Topic: Donkey Kong Country Returns Videos

[MegaByte]

Check out our exclusive direct feed footage.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/24368

Aside from some great hands-on time, we were able to record footage from the first six worlds (Jungle, Beach, Ruins, Cave, Forest, and Cliff). Watch Donkey Kong and Diddy ride mine carts, rockets, rhinos, and more mine carts, as well as taking on some bosses in an effort to recover DK's banana stash from the Tiki tribe.

Also check out Nintendo's latest official trailer and gameplay footage below.

As an bonus, see the gallery below for a breakdown of the two control schemes.

[NWR_pap64]

I'll come out and say it... The level design... IS FANTASTIC! Seriously, these might even top Rare's own efforts, especially that mine cart stage where the tracks are swirling while the moles are jumping out at DK.

[Killer_Man_Jaro]

Oh wow. I was grinning with childlike glee watching those videos. Retro Studios, you are geniuses. I absolutely love how they are harnessing scripted changes and deformations to the terrain, particularly in the mine cart levels, as you said. By the way, there seems to be a lot more of them than in previous DKC titles, though I'm not complaining. They are a fantastic way to ratchet up the intensity; the part where the cart was inside the giant rolling eggshell was flippin' awesome.

I was planning to get this at Christmas, but now I'm not convinced I could hold out for that long.

[Podings]

This game looks nothing short of spectacular!

I'm hoping to get an internship at Retro this spring, and this is getting me giddier than ever.

[Sundoulos]

You know, earlier this year, I wasn't really all that excited for this game, but these videos make this game looks pretty epic.  I'm sorry that I doubted you, Retro; I can't wait!   
 
I agree with all the prior thoughts regarding the level design.  Also, I'm glad to see at least part of the game is keeping the pirate motif even if the main baddies in this game have changed.

[Tansunn]

Does anyone else think it's weird that they arranged DKC's snowfield music for an area completely devoid of snow?


Game looks awesome, though.

[broodwars]

The gameplay looks pretty impressive and clever.  Definitely looking forward to this one, even if I have to endure Nintendo's usual completely-arbitrary motion controls for some aspects of it.

[MegaByte]

the part where the cart was inside the giant rolling eggshell was flippin' awesome.

This was my favorite part too... the transition is just so smooth while playing that I was inside the shell before I realized the genius of what was happening.  I had to cut out a lot of stuff to meet Nintendo's recording restrictions -- there's just so much awesomeness in there, it will floor you.  Stay tuned for Nov. 8, when I get to post video from the rest of the game.

[Kytim89]

If this game is successful should Retro Studio move onto revivng the Star Fox series?

[NWR_insanolord]

Retro should move on to whatever they feel like moving on to. This game just further proves what we already knew: that they're a truly amazing team. Nintendo should give them the freedom to make whatever they want; they've earned it.

[Kytim89]

Retro should move on to whatever they feel like moving on to. This game just further proves what we already knew: that they're a truly amazing team. Nintendo should give them the freedom to make whatever they want; they've earned it.

Depending on the online structure of the Wii 2, Retro Studios should make a MMO of their own design and possibly a FPS that is the Wii 2 Halo killer.

[Caterkiller]

I could hear that classic Tree Top Town music! Yeah man!

I think I have to force myself to not look at any more footage of this game. That is absolutely enough!

[Killer_Man_Jaro]

Definitely. I feel Retro has really captured the essence of Donkey Kong Country with the new music, and of course, it wouldn't be a Nintendo property without some re-arrangements thrown in as well (loving the remix of the classic intro tune). Appropriately enough, the fast-paced sections, like the level with the spider avalanche, had really dramatic tracks. Not the tone I normally associate with DKC, but it fits.

Also, now having seen it in motion for an extended period, the graphics and animation are excelenté. I remember, right around E3, it was said in an interview that a level in DKCR would have roughly three times the number of polygons from an area in Metroid Prime 3. Just looking at screenshots, there wasn't much evidence for this. In video, however, this claim is much more believable, as there's a tonne happening in the backgrounds and such.

[Mop it up]

I remember, right around E3, it was said in an interview that a level in DKCR would have roughly three times the number of polygons from an area in Metroid Prime 3.

Did they really say that? Because that's an interesting way to phrase it. I don't recall hearing anyone talk about polygons since the days of the N64 vs PSX.

[Killer_Man_Jaro]

I remember, right around E3, it was said in an interview that a level in DKCR would have roughly three times the number of polygons from an area in Metroid Prime 3.

Did they really say that? Because that's an interesting way to phrase it. I don't recall hearing anyone talk about polygons since the days of the N64 vs PSX.

Well, not phrased exactly like that. Looking back, the precise quote was:
"Each level in DKCR contains about three times the detail of an average Metroid Prime 3 room, as far as the texture count and poly count."

If it is true, it is an impressive feat, considering Metroid Prime has a highly detailed quasi-realistic look and Donkey Kong is more stylised.