Back in the â€?0s, diving into a multiplayer game of anything was much m?ore difficult than it is now. Nowadays, you can pla?y against or with people from every corner of the planet with minimal effort, a massive change from the limitations of times past. 

When the Nintendo 64 was released in 1996 (I know, I feel old too, I’m sorry), multipla??yer console gaming was still a relatively new concept, but that didn’t prevent Nintendo from releasing a very long list of games ??that could be played with friends or family through split screen. 

Here are 10 o?f the best multi??player games from the golden era of the Nintendo 64. 

GoldenEye 007 

Starting off with what is widely deemed to be one of the best N64 games of all time, GoldenEye 007. There are mult??iple different multiplayer deathmatch modes to enjoy, all of which will see you squaring off against other players to try and come out on top. 

Perhaps the most enjoyable mode is “The Man With the Golden Gunâ€? which places a Golden Gun at a fixed point on the map. This gun is capable of one-shotting any other player, and the only way to take it from another player is by killing them. Whoever holds the gun for the most amount of time wins, and things never?? fail to get highly competitive. 

Mario Kart 64

It’s nearly impossible to write any list of N64 bangers without including multiple Mario entries, and this one will be no exception. The first of Mario’s appearances on this list comes in the form of Mario Kart 64, which is an undeniable classic these days and just a small part of the franchise still beloved by Nintendo fans everywhere. 

There’s something absolutely addictive about racing around a track against friends, shooting out traps to sabotage their efforts to beat you. There’s a thrill every time you hear another ?player groan when they slip or get shot from behind, and winning might not get you anything other than bragging rights, but those bragging rights are oh-so sweet.

Mario Party 2

While the first Mario Party is definitely fun, it does have some challenging minigames that can, at times, feel almost impossible to win. It’s widely accepted that Mario Party 2 took the successful concept of the first game, and just made it better?? in every possible way. 

The idea is to purchase the most stars using coins earned through winning? various minigames around a virtual board game. Virtual dice rolls dictate where you can go, and the board is filled with traps that mean even just winning minigames isn’t enough to e??nsure that you win the game overall. 

Quake II

Admittedly Quake II was released (and has since been re-released) on a multitude of platforms, but it was released on the N64 at some point, and it gets a spot on this list because it’s just so good. 

Like GoldenEye 007, Quake II features a variety of different multiplayer modes. However, while Quake II has all of the competitive modes, such as the 1 vs 1 deathmatch or Capture the Flag, it also has a mode that enables players to team up and take on a multipla??yer version of the main game. 

Worms Armageddon

Worms might not be the first franchise that you think of when considering titles for the N64, but it definitely should be considered among the best examples of multiplayer on any platform. Worms Armageddon is not only fun, but it will also get you thinking tactically and? getting competitive with whoever you’re playing against. 

You can create your own custom teams to test out, with each worm given a name of your creation. This does end up in tragedy when that worm takes a dive off the map, however. There are endless weapons, resulting in endless possibilities for new and hilarious catastroph??es to befall enemy teams. 

Super Smash Bros. 

Super Smash Bros. has been causing arguments between friends and family since 1999. It’s the ultimate rage-fueled button-mashing experience, and I’ll never be convinced that anyone actually has a clue what they’re doing. Regardless, Super Mario Bros. might be the pinnacle of? multiplayer fun on N64. 

You set your own rules in multiplayer, and then regularly live to regret them. Ending a match with two or more players?? havi?ng the same score will result in sudden death, which is always a tense time, even without mentioning the additional 300% damage for all players during that portion. 

Donkey Kong 64

Donkey Kong 64 is such a nostalgic game for anyone who was around during its release, and playing through the main story is something to enjoy even now. However, the multiplayer modes are perhaps one of the best features of Donkey Kong 64, and there are multiple to choose from. 

There are six multiplayer minigames, to be precise, and all of them will set you against other players to come out victorious. Whether you want to outright take lives from other players until only one person is left standing in Monkey Smash, or you want to knock each other off the platform in Battle Arena, dragging your friends into Donkey Kong 64 is always worth it.

The New Tetris

Let’s face it, Tetris has strange addictive qualities, likely thanks to its simplistic nature ??that requires nothing more than dropping shaped pieces into a space to make lines. It’s easy, and that ma?kes it fun. 

The New Tetris takes that beloved concept and adds up to three other players to play against, all vying for the high score. It also adds the concep?t of “Blocksâ€?which can be made by creating?? 4x4 squares rather than lines, which then add additional points when a line within that block is cleared. 

Lego Racers

As a kid, there was no game that could keep my attention for longer than Lego Racers. Building your own car out of Lego pieces, taking on the courses one at a time, and u??nlocking new parts for your car were all just so enjoyable. 

The multiplayer Versus Race mode is simple, allowi?ng two people to play on a split screen with just the two of them on the track, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less fun. You can pick from pre-built or custom cars, and test out your skills on any of the tracks from the single-player mode. 

Perfect Dark

If you liked GoldenEye 007 and its multiplayer capabilities, then there’s absolutely no way that you wouldn’t like its spiritual successor Perfect Dark. It takes everything good about GoldenEye 007, and improves the mechanics and gameplay by a huge degree, r?endering perhaps the best N64 multiplayer game of all t??ime. 

There are various different types of d??eathmatch modes to play with friends, as to be expected, but there are also other elements. Players can team up to take down bots (or c?ontrol them, depending on modes), complete challenges, and just have endless fun while also trying to get the highest grade at the end of a match. 

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It was difficult ??to be a Nintendo fan during the Wii years. The initial hype around its motion controls died pretty quickly when it became clear its real-world application was extremely limited. Worse, Nintendo seemed to be looking to gain favor with a broad??er audience and it seemed that its output suffered.

What sucked most was that it felt like motion control was being shoehorned into everything. Mostly because they were. I think 2010’s Donkey Kong Country Returns is exemplary of this. Retro Studios did an admirable job continuing Rare’s legacy, but the absolutely baffling decision was made to inc?orporate controller shaking. In particular, you had to shake the controller to get DK to roll. Rolls were necessary as a form of attack, but more importantly, rolling was used to extend jumps. Precise jumps, specifically. Jumps that you would see in the hardest levels. And it didn’t matter how simple the motion was, it was unreliable.

There was no reason for it, it could have easily been bound to the same button as “pick up/grab,�you know, just like it was in earlier games. You couldn’t turn it off. The mere fact that it had to be this was frustrates me to even talk about, but actually playing the most difficult levels with this hamstri?nger drove me insane.

