Summary
- Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for Nintendo Switch swaps out the Wii remote for a Switch Joy-Con on a statue.
- The Switch version includes all additions from 3DS port.
- Otherwise, it's nearly identical to past versions of the game.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD makes a change to the background by removing the Wii remote from the Donkey Kong statue and replacing it with a Switch Joy-Con. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is the latest version of the classic Wii platformer, originally released in 2010.
Donkey Kong Country Returns on the Wii earned critical acclaim at the time of its release, praised as a successful return of the beloved Donkey Kong Country sub-series. The game was later ported to the Nintendo 3DS with additional features, including an easier difficulty option and eight new levels. Now Nintendo is gearing up to release DKCR yet again, but this time with high-definition graphics on the Nintendo Switch.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is scheduled to release for the Nintendo Switch on January 16, 2025. It's expected to be virtually identical to previous versions of the game, though GameXplain noticed a small but clever change. As spotted in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD gameplay videos, the Donkey Kong statue that can be spotted in the background is holding a red Switch Joy-Con instead of a Wii remote. The statue held a Wii remote in the 3DS version of the game, too, so this change was made specifically for the new Switch release.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Makes a Change to the Background
Besides pointing out this neat Easter egg, the video seems to be poking fun at the fact that the footage of the Wii and Switch versions of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD look almost identical. While they will offer near 1:1 experiences in terms of gameplay, there are actually some important ways that Donkey Kong Country Returns HD stands out from the Wii version. The HD graphics are the most obvious, but those that only played the Wii release and skipped the 3DS version may be tempted to pick up the Switch version for other reasons.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD could be considered the ultimate version of the game as it includes all the new content that was released for the 3DS port, including the eight new levels and easier difficulty options. It will also give home console players the chance to experience Donkey Kong Country Returns without the divisive motion controls that were required for the Wii release. I personally never had a problem with the Donkey Kong Country Returns motion controls, but it's nice to have the option to play with more traditional controls. In any case, it will be interesting to see if there are any other smaller changes hidden throughout the Switch version of the game when it launches next month.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 77 /100 Critics Rec: 71%
- Released
- January 16, 2025
- ESRB
- E for Everyone - Mild fantasy violence
- Developer(s)
- Forever Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
WHERE TO PLAY
Help Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong recover their precious banana hoard from the villainous Tiki Tak Tribe! Stomp enemies, blast through barrels, and ride rockets and mine carts (and even Rambi the rhino) in 80 levels across nine worlds.
Play the game as it was first designed for the Wii™ system, or reduce the difficulty for extra hearts and other goodies to make your journey a little easier. This barrel-blasting adventure is visually enhanced in HD for the Nintendo Switch™ system and includes the extra levels from the Nintendo 3DS™ version!
Team up with a friend and take on the whole game as Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong
Pass a Joy-Con™ controller to a buddy and take on the Tiki Tak Tribe as DK and Diddy in two-player local play. Pelt foes with Diddy’s Peanut Popgun and hover using his Barrel Jet, and slam bad guys into submission with DK’s Ground Pound—or just Barrel Roll right through them. Work together to reclaim those bananas by the bunch!
- Multiplayer
- Local Co-Op, Online Co-Op
- Franchise
- Donkey Kong Country
- Number of Players
- 1-2
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
- January 16, 2025
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- How Long To Beat
- 11.5 hours
- How Long To Beat (Completionist Runs)
- 31 hours
