Donkey Kong Country Returns

Donkey Kong Country Returns is a side-scrolling 2.5D platform game developed by Retro Studios for the Wii. It was released on November 21 in North America, December 2 in Australia, December 3 in Europe, and December 9, 2010 in Japan. It includes Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, who travel across the island to retrieve the Banana Hoard. It is the fourth game from the Super Nintendo game series, Donkey Kong Country.

Story
One peaceful day, the volcano of Donkey Kong Island erupts and reawakens the Tiki Tak Tribe from their slumber. For mysterious purposes, the Tikis hypnotize the local wildlife ranging from elephants, giraffes, zebras, and squirrels by using their music to bring them every banana in sight. Under their control, Donkey Kong is robbed of his Banana Hoard. Luckily, the Kongs seem immune to the Tikis' mind powers. Donkey Kong stares at the Tiki and kicks him out of his house. Donkey Kong breaks his front door open and immediately sets off for adventure.

Donkey Kong reunites himself with Diddy Kong and the two monkeys head off to the Tiki Island to recover their precious bananas.

After traveling through various parts of Donkey Kong Island, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong soon encounter the leader of the Tiki Tak Tribe, Tiki Tong. After going through a tough fight, the Kongs prevail, and they retrieve their banana hoard along the way.

Afterwards, a Golden Temple appears on the island. If the Kongs get all the Rare Orbs from the 8 temples, they'll have access to this temple, and its secrets.

The treasure found in that temple is a mirror, which unlocks Mirror Mode. In Mirror Mode, players can't use inventory items, nor can players use Diddy Kong. To add to the difficulty, Donkey Kong only gets one heart, which makes this mode even more difficult. Clearing all the levels in Mirror Mode will unlock some bonus images in the Image Gallery.

Controls
This game utilizes two different control schemes, which are the Wii Remote by itself, and the Wii Remote with the Nunchuk Attachement.

Solo & Co-op

 * 1: Grab barrels, vines, and cling patches
 * 2: Jump; Ascend (while using the Barrel Jet)
 * +: Pause
 * -: Pause
 * Control Pad: Walk; Run (while holding 1); Crouch; Dismount Rambi (press 1 while holding the Control Pad downwards)
 * Shake: Ground Pound; Blow (while crouching); Roll (while walking/running); Charge (while walking/running on Rambi)

Co-op Only

 * 1 (Donkey Kong): Carry Diddy Kong (while pressing Control Pad upwards)
 * 1 (Diddy Kong): Ride Donkey Kong (while pressing Control Pad upwards); Dismount Donkey Kong (while pressing Control Pad downwards)

Solo & Co-op

 * A: Jump; Ascend (while using the Barrel Jet)
 * B and Z: Grab barrels, vines, and cling patches; Dismount Rambi
 * +: Pause
 * -: Pause
 * Control Stick: Walk; Run; Crouch
 * Shake: Ground Pound; Blow (while crouching); Roll (while walking/running); Charge (while walking/running on Rambi)

Co-op Only

 * B and Z (Donkey Kong): Carry Diddy Kong
 * B and Z (Diddy Kong): Ride Donkey Kong; Dismount Donkey Kong

Main Characters

 * Donkey Kong
 * Diddy Kong
 * Cranky Kong
 * Tiki Tak Tribe
 * Tutorial Pigs
 * Super Kong

Animal Buddies

 * Rambi the Rhinoceros
 * Squawks the Parrot

Tiki Enemies

 * Tiki Goons
 * Tiki Dooms
 * Tiki Buzzes
 * Tiki Torks
 * Tiki Boings
 * Tiki Torches
 * Tiki Bombers
 * Tiki Tanks
 * Tiki Zings
 * Big Zings
 * Tiki Pop
 * Tiki Seekers

Jungle Enemies

 * Awks
 * Rawks
 * Chomps
 * Mega Chomps
 * Frogoons
 * Hopgoons
 * Mimics
 * Screaming Pillars
 * Screeching Pillars

