Review by: Danielle Riendeau

It’s been a great year for platformers – mascots like Mario, Kirby – and even Sonic – have been trotted out in fantastic games, and indie developers have struck gold with instant classics like Super Meat Boy and Limbo. So where does that leave Donkey Kong, with his hyperkinetic, simple gameplay and wacky, lush worlds? Simply put, Donkey Kong Country Returns has made him once again the king of the jungle. True to its source material, the game is challenging, charming, and incredibly rewarding, making it one of the finest platformers of the decade.

To say that I had high expectations for this release is a grave understatement. The elder games – released during the twilight years of the SNES, were a godsend for me (and many other kids-to-teens at the time), as my steady diet of Mario and Capcom’s finest had prepared me well for zany obstacle courses full of exploding barrels, mine cart mayhem and gorgeous, almost trippy visuals and music. They were – and remain to this day – my all-time favorite games from my childhood.

I’m pleased to say that Retro Studios has nailed it. The action, the atmosphere, the pacing, the music; everything feels perfect – as if Donkey Kong Country were being made for the first time here in 2010. From the familiar theme on the title screen to the sounds of popping balloons to the tricky thumb gymnastics required to best the toughest sections, this is the real thing.

Once you load up (giving yourself a moment to wash in the heady glory of that theme song), you’ll get a chance to see the overworld map and start off in world one – the jungle, of course. From here, you’ll be challenged to about six stages and a boss fight per area, each keeping with the overall theme of your environs. You’ll blast through jungle skies in barrels, surf sunny beaches trying to avoid bombs and sharks, cavort around caves and “ride” trains that no sane person (or ape) should ever go near.

You play as Donkey Kong, the lovable gorilla who always seems to have his banana horde stolen. This time, a bunch of weird hypnotic tikis have brainwashed all the animals on the island to steal your fruit and make life difficult. You’ll team up with series regular Diddy Kong, who rides on your back and grants a helpful hover ability, and good old Cranky Kong shows up on each world map to peddle extra lives, keys to “secret” levels, and other goodies.

Levels are multi-layered obstacle courses requiring amazing dexterity to best. Some stages will make full use of foreground and background scenery, zooming the camera way out (or occasionally in), for full effect. You should know the drill if you’ve played anything like it – you’ll run, jump, climb, stomp and ground-pound your way through, uncovering bonus items (KONG letters and puzzle pieces, bananas and coins), and trying to survive to the end. Some levels play out on foot, while others require a crazed mine cart, animal buddy, or rocket-powered barrel to traverse. The pace is fast – much quicker than your average Mario or Kirby stage, and occasionally, the speed hits Sonic-like levels.