Donkey Kong Country Returns - The Long Road Home | PostMesmeric 

The DKC series is really great and I wish Nintendo would make games for it more often. It’s sad that it’s been almost 10 years now since an actual new game in the series. (Not counting DKCR on 3ds or tropical freeze on switch)

Right after I did my own DKC Returns video. This week is the Returns Renaissance. Returns is often the ignored middle child between the old games and Tropical Freeze, glad there's more of a spotlight on it

What I really appreciate with Donkey Kong Country Returns are the Golden Temple levels. They were super fun because they were super challenging, and especially on Mirror Mode! I did three 200% playthroughs of this game, once on Wii and twice on Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D. Good times!

It's really hard for me to separate DKC Returns from the context of its release. While Donkey Kong had been present for the past eleven years, he'd been in something of an identity crisis. Jungle Beat gave a rich amount of content without the context that Rare had championed through their game design, King of Swing and Jungle Climber... existed if you dug deep enough, Smash couldn't decide if King and Kaptain K Rool were the same guy or brothers in trophy descriptions, publications as entrenched as Nintendo Power started decrying the original trilogy as gimmicky graphics showcases that weren't true classics, just 'fun for their time' games, snake oil that everyone bought and swore by before realizing they had no lasting legacy. DK didn't have anything to latch onto besides his name. Having the Country return, even in the limited capacity character-wise that he came back in, really was a special thing. I really, really appreciate you taking a look at this from your perspective, as my own is clouded simultaneously by "DK IS BACK WHEN I NEEDED HIM MOST, HE IS HOME AND HE IS GOOD" and "I AM MISSING LIKE HALF OF WHAT I LOVE ABOUT DKC HERE GUYS PLEASE JUST GIVE ME, LIKE, ARMY DILLO OR SOMETHING I WON'T EVEN BEG FOR SWANKY." What watching this helps me realize is seeing DKC slowly morph from a series about individual moments and obstacles to one about pure momentum. DKC2 and DKC3 appreciate and hang on little moments in levels so much, there's a tension that comes from going obstacle to obstacle, pausing to let characters speak and make jokes, moments to collect yourself and handle a tough challenge ahead, and then strung together masterfully to create levels that you can weave through deftly with experience, either from replay or dying over and over again. Returns is significantly more focused on the totality of its experiences, the environmental story that every level tells, DK smashing through anything in his path with brute strength and crazy speed. That gets further complimented by the art direction, and even the cutscene direction going full Popeye by the end of the game and leaning into DK's original cartoon influence with the biggest payoff it can muster! I personally disagree with the idea of bonus levels being organically incorporated into DKCR's levels - I think they're pretty major pace-breakers that interrupt the sense of flow the levels basically all bank on conveying (the KONG letters remain an elegant solution, though). DKCR is a game that always wants to keep itself moving and carry its momentum from one piece to the next, it doesn't have time for Cranky to quip or to learn a new gimmick or Squitter! And, while that's not my preferred identity for the series, it's definitely something. Something that Tropical Freeze would go on to define and something that DK is well and truly celebrated for nowadays. Thank you, as always, for putting things into words what I could not. Looking forward to next year, and the year after where we will totally definitely have a new mainline DK to talk about by then!

This game was my childhood, absolute masterpiece

I respect your stance on Returns. I love both the SNES and the Retro Studios DKC games. One thing that stands out to me about Returns & Tropical Freeze is the use of the camera. The camera pans out in levels like Prehistoric Path, Gear Getaway, and Music Madness. Moreover, Returns plays around quite a bit with DK interacting with objects in both the foreground and background. I believe this dynamic camera system compliments the gameplay by adding a sense of depth and magnitude to each level in the game. Returns makes it clear that you've embarked on a dangerous quest through a beautifully immersive, yet deadly world.

I will never forget the kinetic effect of this game. It is single-handedly what sold me on this game that, like you, I was split on. There's plenty here that leaves me wanting, but just as much that makes me want to go back and see it again. Great video! Happy DK month!

Well done video! I think returns deserves more love, and I hope we get a dkc6!

Oh wow I loved this. Your juxtaposition between DKC and Metroid Prime is such an interesting case study of Retro. And your analysis felt so comprehensive but the time flew by watching it. Amazing work!

As always, an interesting watch 😁. Love your commentary

This is probably the 8th video of yours I've watched in a row, and I absolutely love your perspective, buddy. Criminally underrated. Thank you for the wicked, thought-provoking content.

Great video, I look forward to the one on Tropical Freeze!

Great analysis as always, man. I remember enjoying this one for the small amount that I've played. I still need to play Tropical Freeze.

Jungle beat was freaking amazing! It really brought a tear to my eye to see the reference they gave us in ultimate for DK’s final smash. This game is way too overlooked it really deserves more attention.

