Tag: Donkey Kong
Random Donkey Kong Country's Artist Reacts To Nintendo's Redesign
"Everything changes!"
We've seemingly had our very first look at Mario Kart 9 during the Switch 2 reveal trailer, and one thing you might have noticed is the similar but slightly different-looking character designs. Perhaps the highlight is Donkey Kong's new look, which has been labelled a "redesign" by some. It's been a bit of a talking point...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Donkey Kong Country Returns HD?
Returns returns
Last week saw the Wii's Donkey Kong Country Returns return in HD on Switch. Following the first time it returned on 3DS, the Switch port — helmed by Forever Entertainment this time, with the original devs at Retro getting only a cursory nod in the credits this time — brought the levels of the 2013 3DS port to
News Nintendo Believes In "Giving Proper Credit" After Backlash Over Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
So why the omission?
Nintendo has issued a short statement in response to the backlash following the omission of Retro Studios' staff from the credits of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD. In speaking with
Poll What Do You Think Of Donkey Kong's Redesign In Mario Kart 9?
Got whiplash?
With the reveal of the Switch 2, Nintendo also gave us a brief glimpse at a brand-new Mario Kart game; something that many of us were hoping for after the last mainline entry launched over ten years ago. Yes, the game we're currently referring to as Mario Kart 9 is still somewhat shrouded in mystery, but the short tease
News Nintendo's New Japan-Exclusive Donkey Kong Merch Range Goes Hard
You'll either love it or hate it
Nintendo has just unleashed its second DK rerelease on the Switch with Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, a game that's seemingly taken a few cues from Emperor Palpatine on how to cheat death ("Somehow..."). To celebrate, the firm has also launched a range of Donkey Kong-themed merchandise in Japan and, well, it goes...
News Switch Online's Missions & Rewards Adds Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Icons
Wave 1 is now available
Nintendo has rolled out another batch of icons, this time celebrating the release of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for Switch. There'll be four waves of icons up for grabs, with the first wave starting today and running until 22nd January 2025. These new icons will set you back 10 Platinum Points each, with borders and...
Video Digital Foundry's Technical Analysis Of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
"A solid Switch port with some unexpected failings"
The folks at this Digital Foundry have this week taken a look at the latest Switch release Donkey Kong Country Returns HD. In brief, the resolution and frame rate are "surprisingly solid". This Unity-powered game runs at 1080p docked and 720p in handheld mode on the Switch - with reasonable image...
Monkey Business
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is just around the corner and, now that the embargo on our review coverage has lifted, we can officially confirm that developer Forever Entertainment is responsible for the porting duties on Retro Studios' platformer. However, much like Metroid Prime Remastered before it, Nintendo has opted to omit the...
News My Nintendo Store Adds New Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Reward (US)
Fancy some sticky notes?
It's the start of a new year and if you've already got a Nintendo themed calendar, how about some sticky notes to go with it? To celebrate the release of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, Nintendo's latest reward is themed sticky notes. Yes, if you need to remind yourself about anything in 2025, these notes are the perfect...
Round Up The Reviews Are In For Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
Worth going bananas over?
Nintendo's first release of 2025 is almost upon us, with Donkey Kong Country Returns HD set to swing onto Switch on 16th January. With mere days to go before we get to barrel into this primate platformer again (again), it's time to get an idea of what the critics make of ol' DK's latest adventure. Here at Nintendo Life, we...
News Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Spotted In The Wild
The official release takes place next week
Ahead of the launch of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for Switch next week, some players have supposedly already "got their hands on" physical copies of the game. This was highlighted by 'Nintendeal' on social media, which also notes how pre-orders for the game have now sold out at select locations in the...
News 'Nintendo Music' Adds Another Donkey Kong Soundtrack, Here's Every Song Included
It's double trouble with Dixie and Kiddy
Nintendo has kicked off the new year with a brand new update for its 'Nintendo Music' app. It's celebrating Rare's Donkey Kong Country series once again with the released of the third game's tracklist. All up, this soundtrack includes 40 tracks and has a runtime of 1 hour and 14 minutes. You'll be able to...
Round Up The First Reviews For Super Nintendo World: Donkey Kong Country Are In
Here's what the critics had to say
Super Nintendo World's Donkey Kong Country expansion has officially opened its doors in Japan and the first reviews are now rolling in. This new area in Super Nintendo World comes packed with new activities, exclusive food and merchandise, and a new Mine Cart Ride. Generally, the impressions seem to be quite...
News Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Showcases 'A Barrelful Of Details' In New Trailer
It's almost a month away!
