It's still annoying, but it happened with far less frequency than it did on the Wii.Ī glut of secrets and bonus content add replay value and extra challenge to Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D. This can result in disaster - with DK rolling straight into an enemy or falling to his death. The most frequent of which is Donkey Kong's tendency to launch into a barrel roll when you really just wanted him to ground pound. Donkey Kong is and always has been a heavy character who can't turn on a dime - but for the first time, I felt like I was controlling his momentum instead of guessing at it. The circle pad allows for more accuracy and nuance than the Wiimote's stiff D-pad, and all commands are mapped to buttons instead of fired when you physically shake the controller. Regardless of the mode, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D's controls are worlds better than they were on the Wii. But the 'new' difficulty level hits a better balance between 'this time I'll get it' and frustration. It's still a challenging game on 'new mode' - the frequent insta-deaths on mine cart levels and bottomless pits nearly everywhere else are still uncompromising. Both Donkey and Diddy can take a bit more punishment, and the items bought at Cranky Kong's storefront in each world are much more helpful. The 3DS version offers the chance to play the game in its original mode, or in 'new' mode, which eases things just a bit. All are pattern-based fights that recall the best old-school bosses in the series - half the fun is figuring out what to do, and the other half comes from finally punching the offending tiki in the face.ĭonkey Kong Country Returns was at times brutally tough on the Wii, with some stages requiring dozens of playthroughs just to make it to the goal. Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D aims to keep you on your toes, across stages and in boss fights.Įach world has a big bad, many of which come back for rematches in later worlds. In fact, the entire game feels engineered to keep you in a platforming flow-state. You're always moving and facing new challenges, but it never feels like ADHD game design.

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