So, anyway, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD doesn’t use motion controls?? and is better for it.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (Switch)
Developer: Retro Studios, Forever Entertainment
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: January 16, 2025
MSRP: $59.99

Technically, you could play Donkey Kong Country Returns without motion control on the 3DS already with Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, but I feel like this sort of game needs a bi?gger screen.

The original Donkey Kong Country series wa?s a heavy-hitter on the SNES, practically putting Rare on the map. If someone tells you that those games were only loved for their graphics and had standard gameplay, they were clearly in a Genesis household. Rare may have fronted with the lavish 3D-to-2D sprit??es, but the level design was top-notch. Sometimes maddeningly so. Loads of variety across its worlds.

After Nintendo and Rare had split, it seemed unlikely the series would continue in any form, so it was a surprise to see it again in 2010, and even more surprising to find out that it’s every bit as good as the original trilogy (motion control frustration aside). Honestly, while I prefer the vibes of the SNES titles better, the levels in Donkey Kong Country Returns reach offensive levels of creativity. From riding rockets to avoidi??ng giant rhythmic hammers, it’s a master class at setpieces. It provides a stiff but fair challenge across its eight (main) worlds, and constantly finds new ways to surprise.

One of the first things that greets you when you start up a new game is a difficulty setting. There are two, and they’re hilariously named “Modern�and “Classic,�which made me wonder what year this is. “Modern�is easier b?ecause I guess COVID caused our thumbs to atrophy and our patience to thin. You have three hearts by default, and Cra??nky’s shop carries more items.

Beyond the fact that something from 2010 is considered no longer modern, I find it amusing that there’s an easier difficulty because Donkey Kong Country Returns already has difficulty options. It caused a bit of discourse at the time, even before the Dark Souls Easy Mode debate. There’s the Super Guide that plays the level for you if you screw up a few too many times, something that became insulting after the motion controls let me down during difficult segments. There are also potions that make you invincible for a while. But, yeah, extra difficulty options never hurt. I just wish th??ey didn’t also make me feel old and worried for the new generations at the same time.

The story of Donkey Kong Country Returns is somewhat divorced from the original series, which was an escalating ??fight against an insane lizard. Donkey Kong’s banana horde is stolen again (as Cranky Kong points out, “So, who hasn’t stolen your bananas at this point?�, but this time, it’s by a strange army of tiki idols that can hypnotize the wildlife. Thankfully, DK’s advanced primate brain is immune to hypnosis, so he sets out to reacquire his bananas, assumedly before they turn brown.

Much of Donkey Kong Country Returns feels like a re-tread of the first game. You have all the barrel blasting and m?ine carting that made that title stand out. Moreover, the heaps of tantalizing secret items that are dangled just out of reach make a return. While it’s a linear platformer, Retro Studios followed Rare’s example of sticking extra challenges and hidden nooks to find as you race to the goal. More importantly, you’re rewarded for searching things out, with additional levels awarded, mainly for collecting all the KONG letters.

The view is zoomed out a lot farther, and climbable surfaces have been added, which?? allows levels to have a lot more verticality to them. This also means that minecart sections require fewer split-second reactions. Personally, I never had a problem with the minecar??ts in the SNES game, but I know some hate those levels, so maybe this is less vexing? If it’s not, you’re going to hate the rockets.

Alongside the minecart segments, there are levels where you ride a rocket barrel through a forced scrolling section. These require you to press the jump button to pull up and raise your altitude, so it requires a bit more awareness tha??n, say, a scrolling shoot-’em-up. It requires a feel for the responsiveness of the rocket, and there are some really narrow parts that might end up frustrating.? I loved the rocket segments each and every time; they may be my favorite part of the whole experience. There’s something to be said about the simplicity, but Retro Studios was still able to put in some incredibly thrilling segments around your rocket-propelled journey.

The bosses are a bit more of a mixed bag. Each one is heavily pattern-based, and there’s a lot of variety between them. Unfortunately, that same variety means that some are better than others. I had difficulty even figuring out what I had to do on some of them. Adding to that, the collision detection in Donkey Kong Country Returns is questionable ??a lot of the time, and this seems to manifest most when it comes to bosses. I’d find myself taking damage when I was clear of danger to the point where I captured a video of o??ne moment, then viewed it and confirmed that the two models didn’t intersect. What the hell? I’m not sure if the shaky collision was this way in the original version. It’s only a minor annoyance overall; it just seems like an out-of-place loose thread in an otherwise tight and polished game.

The graphical glowup in Donkey Kong Country Returns is pretty understated. It’s mostly what it says on the tin: a higher-resolution version of the original. Donkey Kong has some added fuzz, but it’s clearly set before Tropical Freeze since he hasn’t yet d??iscovered the amazing conditioner that gave him his incredible coat in that game.

The best comparison I can give is to say it’s like Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD. Nothing has really changed art-wise. The lighting is better, but it’s far from astounding. The textures are sharper, but they haven’t really changed. Backgrounds are largely untouched. It’s not the same magnitude of upgrade that Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door got, it’s largely just Donkey Kong Country Returns with more pixels.

It was nice to revisit the game. I find that with platformers, unless they’re extremely unconventional, they kind of get sectioned away in my brain. Even when they’re particularly well-executed, as is the case with Donkey Kong Country Returns. But actually sitting down and playing ??them, I find I can still appreciate t?hem.

And while Donkey Kong Country Returns HD doesn’t revolutionize the game, it still manages to become the definitive version of the title. If you haven’t played it before, you owe it to yourself to try it out. Retro Studios outdid themselves. They took what came before and expertly expanded?? and improved on it. It’s an astounding display of creative level design that is near unmatched in sidescrollers. And now you can play it wi??thout having to shake your controller.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Donkey Kong Country Returns HD appeared first on Destructoid.

The original Donkey Kong Country trilogy for the Super Nintendo has, without a doubt, some of the best soundtracks ?in the history ?of gaming. Nintendo is very much aware of this, seeing as it recently added the music from the first and second entries to the new Nintendo Music app.

Back in November, after the company added the Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong's Quest soundtrack to the app, I was left wondering if it was going to take long to add music from the third game to the trilogy. After more than 2 months, it finally happened: the soundtrack of Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble is now available on the Nintendo Music app for Donkey Kong fans all around the world to l?isten to anywhere and anytime.

This wonderful addition keeps proving how both late 2024 and early 2025 are great for Donkey Kong fans: Nintendo added the soundtracks of the entire DKC SNES trilogy to the Nintendo Music app, the Donkey Kong Country theme park opened in Universal Studios Japan back in December, and Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, a ??modern remaster of the excelle??nt Wii platformer from 2010, is coming out on Nintendo Switch this January 16.

