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Donkey Kong Country Returns |OT| Retro Studios Has Done It Again!
- Thread starter Tricky I Shadow
- Start date
Socreges said:
Gameplay-wise, I think Returns is probably the best game in the series.
I'm not saying this through a haze of nostalgia, but, honestly, DKC2 is an absolutely amazing game chock full of memorable enemies and music. It's no wonder DKCR can't live up to it.
This is not about saying which game(s) are better than any other, it's just the impression of certain people that a little bit of the 'essence' of the series has been lost with Returns. People can free to poo-poo the Rare titles, and the designs, but I disagree. I can still remember some of the baddies from those games like it was yesterday. I'll remember the bosses in Returns, but not for good reasons. "Oh yeah, there was that stack of three crabs and the horned-nose thing which charged back and forth". Just an opinion. Returns is still stellar to actually play.
It doesn't need to make sense to have a purpose. I was demonstrating the confusion of his own post. I think that was obvious.Cipherr said:
He used particular words that I used in my argument, ambiguously responding to what I've said... yet reconfigures the post in a different way and excludes other major points.
Man, when you use concepts like "essence", "memorable" and "remember like it was yesterday".... and without actually saying WHY... people are totally in the right to say that you're seeing everything through a haze of nostalgia.Sidzed2 said:
The crab enemies were worthless, sure, but what about the mice and bees of DKC2? How were they any more impressive? Both games had their throw away designs.
DevelopmentArrested
Banned
This game is way too hard. Stuck on couple stages on World 4 for days now. Ugh.
Gram Negative Cocci
Member
Seriously guys.
This
is not better than this
And man, King K Rool is so cool, Rare was so creative when they desi.... oh
This
is not better than this
And man, King K Rool is so cool, Rare was so creative when they desi.... oh
My friend and I have been taking turns clearing levels to find the KONG letters to
. We're currently halfway through the fourth world.
As far as the enemies go, I think my favorite is the stack of five little critters that yell when they topple over you.
unlock the secret level in each world to get the orbs
As far as the enemies go, I think my favorite is the stack of five little critters that yell when they topple over you.
patrickthehedgehog
Member
I'd pay twice as much for this game if they put it out without the motion control.
Anyone really think the old games are better than this?! REALLY?
I suppose it is cool to like vintage but in this case it is no contest.
The old DMC games were cut and paste repetitive platformers with tacky design. The sheer variety in this just blows the old games away, every level is unique and the design is probably the most inventive in a 2d platformer since yoshis island
I suppose it is cool to like vintage but in this case it is no contest.
The old DMC games were cut and paste repetitive platformers with tacky design. The sheer variety in this just blows the old games away, every level is unique and the design is probably the most inventive in a 2d platformer since yoshis island
jamesinclair
Banned
Can we re title the thread:
Donkey Kong Country Returns |OT| Waggle forced upon us again!
I've yet to find a single person who would agree with the following statement:
"The waggle controls are so amazing it justifies not including non-waggle options"
I especially hate the blowing mechanism. Look, there a giant unused A button. Why can't we use that?
Donkey Kong Country Returns |OT| Waggle forced upon us again!
I've yet to find a single person who would agree with the following statement:
"The waggle controls are so amazing it justifies not including non-waggle options"
I especially hate the blowing mechanism. Look, there a giant unused A button. Why can't we use that?
The environments in the DKC series were amazing. Certainly not in any way "badly modeled"Kaijima said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUNjZv1ZfFs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tC4M6_BkSA
Not to mention most of it isn't CGI.
Socreges said:
No, I'm sorry, but I played DKC2 last year and the designs hold up. It's not nostalgia talking and people are flat out wrong if they're trying to suggest my vision is clouded on the matter.
The words like 'essence', 'memorable', etc, connote that I am stating my OPINION. I think that's what is confusing you. I can't explain why the enemies of DKC2 were more 'memorable' to me. They simply are. You may disagree, and that's valid. It just leads me to form another opinion as to your taste.
The hornet, vulture, kremling, puffer fish, etc of the SNES games are, quite simply, better designs to my eye. That's all I can offer you, I'm afraid. In my view, Retro's designers have let them down vis-a-vis the enemies.
Oh, and to the person who posted a picture of the silly beaver enemy from DKC1, well there you go, that's one of the few Rare-designed enemies which is as lame as the tikis. Try posting a picture of any of the dozens of great designs, particularly from DKC2, and contrast that against the best that Returns has to offer.
Aaaanyway, I hate being forced to defend my minor criticisms of what is an absolutely terrific game, and easily one of the year's best. It makes me seem like i'm somehow not a fan of the game, which is just not true.
