Donkey Kong Country Returns

Donkey Kong Country Returns
Developer(s)	Retro Studios
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Platforms	Wii
Release date:	November 21, 2010 December 2, 2010 December 3, 2010 December 9, 2010
Genre	Platformer
Modes	Single-player, multiplayer
Walkthrough on Strategy Wiki	Donkey Kong Country Returns

Donkey Kong Country Returns is the fourth game in the Donkey Kong Country series. It is the sequel to Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, and is the first Country-line game in over a decade. The game is a 2D platformer developed by Retro Studios for the Wii, and was announced at E3 2010. It uses many of the familiar elements from the original games, with Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong are once again the main playable characters. Development first started in April 2008, and was about 70% completed when revealed at E3 2010.

When the game was pre-ordered from GameStop, a banana-like case for Wii remotes will also be shipped with the game. GamePlanet offers a DKCR backpack to come shipped with the game for an increased price of $80.

According to recent news from Nintendo, the game will receive a 3D remake called "Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D" on the Nintendo 3DS.

Story

See full intro here.

Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong posing in one of their concept art pictures.

One day on Donkey Kong Island, the newly risen volcano violently erupts, spewing lava and large boulders. Amidst the chaos, the Tiki Tak Tribe, who were sealed in the volcano, emerge out. The tikis were imprisoned there for an unknown period of time, and now are angry. These evil tikis took control of the animals on Donkey Kong Island via their musical hypnotic powers. While leading banana carts through the jungle, (each pulled by a elephant and a giraffe), the burglars pass by Donkey Kong's Treehouse, and 2 hypnotized squirrels can be seen piling a big hoard of bananas from under the house into a cart. The trumpeting of an elephant startles Diddy Kong, who is at first excited at the sight of bananas, but then thinks the animals are taking the bananas elsewhere, and quickly checks to see if the hoard is intact, but finds it is gone. In anger, Diddy pursues the animals, only to get stuffed into a DK Barrel. Donkey then comes out onto the porch, to see if Diddy is all right, and when he sees the banana hoard being toted away, he shrieks in anger, but is soon trapped inside by Kalimba. DK then proved to be no match for the musical hypnosis, and punched Kalimba away. Then Donkey begins his adventure to return peace to the island and get back his Banana Hoard. Upon Reuniting with Diddy, the duo traverse the 8 areas of the island, and faces off against Tiki Tong. .

The Tiki creation process.

In the end, it is revealed that Colonel Pluck was in charge of using the supply of bananas in order to mass produce Tikis in the Factory area (see left file). By using his Stompybot 3000 machine, he made mashed bananas and filled empty wooden tiki outlines with them. The Factory is later shut down and tiki production is halted. In addition, Tiki Tong stole the bananas in order to make his tiki army and to activate his true form, giving him much more power by fusing tikis together to make hands.

After Tiki Tong is defeated, the explosion is so large that it sends Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong into orbit in space. The Kongs are in panic, until Donkey realizes they are going to crash into the moon. He puts Diddy on his back, and with the help of the Barrel Jet, plus DK's wind-up punch, the duo send the moon crashing down, crushing Tiki Tong's base, and thus causing an eruption of bananas raining down as the animals of the island are freed. The Golden Temple is also revealed.

Game overview

Gameplay and Modes

Diddy Kong climbing on Donkey Kong's back in the other concept art for the game. This art is one of two which features both Kongs.

The "Kong Roll"

Gameplay wise, Donkey Kong Country Returns is a combination of elements from previous DKC games as well as some unique features. As stated previously, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong are both playable characters, (also being the only playable characters). The two retain similar abilities from the previous games, in addition to some upgrades.