The only thing truly missing from this party is a completely new Donkey Kong game (not a remaster, a port?, or a re-release), but there's always the possibility that Nintendo is waiting to launch the Nintendo Switch's successor before announcing a project like that.

The surprisingly beautiful soundtrack of Donkey Kong Country 3

Released on the SNES back in November 1996, Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! was a late addition to the 16-bit console's catalog, and yet it immediately became one of its best offerings, since Rare managed to maintain the same level of quality as its predecessors. Aside from its flawless gameplay and cutting-edge graphics, its beautiful soundtrack, composed by Eveline Novakovic (with the help of longtime series' compo??ser, David Wise) was one of its most impressive and memorable features.

Like the previous two games, Donkey Kong Country 3 featured a versatile soundtrack that fits the atmosphere depending on the situation: Songs like Brother Bear and Swanky's Sideshow are fun and lighthearted, while other songs like Treetop Tumble and Big Boss Blues can be atmospheric and intimidating. While the soundtracks of its predecessors are arguably better, Donkey Kong Country 3 still introduced gamers to some of the best music in N??intendo's history, and they're all worth listening to via the Nintendo Music app.

Since music from the entire original SNES Donkey Kong Country trilogy is now available on the Nintendo Music app, the company should keep moving forward and add themes from subsequent games in the series, like Donkey Kong 64 or Donkey Kong Land. Another glaring omission is music from the other DKC games that Rare didn't develop: Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. With the release of Returns HD right around the corner, I'm?? sure Nintendo will put those soundtracks i?n the Nintendo Music App sometime this year.

The post D??onkey Kong Country 3 arrives t??o Nintendo Music, and the entire trilogy is now available on the app appeared first on Destructoid.

After having already brought Wii U title Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze to the Switch, Nintendo has decided to do the same for its predecessor, 2010's Donkey Kong Country Returns. It's already a tad disappointing Nintendo isn't giving us a brand-new Donkey Kong game, but what's really left some fans baffled is that this HD port is ?being sold at $60.

This was discovered via the Nintendo Switch eShop, and is somehow surprising and unsurprising at the same time. On the one hand, Donkey Kong Country Returns is well over 10 years old, and you can track down a second-hand copy of either the original Wii version or the 3DS port for a fraction of Nintendo's asking price. What's more, while this port does include the levels added to the 3DS version, it otherwise lacks any entirely new content. You can't even play it in co-op online, and while I personally think Donkey Kong Country Returns is a gr??eat 2D platformer worth playing,?? I don't think I could recommend it at $60.

It's especially shocking when you remember that last year's Metroid Prime remaster, which offered a far more noticeable graphical glow-up, is being sold at $40. However, this is hardly the first time Nintendo has done this. HD ports of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and Kirby's Return to Dream Land also retailed at $60, as well as today's Luigi's Mansion 2 HD. Not that this has stopped fans from com??plaining regardless.

Over on a Nintendo subreddit, many are astounded by the asking price, with a couple arguing it wouldn't be so bad if it came bundled with Tropical Freeze. It's also been pointed out how similar HD re-releases were far more affordable, such as Activision's remasters of the original Crash Bandicoot games. The N. Sane Trilogy was three games in one yet was sold at $40. More recently, Ubisoft launched a remaster of Beyond Good & Evil, and it's very cheap at only $20. "It’s reasons like this I just don’t buy Nintendo anymore," wrote one Reddit user. "I love the classics but I’m not going to spend $?60 on a game they basically threw ne?w graphics on."

In a separate thread, others have tried to defend or at least rationalize Nintendo's decision, such as pointing out how Donkey Kong has more of a mainstream presence and has sold better when compared to something like Metroid. Not to mention Nintendo's been pushing DK more into the limelight lately, as evidenced by his presence in the Super Mario Bros. movie and getting a dedicated expansion at the Super Nint?endo World theme park.

As one Reddit user also importantly points out, the game's age means a sizable portion of Nintendo's audience missed out on the original, so it may as well be brand-new for them: "There's more and more kids every year aging up and becoming the exact target demo for some of these games. It really doesn't make sense for Nintendo to devalue their evergreens." And while I mentioned how copies of the Wii and 3DS versions can be found online, younger audiences are u??nlikely to have an old Wii or 3DS console lying around somewhere, or go out of their way to buy one of those second-hand.

Despite some fans' refusal to pick up Donkey Kong Country Returns HD at full price, I don't expect this to severely hamper the game's sales. Aside from those who never got to play the original, Nintendo has cultivated enough of a dedicated audience on Switch that would happily fork over $60 for anything it put?s out thanks in part to th??e company's first-party output being consistently high quality.

The post Donkey Kong Country Return’s Switch port is $60 and some fans think that’s bananas appeared first on Destructoid.

Remember when Nintendo brought Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze to the Switch? Well, now its predecessor, Donkey Kong Country Returns, is making the leap as well in early 2025.

Originally released in 2010, this marks the second time Donkey Kong Country Returns has seen a port, since Nintendo put it on the Nintendo 3DS as ?well in 2013. This Switch version seems to be a simple HD port of the original Wii game, but it will include the extra levels from the 3DS version as well.

Aside from that, it doesn't appear to boast any wholly new featur??es or content. Couch co-op is obviously still included, letting two players control DK and Diddy as they embark on a quest to get their bananas?? back from the Tiki Tak Tribe. No mention of online co-op though.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is scheduled to launch on January 16, 2025.

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Banana Blocks

The LEGO Company has released a teaser video giving fans a glimpse of some of the new figures headed to its ever-expanding LEGO Super Mario toy line �The five new figures, which were revealed on the company's Twitter, represent the key members of the much-loved Donkey Kong fam?ily.

In the video, we can see the unmistakable designs of Cranky Kong, Diddy Kong, and Daisy Kong, as well as the main man, Donkey Kong himself. And because no game is complete without a Funky Kong mode, then that totally tubular ape is also putting in an appearance, wraparound shades and all. While the characters' features are yet to be detailed, we can assume that these battery-operated LCD figures will interact with the LEGO Super Mario playsets, ?much like previous releases Mario, Luigi, and Daisy.

Something appears to be going on with Diddy's tail... no?t quite sure what that'?s about.

//twitter.com/LEGO_Group/sta?tus/1651224656991379456?s=20

The LEGO Super Mario series first launched in 2020, featuring the iconic Nintendo mascot and several basic playsets. Since then, the line has greatly expanded, with playsets based on Bowser's Castle, Luigi's Mansion, Bowser's Airship, and even The Big Man himself. These sets feature augmented play action, with sound effects and other neat tricks playing out as the figures are placed on and around the homemade courses. The Donkey Kong family of figures will undoubtedly add new options for set growth, as young LEGO and Super Mario fans build a Mushroom Kingdom of their very own.

