Catch-Up Crew: Donkey Kong Nation – “I Preferred His Large Purple, Er, Ribbit-Bag?”

As is customary, the ranks have shifted this month. Let’s meet the crew rapidly earlier than the assembly commences:

Capt. Alana Hagues – DKC veteran, KONGfident in command
Cmdr. Jim Norman – DKC veteran, KONGsiderably well-versed
Ens. Ollie Reynolds – DKC recruit, KONGscripted
Ens. Gavin Lane – DKC recruit, inKONGruous

Alana: Good day to you all, crew! I belief you’ve all been having fun with the island’s sights? Are all of us accounted for?

Ollie: Ensign Reynolds reporting for obligation!

Jim: Aye aye, Captain!

Gavin: Yessir.

Alana: Glorious, glorious. It’s been a couple of weeks since we’ve sat down collectively like this, crew, so simply to remind you all, we’re all buddies right here. Be sincere, however be good.

Now, Donkey Kong Nation, hey? Arguably one of many video games that put Uncommon on the map – visually distinctive, completely easy, however a stone-cold traditional of the SNES period. However I hear there’s been some… discontent among the many crew. Ensigns Lane and Reynolds, how have you ever managed to avoid the Nation’s charms for all these years?

Gavin: Again in these days, I erm…, effectively, I performed a… I by no means had a Tremendous NES. I used to be a Mega Drive child, you see, Captain. It wasn’t till a few years later that I went again and sampled Nintendo’s 16-bit catalogue.

Alana: That’s okay, Lane. You recognised your mistake and resolved it in one of the best ways you possibly can. Now, Reynolds?

Ollie: So, I’ll say that I’ve dabbled within the sport right here and there, albeit very briefly, over time. I performed the heck out of Donkey Kong Nation Returns and Tropical Freeze after they have been launched, so there have been actually moments the place I assumed, “Hmm, let’s give the unique ‘Nation’ a attempt.” Admittedly, nevertheless, it’s solely now that I’ve really sat down and performed the entire thing by means of.

Alana: Good, good. Typically it’s exhausting to return, however it’s commendable that you simply’ve tried many occasions. Now, Commander Norman, I perceive you’ve a bit extra expertise with Donkey Kong Nation, appropriate?

Jim: That’s appropriate, Captain. My first rodeo, this isn’t. I too didn’t personal a SNES — it predates me a bit of, I’m afraid — although my uncle did have one and I’ve very fond recollections of blasting by means of DKC at his home at any time when I may (at the least “blast by means of it” as a lot as a younger youngster can). Armed with these recollections, I then sped by means of the primary few ranges on the SNES Mini a couple of years again after which once more on NSO when it launched.

Alana: No disgrace there, Norman. The SNES predates me too, although I worry if we linger on age, we could effectively trigger much more unrest. Let’s handle that later. Reynolds, given your love of DKC Returns and Tropical Freeze, what did you count on going again to the SNES authentic, and the way does it evaluate?

Ollie: Provided that I’d seen a whole lot of the sport by means of movies and screenshots even effectively earlier than the launch of Returns, I had a reasonably good thought of the way it would possibly play earlier than diving into it. It’s undoubtedly the progenitor of Retro Studio’s platformers within the sense that it performs very equally with the identical form of stage construction and targets. I don’t assume it’s aged fairly in addition to a number of the SNES’ different key titles, however it’s nonetheless a whole lot of enjoyable, and it appears completely gorgeous.

Alana: We don’t have a CRT on board to check it out, however I’m certain these visuals look even higher on an outdated display… (ahem, no time for nostalgia, Alana, pull your self collectively.)

Ensign Lane, I do know you’ve little expertise with even the Retro Studio video games, however I’m conscious of your love of Uncommon. What have been you anticipating out of your first DKC foray?

Gavin: I used to be anticipating… hmmm. Given the love so many individuals have for this sport (and the dev employees crossover with Banjo-Kazooie, a sport I completely adore), I used to be anticipating one thing to rival the 16-bit greats. Maybe not in the identical league as your Mario Worlds or your Hyperlinks to the Pasts, however one thing superb.

Alana: I sense some hesitation in your last phrases, Lane?

Gavin: … Permission to talk freely, Captain?

Alana: Permission granted.

Gavin: In such a beloved-by-millions sport, I don’t assume I’ve ever encountered fairly a lot… ‘BS’. Sir.

Alana: Fascinating. Reynolds, Norman, are you conscious of this, um, BS, Lane is referring to?

Jim: Earlier than we throw the ensign overboard, Captain, I need to admit that I also can see a few of… that. There are nonetheless issues to love within the authentic Nation expertise, however one thing about this playthrough felt a bit of off. I’m beginning to assume that it may not have aged fairly in addition to I had anticipated.

Ollie: Forgive me, Captain, however I shall want some elaboration on this so-called ‘BS’ earlier than I can remark.

Alana: In fact. Ensign Lane, any examples?

Gavin: For me, it’s design selections the place the participant has little or no probability of progressing with out failing first. Sure, sure, video games like Darkish Souls and the umpteen squillion roguelites are constructed round failure, however for those who’re sufficiently expert, you possibly can, theoretically, beat a boss or make it by means of a run in your first go. With DKC, that felt close to not possible. The sprites are enormous and lovely-looking – I can solely think about how gobsmacked I’d have been seeing them in 1994! – however one result’s that the seen path head is massively restricted in comparison with different side-on platformers. A number of occasions I’d run ahead solely to barrel right into a crocodile or off the sting of a cliff.