1-Player Mode

In the single player mode, the player controls Donkey Kong, who has two "hearts", meaning he can take two hits before dying by default, which was not possible in previous Country games. Donkey Kong now makes heavier use of the Ground Pound, which is used to stun enemies, activate and reveal things in the background (usually against large plants or treasure chests), break through secret floors, and even to set off certain events in order to progress in the level. DK can barrel roll as well into enemies. Both actions require motion control usage. When a DK Barrel is found in the single player mode, Diddy Kong will hop on Donkey Kong's back, which not only doubles the endurance of both Kongs to four hearts, but also gives the player new abilities. For example, when Diddy is on DK's back, he can hover in the air for a short period of time via Barrel Jet, allowing for better jumping distance. He can also use Donkey Kong for the Kong Roll ability, allowing the two to plow through hordes of enemies and go through a straight plain in a level quicker. However, if two hits are taken while Diddy is on, he will be too injured to continue.

2-Player Mode

In the two player mode, the second player is Diddy Kong. The second player can use Diddy Kong to his fully functionality, complete with individual jumping, barrel jets, cartwheels, and the Peanut Popgun usage. The Popguns allows Diddy to stun enemies, as well as his own version of the ground pound, the "Popgun Pound". Otherwise he controls similarly to Donkey Kong, only slightly faster and agile. The player can also play as Diddy by himself, by selecting 2-Player Cooperative Mode, making Donkey lose a life, and not reviving him. The two Kongs share the same balloons between them, which function as lives in this game.

Mirror Mode

After beating the Golden Temple, mirror mode is unlocked. In mirror mode, the player has no help from Diddy Kong and only has one heart. In addition, they cannot use inventory items. It is worth nothing that in this mode, even though Diddy Kong is not present, DK Barrels still appear, but do not serve their original purpose. In addition, if Diddy was with the player before entering the mode, he will return to them afterward.

Mechanics

General level gameplay has changed from the previous iterations. In some levels, there will be multiple checkpoints instead of just one. The Kongs can make use of the new "Blow" ability, on certain plants to reveal items, or even enemies such as the Tiki Torch. Puzzle Pieces are a new type of collectible found in every level (excluding bosses). They can be found in hard to reach places, in bonus levels, in the background (via ground pound certain objects), or in secret places found by walking into a certain area in what would appear to be a wall. These are used to unlock things in the "extras". The new "Cling" ability also comes into play, where the Kongs can grab onto grassy walls to get around.

The K-O-N-G Letters return, but with a different role. Once they are all collected in each world, a secret temple level is unlocked. Bananas are still to be found a plenty, 100 giving a life, but there are now bunches that give five or ten bananas. Banana Coins return from DCK2, much more common and used at Cranky Kong's Shop.

Super Guide

If the player dies eight times in a level a Tutorial Pig will appear and suggest the player to use the Super Guide, which will have Super Kong, a white version of Donkey Kong, play automatically through the level. None of the items collected will be added to the player collection. The player have the option play as Super Kong to finish the level. Also, when Super Kong finishes the level, the level will stay red until Donkey Kong is used to finish the level, after which, the level will turn to blue.

Items

Mine Cart

• Animal Crates house the animal buddy Rambi much like the previous Country games. However, the crate is much larger and requires Ground Pounding to open. The player can also break them by rolling into them, but the player will not automatically mount Rambi if they break the crates this way.
• Bananas serve their regular purpose; commonly found, 100 must be collected for a free life.
• Banana Bunches are worth five bananas.
• Banana Coins reappear from DKC2, and have been stated to be used to purchase health and other items that Cranky Kong sells.
• Bonus Levels are secret areas that contain bonuses such as Bananas.
• Hearts measure Donkey and Diddy's health. Each have two and once both are lost, a life is lost.
• K-O-N-G Letters make their major reappearance, being unseen since DK Jungle Climber. They must all be collected for a life.
• Extra Life Balloons are the game's main life counters. Oddly they do not have a face on them unlike previous games.
• Minecarts are key vehicles needed to get through mine-based levels. Mine carts can not be stopped and are usually found in dangerous locations. The empty mine carts allow the Kongs to use only 1 through the entire level, while the ones with crystals in them can be jumped separately from. These ones will have you jumping from cart to cart on broken tracks.
• Treasure Chests often contain useful items.

DK Barrel.

• Puzzle Pieces are a new type of collectible item. The amount needed to collect in one level varies, with the first level having nine. Collecting all the puzzle pieces in a level gives the player an image or a diorama, which can be found in extras, under image gallery and diorama gallery, respectively.