The LEGO Super Mario series is available now at toy stockists.

The post Donkey Kong family teased for LEGO Super Mario collect??ion appeared first on Destructoid.

DK gets his very own brick build

Lego hosted a special Super Mario presentation today for MAR10 (March 10) Day. Alongside a detailed look at an upcoming Bowser-centric set, Lego also teased ?that?? Donkey Kong will be making his Lego Super Mario debut this summer.

At the close of the stream, we get a good look at the Lego Donkey Kong build, which has a little spot for the Lego Super Mario figure to sit in. It's an interesting configuration, considering I don't remember Mario ever riding on Donkey Kong's back? Maybe I'm forgetting some weird outtake of the 1986 animation or something.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L8qJUwZ94A

We didn't get any more indicati?on of what Lego Donkey Kong's set may entail. I'm personally hoping for some sort of chaotic mine cart course, and tons of little Lego bananas to scatter around.

Bowser's new brick castle

Today's spotlight also featured a good look at the Dry Bowser castle set, which is currently aimed for release on August 1 with a $109.99 price tag. I do like the Dry version of Bowser, but I love all the little details here. A bony Piranha Plant, the chain links and giant Bowser visage, and yes, even ?the Toad trapped in a cage.

[caption id="attachment_368255" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Lego[/caption]

The Lego Super Mario crossover has really taken off in the past few years, with tons of sets coming out of the partnership between Nintendo and Lego. Ranging from these playsets designed like game levels to the enormous, gorgeous Question Block set, it's pretty cool seeing the notorious ??plumber reimagined in brick form.

And if that doesn't satisfy your Mario craving, there's at least a feature film arriving soon to handle that too. The latest and final trailer for The Super Mario Bros. Movie premiered yesterday, strangely one day prior to March 10.

The post Donkey Kong is joining the?? Lego Super Mario lineup this summer appeared first on Destructoid.

No sign of the DK Rap, unfortunately

This weekend saw the production company Illumination release a short teaser for its fun-looking Super Mario Bros. Movie, an adaptation of one of gaming's most beloved and successful franchises of all time �Notably, the clip features up our first opportunity to hear Seth Rogan's performance of the mighty Donkey Kon??g, one of many familiar faces that will be showing up in the colorful adventure.

The clip rolls out with footage we've seen before, as our boy Mario finds himself on the receiving end of a beatdown from the banana-lovin' ape. Looking to the skies to save him, Mario hits a Question Block and bags himself a Cat Suit, as featured in Wii U release Super Mario 3D World. Unfortunately, Mario's solemn "Meow" f?ails to impress Kong, who promptly mo?cks him before continuing the ass-kicking.

//twitter.com/supermariomovie/status/1619795800686739456?s=20&t=fwH??S1JERA9tBi1kQ8j3riw

I'd love to think that the "Meow" line is a sly dig at the notorious first trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog, but it's probably just a coincidence. Anyway, you can check out Seth Rogan's snippet of dialogue in the tweet embedded above, and you can watch the original trailer in our previous report. Seth Rogan will be joined by and ensemble cast that includes Chris Pratt (Mario), Anya Taylor-Joy (P?each), Keegan Michael-Key (Toad), Jack Black?? (Bowser), and Charlie Day (Luigi)

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is scheduled to la??unch in theaters in the UK and Europe in late-March. It will premiere in North America on April 7. And, you know what? ??it's really not looking too bad.

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Past the kill screen

Do you know what the best Mario game on the Game Boy is? No, it’s not Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins. No, it’s not Dr. Mario. Alleyway? No. What? Now you’re just making things up. Listen, shush. Stop making me regret asking you to play this guessing game. The answer is Donkey Kong.

At this point, Donkey Kong might be the Game Boy’s worst-kept secret. At the time of its release in 1994, I didn’t hear much about it. The fact that it’s just called Donkey Kong makes it sound like a port of the original arcade title, and it seems willing to keep that illusion going. There was also a push to make it the poster child of the Super Game Boy, which seemed to further muddy the waters. But if you took a chance on it, you’d find that it’s not only a terrific game i?n its own right, it’s one of the best games on Nintendo’s brick-like handheld.

[caption id="attachment_359029" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Communication breakdown

The best and worst part about Donkey Kong on Game Boy is how unwilling it is to explain itself. When you start up the game, you’re dr??opped into the familiar construction site of the arcade title. The eponymous Kong stands atop the girders, throwing barrels in your general direction. The graphics, sound, and music all harken back to the original title.

If you take the time to experiment with the controls, you might learn that Mario has quite a few new tricks up his sleeve, but there’s no indication that you should (assuming you didn’t read the instruction manual while eating Pizza Hut with your mom on the way home.) Donkey Kong then continues this illusion through four stages of arcade action before it finally plays its ??hand. Pauline is snatc??hed from Mario’s grasp, and Donkey Kong takes off through about a bajillion more stages.

You may be wondering how you can stretch the arcade gameplay of Donkey Kong across a hundred-or-so levels. Rampage tried that, and anyone who has played through its 768 levels will tell you that it wasn’t a good idea. However, Donkey Kong greatly expands the basic mechanics in a lot of different ways. It also incorporates features from Donkey Kong Jr. and breaks from the original formula by adding scrolli?ng screens. It all gradually evolves into something that doesn’t feel quite like the legendary arcade title, and instead feels like the perfect Game Boy game.

[caption id="attachment_359030" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Mmm... Pizza Hut

It would actually be better if you kept your pizza grease-coated fingers off the instruction manual since one of the things Donkey Kong does well is gradually revealing all its secrets to you. The game is divided into four level slices, and between each one, you’re given a vignette with the hairy primate antagonizing the hairy plumber. Through these, Mario demonstrates some of his new moves and what can be done with them, as well as any new level mechanics that are coming up. Through this, Donkey Kong prese??nts that it has faith in you f??iguring things out, which is more respectful than any game with a forced tutorial.

Mechanics are introduced gradually, giving plenty of time to come to grips with them. Some of your moves are more or less optional, but they will make for a more impressive experience. Donkey Kong shows Mario at the spriest he’s ever been. Before Super Mario 64, the little Italian was doing handstands. That little s??kid-stop super-jump even shows? up here. Who would have guessed it would become a mainstay in Mario’s repertoire?

Each stage is largely completed by collecting a key and carrying it Super Mario 2 (USA)-style ov??er to?? a locked door. It’s a straightforward goal, but some of the stages get a bit puzzling when it comes to actually getting the key to the door.

