donkeykong country returns level designer

#DONKEYKONG COUNTRY RETURNS LEVEL DESIGNER SERIES#

Levels morph before your eyes, and this unpredictability ensures you're continually presented with new obstacles that require sharp reflexes to navigate. Dynamically changing levels are the most noteworthy element, and though this idea has cropped up in other games, it's done exceptionally well here. Even without cutting-edge features to distinguish it from other 2D platformers, Donkey Kong's latest adventure is exciting because it constantly messes with your expectations. As the name suggests, Donkey Kong Country Returns is a trip down memory lane, and this tightly crafted collection of classic platforming tropes shows that clever level design can be just as engaging as brand-spanking-new ideas. Even though 20 years have passed since the SNES original, Donkey Kong doesnt show any sign of abandoning the design that made just as big of a splash as his arcade debut.There's a time and place for innovation, but you certainly can't expect a tie-wearing gorilla to lead the charge into unexplored territory. He may keep some of the attributes implemented to keep him expressive under the constraints of decades-old pre-rendered CGU, but DK still manages to look a lot warmer and fuzzier than he did in his former lifeless, plastic incarnations. Still, the current developers at Retro Studios do what they can when saddled with Donkey Kong's somewhat dated redesign.

#DONKEYKONG COUNTRY RETURNS LEVEL DESIGNER SERIES#

DK's first official HD game drops the gorilla into a very Dreamworks-y world that remains linked to Rare's handiwork-even if that developer hasn't been affiliated with the series since the dark days of Donkey Kong 64. That design choice continues with the Wii U follow-up, Tropical Freeze.

Prev of 13 Next Prev of 13 Nextĭonkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (2014)ĭonkey Kong Country returned in Donkey Kong Country Returns, a game that very closely adhered to the style Rare solidified in 1994. However, those later games stuck very close to Countrys established look, which may indicate that Nintendo viewing the King of Swing look as a mistake. Paon made several more Donkey Kong titles, starting with a King of Swing sequel, Jungle Climbers.

The game was developed by Paon, one of Nintendos lesser known Japanese dev partners, which may explain the change in look. And while this trend wouldn't last, Nintendo was confident enough in their longtime character to brand this game's title with the initials 'DK' rather than spelling it out for prospective buyers. This Game Boy Advance oddity tried to marry DK's pre-rendered look with that of the old arcade art, and succeeded for the most part. Over the years, Nintendo has barely budged from Rares mid-90s redesign that defined Donkey Kong for a new generation, but the little-known DK: King of Swing was somehow granted a little more leeway than other post-2000 ape adventures. Still, as time goes by, it's becoming increasingly bizarre to see this product of mid-90s technology dropped into games with real-time visuals that handily outclass Rare's pre-rendered relics. Its no doubt thanks to the tremendous success of Donkey Kong Country and its many sequel, though 2 and 3 greatly diminish his role, making him the kidnapping victim for a change. Given the CGI rendering standards of 1994, Donkey Kong could honestly look a lot worse, but even with this design being tied to certain technical constraints, it's the one Nintendo's basically stuck with ever since. Donkey Kong Country has a visual flair that says, 'Hey! We made this game with computers!' The flashy look meshed well with the tie-centric redesign of DKs Game Boy title from earlier in the year. In the face of escalating console technology, Nintendo stuck to its 16-bit guns and, with the help of UK developer Rare, reinvented Donkey Kong for the MTV generation.

Donkeykong country returns level designer