Barrels

• Auto-Fire Barrels are floating barrels found in many levels. When entered, they will launch Donkey and Diddy in the direction its facing.
• Arrow Barrels launch the Kong(s) in a certain direction like Auto-Fire barrels, but have been revealed to be able to launch in the background environment.
• DK Barrels retain their original purpose, reviving a lost Kong, but usage is different. Once a Kong is out, a DK Barrel will float down from above and the other Kong must jump on it to free the other Kong. This system is much like the New Super Mario Bros. Wii style of getting a defeated player back.
• Rocket Barrels are used to fly through the level. After jumping into one, press the jump button rapidly to start the ride. During flight, hold the jump button to gain altitude, and release to descend. No matter how much health DK/Diddy have remaining, they'll lose a life in 1 hit, touching anything at all. The rocket will last until the end of the level, where it'll run out of fuel, and explode. These only appear in Peaceful Pier, Mole Patrol, Crowded Cavern, Gear Getaway, Liftoff Launch, and the first part of Tiki Tong Terror. It is to note that Ignition Barrels and Fuel Barrels do not appear in the game.
• Wooden Barrels generic, empty barrels that can be thrown against most enemies.

*Note that Auto-Fire Barrels and Arrow Barrels that have a "skull and crossbones" design will break after use.

Characters

Kongs

• Donkey Kong returns as the main star. He can let Diddy ride on his back and can even roll with Diddy on much like Kiddy and Dixie in DKC3. He is floatier than his previous iterations.
• Diddy Kong returns as the sidekick. He retains his agility as well as his Barrel Jet and peanut Popgun weapons from Donkey Kong 64.
• Cranky Kong is the only other Kong returning in the game. He runs the Cranky Kong's Shop and often makes comments about the player's choice of items. He has been seen with Squawks in his shop, apparently for sale.

Rambi

• Super Kong is a silver version of Donkey Kong that appears if the player has suffered numerous deaths, in which case the Super Guide mode will be activated and Super Kong will finish the level instead.
• Super Diddy Kong is a silver version of Diddy Kong, who climbs on Super Kong's back, when he is freed from a DK Barrel. Unlike where Diddy will stay with Donkey if he clears a level without losing Diddy's hearts, Super Diddy will leave reguardless, and must be recovered in the next level Super Kong plays through.

Animal Buddies

• Rambi the Rhinoceros makes his return as the first Animal Buddy of the game. He was first revealed in the second major trailer for DKCR. He is found in a large animal crate that requires some ground pounding to break. Rambi is very destructive; he can smash down blocks with his new symbol on them and can charge through hordes of enemies and even break spikes. His weakness is revealed to be fire.
• Squawks the Parrot makes an appearance in Cranky's shop, when purchased, he will act as a Puzzle Piece detector, helping the Kongs by locating the hidden Puzzle Pieces in levels.
• Unnamed Whale is always smiling, and he only appears in the Beach world, and he is considered easy to get, as he does not have to be released from a container, or cannot be bought at Cranky Kong's Shop.
• Tutorial Pigs

Main article: Tutorial Pig

• Others: There are numerous other helpful buddies throughout the game. In the game's manual, Cranky refers to the hypnotized Giraffes, Zebras, and Elephants, as animal buddies. They can be seen popping up randomly in levels, and in Blowhole Bound, they can be seen in a boat in the background, while the elephant drinks from the water.

Enemies

The enemies of the game are under control of the "Tiki Tak Tribe", being possessed by them.

Kalimba, a member of the Tiki Tak Tribe.

