Even as we look ahead to one thing, something, on Nintendo’s subsequent console, the Change nonetheless has a good variety of new releases in 2025. Donkey Kong Nation Returns HD is one in all them, arriving on January sixteenth for the console at $59.99 and serving as an HD port of the 2010 platformer for the Nintendo Wii. With sturdy vital acclaim again within the day and over 6.5 million copies bought, there’s loads of cause to leap in. Take a look at 15 issues you need to learn about it earlier than pre-ordering.
Origins
With Donkey Kong Nation: Tropical Freeze out there for the Nintendo Change, it is sensible to deliver Donkey Kong Nation Returns over and provides it the HD remedy. Nonetheless, the latter was vital for a lot of different causes at launch. It was the primary Donkey Kong Nation title after the SNES trilogy, launching 14 years later for the Nintendo Wii. Additionally, as an alternative of Uncommon, which dealt with the earlier entries, Metroid Prime developer Retro Studios is on the helm for the primary time within the franchise.
Developed by Without end Leisure
Nonetheless, the Nintendo Change model isn’t dealt with by Retro Studios however Without end Leisure, as reported by Bankier. The studio (which printed the remakes for Entrance Mission 1 and 2) additionally labored Tropical Freeze for the Change and did a fairly good job, although we’ll get to the visible modifications in Donkey Kong Nation Returns HD shortly.
Gameplay
For those who performed the SNES titles, Donkey Kong Nation Returns HD will really feel acquainted. As a side-scrolling platformer, gamers can management Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong (although solely the previous is playable solo). You possibly can soar on and roll via enemies, pound on the bottom to progress or reveal objects, experience on mine carts, swing from vines, accumulate bananas and Puzzle Items to unlock gallery objects. Animals like Rambi and Squawks additionally return to help.
New Mechanics to the Sequence
Whereas characters within the unique Donkey Kong Nation trilogy may go down in a single hit, Donkey Kong Nation Returns contains a well being bar. The trade-off is you may’t change to Diddy Kong when taking part in solo. Nonetheless, he can soar on Donkey Kong’s again along with his jetpack permitting you to make longer jumps. The opposite change is a brand new silhouette presentation for some ranges, which not solely seems glossy but additionally homes new challenges.
For instance, in the event you line up sure background objects in Sundown Shore, it’ll rain bananas and cash. Some platforms in Foggy Fumes may not be instantly seen, resulting in some second-guessing. On high of all this, there’s a brand new automobile, the Rocket Barrel, which gives its treacherous levels to navigate.
Native Play
One of many appeals of Donkey Kong Nation is taking part in with a buddy and Donkey Kong Nation Returns HD helps this. A second participant can management Diddy Kong, and sure, you may nonetheless hop on Donkey Kong’s again to boost his jumps (and reduce down by yourself work). As soon as a personality’s well being is depleted, you may deliver them again with DK Barrels scattered all through the levels.
Tremendous Kong
If issues are too tough and also you die a number of instances in a degree, Tremendous Kong might be known as in to save lots of the day and full a degree (which additionally works with bosses). The draw back just isn’t receiving bananas, cash, balloons granting further lives, and collectibles. You additionally received’t see the areas for the latter, making 100% completion (and even ending the ultimate stage) unimaginable. Nonetheless, for individuals who get caught and wish to get on with the story, it’s an possibility.
Okay-Phases
If you accumulate the KONG letters scattered in each degree, you’ll unlock a Okay-Stage. These are difficult areas in every world, and finishing them grants a Uncommon Orb. For those who beat the sport and have all eight Uncommon Orbs, you may unlock the ultimate world after which Mirror Mode.
Further Ranges
This isn’t the primary time Donkey Kong Nation Returns has been ported to different platforms. Monster Video games introduced it to the Nintendo 3DS and added new options like New Mode and eight model new ranges, encompassed within the new Cloud world. Accumulating all Uncommon Orbs is critical to entry the Cloud Gateway to enter this world and subsequently the final degree.
Mirror Mode
After ending the ultimate degree, there’s excellent news – you are able to do it once more in Mirror Mode. Out there solely in solo play, it flips each degree within the recreation, removes Diddy Kong, and solely provides you one coronary heart, which implies one hit, and also you’re useless. You can also’t use objects, additional growing the issue.
Time Assault
For those who’re the speed-running kind, then Time Assault mode could also be value trying out. Out there after finishing a stage, your purpose is to achieve the tip within the quickest time doable. There are Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals to earn, however it’s also possible to strive for Shiny Golds, whose completion time is hidden. You don’t get something for all of the medals, making this mode fully non-obligatory, but it surely’s an effective way to check your data of the degrees.
Unique Mode and New Mode
One other new characteristic from the 3DS port, which carries over to the Nintendo Change model, is New Mode. It’s successfully Straightforward mode, granting extra hearts, growing held objects to 9, and providing different protecting measures. You possibly can survive two crashes from mine carts and rocket barrels with Crash Guard, whereas Inexperienced Balloon will prevent as soon as in the event you fall into the abyss. Unique Mode remains to be out there for individuals who wish to expertise the sport with the unique problem, so don’t fear.
Playtime
The principle story will final 11.5 hours on common per HowLongToBeat. This jumps to 18 hours when factoring in aspect content material, however completionists would require 31 hours on common to complete every little thing. Nonetheless, that is for the Wii model and doesn’t account for the additional ranges from the 3DS port. Regardless, Donkey Kong Nation Returns HD guarantees a prolonged platforming expertise in the event you’re devoted sufficient.
Visually Enhanced (?)
Donkey Kong Nation Returns HD sports activities a better decision than the Wii launch, however there are some noticeable visible modifications, which aren’t all fully constructive. Sure objects like Hearts and KONG letters don’t glow as brightly; the sundown in some ranges is absent; and the colours in lots of situations aren’t the identical. Your mileage could fluctuate on how a lot all this issues, however in the event you’re a stickler for a 1:1 HD port in visuals, this isn’t it (although they nonetheless look fairly good).
JoyCon Options
Native play is solely doable with a pair of JoyCons, with every participant utilizing one to regulate a personality. And whereas your complete recreation is playable with buttons, the JoyCons might be shaken to smack the bottom, thus unveiling hidden goals. This carries over from the Wii model, and whereas pointless, it’s good to see it carry over to the Change.
File Measurement on Nintendo Change
Whereas Tropical Freeze required 6.7 GB of set up house on the Change, Donkey Kong Nation Returns HD is surprisingly greater. You’ll want 8.3 GB of house as an alternative – it’s not a lot, however nonetheless a noticeable leap.