There are often enemies in your way, and this is one of the places where Donkey Kong stumbles. Some enemies you can touch, while others kill you outright. Others will allow you to pick them up and throw them, and some don’t give you the option. There are a few enemies that look like they’re making an attack, but really, they just push you. It’s a bit of a communication breakdown, and while it’s hardly game-breaking, it is a notably weaker p??oint of the game.

[caption id="attachment_359031" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Hop-skip-jump

Every fourth level has you squaring off against the titular ape. Wh??ile some of these are a matter of reaching Pauline, like in the arcade title, others have you on the offensive, hurling barrels right back at the hairy boy. Predictably, the business ape just gets back up and grabs P?auline again right up until you can put him down for good.

At the beginning of each slab of levels, you’re treated to Donkey Kong wiggling his butt as he crams his way into the door. I don’t know why I bring this up, aside from the fact that I find it extremely distracting. It makes me uncomfortable. I want to avert my eyes, but who can turn away from such a shapely?? posterior postu??ring so brazenly? It’s not just me, right?

What were we talking about? Right, yeah, Donkey Kong. It’s uh�hm.

[caption id="attachment_359028" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

What?

I find it interesting that a number of the level designers for Donkey Kong came from the scenario group that did Mother. I’m not sure that has much bearing on how the game turned out, but it is neat that a group fro?m a mostly unrelated title hit it out of the park with this one.

Donkey Kong was going to get a remake on the Game Boy Advance, but it quietly disappeared and was later replaced with Mario vs. Donkey Kong. While it’s obviously a follow-up, Mario vs. Donkey Kong went further into the puzzle-platformer direction, and this transition continued through to Mario vs. Donkey Kong: March of the Minis. So, the series lives on (Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars being the most recent in 2015); it just continued the route of finding its own identity separate from ?t?he arcade inspiration.

As for the 1994 version, however, it’s an easy one to overlook. It would have perhaps been better off called Mario vs. Donkey Kong to make the disti??nc??tion clear. Even today, if you had never heard of the game and were looking through a display of Game Boy games, you might just mistake it as a stripped-down port of the arcade title when it’s anything but. Anything butt. Butt.

For o??ther retro titles you may have missed, click right her?e!

The post Don?key Kong on Game Boy has something for you behind the curtain appeared first on Destructoid.

Cblogs of 7/30 to 8/06/2022

-Virtua Kazama reflects on this weekend's Evo event, which sees the tourney final?ly return in ?an offline capacity.

-InquisitiveRaven has opened up their c??ommissions, so drop in if you fancy?? some rad custom art.

-Alphadeus has applied their amazing talents to a new concept album, Walking in Circles II.

-PhilsPhindings takes a look at the connections between Donkey Kong and New Wave music.

-Chronolynxx invites the community to ano??ther Friday get-together.

Not a lot of Cblogs this week, but we appreciate every one of them, and this week's efforts really showcase the pas?sion and talent of our readers. so thanks for the contributions. If you wanna join the HOT TAKE party, then head to the Cblogs section, ??have your say, and you will find yourself recapped on this here front page next week.

The post Which fighting game franchise holds t?he mo?st memories for you? appeared first on Destructoid.

Just in time for the leaked movie?

It all started with a door. Eight months ago, a mysterious door appeared at Super Nintendo World in Tokyo, Japan. It looked like an obvious Donkey Kong reference, but since it was a closed door that lead to nowhere, we couldn't be sure. Except we were pretty sure, and that hunch panned out. Seven months later Nintendo would ??spill the beans and fully reveal the next ste??p beyond the core Mario theme for the Tokyo-based par?k: a ?Donkey Kong expansion.

This past week in a fiscal financial briefing, Nintendo reaffirmed a 2024 opening for "the Donkey Kong area" of Super Nintendo World in Japan. Nintendo also coyly notes that they are planning "new areas" for the Hollywood, Orlando, and Singapore locations. So any potential holds this past year due to the state of the world are see??mingly over, and they're ready to rock. The company also confirms the order of operations for all these locations: "the next Super Nintendo World to open after Osaka will be in the US, in Hollywood. And after that, we plan to build new areas in Orlando and in Singapore."

I mean, the Donkey Kong expansion just makes the rumors for the Donkey Kong film all the more credible. Universes are all the rage these days for multiple monetary reasons, and Seth Rogen is most definitely down to mess around in a family franchise for as long as possible. 2024 is about on-point for when a Donkey Kong movie would come out, and Nintendo can easily tease a spinoff in 2022's Mario film. Plus, the opening of the Mario park coincides with the first film. Synergy!

The post Nintendo reaffirms 2024 for Super ?Nintendo World Donkey Kong expansion appeared first on Destructoid.

Well, Donkey Kong might be next

With Nintendo entering the film arena, anything can happen. A Zelda show that actually gets greenlit? A Mario cinematic universe? With enough money from Nintendo media projects, the publisher can start cal??ling the shots in several mediums.

Miyamoto explains the situation in detail in a recent investor Q&A, providing their reasoning for the expansion into Nintendo media project?s outside of the gaming arena:

"I have great expectations for the Super Mario CG-animated film. For decades, our approach? has been to bring smiles to consumers by creating each product with great care. With visual content as well, we want to continue to create content that bring smiles to generations of consumers around the world. We recently announced the film release date because produ?ction is getting closer to completion.

Going forward, we want to actively utilize other IP as well. With visual content, ??people can experience Nintendo IP in a variety of places, so I think it's good to have a lot of content that is accessible for people who do not have a dedicated game device. However, we want to continue to make each title with care, so I cannot talk about a specific number. We want to work diligently to build up a strong offering."

So we already know that Donkey Kong might be the next IP that Nintendo and Illumination tackle after the Mario film. And you know what? All of the pieces line up. Seth Rogen is definitely down to do as many family movies as possible, and the whole "Donkey Kong family" formula is going to work perfectly in terms of serving a screwball comedy up on a s?ilver platter for kids.

Oh, and guess what?! They already have the theme p?ark designs ready to go.

The post Nintendo will continue to ‘actively utilize IP’ for future media projects appeared first on Destructoid.

Seth Rogen is our new Donkey Kong, which means King K. Rool has to be...

Are we ready for a Nintendo cinematic universe? Illumination and Nintendo's animated Mario movie for December 2022 might be the start of something grander. According to sources at entertainment site Giant Freakin Robot, there's also going to be a Donkey Kong movie �and yes, Seth Rogen will? reprise his role. (We live ?in quite the timeline.)

