Donkey Kong Country Returns HD: Nintendo Switch Review

Developed by Retro Studios
Published by Nintendo
Platform: Nintendo Switch 

It's been around since 2010 and maybe 15 years on would seem to be a red flag for a relaunch of an old title.

But in truth, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD remains a fun and enjoyable platformer within the Donkey Kong world. An enjoyably simple 2D platformer, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is all about just letting you get into your platforming ways and kick back as the simian king.

When his banana horde is stolen by the Tiki Tak Tribe, it's up to Donkey Kong and his mini pal Diddy Kong to negotiate through the 80 plus levels of the game to get back what's rightfully his.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is not really rocket science in many ways - but its MO makes it extremely playable. Especially given in co-op mode, a friend can take on Diddy Kong and play together - it's a fun side of the remaster that makes it more worthwhile.

Just using easy controls and game play methods of rolling, ducking and jumping as well as smashing barrels, Donkey Kong is easy to let loose in the Tiki Tak Tribe's worlds - as always with any platformer, timing is the key to this - and while the latency of the buttons is perfectly fine, it may take a little bit to get used to what's the right time to jump to perfection.

Given all you have to do in levels is jump, stomp, find hidden objects and collect, the key to Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is just the way the game concentrates only on what's needed. Rather than overcomplicating matters, it makes the pick up and play element easy.

While that may be a negative for some, it's actually a boon as the platforming difficulty increases pitching itself perfectly at its key audience.

As platforming goes, it's actually top banana - even if it is a remaster of a title from 15 years ago.