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

As is customary, the ranks have shifted this month. Let’s meet the crew shortly 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: Wonderful, wonderful. It’s been just a few weeks since we’ve sat down collectively like this, crew, so simply to remind you all, we’re all mates right here. Be trustworthy, 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 steer clear of the Nation’s charms for all these years?

Gavin: Again in these days, I erm…, properly, 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 simplest ways you would. Now, Reynolds?

Ollie: So, I’ll say that I’ve dabbled within the recreation right here and there, albeit very briefly, through the years. I performed the heck out of Donkey Kong Nation Returns and Tropical Freeze after they have been launched, so there have been definitely moments the place I believed, “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 laborious to return, but it surely’s commendable that you just’ve tried many instances. 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 little bit, I’m afraid — although my uncle did have one and I’ve very fond reminiscences of blasting by means of DKC at his home at any time when I may (at the very least “blast by means of it” as a lot as a younger baby can). Armed with these reminiscences, I then sped by means of the primary few ranges on the SNES Mini just a few years again after which once more on NSO when it launched.

Alana: No disgrace there, Norman. The SNES predates me too, although I concern if we linger on age, we might properly 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 unique, and the way does it examine?

Ollie: On condition that I’d seen loads of the sport by means of movies and screenshots even properly 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 positively the progenitor of Retro Studio’s platformers within the sense that it performs very equally with the identical sort of degree construction and aims. I don’t suppose it’s aged fairly in addition to a few of the SNES’ different key titles, but it surely’s nonetheless loads of enjoyable, and it appears completely gorgeous.

Alana: We don’t have a CRT on board to try 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 recreation (and the dev workers crossover with Banjo-Kazooie, a recreation 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 Previouss, however one thing excellent.

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 recreation, I don’t suppose I’ve ever encountered fairly a lot… ‘BS’. Sir.

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

Jim: Earlier than we throw the ensign overboard, Captain, I have to admit that I may also see a few of… that. There are nonetheless issues to love within the unique Nation expertise, however one thing about this playthrough felt a little bit off. I’m beginning to suppose 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 choices 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 if you happen to’re sufficiently expert, you would, theoretically, beat a boss or make it by means of a run in your first go. With DKC, that felt close to unattainable. 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 instances I’d run ahead solely to barrel right into a crocodile or off the sting of a cliff.

Alana: There may be… a few of that, sure. I definitely struggled with the mine cart, however I really benefit from the precision platforming side of it. It seems like you must construct up a momentum and rhythm to get by means of each degree, and I recognize 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. Nevertheless, I don’t suppose it was fairly a lot of a difficulty for me. I do agree that the bigger sprites and the dearth of any first rate view of the street forward generally is a bit vexing at instances, however I believe the sport compensates for this by being typically fairly forgiving. The issue isn’t a patch on Returns or Tropical Freeze (other than possibly the mine cart sections), so I didn’t have a substantial amount of bother.

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

Alana: Now now, Norman, keep in mind we’re all mates right here – although I recognize the admission.

Gavin: That’s okay, Captain. I absolutely admit I struggled with this one. Maybe it’s right down to the dimensions 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 aspect as I jumped and so they went down – different instances, bye bye Diddy.

Alana: Diddy does deserve higher, and extra, than a little bit clip dying.

Let’s depart the unfavorable behind if we are able to, crew, and discuss one thing we like in regards to the recreation. Ensign Reynolds, I’ll begin with you.

Ollie: I discussed earlier that the sport appears gorgeous. There’s one degree known as ‘Orang-utan Gang’ (I believe), and the multi-coloured sundown within the background is actually one thing else. I adore it. The sprites are clearly distinctive as properly, and I really suppose Retro’s choice to lean right into a extra cartoon-y aesthetic was most likely a mistake. The unique recreation, and certainly your entire ‘Nation’ trilogy on SNES, is attractive.

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

Jim: I second every little thing on the visuals entrance and I nonetheless have a specific smooth spot for the rolly momentum. However I’ll additionally throw the soundtrack a bone. Certain, it may not be fairly as dense as what we’re used to seeing in the present day (it will possibly sometimes be a little bit stop-and-start), however nearly each single theme is a belter. Everybody brings up that first water degree for a great cause.

Alana: David Smart did cook dinner up some magic. The water ranges, basically, are excellent 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 wonderful, you’ll be able to’t go mistaken with DW. And the visuals should have seemed unbelievable on a CRT, with the rendered sprites mixing fantastically with the environments. I appreciated the little snaps of humour with Cranky, and that DK arcade-inspired intro. And I actually just like the momentum you talked about, too. Actually, 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 should 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 obtained the possibility to precise any creativity or take pleasure in myself. It was very stop-start.

Sorry, constructive! I appreciated 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 appreciated his massive purple, er, ribbit-bag? And DK64 gave me affection for Rambi.

Ollie: Sure, completely. Using atop varied animals like that seems 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 every little thing 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: Wonderful, we like to listen to that the animals are liked.

Properly, I imagine we should 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 instructed that Ensign Lane is taking command once more. Is that this a mutiny, Ensign?

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

Jim: Will probably 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 changing into a little bit of a behavior…

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

Donkey Kong Nation – Recruit Report