Topic: Donkey Kong Country Wii

[Luigi Dude]

the same composer that did all the Metroid  Prime stuff is working with Nintendo's composer on the NCL side, Mr. Yamamoto. We have a long relationship with him, and the goal was to use  the familiar melodies but bring them into a more contemporary sound.

Well now we know the soundtrack will be in good hands.  Kenji Yamamoto is one of Nintendo's top composers and is the master of creating great atmosphere music.

[Armak88]

I just showed a friend of mine who doesn't keep up with gaming news or anything the trailer for this. When the screen was black and the music started playing he just said, "No way!" I know that I'm excited for this, but I didn't realize that there are many people who grew up with the snes but don't follow Nintendo anymore that will be just as excited as I am.

[Arbok]

I know that I'm excited for this, but I didn't realize that there are many people who grew up with the snes but don't follow Nintendo anymore that will be just as excited as I am.

My girlfriend is the same way. She grew up on the SNES, and we recently played New Super Mario Bros on the Wii... and she said "I wish they made a Donkey Kong game like this". So when they announced this, she was the first one I showed the trailer for and she described it as "Donkey Kong Porn": she was in heaven.

[Mop it up]

Coincidentally, "Donkey Kong Porn" is one of billions of phases which you DON'T want to enter into Google.

[Chozo Ghost]

If you're unfamiliar with DKC... what the hell Nintendo fan are you?

The thing is, the game came out in 1994 which was a long long time ago. There are more than a few Nintendo fans who were in diapers back then, or not even born yet.

That's why I think resurrecting something like Kid Icarus might be a problem, because the last game in that series is even older than that, so you have fewer people who will remember it, and those who do remember it are possibly no longer even interested or have time for video games. So Kid Icarus is probably a franchise Nintendo can't guarantee to be a success. With Mario and Zelda and so on everyone recognizes them and they will sell just on the name alone. If you look at Punch-Out on the Wii I think it proves my point. I don't think the game was a failure or anything, but it dropped off the charts pretty fast and you don't hear about it much anymore. So Kid Icarus might end up something like that if Nintendo were to bring it back.

Of course, the Donkey Kong franchise is strong and this game will sell because Donkey Kong is one of the most recognized Nintendo franchises. All I'm saying is the "Country" series of Donkey Kong games has some dust on it from years of disuse, but Donkey Kong himself hasn't faded away. Diddy and the rest of the gang will be less well known, though.

[Peachylala]

Coincidentally, "Donkey Kong Porn" is one of billions of phases which you DON'T want to enter into Google.

What about porn fan fiction?

[Chozo Ghost]

Coincidentally, "Donkey Kong Porn" is one of billions of phases which you DON'T want to enter into Google.

What about porn fan fiction?

If Candy Kong is in it, I'm sold!

[Luigi Dude]

If you look at Punch-Out on the Wii I think it proves my point. I don't think the game was a failure or anything, but it dropped off the charts pretty fast and you don't hear about it much anymore.  So Kid Icarus might end up something like that if Nintendo were to bring it back.

In North America, Punch-Out sold somewhere around 150K it's first month.  In it's second month, it sold around 150K again thanks to great word of mouth.  In it's third month even though it's numbers were never released, it was the 15th best selling game in North America for that month.  In it's fourth month it did finally drop out of sight but according to those with NPD access, Punch-Out crossed crossed the 500k mark at the end of December 2009.  So in the end Punch-Out had pretty nice legs and did very well for the type of game it was.

So Kid Icarus does have the potential to do well like Punch-Out did.  All it needs is a good advertising campaign like Punch-Out had so a good amount of people buy it right away and then hope the word of mouth is just as good.

[Peachylala]

Whether or not it had a play in sequals getting made (sans Sin and Punishment), the VC must've played a major role in these games getting made.

Again, PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT PLAYED DKC2 ON THE SNES, GET IT ON VC AND PLAY IT NOW.

Ok?

[Mop it up]

Can I get it on SNES instead?

[TJ Spyke]

If you're unfamiliar with DKC... what the hell Nintendo fan are you?

The thing is, the game came out in 1994 which was a long long time ago. There are more than a few Nintendo fans who were in diapers back then, or not even born yet.