Tikis

• Screaming Pillar
• Tiki Boing
• Tiki Bomber
• Tiki Buzz
• Tiki Doom
• Tiki Goon
• Tiki Pilot
• Tiki Pop
• Tiki Seeker
• Tiki Tank
• Tiki Torch
• Tiki Tork
• Tiki Zing

Other

Awk

• Ack
• Awk
• Bopapodamus
• Buckbot
• Buckbomb
• Buzzbite
• Cageberry
• Char-Char
• Chomps
• Cling Cobra
• Electrasquid
• Electroid
• Firehead Ned
• Frogoon
• Hopgoon
• Jellybob
• Kowalee
• Mimic
• Mole Miner
• Mole Guard
• Pinchley
• Pogobot
• Pyrobot
• Rawk
• Skittler
• Skellyrex
• Skullyrex
• Snaggles
• Snaps
• Squeekly
• Squeekly Family
• Squiddicus
• Squidly
• Stilts
• Toothberry

Bosses

Below is a list of the bosses of the game along with the names of the Tikis that control them.

• Mugly (Kalimba Tiki)
• Scurvy Crew (Maraca Tikis)
• Stu (Gong Tiki)
• Mole Miner Max and his Mole Train (Banjo Tiki)
• Mangoruby (Panflute Tiki)
• Thugly (Xylophone Tiki)
• Colonel Pluck and his Stompybot 3000 (Accordion Tiki)
• Tiki Tong

Levels & Worlds

Donkey Kong Island.

There are eight worlds, each world having one unlock-able level, and have alternate paths. There is also a "Golden Temple" world, though though all of the other world's temples need to be beaten before it is unlocked.

The following levels are in the game.

World 1: Jungle

• 1-1 Jungle Hijinxs
• 1-2 King of Cling
• 1-3 Tree Top Bop
• 1-4 Sunset Shore
• 1-5 Canopy Cannons
• 1-6 Crazy Cart
• 1-K Platform Panic
• 1-B Mugly's Mound

World 2: Beach

• 2-1 Poppin' Planks
• 2-2 Sloppy Sands
• 2-3 Peaceful Pier
• 2-4 Cannon Cluster
• 2-5 Stormy Shore
• 2-6 Blowhole Bound
• 2-7 Tidal Terror
• 2-K Tumblin' Temple
• 2-B Pinchin' Pirates

World 3: Ruins

• 3-1 Wonky Waterway
• 3-2 Button Bash
• 3-3 Mast Blast
• 3-4 Damp Dungeon
• 3-5 Itty Bitty Biters
• 3-6 Temple Topple
• 3-K Shifty Smashers
• 3-B Ruined Roost

World 4: Cave

• 4-1 Rickety Rails
• 4-2 Grip & Trip
• 4-3 Bombs Away
• 4-4 Mole Patrol
• 4-5 Crowded Cavern
• 4-K Jagged Jewels
• 4-B The Mole Train

World 5: Forest

• 5-1 Vine Valley
• 5-2 Clingy Swingy
• 5-3 Flutter Flyaway
• 5-4 Tippin' Totems
• 5-5 Longshot Launch
• 5-6 Springy Spores
• 5-7 Wigglevine Wonders
• 5-8 Muncher Marathon
• 5-K Blast 'N' Bounce
• 5-B Mangoruby Run

World 6: Cliff

• 6-1 Sticky Situation
• 6-2 Prehistoric Path
• 6-3 Weighty Way
• 6-4 Boulder Roller
• 6-5 Precarious Plateau
• 6-6 Crumble Canyon
• 6-7 Tippy Shippy
• 6-8 Clifftop Climb
• 6-K Perilous Passage
• 6-B Thugly's Highrise

World 7: Factory

• 7-1 Foggy Fumes
• 7-2 Slammin' Steel
• 7-3 Handy Hazards
• 7-4 Gear Getaway
• 7-5 Cog Jog
• 7-6 Switcheroo
• 7-7 Music Madness
• 7-K Treacherous Track
• 7-R Lift-off Launch
• 7-B Feather Fiend

World 8: Volcano

• 8-1 Furious Fire
• 8-2 Hot Rocket
• 8-3 Roasting Rails
• 8-4 Smokey Peak
• 8-5 Bobbing Basalt
• 8-6 Moving Melters
• 8-7 Red Red Rising
• 8-K Five Monkey Trial
• 8-B Tiki Tong Terror

World 9: Golden Temple

• 9-1 Golden Temple

Gallery

Main article: Donkey Kong Country Returns/Gallery

See also: Extras

Box arts

• 

  American Box art.

