Summary

Donkey Kong Country Returns HDrevives the beloved 2010 Wii game, offering a fresh opportunity for new players to experience the magic of Donkey Kong while giving longtime fans a nostalgic return to DK’s jungle adventures. The remaster features polished visuals, quality-of-life updates, and smoother gameplay, all while staying true to the charm, humor, and challenging platforming that made the original a classic.

Whether you’re a newcomer to the series or revisiting the game for the umpteenth time, these tips will help you navigate the jungle, outwit the Tiki Tak Tribe, and collect every last banana.

9Prioritize Buying The Map Keys

Cranky Kong’s Shop is filled with valuable items to help you on your adventure, from extra lives to power-ups like Invincibility Potions. However, don’t overlook one of his most useful offerings: the Map Keys. While it might be tempting to load up on power-ups, the Map Keys are a game-changer, especially if you’re aiming to fully complete the game or speed run it.

Cranky Kong offers one Map Key per world, which unlocks new pathways and levels. These levels are crucial for progressing through the game and accessing the secret ninth world, which is locked until you uncover these stages.

Additionally, unlocking these levels canprovide helpful shortcutsthat take you straight to the world’s boss, saving you time… perfect for those looking to bypass some of the more challenging platforming sections.

8Press A To Skip Cut Scenes

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD does a great job getting you up to speed with the controls, thanks to Professor Chops, a glasses-wearing pig who runs the checkpoints, explains the basics, and even offers you Super Kong if you’re stuck. But one thing the good professor doesn’t tell you is how to skip cutscenes.

You cannot skip cutscenes while in Super Guide mode.

Let’s be real: the cutscenes are funny and all, but if you’re trying to beat that same boss for the millionth time, watching the same intro over and over gets old fast. Here’s the trick: just press and hold “A” to skip straight to the action and get back in the game.

7Jump On Enemies For Added Air Time

As you progress through the levels in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, you’ll encounter obstacles and collectibles positioned just a bit too high for you to reach with a regular jump. These moments are a great test of your timing and creativity. The solution lies in using enemies to your advantage.

By accurately timing your jumps onto certain enemies, you’ll be able to use them as springboards, gaining the extra height needed to clear those tricky obstacles or grab those elusive collectibles.

While this technique isn’t necessary to finish the level, it becomes essential if you’re aiming to explore hidden areas and collect everything in sight. Mastering this mechanic will help you access bonus rooms, hidden platforms, and hard-to-reach bananas or puzzle pieces.

6Pay Attention To Details

True to form, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is packed with intricate level design,filled with Easter eggs and secrets. While you’re able to always rush through the levels from Point A to Point B, doing so means you’ll miss out on the hidden passages, collectibles, and bonus areas that make the game even more rewarding.

To get the most out of your adventure, keep your eyes peeled for the little details that can lead you to hidden treasures.

Here are some common details that often hide secrets in the game:

It’s worth making a habit of checking every nook and cranny to fully experience Donkey Kong’s rich, detailed world.

5When In Doubt, Blow On It

One of the first mechanics you’ll encounter in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is blowing on dandelion fluff. This simple mechanic becomes more useful as you progress through the game,revealing hidden items and collectibles.

But it’s not just dandelions that require your breath; throughout the levels, you’ll find various objects like plants, candles, smoke, and even certain enemies that can be interacted with by blowing on them.

As you make your way through the game, keep an eye out for those objects that may seem inconspicuous at first glance. If you’re ever feeling stuck or find yourself missing a collectible or two, it’s a good idea to revisit previous levels and give everything a good blow.

4Bonus Rooms Reward You With Puzzle Pieces

Every level hides a secret Bonus Room, and these little side challenges are packed with collectibles and unique platforming puzzles. To complete a Bonus Room, you’ll need to gather every item within a time limit. If you succeed, you’ll earn a puzzle piece as a reward. But if you fail, you’ll return to the level with all the items you collected, but without the precious puzzle piece.

You can only attempt the Bonus Room once during each level run. If you don’t make it in time, you’ll need to restart the level to give it another shot. So, ensure you’re ready to tackle these timed challenges and collect all the goodies before time runs out!

3Always Go Backwards

True to tradition, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is packed with hidden treasures, and one of the game’s sneakiest tricks is hiding collectibles right behind the starting point of a level. This clever bit of design rewards curious players who take the time to explore every nook and cranny.

Need to stock up on red balloons? Turn around in the very first level, Jungle Hijinx, and jump into DK’s tree house.Grab the balloon there, then exit and restart the level. you may repeat this as many times as you need, letting you save your gold coins for power-ups in Cranky Kong’s Shop instead.

If you’re on the hunt for Puzzle Pieces, Bananas, or Extra Lives, it’s always a good idea to make a habit of turning around and checking behind you at the start of each level. You never know what secret surprises might be waiting in plain sight!

2Super Kong To The Rescue

The levels in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD can get very tricky very quickly. After you’ve lost eight lives in a level, Professor Chops will offer you the option to tag in Super Kong. Super Kong and Super Diddy are silver-colored versions of the Kongs, and they’ll take over the level for you in Super Guide mode.

While the Super Kongs will blaze through the level for you, you won’t be able to keep any of the items or collectibles they gather, such as bananas, puzzle pieces, or K-O-N-G letters, even if you re-take control of the duo part-way through the level. Essentially, using Super Kong ensures you may progress through the game’s story, but it won’t count towards a full completionist run.

To truly complete the game, you’ll need to go back and replay any levels that Super Kong ran for you. These levels will be marked in red on the world map, reminding you to return and finish them on your own terms, collecting every item and completing all objectives.

1Pattern Recognition Is The Key To Success

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD’s relies on pattern recognition as its core gameplay mechanic. Every enemy, platform, and environmental hazard follows a set of predictable cycles, making timing and strategy essential for success. Whether you’re navigating tricky barrel puzzles, avoiding perilous obstacles, or facing off against tough bosses, mastering the game involves observing and learning these patterns.

Pattern recognition also plays a key role in spotting uniquely placed bananas and set pieces. By collecting every banana or interacting with each set piece, you’ll be rewarded with important collectibles like golden coins, red balloons, or puzzle pieces.

The key to progressing through the levels lies in your ability to quickly recognize these patterns. Once you learn how each element behaves, you can time your movements and actions to perfection.