Alana: There’s… a few of that, sure. I actually struggled with the mine cart, however I really benefit from the precision platforming facet of it. It looks like you need to construct up a momentum and rhythm to get by means of each stage, and I admire that. Ensign Reynolds, any response to Lane’s points?

Ollie: Legitimate factors, to make sure, and this hyperlinks into my earlier remark that the sport hasn’t aged fairly in addition to different SNES titles. Nonetheless, I don’t assume it was fairly a lot of a problem for me. I do agree that the bigger sprites and the dearth of any first rate view of the highway forward generally is a bit vexing at occasions, however I believe the sport compensates for this by being usually fairly forgiving. The problem isn’t a patch on Returns or Tropical Freeze (except for perhaps the mine cart sections), so I didn’t have a substantial amount of hassle.

Jim: Seems like a ‘Ability Situation’ for those who ask me. The issue is, I’m in precisely the identical boat. I’ve labored my manner by means of sequences just like the mine cart ones with out NSO rewind earlier than, however there isn’t any manner that I used to be going to do this this time — these crocs-on-wheels come from nowhere, I let you know!

Alana: Now now, Norman, bear in mind we’re all buddies right here – although I admire the admission.

Gavin: That’s okay, Captain. I absolutely admit I struggled with this one. Maybe it’s right down to the scale of the character sprites and hitboxes, however I discovered it difficult to know if my ape was going to pound an enemy from above or take a success. Typically I’d clip an enemy nearly from the facet as I jumped and so they went down – different occasions, bye bye Diddy.

Alana: Diddy does deserve higher, and extra, than a bit of clip demise.

Let’s depart the destructive behind if we will, crew, and speak about one thing we like in regards to the sport. Ensign Reynolds, I’ll begin with you.

Ollie: I discussed earlier that the sport appears gorgeous. There’s one stage known as ‘Orang-utan Gang’ (I believe), and the multi-coloured sundown within the background is really one thing else. I like it. The sprites are clearly distinctive as effectively, and I really assume Retro’s choice to lean right into a extra cartoon-y aesthetic was in all probability a mistake. The unique sport, and certainly your complete ‘Nation’ trilogy on SNES, is beautiful.

Alana: Commander Norman, something so as to add or anything that stands out to you?

Jim: I second all the things on the visuals entrance and I nonetheless have a selected gentle spot for the rolly momentum. However I’ll additionally throw the soundtrack a bone. Positive, it may not be fairly as dense as what we’re used to seeing at the moment (it might sometimes be a bit of stop-and-start), however nearly each single theme is a belter. Everybody brings up that first water stage for a very good purpose.

Alana: David Clever did cook dinner up some magic. The water ranges, generally, are superb right here – Clam Metropolis is great. The music solely provides to that. Definitely higher than many different SNES-era water ranges. Ensign Lane, any constructive ideas on DKC?

Gavin: The audio was glorious, you may’t go mistaken with DW. And the visuals will need to have regarded unbelievable on a CRT, with the rendered sprites mixing fantastically with the environments. I favored the little snaps of humour with Cranky, and that DK arcade-inspired intro. And I actually just like the momentum you talked about, too. The truth is, maybe that’s the supply of my gripes – I felt like I used to be given instruments however not the alternatives to use them. Every time I constructed up some steam cartwheeling as Diddy, I’d must cease to undergo some tedious barrel part or keep away from a sheer drop. The degrees have been so linear in comparison with one thing like Sonic, and even Mario, I felt I by no means received the prospect to specific any creativity or get pleasure from myself. It was very stop-start.

Sorry, constructive! I favored the ‘EXIT’ indicators as a result of they jogged my memory of Fort of Phantasm.

Alana: … Proper you’re then. No love for the Animal Buddies from anybody?

Gavin: Ah sure, Enguarde and the frog dude have been highlights. I favored his huge crimson, er, ribbit-bag? And DK64 gave me affection for Rambi.

Ollie: Sure, completely. Driving atop varied animals like that looks like one thing that ought to have been saved for a sequel; you do not usually see stuff like this in a primary entry. The truth that Uncommon managed so as to add these mechanics, alongside all the things else, was exceptional. Very cool.

Jim: Having the ability to punt enemies out of the best way because the swordfish is a core reminiscence from the primary time I performed this. Extraordinarily satisfying.

Alana: Glorious, we like to listen to that the animals are beloved.

Nicely, I imagine we must always make like Expresso and depart Donkey Kong Nation behind. We managed to keep away from a rift within the crew this time, fortunately. Now, for our subsequent mission, I’m advised that Ensign Lane is taking command once more. Is that this a mutiny, Ensign?

Gavin: In no way, Captain! Simply following protocol. If it pleases the crew, I’d counsel an investigation of WarioWare, Inc. I imagine a few of my colleagues are unfamiliar.

Jim: It is going to be one other first for me. Able to set sail!

Ollie: I’ve performed a number of WarioWare video games, however by no means the primary! That is turning into a little bit of a behavior…

Alana: Nicely then, time for a lesson in early GBA silliness, I believe. Let’s head onward and upward – particularly the latter for a number of the crew.

Donkey Kong Nation – Recruit Report

Finest bit:
The visuals, the water ranges
The music, the frog

Worst bit:
‘Cease & Go Station’

Feeling funnelled and confined on a regular basis

Would play once more?
In a heartbeat
Hmm, is it paid?