Donkey Kong Country Returns HD

Exceptional finale and destruction tech mechanics, but inconsistent quality between sections.

Best Forever Entertainment remaster but gameplay feels dated. Disappointing soundtrack.

A fine but uninspired way to play the 2010 original, this is essentially a port rather than a true remaster, offering little beyond waggle-free controls and a slim list of additions carried over from the 3DS version. The core platforming is still great, but the unwelcome return of the awkward blowing mechanic, tedious boss fights, sound-mixing oddities and occasional frame drops make it feel lackluster, especially at full retail price. Tropical Freeze remains the superior pick.

A fantastic 2D platformer whose strong, devilishly challenging level design and tight, inertia-heavy controls hold up superbly, complemented by a faithful, well-arranged soundtrack and the bonus content from the 3DS version. The HD remaster's sharpened textures and boosted saturation make things look a bit too cartoonish, losing some of the original's charm, and load times are noticeably longer. The biggest drawback is the steep price for a re-release with no genuinely new content.

A fantastic 2D platformer with exceptional visual design and engaging gameplay. The HD remaster is excellent for new players discovering it for the first time, though returning players may find limited new content. The extreme difficulty may frustrate younger players.