This month (September) was Donkey Kong Country Returns (DKCR). Apologies for the late release.

We had some thoughts about DKCR! The changes to Rare’s SNES formula and the new “feel” for a lack of other terms in the Wii/3DS versions made the early game and then perceived higher challenge level later on, harder to push through for us. Momentum and the feel of controlling Donkey Kong and Diddy are a bit different if you are someone who grew up on the original DKC series, but if DKCR was your first game, it also checks all the same boxes as the first game. It’s using three-dimensional space to have the levels collapse around you in interesting ways, which is new, and the collectibles and bosses and level-design conceits are all there and in force (reminiscent of if not replicating the vibes from the original games). Toben compares this release to a Costco pizza (relative to your favourite takeout pizza). It’s good, it’s got all the parts, but if given the choice we’d still opt for the other variety.

Check out our liner notes here for the standard lineup of speed running, music, and other content around Donkey Kong Country Returns. And for the Retro Studios fans, don’t worry, we’ll be playing Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze next year to see their spin on DKC taken to snowy extremes.

Next month (October) is Shining Force II, another foray/return into our (apparent) favourite genre of turnbased strategy games.

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