Beach Enemies

 * Snaps
 * Pinchleys
 * Squidlies
 * Electrasquids
 * Snaggles
 * Jellybobs
 * Squiddicus

Ruins Enemies

 * Stilts
 * Humzees
 * Toothberries
 * Cageberries
 * Acks

Cave Enemies

 * Squeeklies
 * Mole Miners
 * Mole Guards

Forest Enemies

 * Chomps
 * Mega Chomps
 * Shroom Chomps
 * Spore Chomps
 * Vine Chomps
 * Buzzbites
 * Cling Cobras
 * Skittlers
 * Munchers
 * Bopapodami

Cliff Enemies

 * Skellyrexes
 * Skullyrexes
 * Bonehead Jeds
 * Firehead Neds

Factory Enemies

 * Buzzsaws
 * Pogobots
 * Pyrobots
 * Buckbots
 * Buckbombs
 * Electroids

Volcano Enemies

 * Char-chars
 * Ultra Char-char

Golden Temple Enemies

 * Kowalees

Bosses

 * Mugly
 * Scurvy Crew
 * Stu
 * Mole Miner Max and his Mole Train
 * Mangoruby
 * Thugly
 * Colonel Pluck and his Stompybot 3000
 * Tiki Tong

Items and Objects

 * Bananas
 * Banana Bunches
 * Banana Coins
 * Barrels
 * Minecarts
 * K-O-N-G Letters
 * Barrel Cannons
 * DK Barrels
 * Slot Machine Barrels
 * Hearts
 * Puzzle Pieces
 * Auto-Fire Barrels
 * Red Balloons
 * Bonus Rooms
 * Treasure Chests
 * Animal Crates
 * Rocket Barrels
 * Map Keys
 * Rare Orbs
 * Banana Juices

Areas and Levels

 * Jungle
 * Jungle Hijinxs
 * King of Cling
 * Tree Top Bop
 * Sunset Shore
 * Canopy Cannons
 * Crazy Cart
 * Platform Panic
 * Mugly's Mound


 * Beach
 * Poppin' Planks
 * Sloppy Sands
 * Peaceful Pier
 * Cannon Cluster
 * Stormy Shore
 * Blowhole Bound
 * Tidal Terror
 * Tumblin' Temple
 * Pinchin' Pirates


 * Ruins
 * Wonky Waterway
 * Button Bash
 * Mast Blast
 * Damp Dungeon
 * Itty Bitty Biters
 * Temple Topple
 * Shifty Smashers
 * Ruined Roost


 * Cave
 * Rickety Rails
 * Grip and Trip
 * Bombs Away
 * Mole Patrol
 * Crowded Cavern
 * Jagged Jewels
 * The Mole Train


 * Forest
 * Vine Valley
 * Clingy Swingy
 * Flutter Flyaway
 * Tippin' Totems
 * Longshot Launch
 * Springy Spores
 * Wigglevine Wonders
 * Muncher Marathon
 * Blast & Bounce
 * Mangoruby Run


 * Cliff
 * Sticky Situation
 * Prehistoric Path
 * Weighty Way
 * Boulder Roller
 * Precarious Plateau
 * Crumble Canyon
 * Tippy Shippy
 * Clifftop Climb
 * Perilous Passage
 * Thugly's Highrise


 * Factory
 * Foggy Fumes
 * Slammin' Steel
 * Handy Hazards
 * Gear Getaway
 * Cog Jog
 * Switcheroo
 * Music Madness
 * Lift-off Launch
 * Treacherous Track
 * Feather Fiend


 * Volcano
 * Furious Fire
 * Hot Rocket
 * Roasting Rails
 * Smokey Peak
 * Bobbing Basalt
 * Moving Melters
 * Red Red Rising
 * Five Monkey Trial
 * Tiki Tong Terror


