The weakest Donkey Kong Country is still pretty great

Donkey Kong Country Returns just won’t stop returning.

Players may recall the game’s initial launch for the Wii in 2010 and perhaps even the updated Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D for the 3DS from 2013, but that’s just the tip of the banana hoard. Returns was also reissued for both Wii and 3DS as part of the discount Nintendo Selects line, launched as a digital-only offering on the Wii U eShop, and even released for the Nvidia Shield in China as recently as 2019 (in 1080p and 60 frames per second, no less).

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for the Nintendo Switch takes aspects of each of these rereleases — motion controls, bonus levels, enhanced visuals — and packages them into the ultimate experience. It’s easily the best the game has ever looked and felt, but with so many quality Donkey Kong Country outings (literally all of them) available on Switch, Returns HD often has a hard time measuring up.

It’s obvious from the start that the makers of Donkey Kong Country Returns, and by extension Returns HD, were attempting to revive the magic of 1994’s original faux-3D adventure, while still putting a fresh twist on its environments, enemies and collectibles. The game’s soundtrack follows suit, with many of David Wise’s fan-favorite tracks, such as “Forest Frenzy” and “Aquatic Ambience,” getting remixed alongside new offerings by veteran Nintendo composer Kenji Yamamoto. The resulting game is an interesting blend of nostalgia and new ideas, but thematically it all feels a bit too tame. The Donkey Kong Country series is at its best and most memorable when things get weird, and while Returns HD does have its notable moments, they’re few and far between.

While the settings aren’t particularly awe-inspiring, the variety and quality of level design across Returns HD’s roughly 12-hour adventure is impressive. Though it stumbles at times due to difficulty (more on that in a bit), new level mechanics like clingy grass walls, crumbling platforms, and beautiful sunsets casting silhouettes add some much-needed gameplay diversity to the classic hop-’n’-bop formula. Each level is brimming with bananas, coins, hearts, and the K-O-N-G letters Donkey Kong fans know all too well. Players will be hard-pressed to find all Returns HD has to offer on their initial playthrough, inspiring completionists to revisit every nook and cranny in search of bonus barrels and hidden puzzle pieces.

Like in the original Donkey Kong Country, the titular ape is joined by the versatile Diddy Kong. With the Switch’s HD rumble, controlling the pair’s ground-pounding, high-flying antics feels as good as ever. Though Diddy is unplayable in single-player outings, his presence gives Donkey Kong an endless roll attack and, drawing inspiration from Donkey Kong 64, an extended hover jump via his jetpack. In two-player mode, the chimp can perform his own acrobatics and even brandishes his iconic peanut popgun at times. It’s easy for multiplayer platformers to get a bit hectic, but Returns HD handles it well, allowing Diddy the ability to go solo or latch onto Donkey Kong’s back for a tag-team approach.

In its intended form, dubbed “Original Mode,” Returns HD can be brutally difficult. With only two hit points (four with Diddy along for the ride) and instant death from falls, ocean waves, and various vehicle collisions, players are forced to jump, swing, and roll with near perfection to survive, let alone discover and collect all the secrets the game has to offer. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as 2D platformers that play it too safe can feel stale, but with sudden difficulty spikes, Returns HD can instead feel unfair and poorly paced at times.

To combat past complaints of sudden surges in primate proficiency, Returns HD introduces “Modern Mode,” an updated take on what was called “New Mode” in the game’s release on the 3DS. Players who choose Modern Mode are privy to an extra heart per Kong, as well as the ability to equip items bought from Cranky Kong’s store. Extra lives, momentary invincibility, and backup barrels are all available, and at discounted prices no less. Modern Mode allows players to equip up to nine of these items before jumping into any level, an exuberant amount of safety nets that seem sure to get even the most inexpert player to the end of most levels or boss fights.

Even with safety nets in place, when it comes to eliciting frustration, Returns HD’s minecart and rocket barrel gauntlets are the worst offenders. These levels, sprinkled throughout the game’s eight main worlds, introduce new obstacles and enemies so quickly that they’re nearly impossible to overcome on a first attempt. Suddenly a mole with a bomb appears, a boulder made of diamond spikes falls, or a giant bat lurches on screen from below and you’re dead. What’s worse is that even when you know what’s coming, the simplest mistake will always result in failure. Timing is everything, and while veteran players will be able to traverse most of these challenges after a handful of attempts, the average player is bound to find these sections unbearable. Bless the unfortunately named Tutorial Pig, who pops up multiple times per level to give players a much-needed point of return.

Players who just can’t hack it (and have lost enough lives) are offered the services of the legendary Super Kong. This white-haired Donkey Klone will auto-run perilous levels from start to finish, avoiding every possible collectible along the way. It’s another great option for less confident Kongs who simply want to move on to the next challenge, though Super Kong’s sluggish pace can certainly be a chore to behold.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a solid game — it’s just far from the best primate platforming experience on the Switch. The original Super Nintendo trilogy remains timeless (yes, even the one with Kiddy Kong), and 2018’s port of Tropical Freeze is both thematically and creatively superior, with an entire cast of Kongs along for the ride. That being said, fans of 2D platforming will still find plenty to love in Returns HD’s 80-plus levels and oodles of collectibles. And with plenty of padding for newcomers in the form of Modern Mode, equippable items, and Super Kong, Returns HD is easily the most accessible entry in the Donkey Kong Country lineup to date.

Just try not to get too mad when you miss that minecart jump for the seventh time in a row.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD will be released Jan. 16 on Nintendo Switch. The game was reviewed on Nintendo Switch using a pre-release download code provided by Nintendo. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. You can find additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here.