Considering that Rogen was already confirmed for the Mario movie (alongside Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong), and Universal Studios Japan’s Super Nintendo World park will be opening a new area themed after Donkey Kon??g in 2024, it seems so painful??ly plausible.

The report out of Giant Freakin Robot suggests that "the Donkey Kong solo movie is currently in development at Illumination," and we likely "won't be seeing? the project released until sometime in 2023 at the earliest, as the story is still developing." Plot details weren't divulged, and it's not known if other Nintendo character?s will tag along.

The look on my face �honestly, all of our faces �when we heard about the eclectic big-shot Mario movie voice cast from Shigeru Miyamoto himself during what will go down as an unforgettable Nintendo Direct moment: priceless. Some of the casting choices are spot-on. Some of them were groan-worthy then and even more groan-worthy now.

As someone who grew up with the wonky but fun mid-'90s Donkey Kong Country TV show (the one with all of the modern-day memes), I'm ready to see Donkey Kong and friends back in Nin??tendo's spotlight. And hopefully the Kremlings can sh?ow up again too.

You do you, Seth Rogen. But please tell Nintendo to make another Donkey Kong Country.

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Those doors were right!

So far the receptio??n to Super Nintendo World has been relatively positive from attendees: but a common complaint I've seen is that they wish it was bigger. Well that's getting fixed soon thanks to the Donkey Kong Universal expansion.

Announced by Universal itself, Universal Studios Japan's Super Nintendo World park will be expanded? by "a??pproximately 70%" (!) to accommodate the new character's themed area, which is set to open in 2024. It'll get its own roller coaster, "interactive experiences," and of course, themed food and merch. The theme is "lush jungle," and you can get a look at the concept below.

Shigeru Miyamoto is once again involved with the Donkey Kong Universal expansion, which the company calls a "gamechanger" due to "innovative technology." The roller coaster could actually be pretty substantial get for the Super Nintendo World concept as a whole: as one of the complaints of the current setup is that the (ostensibly) Mario side is really light on adult rides.

Some may recall that the Donkey Kong expansion was cutely hinted at half a year ago when Universal erected a mysterious Donkey Kong-the??med doorway that led to nothing. Since then, pl??ans have leaked into the hands of various theme park blog??s.

This is all well and good, but given that Super Nin?tendo World hasn't arrived anywhere outside of Japan yet, I'm kind of anxious to get, well, anything at the moment!

The post Donkey Kong (Country?) land will open in Universal Studios Japan in ??2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

If you open the door, King K. Rool punches you in the face

Super Nintendo World is officially open for busin??ess, and man, is i??t making an impact on people.

Between the little thematic "activities" to do around the park, the Power-Up Bands that double as amiibo, the cool looking food,?? and the three rides for folks of all ages, I've seen so many "I wish I lived in Japan" comments these past few weeks. For many people, it's a magical place come to life.

But it might get a little more magical. As reported by VGC, there's a mysterious door that leads to...nothing. But doesn't it look so obviously Donkey Kong themed? Yeah, everyone else thinks so!

Amid rumors of a potential Donkey Kong expansion, some users have taken to Twitter to provide an aerial look at the zone in which the door inhabits, which certainly allows for a proper expansion. Late last year, the official Universal app was also datamined, whi??ch confirmed the existence of Donkey Kong content. Coincidence? I think not!

Hopefully once the park concept comes to the west, ??they'll build the whole thing, expansions and all. I don't think a lot of people are going to be able to wait?? as-is!

Japan’s Super Nintendo World is already hinting at its?? Donkey Kong expansion [VGC]

_{[Image source]}

The post A mysterious Donkey Kong door has people freaking?? out over a potential Super Nintendo World expansion appeared first on Destructoid.

Some 'rough scribbles' from the old days at Rare

Aside from my normal rotation of gaming-adjacent YouTube subs that I keep tabs on a few times a week, lately, my feed has been full of anything but modern video game?s – hardware mods, console restorations, little-known tidbits about my favorite series, wacky lists, and everything in between.

It's entirely on-brand that I'd come across a video from former Rare artist Kev Bayliss covering his original Donkey Kong Country sketches – in?cluding the icon??ic Animal Buddies – from 1993.

These are some of the "original scribbles which were used as a basis for us to model our 3D graphics for Donkey Kong Country," he said. "There's not a lot here, really – it's just a lot of scribbles – and as I say, they're very crude, but it was all we needed back in the day before we began modeling our c?haracters."

"We just needed a couple of sketches so that we could r?efer to them and ??say 'Yeah, we want a frog,' and then we'd probably consult our natural history books or whatever we had on our desks way before the internet, and we'd look at all the finer details."

"If you were to pr??esent this as concept art nowadays people would just laugh at you?," Bayliss added.

I particularly love the scratched-out names that weren't used (Rambi the Rhino is presented here as "Rhidocerus") and the "meaner," more Battletoads-esque variations that were considered. He also showed off a "Slippas" snake enemy that could stun the Kongs and an early look at the Krem??lings.

As for DK himself, Bay?liss said that the character's proportions were meant to "wo?rk better as a platformer rather than a villain at the top of the screen," hence the more "boxy" and "compact" redesign.

It's fascinating to see the original fax ?that "came over f?rom Nintendo" compared to Bayliss' sketches.

The post Donkey Kong Country artist Kevin Bayliss pulled out old character sketches fo?r a show and tell appeared first on Destructoid.

I called it 'Diddy Kong's Quest' for years

In the...oh I want to say, hundreds of hours I played and replayed Donkey Kong Country 2, I never gave its subtitle a second thought.

"Diddy Kong's Quest." Yeah, that sounds right. Perfect actually. No one corrected me. Not my cousin that was visiting from out of state, during our eight-hour session with the game. None of my friends or family member??s, either. Years later I would come to recognize that it was "Diddy's Kong Quest," a clear play-on-words for "Diddy's Conquest," given that he was the new star of the sequel.

Our own Jordan Devore and I periodically muse on how amazing Donkey Kong Country is and still, to this day, joke about how this tripped us up at one point in our lives. So why am I bringing this up decades later? Well, Nintendo just released the game on Switch, and they had a fun little time tweetin??g about the aforementioned phenom??enon.

At this point, the correct title has safely entered "Sinbad Genie Movie" and "Berenstain Bears" territory. I doubt m?any people are going to die on that hill anymore: knowingly pronouncing it incorrectly. But it's fun to see Nintendo poke fun at it, ?years later, now that we know the truth.

