All Purpose Donkey Kong Thread

[fogbadge]

Do you guys want Fire DK in a new DK game?

no. power ups aren't really DK's thing

 

[Diddy Kong]

Do you guys want Fire DK in a new DK game?

No, only in an eventual Mario and DK actual crossover. Which I hope will also happen at one point.

 

[Lenidem]

No, only in an eventual Mario and DK actual crossover. Which I hope will also happen at one point.

Or simply as an alternate costume in a future Smash or Mario Kart.

 

[Arcadenik]

No, only in an eventual Mario and DK actual crossover. Which I hope will also happen at one point.

The crossover title has to be called “Super Mario Bros. in Donkey Kong Country”.

Playable characters: Mario, Luigi, Toad (red, blue, yellow, green, purple), Toadette, Yoshi (green, red, yellow, blue), Peach, Daisy, Pauline, Nabbit, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong, Cranky Kong, Funky Kong, Donkey Kong Jr.

Villainous team-up: Bowser and King K. Rool

 

[Diddy Kong]

The crossover title has to be called “Super Mario Bros. in Donkey Kong Country”.

Playable characters: Mario, Luigi, Toad (red, blue, yellow, green, purple), Toadette, Yoshi (green, red, yellow, blue), Peach, Daisy, Pauline, Nabbit, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong, Cranky Kong, Funky Kong, Donkey Kong Jr.

Villainous team-up: Bowser and King K. Rool

It basically writes itself. Can be a sort of game similar to Mario Wonder, I loved that game.

 

[Mushroomguy12]

Happy 10th Birthday to Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze!

 

[LiveStudioAudience]

Given that we're likely going to not have an original DKC on this current system (hey prove me wrong next Direct), I'm definitely left with some bittersweet feelings towards the Switch. It's a console with some well-deserved success that really did justice to a number of great Nintendo franchises... but ultimately didn't really have a Star Fox or Country game to effectively call its own, which is a real shame. Call it petty, but not having a real new Donkey Kong game (and the reliance on ports) might be the thing that will have me rank it as the 2nd best Nintendo system behind the SNES. A wonderful system that just needed a few more franchise releases to make it the best.

 

[Mushroomguy12]

It's sad not to have a dedicated DK games, but at the very least we can enjoy Tropical Freeze and DKC 1-3 on the Switch.

Now if only DK 64 could join them.

 

[LiveStudioAudience]

With the Switch 2 rumored to be moved to March of next year (with a reveal this June?), Pokémon Legends 2 not being a holiday 2024 release, and supposedly a general Nintendo direct speculated to be coming in April, I have to admit... I think we might see some big DK news this year. Given my previous comments I didn't think I'd have that notion; it's just recent events shifted things for me.

It's probably a case of me huffing the hopium, but I believe a Donkey Kong release could pop up in one of two ways. First some sort of game being shown off for the next system, essentially being a graphics showcase (possibly another 2D game to compliment the likely 3D Mario game to come). The other possibility is (and I know this might be sheer wishcasting on my part) perhaps it's a Donkey Kong release acting as the holiday game releasing alongside a possible Prime 4. Metroid's never done quite the same numbers as other prominent franchises remember, and a major DK release could be the safer title to bolster up this likely last big Christmas for the Switch.

Furthermore, it's one of the few series that fits into the sweet spot of being big enough to do real sales for Christmas, yet not so big that Nintendo would be smarter in saving it for the next system. Mario Kart, Smash, 3D Mario, 3D Zelda, 3D Kirby, Animal Crossing, Splatoon 4, are all likely being pre-produced/worked on/polished right now, Luigi's Mansion is not getting a new game when the Dark Moon remaster is arriving soon, and 2D Mario just came out last year. As far as really notable holiday 2024 options outside DK, it's basically another Pokémon remake (which one would think they would have announced at the recent Presents) or maybe a new 2D Zelda.

Again, this could just be me seeing signs that aren't really there, grasping at straws with rumors, and ignoring the possibility that Nintendo could just release a bunch of HD ports to get good Christmas sales, but I'm more hopeful now than I was just a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Mushroomguy12]

I'm hopeful we'll get DK on the next console, since DKC started on the SNES, it hasn't skipped more than one console generation yet. With the large role DK had in the Mario movie and the DK Theme Park, it's only a matter of time.

 

[StrangeKitten]

Here's a video going over some of the development hell the next DK game has been in. I'm still hopeful that Nintendo will treat it like a flagship series again someday - the next game just keeps meeting hurdle after hurdle/Retro Studios is still busy with Metroid Prime 4.