Nintendo isn't holding back on Donkey Kong Country Returns HD details this week, with a second trailer drop arriving... today! The 'barrelful of details' trailer (below) is essentially just an overview trailer, just like every other Nintendo first-party game gets. This runs down all of the things you need to know about the...
News Donkey Kong Country OG Dev Says He Would Like To Work On Another Entry
The original game is now 30 years old
Ahead of the grand opening of Super Nintendo World: Donkey Kong Country this week, some of the original Donkey Kong Country development team spoke to VGC about the IP being adapted to an entire theme park. During the same chat, artist Steve Mayles - who helped co-found Playtonic Games (Yooka-Laylee) and create...
Poll Okay, It's Time To Ask The Obvious - Will We Get Donkey Kong 64 On NSO?
The game turns 25 in Europe
Donkey Kong 64 — not the most beloved of Rare's titles, but probably the developer's most ambitious 3D platformer — turns 25 here in Europe today, 6th December 2024. DK and friends have a lot to celebrate lately: the Donkey Kong Land trilogy on Game Boy has trickled onto NSO over the past few weeks; the Donkey Kong...
News Nintendo Expands Switch Online's Game Boy Library With Another Classic
Dixie and Kiddy return in Donkey Kong Land 3
Following the recent return of Donkey Kong Land and its sequel, Nintendo has now expanded the Switch Online Game Boy library with the third entry. Yes, Dixie Kong and Kiddy Kong return in Rare's 1997 Game Boy release Donkey Kong Land 3, and it's available to play right now as long as you have an active...
News Nintendo Highlights Every 'Donkey Kong Country' On Switch With A New Trailer
Prepare to return... again
Nintendo has released a new trailer taking a look at every Donkey Kong Country game on Switch in preparation for the release of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD on 16th January 2024. If you've got a subscription to the standard Nintendo Switch Online service, you can play every SNES game from the series right now. That...
Poll So, Will You Be Getting Donkey Kong Country Returns HD For Switch?
Go bananas in early 2025
We're almost in December and that means Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is arriving very soon. Yes, in case you somehow missed it, the 2010 Wii Classic is getting another release. This remaster will not only include a facelift but it also features all of the bonus levels from the 2013 3DS game, bumping up the total amount of...
News Nintendo Expands Switch Online's Game Boy Library With Another Classic
The sequel to Donkey Kong Land is now available
Following the arrival of Donkey Kong Land for the Switch Online Game Boy service last week, Nintendo has now added Donkey Kong Land 2! Yes, Rare's 1995 sequel starring Diddy and Dixie Kong is playable right now (as long as you're a subscriber). It's packed with "over 40 levels" and an assortment of...
Random New 3D Scans Stop Classic Donkey Kong Country Figures From Being Lost To Time
Keshi Kong
We love a bit of niche video game history here at Nintendo Life, and the work of Mr Talida (aka Keshi Corner) has caught our attention on more than one occasion. This is the 3D scanning specialist that has ensured rare Zelda and Mario figures from the 1980s and '90s live to fight another day and now, they ha
News Nintendo Expands Switch Online's Game Boy Library With Another Classic
Donkey Kong's pocket-sized adventure returns
In a surprise update, Nintendo has today announced Donkey Kong Land for the Switch Online Game Boy library, and you can play it right now! This classic pocket-sized platformer was originally released by Rare in 1995 and marks the beginning of the DK Land trilogy on the Game Boy. Here's the official...
Random Iconic 'DK Rap' Song Has Been Remade 25 Years Later
With help from rapper 'Substantial'
If you've been a part of the Nintendo gaming community for a while, then chances are you're well acquainted with 'DK Rap', the charming introductory theme tune seen in 1999's Donkey Kong 64. It's gained significant notoriety and love over the years, though many fans do concede that the song isn't actually that...
Anniversary Donkey Kong Country Is Now 30 Years Old (SNES)
King K-O-N-G
Believe it or not, Donkey Kong Country for the SNES has turned 30 years old after originally launching in the UK on 18th November 1994. Often regarded as one of the greatest platformers of all time, Donkey Kong Country was the first in an SNES trilogy from developer Rare, and was really the game that properly kickstarted a fruitful...
Random Donkey Konga Fan Creates Custom Track Tool
Though bongo support isn't available yet
If you're a fan of the severely underrated Donkey Konga franchise from the GameCube era, then you're in luck. A dedicated fan has created a tool called Konga Beat that allows you to import songs and create your own custom tracks that can then be exported for use with either Donkey Konga 2 or Donkey Konga 3...
