Donkey Kong Country Returns

Posted on Nov 30, 2010 under Wii | No Comment

The Good:

Fantastic level design
Hidden collectibles give a substantial reason to replay levels
Vehicle sequences are loads of fun
Strong artistic design
Catchy soundtrack.

The Bad:

Occasionally clumsy controls

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. 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 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. Read the rest of this entry »

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem

Posted on Nov 17, 2010 under Nintendo DS | No Comment

The Good:

Slick new construction-themed gameplay twists
Adorable presentation
Robust online level-sharing options.

The Bad:

Very similar to previous games.

Mario may have bigger adversaries to tussle with these days, but sometimes, age-old conflicts can’t be put to rest quite so easily. Aside from giving the mustachioed Italian plumber a shot at getting some payback and settling an old score with his original flaming-barrel-chucking ape nemesis, the Mario vs. Donkey Kong franchise provided an interesting break from the status quo for Mario and pals. Since it transitioned from the Game Boy Advance to the DS in 2006, the strategic puzzle-oriented gameplay revolving around safely guiding mini versions of Mario and his buds through obstacle-course levels hasn’t changed much from one entry to the next. Read the rest of this entry »