 * Golden Temple
 * Golden Temple

Time Attack
The Time Attack mode is accessible when any level has been completed at least once. In this mode, the player can earn one of four medals by finishing it in the fastest time possible. The level is always started with only Donkey Kong, even if players have Diddy Kong with them. When the Tutorial Pig finishes the countdown and waves the green flag, the timer and level will officially start. If the Kongs reach the end of the level and hit the Slot Machine Barrel with the checkered flag on it, then the Tutorial Pig will wave it to stop the timer. Then, the player's total time is recorded and a bronze, silver, gold, or shiny gold medal is awarded, depending on how fast the player did in the level. Shiny gold medals require an even faster time than normal gold medals, and their required time is not shown in the game.

Players don't lose lives in Time Attack mode. However, the timer does not reset if players are taken out by enemies, obstacles, or an abyss.

Time Attack mode does not affect the game clear percentage, so this game mode is completely optional.

Marketing and Release
To promote the game, Nintendo partnered Chiquita to cross-promote the game for a limited time by having Donkey Kong promotion stickers on their bananas. In addition, an online contest was set up asking people to upload three photos of themselves doing the "Donkey Kong dance" for a chance to win one of thirty-one prizes. Nintendo also partnered with Johnny Rockets to rebrand their Chocolate Banana Shake as the "Donkey Kong Chocolate Banana Shake" for a limited time. In addition, the promotion ties in with a sweepstakes for a chance to win a copy of the game.

In the United Kingdom, select Game and Gamestation stores were chosen to promote the game at launch by trading a handful of bananas in exchange for the copy of the game. The first twenty customers that arrive at the store are guarantee to get the game.

Nintendo of Australia promoted the game before launch by having game demo in two locations: The Nintendo Connection at Myer department store, Sydney City in November 27, and The Nintendo Experience at EB Games, Swanston Street, Melbourne in November 28. The first two-hundred people who sampled the game received a special Donkey Kong Poster. They celebrated the launch of the game by holding an event in Circular Quay, located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia in the afternoon. It featured a tower of bananas with a sign next to it saying "Kong's Banana Hoard", along with a variety of banana-based foods. The staff kept the public entertained with trivia questions; answering them correctly will be rewarded with a free Donkey Kong shirt. At night time, the main event began with the showing of the video game from the projector; giving people a chance to play the game.

References to Other Games

 * Game & Watch series: Mr. Game & Watch can be seen in one part in the background of Foggy Fumes.
 * Donkey Kong: The original 25m level can be seen in one part in the background of Foggy Fumes. The Factory diorama resembles the game.
 * Super Metroid: A structure that resembles Crocomire's skull can be seen in one part in the background of Foggy Fumes.
 * DK: King of Swing: The main theme of Donkey Kong Country Returns is a remixed version of this game's main theme.
 * New Super Mario Bros. Wii: The level pads look identical to those from this game. They even use the same colors. Also, the Super Guide exists in that game too.
 * Super Mario Galaxy 2: Super Kong also operates in the same way as the Cosmic Spirit in this game.

Trivia

 * Currently, this is the only game in the Donkey Kong Country series that isn't developed by Rare. It is also currently the only Donkey Kong Country game to not be released with a Donkey Kong Land sequel.
 * This is also the only Donkey Kong Country game so far to have no Kremlings appearing at all; this includes King K. Rool.
 * It is also the only Donkey Kong Country game so far to not feature any underwater levels, and glacier-themed levels.
 * At the game's release, those who pre-ordered Donkey Kong Country Returns at GameStop in the United States or Canada received a special banana-shaped Wii Remote pouch with the game's logo printed on it.
 * If Donkey Kong does nothing for a long time while standing, he will look around, and sit to play what appears to be a Nintendo DS Lite. While he is playing, button sounds and a sound effect from the first Donkey Kong arcade game can be heard. Moments later, he throws the DS behind him, which fades away quickly.