 

[BirthNote]

I still think Nintendo announced Prime 4 way too soon. It's been 7 years since we heard it existed and not a single glimmer of gameplay. Imagine they announced a new DK in 2017 then we hear they restarted development to get it right, with nothing to show between either updates.

It might as well not have been announced, and there should've been more than a logo's worth of footage to show how far along it was.

 

[LiveStudioAudience]

It's remarkable in general how the perceived handling of Nintendo IP's can end up causing so many issues later. Just as the perception of DK was potentially harmed by a decade of the franchise being an ancillary part of Mario and/or a haven for gimmicky titles, Metroid's seeming lack of care by the company circa 2008-2016 would have its own PR consequence. Beyond even building up hype for the Switch. it's likely that the Prime 4 reveal in 2017 was done to reassure fans that the series was not in fact forgotten and that it was getting the kind of games the fans were interested in.

In hindsight I suspect Nintendo wised they hadn't said anything and its telling that ("sequel to BotW is in development" aside) all announcements since have been much closer to release when games have largely finished development. The MP4 announcement is so clearly the product of a time when the company needed to regain broader hype for their titles and undo the backlash Other M and Federation Force engendered.

 

[Quillion]

I still think an under-discussed issue with DK may be that its ROI isn't as great as some might think, especially for a mainline platformer. The fact that Nintendo clearly isn't scrambling to find a studio to handle DK going forward says a lot more than just them not caring for it.

 

[LiveStudioAudience]

Odd thing to bump the thread for, but I feel pretty safe in saying that the Nikoderiko game announced today pretty much is DKC by way of Crash Bandicoot:

As someone hankering for another Country-like title since finishing Impossible Lair (and since getting another Kong game from Nintendo is apparently a huge ask) this one looks pretty promising. Plus David Wise composing means I basically have to pick it up.

 

[BirthNote]

Odd thing to bump the thread for, but I feel pretty safe in saying that the Nikoderiko game announced today pretty much is DKC by way of Crash Bandicoot:

As someone hankering for another Country-like title since finishing Impossible Lair (and since getting another Kong game from Nintendo is apparently a huge ask) this one looks pretty promising. Plus David Wise composing means I basically have to pick it up.

I think I'm gonna buy this

 

[LiveStudioAudience]

Left with neutral feelings after that Direct. It's nice that Nintendo has enough common sense to realize that a theme park section based on game you can't actually play is a bit foolhardy and having a definitive edition of Returns without waggle or a compromised resolution is nice. However, at the end of the day it just another port of a 14-year-old game and confirms that the Switch will be the first home console since the NES to not have a DK game of its own.

On one hand it's nice to have that band-aid ripped off and at least contextualizes what the Switch era will be for DK. Its lifespan will essentially be that not to dissimilar to that of the Gamecube where the potential of the franchise ultimately went fairly wasted either due to canceled projects or lack of prioritization of the franchise. There's an additional bitter sting given how successful the former console has been and seemingly every Nintendo IP (barring F-Zero & Star Fox) has had their shot in the sun, but not really Donkey Kong. The lack of more expansive use of the brand (literally waiting until the last moment to even get Diddy and Funky in Mario Kart, a K Rool appearance in Smash basically driven by fan damn to name two examples) certainly didn't help much either.

But I'm not saying to give up hope either. From a practical standpoint, the indie scene has produced some really solid DKC tribute titles like the Nikoderiko one noted earlier in the thread and realistically that's the best chance to experience a new Country title than waiting on Nintendo to do it. The latter could be potentially working on a major new DK game for Switch 2, with Returns acting as an appetizer before the series gets its proverbial BoTW on the next console. Personally, the company hasn't really done much to earn my faith in that regard, but Nintendo's always an unpredictable beast, and the disappointing Gamecube years did lead to the fantastic experience of Returns on Wii, so perhaps history is bound to repeat.

 

[Fuzzy Pickles!]

Left with neutral feelings after that Direct. It's nice that Nintendo has enough common sense to realize that a theme park section based on game you can't actually play is a bit foolhardy and having a definitive edition of Returns without waggle or a compromised resolution is nice. However, at the end of the day it just another port of a 14-year-old game and confirms that the Switch will be the first home console since the NES to not have a DK game of its own.

On one hand it's nice to have that band-aid ripped off and at least contextualizes what the Switch era will be for DK. Its lifespan will essentially be that not to dissimilar to that of the Gamecube where the potential of the franchise ultimately went fairly wasted either due to canceled projects or lack of prioritization of the franchise. There's an additional bitter sting given how successful the former console has been and seemingly every Nintendo IP (barring F-Zero & Star Fox) has had their shot in the sun, but not really Donkey Kong. The lack of more expansive use of the brand (literally waiting until the last moment to even get Diddy and Funky in Mario Kart, a K Rool appearance in Smash basically driven by fan damn to name two examples) certainly didn't help much either.