Tricky I Shadow
Banned
jamesinclair said:
I thought I'd really hate shaking to roll, but I'm actually surprised at how much I like it! Sure having a button to roll as an option would've been great, but I think its fine how it is.
The only thing I don't really like is having to constantly use it for speed runs...and the blowing hate completely baffles me. It's not exactly necessary and I think it's awesome!
Well I'm in Wrold 5, so far DKCR is miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiles ahead of any other DK game I've played.
It's less fun than nsmbw, but then again it doesn't have walljump :/
The use of diddy is kinda lame, I mean I usually dislike the way he's just a delaying fall powerup (I found flying powerup lame in my platformers).
The level design is some crazy shit I didn't expect, it's really fantastic.
I kept hearing how everything was great and all, and man it didn't disappoint.
the game is also ruthless, thank god for the 1up it keep throwing at me :lol
I didn't see the super guide once in nsmbw, and well from I think I see it in this game every 2 levels I think.
The music would have been better if it was more original, because since it's not as good I can't help but hear what the music actually was in the original games (like the bonus level music for example).
Did I mention that the game is fucking beautiful? I mean that's really the kind of visual one would expect from that game, it's fitting and awesome.
The foes are a bit on the lame side, while the kremlings in dkc2 was really good the rest was really bad or average so yeah it's kind of a draw here between the old vs new.
And the opening sequence is really good too
.
And the design....a game that reward experimentation? That's how I like my Nintendo games!
Oh and wiimote on the side for me, I'm having trouble with consecutive jumps (after you jump on a foe) but otherwise it's as good as ever.
GOTY 2010 contender for me. Certainly Wii GOTY
It's less fun than nsmbw, but then again it doesn't have walljump :/
The use of diddy is kinda lame, I mean I usually dislike the way he's just a delaying fall powerup (I found flying powerup lame in my platformers).
The level design is some crazy shit I didn't expect, it's really fantastic.
I kept hearing how everything was great and all, and man it didn't disappoint.
the game is also ruthless, thank god for the 1up it keep throwing at me :lol
I didn't see the super guide once in nsmbw, and well from I think I see it in this game every 2 levels I think.
The music would have been better if it was more original, because since it's not as good I can't help but hear what the music actually was in the original games (like the bonus level music for example).
Did I mention that the game is fucking beautiful? I mean that's really the kind of visual one would expect from that game, it's fitting and awesome.
The foes are a bit on the lame side, while the kremlings in dkc2 was really good the rest was really bad or average so yeah it's kind of a draw here between the old vs new.
And the opening sequence is really good too
the mask use its power and it doesn't work on DK....then massige punch in the face
And the design....a game that reward experimentation? That's how I like my Nintendo games!
Oh and wiimote on the side for me, I'm having trouble with consecutive jumps (after you jump on a foe) but otherwise it's as good as ever.
GOTY 2010 contender for me. Certainly Wii GOTY
You can put me down as someone who didn't really enjoy the original series. I was 14 and totally in love with Nintendo at the time and still didn't enjoy DKC. Part of that was due to the level designs being so dull compared to Nintendo platformers, the enemy design was just weird and looked out of place in the Nintendo universe. I loved the soundtrack though. This game fixes all my issues with the original and then remixes the amazing soundtrack.
Kaijima said:The presentation argument does seem a bit blinded by sheer nostalgia to me. I've /got/ DKC 1 - 3 right here to turn 'em on and play 'em. Badly modeled early 90's CGI environments, check. Map screens that are "moody" I guess because the contrast is so dark and everything has that trademark Rare "shiny metal Reboot CG" look, well, I guess you can interpret that as being "serious" and not "cartoony".
Someone needs to do a quick photoshop of the map screen in DKCR, turn the brightness way down, pixilate it, and see if it looks mature and moody like an SNES game again
MOODY!!!
_Alkaline_
Member
Too much hate for something so lovely.
MarkMclovin
Member
Been playing this on the weekend. I like the game so far (I'm on area 3), but I'm just not getting that awesome feeling I got from the first. I also prefer the music that has been left out of the originals, and so far, none of the new music has stuck in my head.
I'm really hoping there is a snow level similar to what we had in Snow Barrel Blast. Who could forget the snow getting thicker and thicker with the great music that came with that?
I'm really hoping there is a snow level similar to what we had in Snow Barrel Blast. Who could forget the snow getting thicker and thicker with the great music that came with that?
Chuckie
Member
Sidzed2 said:
They impressed me too and I do miss K.Rool.