Nintendo UK [Twitter]

Diddy Kong's Quest âŒ
Diddy's Kong Quest ✅

— Nintendo UK (@NintendoUK) October 4, 2020

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The GOAT returns on September 23

[Update: DKC2, Mario's Super Picross, The Peace Keepers, and S.C.A.T. – yes, S.C.A.T. – are now on Nintendo?? Switch if you have a Nintendo Switch Online account. What are you playing firs?t?]

Our pleas have made it to Nintendo and the king is finally about to return. Donkey Kong Country 2 will be playable on Nintendo Switch starting September 23 for Nintendo Switch Online subscribe??rs.

It has consistently topped fans' most-wanted lists, and I'm right there with the crowd. I'd love the chance to reconnect with EarthBound, but DKC2?? is my favorite game of all time. We made it, fam.

The SNES library is also getting Mario's Super Picross (a first-time release outside of Japan) and The Peace Keepers, a funky Jaleco beat-'em-up. On the NES front, it's S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack Team, a Natsume shmup. Imagine if t?hese retro releases happened on a regular basis. That sure would be nice.

Anyone else going for 102% completion?

The post Nintendo Switch is finally getting Donkey Kong Country?? 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Cblogs Recap: Week 28

-Nior continues exploring the gaming culture in Brazil and features Dandara in this blog; a Brazilian-made metroidvania that I am coincidentally playing a?nd enjoying right now?.

-Sapato64 made his first YouTube video game show.

-Black Red Gaming reviews Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order on PC.

-Lord Spencer reviews Silhouette Mirage as part of his PS1 REVIEWS blogging series.

-Lord Spencer reports on the 90-81 selection on the top 100 ?PS1 games list of Retro Sanctuary as part of h??is PS1 REVIEWS blogging series.

-HyperbolebyDefault reviews Ori and the Will of the Wisps on PC.

-Taterchimp reviews TROUBLESHOOTER: Abandoned Children, and then continues to gush about it here.

-Flegma analyzes the Bihano water purification plant sidequest in Xenoblade Chronicles X.

-JoLoBird reviews The Last of Us Part II in a spoiler-heavy review.

-BRAVO F1VE reviews The Last of Us Part II in a more negative turn.

-RiffRaff shares with his journal notes on The Last of Us Part II.

-Black Red Gaming looks back at some of the most disliked Call of Duty games.

-PhilsPhindings discusses the similarities between the soundtrack of Donkey Kong Country and some country rock music.

-PhilsPhindings discusses the similarities between the soundtrack of Terranigma and the music of Kaguya Hime.

Thanks to Lord Spencer for the Cblog Recap and to our community for another week of great content! If you'd like to see your gaming thoughts recapped on our front page, then head on over to the Community Blogs and tell us a tale.

The post Cblogs of 7/4 to 7/19/2020: Th??e Last of Us opinions, Donkey Kong beats, and Brazilian gaming appeared first on Destructoid.

We could all use a little Aquatic Ambiance

You'd be forgiven for thinking otherwise on most days, but Super Nintendo and NES games are still trickling into the Nintendo Switch Online library. On July 15, 2020, Nintendo is adding three more games to the paid service: Donkey Kong Country, Natsume Championship Wrestling, and The Immortal.

As one of the most frequently-requested games, Donkey Kong Country needs no real introduction. It's not the best in the series – we can bicker over DKC2 and DKC3 all day long (they're both essential platformers in my eyes) – but the original DKC is still a staple of the Super Nintendo library.

I'll need to defer to Moyse for Natsume Championship Wrestling, and as for the NES title The Immortal, it only rings a bell for me because of a super elaborate Angry Video Game Nerd episode from last year.

Can Nintendo hear our PSI-power?ed pleas? We must not be getting through.

The post Nintendo Switch Online’s July lineup includes Donkey Kong Country appeared first on Destructoid.

So lovely it made me want to play it again

Donkey Kong Country means a hell of a lot to me.

I remember each and every person I introduced it to, and two and a half decades later, several of them are still platforming fans because of that game. I have just as man??y fond memories playing it alone as I do with co-op, as nearly every family member or friend (including my wife) has played it with me at some point. Wait??, two and a half decades?

Let's do some quick math here...carry the one, okay...that's 25 years! That's a long, long time, and the series has accomplished so much in that time, even as the torch was passed from Rare to Retro Studios. Steve Mayles, "father of Banjo, Kazooie, King K. Rool and Yooka/Laylee" a??nd current Playtonic developer, remembers it fondly too.

Mayles took to Twitter to give us some self-made art, which delightfully shows off Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong riding Rambi the rhino, one of the more enjoyable "friends" the series offers. It's pretty much the best tribute you could ask for, and I think Mayles is floored that he gets to keep the mascot platformer dream alive at Playtonic while his creations (that he collaborated on with other Rare creatives) live on in games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

It's 25 years since we released Donkey Kong Country. I felt compelled to draw something for the occasion! #WorldDonkeyKongDay pic.twitter.com/v7nAR5Ty1S

— Steve Mayles (@WinkySteve) November 21, 2019

The post Here’s some Donkey Kong Country 25th anniversary art from a former Rare staffer appeared first on Destructoid.

He likes warm hugs

The announcement of Donkey Kong Country Returns was a huge moment for me. It was one of my firs??t E3s, and I was there at the Nintendo conference when the crowd went wild over it.

Having been dormant for many years in terms of "main" games (spinoffs were still going on at that point but the last real entry was DK64 in 1999), the series was due for a comeback, and and Retro Studios was the developer to do it. The results were fantastic, and although the Wii/Wii U version remain somewhat elusive (unlike Tropical Freeze, it did not g??et a S?witch port), it did mosey on over to the 3DS, so it's at least somewhat accessible.

Part of its charm was in the details, particularly the animation. All these years later Supper Mario Broth managed to uncover another little tidbit by unloading barrel models in an emulator; a hug. Yep, in norma??l gameplay you cannot see Donkey and Diddy inside barrels beyond their faces, but a bit of clever manipulation shows that Donkey Kong is actually hugging Diddy.

This is so wholesome!

Supper Mario Broth [Twitter]

By unloading the barrel model in Donkey Kong Country Returns, we can see that in order to fit Donkey Kong's and Diddy Kong's models inside the limited space of the barrel, their bodies are made as compact as possible by having DK hold onto Diddy while in a fetal position. pic.twitter.com/u6bKSZRDfz

— Supper Mario Broth (@MarioBrothBlog) July 8, 2019

The post Donkey Kong hugging Diddy in a hidden barrel animation is the cutest thing you’ll see all week appeared first on Destructoid.

Why you gotta do me like that, Nintendo?

