rendering of the music from DKC1 (no tunes from 2 and 3 are present), although some of the new versions are not an improvement over the old. The iconic factory music has taken a turn for the worse. The team seems to go to great lengths to avoid making new music, even repurposing some types of music from the original game to new types of levels. What little original music is found explains why the makers steered so clear of making their own music - they suck at it. The game's original music is downright lousy. In particular, the lava world music is boring and meandering; for some reason it did not occur to them to just yank the excellent lava theme from DKC2. Overall, the overall "cool" feel of the original games is missing and the game definitely feels as though it was made in Japan.Beyond all that, the game occasionally just gets various other stuff wrong. In one level, the weather, which progressively gets worse as you go forward, reverts if you go backward unlike in the original game where the new weather conditions remained even if you went backward. There is no ice cave level, nor are there the swimming levels that were so fun and atmospheric in the originals.The fact is, though, that I gave Donkey Kong Country Returns four stars for a reason: it's just plain fun. The faults do drag down the experience but not so much that I wouldn't recommend getting it. It's so goddamn hard that you won't be able to play it through in a day, although admittedly some of that challenge isn't the legitimate kind but based in crappy controls. Nonetheless, it offers a lot of exploration, discovery, and adrenaline plus a whole heap of replay value due to its numerous features and side quests. Give it a try.

Years ago in a noisy pizza parlor I was introduced to arcade games. One of my first experiences was Donkey Kong. I loved it and ever since have been a Donkey Kong fan. Now after being impressed years ago with the SNES Donkey Kong Country here we go again, so lets get started sports fans:Graphics: Turning o the Wii you here the reto music remixed. The past slaps me in the face but in a good way. You start to play and Donkey Kong is better looking than ever. The enviornments are crisp and colorful. Water drips and rushes in the background and the shadow levels are a cool change. 5 out of 5Music: As I mentioned is remixed and great especially in level 7 when they redid the music of the factory in Music Mania level. The shadow levels have a jazzy and cool sound to them as well. Also the new music is great. 5 out of 5Control: Very simple. I went through my gaming boot camp in the old NES days so I played with the controller on its side. My only complaint of the game is here. The motion controls feel forced with the twisting to get Donkey Kong to slap the ground or do a roll. Why cant I hit a direction and a button Nintendo?? We should at least have that option. It is a small gripe. 4 out of 5Gameplay: A title that a hardcore gamer can dive into for days possibly weeks collecting everything or a casual gamer can complete easily over time. Wonderfully fun to play.Overall: As a platformer in the old 2-D style this games delivers better than most. I will actually go as far to say it is better all around than new super mario bros wii in every way. Lets hope Nintendo doesnt wait as long to do the next chapter in the Donkey Kong saga. Lets also hope that Donkey Kong is actually in them to unlike DK country 2-3.

This masterpiece of Game Design truly delighted me in ways I didn't think possible any longer.Having been dis-enfranchised with most of the major game series (from the Zelda, Castlevania, Mana, etc. series on the console to other series' on PC) in the past few years, I certainly didn't expect much from this game.All my fears were laid to rest within the first hour of playing.This return to DK Country completely redeems the series from the terrible sequels that came out after the first game which was not only completely innovative, and a fun storyline, and was visually appealing, but had a great soundtrack, effects & gameplay to boot!DK Country Returns is definitely a RETURN to its roots from the original game and is able to introduce new elements (or re-done elements) without looking like it was trying to emulate its former greatness.Be prepared for some really great moments that you'll remember long after you finish the game just like with the original.I'd like to point out I grew up playing this game with my younger siblings and it was just as fun playing multi-player now as it was then. Funnily enough, I used to hate playing as Diddy in the first game, but absolutely love the little guy in this incarnation (which is just fine because my younger brother likes Donkey hahah)I was a little dis-appointed by the coin system in the sense that the selection of items and their impotence makes them almost pointless.Also the puzzle system to unlock effects or artwork is very lame. They should allowed you to do something useful (like unlock a new type of item, play as a different character, unlock a hidden ultra-hard level, etc. etc.)However, I am forgiving on these small points (also isn't the fun in collecting something fun in and of itself?)

wonderful 2d platforming game great condition thanks

yes,this is briliant.not that easy for small children.teen or adult game i would say,or anyone that could do mario galaxy should be ok.its aremake of my favourite ever,donkey kong country on the snes.its similar but nothing like it.totally modernised,but the same simple story and gameplay.if you like platformers.dont consider anything else for pure fun and a little frustration.mario galaxy 2 i like just as much,but is more of a technical achievement than this.dont get me wrong...this looks amazing for a 2d platformer,but it is pure classic old school and is mainly 2d.10/10

Excelente juego muy estilo old school!

Jeu plutôt sympa qui permet de jouer à 2. Le principe du jeu est simple: récolter un maximum de bananes, de coeurs (vies), de pièces (pour effectuer des achats de vies, ballons etc...) ou autres cachés dans de multiples endroits pour accéder aux mondes suivants et vaincre les ennemis de Donkey Kong. Mes enfants adorent.

Lo compré para jugar mi novia y yo de vez en cuando y esta muy divertido. No es tan difícil.