However I also like the enemies in returns (mind you... not all) The sharks are f*cking awesome, so are the frogs and those really moody birds.
The crabs suck though.
Edit: Funny story; Yesterday I died about fifty times in 5-1. I couldn't get the hang of the vine swinging. Jump press Z at exactly the right moment....always dying at the last damn vine of the level...
.... untill I found out you can already press the button and hold it... and then DK just grabs when he's close. God that knowledge could have saved me a lot of frustation.
DieNgamers
Member
I'm in the lava world. Is it the last? ;( (I still have to get all the Kongs..this won't be easy! ;D) This game is so hard and unforgiving, it's awesome. It's got that 90s attitude that's kind of missing in most games today. The environments and levels are super inventive!
Tricky I Shadow
Banned
DieNgamers said:
You think its hard and unforgiving now? Hehe...just you wait until you get to some of the K stages! Some of them are completely relentless. Good luck!
Powdered Toastman
Member
MYE said:
MOODY!!!
Looks like offscreen images of an Atari Lynx of Sega GameGear game, oversaturated colors and bad dotpitch.
TheDrowningMan
Member
I'm starting to like this more now (getting towards the end of World 5). There are still far too many trial and error sections and those which would have benefitted from a superior control system (the fucking rocket...) but ultimately I'm either coming to terms with its trickery or World 5 is exponentially easier than anything since the first (which is what I suspect). Good game, excellent in many respects, starting to edge closer to an 8 out 10 on my scale. Anything higher seems unlikely due to the amount of shoddy, unfair trial and error design.
Mr. Spinnington
Banned
i hate to say it man but 'welcome to gaf'. having the biggest issue being that you need to shake a controller now and again in a donkey kong game is going to make people act like someone hit their mom each time they had to ground pound_Alkaline_ said:
when in truth it is a really excellent game with a few things for people to gripe about
Tricky I Shadow
Banned
AniHawk said:
Good to hear youre enjoying it more! World 7 is probably my favourite.
Error Macro
Member
SNES version:
Super Nostalgia Enhanced Screenshot
DieNgamers
Member
I think this is what a snes version would look on my nice little shitty TV:Error Macro said:SNES version:
Super Nostalgia Enhanced Screenshot
;D
D
Deleted member 30609
Unconfirmed Member
Good lord, World 8 is brutal.
EatChildren
Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
flak57 said:They're not for everyone, but they have a distinct style and I like them.
Pirate Kremlins were the best though, and Rare shit all over their own work with DKC3.
For me personally, the whole Monkeys Vs. Pirates thing was where I would have liked DKC to sit. It gave the Kremlins a much more cohesive and interesting design, and was a nice villainous parallel to the Apes.
EatChildren said:
really this.
Heck the Kremlins in DKC1 were on the bland side of things and DKC3....ugh, from the music to general design it's a disaster next to DKC2.
I'd put DCKR on par with DKC or DK64 so far, miles ahead of the horrors of DKC3 but miles below the fantastic kremlings from DKC2.
Then again if you think about it all makes sense :
DKC 1 ends on ships, which design is reused as a starting point in DKC2
DKC2 ends with a more machina feels to it which is used as a starting point for DKC3.
I got nothing for DKC3->DK64 though
D
Deleted member 30609
Unconfirmed Member
Which DK games were released for Gameboy? I played so much of them as a kid.
D
Deleted member 30609
Unconfirmed Member
Ah, that's right. I know I played DK, and probably played two of the three Lands.
My only non-Gameboy exposure to the DK platformers was DK64 (one of my first 64 games, so naturally I loved it and have never had the guts to go back and try it again), the DKC games and Jungle Beat totally passed me by. Maybe that's why Returns is such a mini-revelation for me.
My only non-Gameboy exposure to the DK platformers was DK64 (one of my first 64 games, so naturally I loved it and have never had the guts to go back and try it again), the DKC games and Jungle Beat totally passed me by. Maybe that's why Returns is such a mini-revelation for me.
flak57 said:
I was more talking about the coherence in design though, I wouldn't be surprised if the staff remained the same.
Oh and the only boss I remember from DKC serie on Snes is the guy with the kickass sword from the swamp and even then his design is better than his fight.
Gram Negative Cocci
Member
Rez, I strongly recommend the wii version of Jungle Beat if you've never played the game before. Very vibrant, very fun, very visceral.
And that Kremlings pirate picture is still a plethora of disgusting character design. It reeks of budget European animation, which I guess makes sense considering it was all Rare's British handiwork.
And that Kremlings pirate picture is still a plethora of disgusting character design. It reeks of budget European animation, which I guess makes sense considering it was all Rare's British handiwork.