History of Donkey Kong series
In the year 1981, the creator Shigeru Miyamoto has made the arcade game called 'Donkey Kong' is the platform game that features the character, such as Mario (A.K.A jumpman) has the goal to rescue Pauline, which she was kidnapped by the giant ape called Donkey Kong took her to top of the stages.
All you do is to jump over the barrels, climbing up the ladders, break the barrel with hammer, and rescue her from the top of the level what makes the game so ironic. It is the golden age of arcade games and became of the most popular arcade games in 80's, so the game was later release for home console on 1982 to 1986. Donkey Kong had became the most recognizable video game characters of all time.
With the success of the first game, the sequel called 'Donkey Kong Jr' was released on 1982 and the follow up game called 'Donkey Kong 3' was released on 1983.
In 1994, Nintendo and the british developer Rareware have revived the series and decided to bring the platformer game called 'Donkey Kong Country' is the first SNES game that uses the silicon graphics, which utilizes the SGI technology with pre-rendered 3D animation and realistic physics allowing to push SNES hardware system. The game was very known for unique levels, realistic graphics, smooth gameplay, and it has the best soundtrack in video games. The game had receive many acclaim reviews from video game magazines and had sold over 9 million copies making it second best selling SNES games. The sequel 'Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong's Quest was released in 1995 features the new character Dixie Kong as playable character. It is the one of my favourite platform game for SNES because the game has smooth controls, still has the amazing graphics, loads of excellent levels with great challenge, and of course it still has the best soundtrack as well. In 1996, 'Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble' is the last game for SNES before the release of Nintendo 64 launch. It features the new playable character Kiddy Kong as the cousin of Dixie Kong, new levels, similar gameplay from previous game, and more complex puzzles and obstacles. The game has positive reviews, but it did not sold well as the previous games is due to the release of Nintendo 64 console. In 1999, 'Donkey Kong 64' was came out for Nintendo 64 and it is the 3D platformer game that features enhanced graphics with Expansion Pak, which pushes 8MB RAM and even more variety of overall 3D environments. It receives a good review, but they say it's not just good as the Donkey Kong Country. In 2014, Nintendo brought the DKC series back in business with the help of Retro Studios would take the part of the new installment called 'Donkey Kong Country Returns' for Nintendo Wii and later for 3DS version on 2013 has similar roots to classics with more variety of levels, adding new features of the game, unique gameplay, and has more cartoony graphics than the previous games, so the game recieves much positive reviews from the critics citing the game has great old-school gameplay, incredible stages, and so much fun to play on co-op mode. The sequel 'Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze' for Wii U was released in 2014 and still has the great reviews as the previous game has. Okay that's the history of the game series and lets do the review right now.
Donkey Kong Country Returns Wii Review
Donkey Kong Country Returns is the 2D platform game for Wii and 3DS, developed by Retro Studios, and published by Nintendo.
The game takes place in Donkey Kong's Island, Tiki Tak Tribe arrives at the Island to hypnotize all the animals and steals the bananas, which forces Donkey Kong has the goal to get his bananas back where it came from with the help of Diddy Kong.
This game has single player mode, and co-op mode to select on the menu. You get to select any stages on the map including Cranky Kong's house, which you can purchase extra lives, Squawk the Parrot helps you to find and collect puzzles pieces, extra hearts, and Key to unlock levels.
The gameplay plays fantastic with impressive controls of using the Wii Remote horizontally or with nunchunk attached with it. The character's movement feels very responsive for jumping and moving around the level. Shaking the Wii remote uses for roll attack, ground pound, and charge run when riding on Rambi the Rhino feels much accurate for using the Wii remote. Holding the jump button while Diddy Kong is with you allowing player to float with barrel jet is quite useful, but it lasted 2 seconds to float is quite too short for jumps, which it could have been better if the barrel jet can lasted for 5 seconds. You can blow things by holding the down button and shake Wii remote is quite handy for some of the levels. In co-op mode, you can separate the players by dismounting Donkey Kong with holding down and press 1 button, which is awesome, but the problem is that you can't able to switch characters around in single player mode, which is quite shame that the previous game for SNES does have an options to switch character, but not on this game unless you have to play it on co-op mode to play as Diddy Kong as the second player. I say the levels are quite epic is because it has great stages with awesome traps, insane objects to avoid, and couple of enemies coming towards you makes the game so fun, and I say the boss battles are enjoyable to play in the levels, but it's not just high challenging as the previous games, but I say the gameplay atmosphere are still doing an amazing job. Overall, I love collecting the things, unlocking new levels, epic boss fights, and such an unique gameplay to make this game so awesome.
The graphics are outstanding is because the character's design looks very good on the character's overall environment, it has really nice visuals effects, superb animation and very detailed graphics overall makes it look wonderful.
The music and sounds still has a great jungle music, which are just good as the original DKC games that fitted the level atmosphere, it has really fine ambient noise, cherish sound effects, cool background sounds and excellent voice over seems works really well done.
The special features has unlockable levels, Cranky Kong's house to purchase items, and more stuff to collect in the game.
Advantages
Awesome gameplay
Outstanding graphics
Great music and sounds
Epic levels
More stuff to collect
Disadvantages
You can't switch or separate characters for single player mode to play as Diddy Kong
Floating barrel jet lasted for 2 second is too short
The game aren't challenging as the previous DKC games
Final Verdict
Here is my final verdict of the game....
Gameplay 8.8/10 - Fantastic controls, amazing levels, epic boss fights, and overall gameplay enviroments.
Graphics 9/10 - Outstanding character's design, nice visuals effects, superb animation and very detailed graphics overall.
Music and sound 9/10 - Great jungle music, ambient noise, cherish sound effects, cool background sounds and excellent voice over.
Special Features 8/10 - It has unlockable levels, Cranky Kong's house to purchase items, and more stuff to collect in the game.
Overall 9/10 - It is the outstanding 2D platformer game for Nintendo Wii console. This game handles well for new installment without the help from former Nintendo developer Rareware instead they get to help by Retro Studios could handle the series very well by following the original roots of the classic original DKC with fantastic gameplay overall, superb graphics, great soundtrack, and it keeps the game ongoing, but it does have some flaws that the game could have been done better for the future titles like DKC: Tropical Freeze for Wii U would improve the gameplay aspects, but I say this game is definitely must own for the Wii owners. If you're the 3DS owner outthere, just give it try with 3DS version because it is still the best Donkey Kong games in modern days.
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