Behold, during the June of 2024, in a spectacle known as the Nintendo Direct, the illustrious Nintendo did decree an HD remaster for Donkey Kong Country Returns will grace the realm on January 16, 2025, destined for the Nintendo Switch.
The caretakers of this remaster remain shrouded in mystery, yet we recall that Retro Studios birthed the original. A tale unlike any other in the annals of Donkey Kong, for it marked the first without the guiding hand of Rare, who were swept into Microsoft’s embrace in days of yore.
The trailer for this remaster unveils glimpses of the upgraded vistas, showcasing the levels akin to those from the Nintendo 3DS rendition, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, crafted by Monster Games. Within this remaster lie 80 levels to be conquered, with the option of local co-op for two.
Shall this remaster offer naught but the amalgamation of past adventures, with no new tales to be told? A complete gathering of Wii and 3DS realms, ’tis said.
Donkey Kong Country Returns gave birth to a sequel in the year of 2014, known as Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze on Wii U. While praised by many, there were those who found fault in its high difficulty. Yet lo, in the year of 2018, when it graced the Switch, a new mode emerged – the legendary “Funky mode” – a path for those seeking respite from the trials.
Retro Studios, the stalwart artisans, who wielded the brush of creation to bring forth Metroid Prime RemasteredMetroid Prime 4: Beyond. A project reborn from the ashes in 2019, set to dawn upon us in the year of 2025. Yet uncertainty clouds the future – will it herald the current Nintendo Switch, or its successor? For now, the hands at Retro Studios are gripped by the task of remastering Donkey Kong Country Returns HD.