All three DKC games have been re-released both on the GBA and on VC, so they have held more chances to play the series. I don't think I ever played the second and third ones. I owned and enjoyed the first, but I never play the sequels (and I never play DK64 either, the next DK game I would play was DKJB, or DKR if you want to count that).

[Kytim89]

This game is definently my holiday game buy. I really enjoyed the first DKC game, but I never played its sequels. I am also excited about the possibilty of playing the notourious mine cart levels in improved graphics. THose levels were cool, challenging and very creative. I can not wait for this game to release.

[NWR_insanolord]

To the two people above me who have only played the first DKC, let me repeat Peachylala's strong insistence that you should play DKC2.

[Shaymin]

I third the motion. DKC2 is the only one I bothered to get 100+% on.

[Mop it up]

To the two people above me who have only played the first DKC, let me repeat Peachylala's strong insistence that you should play DKC2.

I count three people. And it's one of few games which are on my SNES wish list (few because I'm not that into the SNES). I'll try to get a hold of it (and maybe the third game if I find a deal) before this one launches.

[Peachylala]

A local used game shop has the game for $50.

You can get it on VC for 800 Wii Points.

CURRENT DKC2 progress: Just reached Rambi's Rumble in Krazy Kremland. I suck at finding bonus stages and DK Coins. =(

[Chozo Ghost]

I hope you'll be able to swing on vines be using the motion controls. It would make perfect sense.

[Caterkiller]

Does anyone care that there won't be any Kremlings in the game? I imagine people would love to see all those guys again. I really don't care that much as long as at least 4 Kongs make an appearance.

[Ian Sane]

Does anyone care that there won't be any Kremlings in the game? I imagine people would love to see all those guys again. I really don't care that much as long as at least 4 Kongs make an appearance.

I think not having them will force Retro to come up with more original enemies.  I think the tendency to include every little thing from previous games is why sequels usually feel stale.  Remember that when DKC came out Kremlings were brand new.  If you want to play DKC again then play DKC again.  Donkey Kong Country Returns should do something new, not just be nostalgic fan-service.
 
Often when a series has been dormant for a while the fans have a laundry list of things they want to see return.  I think that when people ask for the same thing over again they don't really know what they want so they just rattle off all the stuff they liked before.  What they want is the feeling that those things gave them in the first place.  Those elements were once new and that was a big part of the thrill they created.  You don't want Kremlings, you want the feeling you had when you played DKC for the first time and almost all of it was new.
 
This happens every time.  Fans ask for the same exact thing again, get it, and then complain that it's too similar.  To recreate the magic the game needs to change things up.

[Mop it up]

I'm hoping for a new batch of enemies equally as memorable as Kremlings.

[Mop it up]

A local used game shop has the game for $50.

That store way overprices their games.

EDIT: Oops, I did not mean to double post, I meant to edit.

[Arbok]

This happens every time.  Fans ask for the same exact thing again, get it, and then complain that it's too similar.  To recreate the magic the game needs to change things up.

Couldn't agree more, excellent post Ian.

[Mop it up]

The problem is, tons of people complain whenever a game is too different, probably even more than the people who complain games are too similar. It's happened with Zelda games (Zelda II, Majora's Mask, Wind Waker), it's happened with Mario games (Super Mario Brothers 2, Super Mario Sunshine), it's happened with Donkey Kong (DK64, Jungle Beat), it has happened with Metroid (Fusion), and in fact is currently happening with Metroid (Other M)...

There's no pleasing everyone. I wish Nintendo wouldn't try and just create whatever games they wanted to make. That's what any real artist does.

[Peachylala]

DK64 deserves all the scorn it gets. The DKC games made the collecting tons of **** optional at best (all that mattered was finding the bonus rooms in DKC1, and the Krem/DK Coins in DKC2/3 if you wanted that 101% completion), DK64 made it MANDATORY and GRUELING.

A local used game shop has the game for $50.

That store way overprices their games.

That I've noticed, I've hardly ever gotten games from them.

[King of Twitch]

On this gameplay video on youtube, one of the crabs cries "Ahh!" when you jump on it, so the new Kast should have at least some amusing personalities in the mix.

Miyamoto will probably make the Kremlings into annoying, happy happy friendly friends. Hey hey! HOW YOU DOIN LITTLE BUDDY? I'm your Krazy Unkle, Krong! Wanna buy some of my peanut gun ammo? Do ya?? [Pay 500 tiki coins][leave]