Donkey Kong Country Returns/YMMV

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


  • Alternate Character Interpretation: Behold... DK as a rhyming gentleman.
  • And the Fandom Rejoiced: At E3 2010, when the game was unveiled and revealed as a 2D side-scrolling platformer, the audience went ape.
  • Awesome Music: Much of the original Donkey Kong Country soundtrack was remixed, mixed in with original tunes. As expected of the series' music, it doesn't disappoint. The only songs missing from the original DKC are: Bad Boss Boogie, Ice Cave Chant, Cave Dweller Concert, Misty Menace and, of course, K. Rool's Theme.
  • Broken Base:
    • With the addition of rocket barrel levels and the removal of water levels, there's been a debate between the rocket and water levels from previous Donkey Kong Country games. Fortunately, water levels return in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.
    • K. Rool's replacement in the game with the evil Tikis. Some people welcome the new enemies citing that K. Rool had been suffering more Badass Decay with each sequel, while others sorely miss his presence as the Big Bad, thinking he's just as iconic to the Donkey Kong Country series as DK and Diddy themselves.
  • Demonic Spiders: A growing wall made of them in the level Muncher Marathon from World 5.
  • Game Breaker: The Banana Juice power-up gives you an additional ten health points on top of the existing 2 (4 with Diddy), and only costs 20 coins (it's not hard to acquire that many during a single level, and almost guaranteed across two levels). This can make some levels go from mind-shatteringly difficult to extremely easy simply by equipping it. It only lasts for one life though, unlike the Heart Boost (1 extra heart), which stays with you for an entire level no matter how many times you die (but will be removed if you exit the level). Given the game's difficulty level, the Banana Juice is almost necessary in certain situations in order to get 100% Completion. Especially in the hidden temple levels; World 5's in particular. If you were dependent on these items, then good luck trying to complete these levels in Mirror Mode, where you can't use items, Diddy is unavailable, and you only have one heart!
  • Goddamned Bats: Played literally in Crowded Cavern.
  • Most Annoying Sound:
    • "Dadada-dada-dada-dadada....DA! (pop!)"
    • Tutorial Pig, what with his jingling little flag trying to coax you into using the Super Guide.
    • The groaning sound Donkey Kong makes upon dieing, in large part because you will end up hearing it A LOT.
  • Most Wonderful Sound:
    • After a particularly tough level segment, nothing boosts your spirits more than the sound of a Checkpoink. Ditto the stage clear barrel fanfare.
    • The sound of repeated smacks, delivered by Wiimote shakes. Whether you're smacking open an end-of-level barrel for something on the order of 15 banana coins, or saying goodbye to that world's Tiki Tak tribesman, it's always a welcome noise.
    • Killing Kowalee in the Golden Temple.
    • The closing credits, after finally getting that last puzzle piece, which requires playing ALL of the mirror stages... including the temple levels AND the Golden Temple!
  • Replacement Scrappy: The Tiki for the Kremlings.
  • Scenery Porn / Visual Effects of Awesome: General consensus is that the silhouette level in the sunset is beautiful.
    • To really drive this trope home: remember Retro's last project, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption? A game that was already gorgeous? DKCR has three times as many polygons.
    • It could be said that most of the levels are scenery porn. It can actually be a hindrance because while you're staring at the chunks of rock slowly melting into the lava, the streams of lava pouring down from ledges, and the fireballs launching from below, you can forget that these things are there to kill you. Don't worry, the game reminds you soon enough.
    • The barrels that catapult you about a mile in Longshot Launch.
    • Seriously, nearly every level has at least one setpiece designed to show off Retro's talents.
  • The Scrappy: The checkpoint pig, to some frustrated players. Mostly when offering the Super Guide after countless deaths.
  • Scrappy Mechanic: The waggle abilities are already getting a reputation. The Ground Pound and the Blow aren't so bad. Having to waggle to do a roll (and thus perform a super jump, a key ability in the platforming) can really suck, especially if you're in a very chaotic and fast paced level.
  • So Cool Its Awesome: Regardless of the changes, Retro did their best job on the game, and it definitely shows.
  • Technology Porn: The factory world is full of this.
  • That One Boss:
    • The Mole Train is widely hated, because it seems to show no signs of ending and it's a matter of predicting when fighting the moles. Have fun on Mirror Mode.
    • The final boss, as well. If you die any time during the boss battle, you don't get Diddy back. This is after a Trial and Error Gameplay-filled rocket barrel section.
  • That One Level:
    • It's almost universal that Stage 4-5 is not fondly regarded.
    • World 6's temple stage is widely considered to be the hardest level in the game. Rising magma, falling platforms, and worst of all invincible enemies that chase you toward the end.
    • World 5's temple stage is also a nasty one. Although with that one, simply equipping the Banana Juice power-up can make it MUCH easier.
    • Level 9-1 can also be extremely disorienting because every single platform is wavering in the air. Oh yeah, and platforms that blow up a few seconds after being jumped upon. It also has no checkpoint.
    • Level 4-K, Jagged Jewels, is hard enough normally, but on Mirror Mode it becomes nigh impossible. Do gyroscopically-spinning bladed rings and invincible enemies sound hard? Try it with one health point.
  • Waggle: The most common complaint with the game, especially in regards to rolling.
  • What Do You Mean It Wasn't Made on Drugs?: The Golden Temple. Giant, floating fruit? Alright. A bunch of floating island things? Fine. Purple, tie-wearing flying koalas that toss bombs at you? Okay, now this is weird.
  • Win Back the Crowd: Donkey Kong has been the star of a few mediocre games since Donkey Kong 64. This game is not mediocre. At all.
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