News Super Nintendo World's Donkey Kong Country Park Gets Opening Date
Absolutely bananas
Shigeru Miyamoto and Nintendo have lifted the lid on the upcoming Donkey Kong Country expansion, coming to Super Nintendo World in Osaka, Japan. And in today's Nintendo Direct, we finally know when the expansion is opening to the world — 11th December 2024. We've had a few teasers sneak peeks at the park over the years, but...
News My Nintendo Store Reveals Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Pre-Order Bonuses & Bundle (UK)
In the bag
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD's 16th January 2025 release date might still feel like a long way off, but the new year is rapidly approaching and Nintendo is getting the hype train a-moving with a first look at some pre-order bonuses. My Nintendo Store UK has today provided a peek at some of the merch that will come bundled with DKCRHD...
News Nintendo Direct Announced For Super Nintendo World's Donkey Kong Expansion
Tune in for a 10-minute tour
A Nintendo Direct is on the way, folks. This one, however, won't feature any upcoming Switch games, nor any information on the elusive 'Switch 2'. Instead, Nintendo will be showcasing a 10-minute look at the new Donkey Kong Country expansion for Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan. The broadcast will take...
News Alleged Concept Art From Cancelled Donkey Kong Project Emerges
What could have been
Following details of a cancelled Donkey Kong project at the now-defunct development studio Vicarious Visions, supposed concept art has now surfaced online. Known online as 'Donkey Kong Freedom' (though an extensive video from Did You Know Gaming claims that this was never the working title for the project), the game was...
News Universal Orlando's Super Nintendo World Opens Its Doors May 2025
Let's-a gOrlando
After getting delayed to 2025 way back in the days of the Covid-19 pandemic, Universal Orlando has today announced that its Epic Universe (which includes Super Nintendo World) will open its doors to the public on 22nd May 2025. The above reveal trailer only contains a small snippet of the Nintendo attraction (with Mario and the...
Feature Catch-Up Crew: Donkey Kong Country - "I Liked His Big Red, Er, Ribbit-Bag?"
Catching up with the DK crew
Welcome aboard once again for this edition of Catch-up Crew, the series where the senior staff of the USS Nintendo Life do what every good crew should do on a seat-of-your-pants cosmic adventure - adjourn to the observation lounge for a conference. Yes, we're back at the table to discuss a classic video game that at...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Donkey Kong Country (GBA)
The Diddy one
We are back, back, back with another edition of Box Art Brawl! Last time, we matched up two different covers for Contra 4 on the DS, and it wasn't even close. The North American variant walked comfortably away with the win, taking 76% of the vote and leaving Japan with the remaining 24%. Oof. This week, we're swinging it back a...
News Donkey Kong 'Lego Ideas' Set Has Enough Support For An Official Review
Reviewing process starts in September
A little while back, we reported on a 'Lego Ideas' set featuring a recreation of the classic Donkey Kong game starring the titular villain alongside Pauline. Well, the set - courtesy of user 'By If You Build It' - has now surpassed 10,000 supporters and has qualified for an official review from Lego itself. The...
Random Donkey Kong Country 3 Fan Creates Incredible Epoxy Resin Statue
Yes, we want one
There have been some truly gorgeous video game statues in our time, from the likes of the First 4 Figures Samus Gravity Suit statue from Metroid to the ludicrous Ghosts 'n Goblins statue from Dream Figures. We love one-off designs though; statues that likely won't be made available to the general public,
News Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Player Uses Glitch To Top Donkey Kong Leaderboard
Tournament scandal
Update [Sat 3rd Aug, 2024 03:30 BST]: Nintendo recently launched a website in Japan featuring replays of the fastest times in the Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition tournaments. The same 'Donkey Kong Barrel Roll' replay (which can be seen in the original story below) is notably featured on this page (thanks, OatmealDome)...
Poll Box Art Brawl - DK: King Of Swing
B-A-N-A-N-A-S
We are back, back, back with another edition of Box Art Brawl! Before we swing into this week's match-up, let's take a look at what went down last time when we looked at two regional covers for Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. Despite a duo of swanky designs being on display, it was Europe and North America's dark, moodier cover that...
Random Nintendo Considered Some Bananas Names For DK, Including "Kong Dong"
The name's Kong, Bill Kong
It's crazy to consider DK called anything other than Donkey Kong, but there was a time when Nintendo considered other possibilities including some wild swings. Back in the '80s, Nintendo and Universal went head to head in a lawsuit with the former accused of basing DK on the iconic ape of the big screen, King Kong...
News Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Costs $60 On Switch
Nintendo's "pricing strategy" has some fans confused
Last year, when Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was released, there were concerns raised about the game's $70 USD price tag. It followed with Nintendo mentioning how pricing of its new releases would be based on a "case-by-case basis". Now, the latest game that seems to be generating some discussion...
News Donkey Kong Country Returns Switch Dev Appears To Have Been Revealed
It seems to link back to a previously announced deal
Donkey Kong Country Returns is returning for a third time early next year and it seems we might already know who is behind the latest HD iteration. According to some official documentation which has already been spotted by
News Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Swings Onto Switch Next Year
Barelling our way in January
Nintendo has announced as a part of today's Direct that Donkey Kong Country Returns HD will be barrelling onto Switch on 16th January 2025. It might not be the new Donkey Kong game everyone is hoping for, but this remastered version of the Wii platformer has not only had a sweet new facelift, but it will also include...
Video Donkey Kong '94 - The 101-Level Sequel To Arcade DK
It's on like (101 stages of) Donkey Kong
14th June 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of Donkey Kong for the Game Boy's Japanese release. It's one of the finest games on the system and a hybrid arcade port/spin-off that ushered in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series which recently came to Switch. In honour of the occasion, we thought we'd highlight this...
News Universal Orlando 'Epic Universe' Preview Event Shows Off Super Nintendo World
Scheduled to launch in 2025
In an update last month, it was confirmed Universal Orlando's Super Nintendo World was still on track for its 2025 opening. It teased what fans could expect with some animated footage and now in an update courtesy of Theme Park Insider, we've got another look at the plans for this park thanks to a new model featured at a...
News Switch Online's Missions & Rewards Adds Donkey Kong Icons You Can Only "Get By Playing"
Play the arcade hit on the NES library to unlock them
Nintendo has announced a new batch of Switch Online icons you can only "get by playing" its digital retro library. It's already hosted missions like this for Super Mario World and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and now it's Donkey Kong's turn. This time, Switch Online members will need...
Poll A New Donkey Kong Game Must Be Coming, But What Should It Be?
The wait is driving us bananas
It feels like Donkey Kong is everywhere at the moment. With the lovable ape’s significant appearance in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the upcoming DK-themed expansion at Japan’s
News Details Emerge Of A Cancelled Donkey Kong Project From Vicarious Visions
Rope burn'd
Of all the studios to potentially work on a Donkey Kong project, Vicarious Visions (now known simply as Blizzard Albany) admittedly wasn't particularly high up on our list. However, details have emerged of a now-cancelled DK project at the studio via a new video from Did You Know Gaming (with prior reporting from DK Vine). According to...
News Get A Closer Look At Universal Orlando's Super Nintendo World, Opening 2025
Mario, Yoshi AND Donkey Kong all set to appear
If you cast your mind way back to 2021, you might remember the announcement that Universal Orlando's Super Nintendo World was getting pushed to 2025. Well, today Universal has reconfirmed that this is still happening (yay!) and it has given a sneak peek at what's in store. The above video gives an...
News Super Nintendo World's Donkey Kong Country Park Delayed To Late 2024
Swinging away from Spring
It was right at the end of 2023 that Universal Studios announced the opening date for its Donkey Kong Country park at Super Nintendo World Japan. It was supposed to be this Spring (any day now, we would assume), but instead, the studio has announced that the opening has been pushed back to "late 2024". The delay was...
News Super Nintendo World Footage Showcases A Near-Complete Donkey Kong Expansion
Looking good!
When Nintendo announced that the Super Nintendo World attraction in Japan would be receiving a Donkey Kong expansion in Spring 2024, our hearts nearly leapt out of our chests. Well, it's Spring 2024 uh, now, so it must be nearing completion, right? Right. Judging from the above footage recorded by YouTube channel L.C.A.STUDIOS (USJ...
Random Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze Could Have Been About Alien Invaders
Donkey Kong Country: Independence Day?
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is all about snow; that much should be obvious from the game's title, even for those who have yet to play Retro Studios' excellent platformer. According to a recent interview from KiwiTalkz in which he chats with former Retro artists Eric Kozlowsky and Ted Anderson,...
Guide Best Donkey Kong Games Of All Time
Swing when you're winning
While Mario is the main man when it comes to all things Nintendo, it was Donkey Kong who gave the plumber a leg-up in the world of video games. The ape's debut not only conquered the arcade and introduced the world to a video gaming legend, but it saved the company and put Nintendo on the path to becoming the cultural force...