Yeah, Returns was pretty good, but in my opinion, it ain't got jack on Tropical Freeze. Best 2D platformer I've ever played.

Returns is my favorite because it’s ambitious and hard

When I heard about this game I literally went out n bought a Wii… I obviously loved the originals n I was more than happy w how this turned out, still haven’t played tropical freeze tho which is apparently even better

hot take: i dont actually like the original dkc trilogy ( i still think there good but not my favs) but i love returns and tropical freeze. idky but i thinkk the main reasons are the level desings in the og trilogy always felt too punishing, and also returns/freezes atmostphere and vibes are amazing

The next DK needs to have the Kremlings

Id love to find out why blowing was chosen as a move at all

I would like to point out that - aside the Tikis and robots - all of the enemies have been brainwashed into fighting you. Yes we know that the bosses don't die after they're defeated, but what about the other animals? Is it cannon that Donkey Kong killed a hole bunch of innocent animals in order to reach the final boss?

If they are gonna make a DKC again...they need to have kremlings as the main villian always...just like mario always fights koopas. but im old school...I played the OG DKC on SNES as my first game ever so maybe that's why

can we consider this video part of donkey kong december? would be cool

I like all the DK games. In fact I even love the tv series. Sorry haters

Loved DKCR, but I do find myself about some of what you pointed out about it.

While I think your video has merit and is a very interesting discussion about a game that I hold very fond memories of, you missed out on talking about the lack of any support for spin off games for most of the Mario characters. Donkey Kong, Wario World, literally anything with Waluigi lol, etc have all been forgotten in their usage. While I def know this is mainly to celebrate DK month, I still find that it’s a discussion nobody is having. It’s something that everyone agrees is an issue, yet no one wants to continue the fight.

as a avid DK fan. I give the game 9/10 bananas. The only reason it doesn't get the last score is kremlings. If the game had King K. Rool and Kremlings. EASILY 20/10 bananas.

I wonder what a 2D Mario game made by Retro Studios would look like?

This dude definitely passed English class.

While I did enjoy DKCR and DKCTF, I couldn't help but think of the original trilogy. While I'm glad that Retro Studios was brought in to bring DK back to his roots; It feels as though Retro was limited to what they were allowed to put into the games. That's why Rambi and Sqwak are the only animal buddies, and the Kremlings weren't brought in as the main enemies.

the hippos are the best characters in the game. change my mind.

This game always reminds me of toki tori 2.

Is this the game that was leaked

The biggest issue with Returns isn't that K.Rool is missing. In fact, I'm sorta glad he is. In a way, it makes his own return even more triumphant. Not saying I like the Tikis, specially the big boss at that, it has a boring design the kind you see early in zelda or mario, you know, the big monster with detached fists? usually has eyes on their hands? That's not final boss material. The real issue is that the Ice Nomad big boss in the sequel wasn't Krool in disguise. Think about it: Game ends, you beat him down, disguise comes off, and everyone, including the penguins are SHOCKED! He duped everyone, every single person involved with the game's plot. The ice people didn't need too invade a tropical island, they were just tricked by this giant, fat aligator. Heck, what the heck even happened to their real leader? So they gotta now help the ape kick him out, and that's what the final confrontation should be like, the random polar bosses each pitching in their own way to stop him in a progressively evolving stage as the crocodile flies away in a jetpack and shoots random stuff that crashes down platforms. The ending could have DK actually welcoming everyone to the island and everyone ends up sharing icecream over their collective dislike of Krool. THAT, is the real ending to Tropical Freeze and to Country Returns - and unfortunately we didn't get it. The lack of a setup and payoff for the Kremlings' omission is a huge miss by Retro.

Your assessment of this game is pretty similar to how I feel about New Pokemon Snap. Technically good and with plenty new stuff that is an overall boon to the series, but lacking or having made different decisions where it really counts to make it AS good as what came before.

I've tried to play this game a few times and can never stay interested long enough to finish it. I love Tropical Freeze so it's not the style change. Honestly it's the controls just bug me, both 3ds and wii. And Diddy is as much of a downgrade on your air control as it is a slight hovering bonus. You can't bounce right anymore, sometimes you can, other times you just instantly hover off of the enemy gaining no height instead of bouncing, then die. Diddy sucked in Tropical Freeze too, he's a hazard not a power-up.

Returns is better than the Classic series in every way EXCEPT music and art direction. The gameplay is so good in a lot of ways it even exceeds Tropical Freeze in my opinion.

Hey hey, where is the best place I can reach out to you? (check your patreon DM's) :P

I never liked the DK Country series. Honestly I think the minecart levels killed it for me.

There are two problems with DKCR: the generic enemies and the lack of darkness and sadness that the others games had. If this game had the Kremlings and a little less of happiness, it’d be the DKC 4 that we all dreamt of.

Donkey Kong is always the least interesting playable character in his series