• 

  Australian box art

• 

  Japanese Box art.

Kongs

• 

  Donkey Kong

• 

  Diddy Kong

• 

  Cranky Kong

Animal Buddies

• 

  Rambi the Rhinoceros

• 

  Squawks the Parrot

Bosses

• 

  Mugly

• 

  Scurvy Crew

• 

  Stu

• 

  Mole Miner Max

• 

  Mangoruby

• 

  Thugly

• 

  Colonel Pluck

• 

  Tiki Tong

Beta Elements

Main article: Donkey Kong Country Returns/Beta elements

Marketing and Release

One of the two promotional stickers of Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong.

To promote the game, Nintendo partnered Chiquita to cross-promote the game for a limited time by having Donkey Kong promotion stickers on their bananas. In addition, an online contest was set up asking people to upload three photos of themselves doing the "Donkey Kong dance" for a chance to win one of thirty-one prizes. Nintendo also partnered with Johnny Rockets to rebrand their Chocolate Banana Shake as the "Donkey Kong Chocolate Banana Shake" for a limited time. In addition, the promotion ties in with a sweepstakes for a chance to win a copy of the game.

In the United Kingdom, select Game and Gamestation stores were chosen to promote the game at launch by trading a handful of bananas in exchange for the copy of the game. The first twenty customers that arrive at the store are guarantee to get the game.

Nintendo of Australia promoted the game before launch by having game demo in two locations: The Nintendo Connection at Myer department store, Sydney City in November 27, and The Nintendo Experience at EB Games, Swanston Street, Melbourne in November 28. The first two-hundred people who sampled the game received a special Donkey Kong Poster. They celebrated the launch of the game by holding an event in Circular Quay, located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia in the afternoon. It featured a tower of bananas with a sign next to it saying "Kong's Banana Hoard", along with a variety of banana-based foods. The staff kept the public entertained with trivia questions; answering them correctly will be rewarded with a free Donkey Kong shirt. At night time, the main event began with the showing of the video game from the projector; giving people a chance to play the game.

Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D

Main article: Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D

On February 14th 2013, a remake of Donkey Kong Country Returns was announced at a Nintendo Direct stream for the Nintendo 3DS system. Titled Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, it is unknown if the game will have new features besides the 3D visuals. The game is slated for a Summer 2013 release. The remake is not being handled by Retro Studios; Monster Games shall be developing it.

Trivia

• The game was developed by Retro Studios, the developers of the Metroid Prime: Trilogy. This is their first non-Metroid series game. An enemy called Electroid is named similarly to Metroid.
• The final boss resembles Andross from the Star Fox series and Wham Bam Jewel / Wham Bam Rock from the Kirby series.
• If Donkey Kong is left alone for a while, he'll look around, take out a Nintendo DS and start playing it. If Diddy Kong is on DK's back, then he'll start watching him play. Sounds from the original Donkey Kong (game) can be heard while he plays the DS.
• The treehouse in the first level (accessed by jumping on the tire) has an extra life balloon in it, in similar vein to Donkey Kong Country. If the player Ground Pounds near Donkey Kong's TV, it will show the DKCR words and will play the theme heard on the title screen.
  • In addition, if the player enters the hole under the Kongs' house, where the hoard used to be, they will find a puzzle piece by blowing on a dandelion, and a banana coin, from the other.
• The wind-up punching move used by Donkey Kong at the end of the game is very similar to a unique move used in the Smash Bros. crossovers, the "Giant Punch". However in DKCR, Donkey Kong uses his his right hand, not his left.
• Similar to the Mario series, the Kongs' most basic way to attack ememies is jumping on their heads. If the player consecutively jumps on ememies' heads 8 times, they will start earning balloons until they touch the ground.
• When playing in 2-player mode, both players share the same stash of balloons, meaning if one player survives, and they are out of balloons, the 2nd player can only be revived by a DK Barrel.
• It is the only Donkey Kong Country game not to be released in the 1990s.

External links

• Donkey Kong Country Returns official website
• Japanese official website
• European official website
• Donkey Kong Country Returns at Nintendo E3 Network
• On IGN