But I'm not saying to give up hope either. From a practical standpoint, the indie scene has produced some really solid DKC tribute titles like the Nikoderiko one noted earlier in the thread and realistically that's the best chance to experience a new Country title than waiting on Nintendo to do it. The latter could be potentially working on a major new DK game for Switch 2, with Returns acting as an appetizer before the series gets its proverbial BoTW on the next console. Personally, the company hasn't really done much to earn my faith in that regard, but Nintendo's always an unpredictable beast, and the disappointing Gamecube years did lead to the fantastic experience of Returns on Wii, so perhaps history is bound to repeat.

The Returns port is an obvious tie-in to the upcoming theme park that’s opening next year. It really should have been a holiday release though, especially since this looks like a straight 3DS port upscaled to HD. There’s no reason why DKCR can’t sell at least half as much as the Wii version did.

I’m still hopeful that we’ll get a new game announced by summer of next year though. Between the theme park and tons of Donkey Kong Country characters showing up in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, it’s hard to imagine Nintendo doesn’t have something planned for the franchise when it comes to games.

 

[BirthNote]

Alright so I bought and beat Nikoderiko and here's my thoughts:

Overall, solid 7.5/10. It has its moments and the gameplay can be really engaging. It's literally 90% DKC and 10% Crash Bandicoot. Almost every level is a sidescroller and while the 3D segments are nice, it's VERY rare to transition from that in the game. I do like how effortlessly the game switches from 2D to 3D in the few moments that it does; the game handles it like it's no big deal but it is pretty impressive.

The aesthetic is kinda generic. It has the same cartoony swirl patterns you see in whimsical IPs and the main duo looks like Furry characters you've seen before. Not necessarily a bad thing but I don't think the game visually stands out. The enemy faction are basically Kremlings of they were based on Cobras and not Alligators, with their leader being a Diet K. Rool. That being said, the game is decently pretty and the environments have detailed backgrounds that relate to the level. It doesn't feel slapped together and the silhouette levels are nice to look at.

When it comes to the DKC side, we've got cannons, bonus rooms, animal buddies, collectibles and a Funky Kong styled Item Shop. It also has a Blackout Basement level, an Amiss Abyss level, Bombs Away as a boss fight, Cannon Canyon's level and a Rocket Barrel and Minecart level. The Crash Bandicoot side has a chase level that's literally the 2nd level of Crash 4 mixed with a Rocket Barrel sequence for the 2nd half. The levels are fun and while it's not original, it's different enough but clearly based on those games.

Niko and Luna are 100% identical. They play exactly the same, like how Crash and Coco are the same in Crash 4, unlike Diddy and Dixie. You'd only pick one over the other for aesthetics tbh and it doesn't matter who you choose. Niko might have more in-level dialogue though. He comes across as that snarky Saturday Morning Cartoon Protagonist, which kids MIGHT like but IDC for it. Luna is more levelheaded. It would be nice if they did have something going for them, not just with themselves but even compared to the Bandicoots or the Kongs. Their only attack is Crash and Coco's slide and a ground pound.

Music wise, the game is very good. It's not Dave Wise's BEST but he's got some good tracks in there, and while you can recognize his instruments and style, it's not a ripoff of Tropical Freeze or his earlier stuff, for the most part. The final boss theme has some similarities to Gangplank Galleon though, but not enough to get Nintendo after them. Most tracks repeat for multiple levels, and the Boss Music is the same for all but the Final. Unfortunately, you will hear the final boss theme on a level that comes long before you get to the final boss.

Anyway, I give it a 7.5 cuz the gameplay is solid but needs more polish. There's collectibles, but IDK what it's for and after beating the game there's no incentive to collect them. No Secret Levels or Special World to work towards, correct me if I'm wrong. Bonus rooms are an improvement over the Returns games but it's not as good as those games overall. Is the game worth picking up? Yeah. It's nice to have this game on the side and it's got things going for it.

 

[LiveStudioAudience]

Happy 30th Anniversary Donkey Kong Country!

My gushing about the game can be found all over Smashboards, but yeah, the game that effectively reinvigorated Donkey Kong as a brand, allowed Nintendo to strike back in the Western console war, and demonstrated the real depth of the SNES's capabilities turns 30 today. While slightly disappointed to not see a Twitter/X post celebrating the anniversary, leave it to NoA's Instagram to at least make an acknowledgement:

http://instagr.am/p/DChFdFuhnN9/
As far as the quality of the game itself? Take it away George Wood:

 

[Ness_eb]

Donkey Kong is my 2nd Favorite