Donkey Kong Country Returns has shown up on Nvidia Shield devices in China with full HD support. What started a few years ago following the reversal of a console ban has led to a curious partnership between Nintendo and Nvidia that sees the Big N licensing its games for release on another platform. Previously, titles like Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Super Mario Galaxy were available on the device in HD, but Retro Studios' Donkey Kong revival has just shown up.

The real kicker, though, is that this new version not only renders at 1080p but axes the motion controls form the original. From out of nowhere, China has gotten the definitive version of this game and we're left with a Switch port of Tropical Freeze with Funky Kong for $60. I really do have to question what logic go?es through Nintendo's minds sometimes.

To be fair, this isn't a complete remaster or anything. It simply looks like the Wii original running at a higher resolution with no updated textures. That being said, I don't think the Wii version looks all that bad and I would have gladly paid $60 for both this and Tropical Freeze in a bundle on Switch. ??At least someone gets to experience this, but I do hope Nintendo realizes it's leaving money on the table by relegating these to China only.

Wii's Donkey Kong Country Returns ??Is Now Playable At 1080p?? And 60fps On Nvidia Shield [Nintendo Life]

[NVIDIA SHIELD] Donkey Kong Country Returns World 1 GamePlay [Chinese Nintendo via YouTube]

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Less towers, more flowers

Hamster has dropped another '80s title on the Nintendo Switch as part of their Arcade Archives range. This week they're sticking with first party classics, with Nintendo's own Donkey Kong 3.

Originally released in arcades and on the Famicom in 1983, before hitting the NES in 1986, Donkey Kong 3 is a far cry from its predecessors Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr. Whereas the previous titles were platformers, DK 3 is more of a shmup, ala Space Invaders or Nintendo's own 1980 release, Space Firebird.

With Mario/Jumpman nowhere to be seen, players control Stanley, a worker in a botanical garden, who must prevent an army of insects from destroying the lovely flora in his care. For some reason, Donkey Kong is also here. Don't ask me, pal, I was three years old. Stanley must fend off the insects and the giant ape using his bug spray, with the stage ?complete once all the bugs are destroyed or Kong has been shooed away.

It's actually a pretty fast-paced and fun game, even if its blending of the platformer and shmup genre doesn't quite work out. If you want to check out this odd entry to the mad monkey's franchise, then Donkey Kong 3 is available to download on N?intendo Switch now, priced at around $8.

The post Garden-themed sequel Donk??ey Kong 3 returns on Nintendo Switch appeared first on Destructoid.

I found my happy place

In between all the sketchy-at-best video suggestions, sometimes YouTube gets it right. Sometimes the site slides a recommendation into my feed that I genuinely can't wait to watch. Last night, that exact scenario unfolded while I was trying to calm my mind long enough to get some much-needed ??rest.

Assembled by YouTube user Vapidbobcat, this video combines two of my favorite things in life: bangin' music from the Donkey Kong Country se?ries and the soothing sound of rain. M??y stray thoughts faded.

If you're looking for chill vibes to put your mind at ease, you could do a whole lot worse than this hour-and-a-half-long music compilation. (That said, hit us up with other playlists if you've got 'em.)

It's hard to pick a favorite song here among the thirty or so that made the cut from the original Super Nintendo trilogy, Donkey Kong 64, Returns, and Tropical Freeze. I love how a downpour rolls in during tracks like "Bayou Boogie," and for pure tranquility, there's probably no topping "Forest Interlude." That said, no other song made me feel as weightless and care-free as "Mangrove Cove (Underwater)."

Conceptually, this video isn't a new idea - it's just atmospheric video game music mixed with rain and occasional thunderclaps to see if you're still listening - but it worked wonders. I melted into my bed and woke up feeling refreshed. Even now as I try to finish this article, I'm falling ?into another trance.

Whether you're working, studying, or just u??nwinding, I hope you find these tracks similarly relaxing. And to all you would-be game music playlist makers out there, rain is good. Keep the storms coming.

The post Donkey Kong Country’s music is even more relaxing in a thunderstorm appeared first on Destructoid.

Staggering figure raised during 101% run attempt

This past weekend, British YouTuber Hbomberguy sat down in front of Rare's 1999 Nintendo 64 release Donkey Kong 64 with two goals. Firstly, to reach 101% completion - a feat which had eluded him since childhood - and secondly, to raise money for trans youth rights group Mermaids. With the help of activist CaseyExplosion and huge support? from the LGBTQ community, the stream was an astounding success??.

Streaming his endeavours on Twitch, Hbomberguy (real name Harry Brewis) got off to an incredible start. With initial hopes of hitting the $3,000 USD mark, Hbomberguy proceeded to pull in over $200,000 within the first 40 hours. By the time?? Brewis flicked the off switch (some 57 hours after the start of his run) and all of the late donations were tabulated, the total raised stands at an incredible $340,000 USD.

A selection of famous names dropped in over the course of the DK 64 marathon to lend encouragement and support. This included Doom creator John Romero, a??c??tress Mara Wilson, trans activist Chelsea Manning, Donkey Kong's voice actor Grant Kirkhope, gaming critic Jim Sterling and even congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Mermaids is a British organisation that camp?aigns to raise awareness of tr??ans rights among the young. Formed in 1995, the group lobbies for better recognition of gender dysphoria among young people, striving for professional services and support for trans and non-binary youth and their families. "As a pe??rson living in Britain, I find the media discussion about this issue in this country, especially in its tabloid?s, to be woefully misinformed," said Brewis of his choice of charity. "I'd like to do my bit to help support the people who do the hard work of contributing to people's thinking on an important issue."

It seems that Hbomberguy, despite his incredible achievement, will need some time to recover from the near 60-hour session. As he stated mere hours ago on his Twitter account: "Me brain be boo."

The post YouTuber Hbomberguy’s Donkey Kong 64 marathon raised over $340,000 for trans youth appeared first on Destructoid.

Sins of the Father

Hamster has reached into the distant past for another release in their Arcade Archive range, pulling forth platforming classic Donkey Kong Jr., the sequel to Nintendo's smash hit, Donkey Kong.

Originally released in 1982, Donkey Kong Jr. turns the face/heel alignment on its head, with original hero Jumpman (now Mario) the antagonist of the game, with the younger Kong playing the hero. Players control DK Jr. as he makes his way through four tough, single-screen area, climbing ropes, collecting fruit a??nd dodging hazards in efforts to rescue his captured father, the original Donkey Kong.

Once Jr. has rescued dear old dad from the evil Mario's clutches, the game begins anew with increased difficulty. Donkey Kong Jr. is obviously a very simplistic title by today's standards, but still poses a challenge on its higher levels, requiring very f??ast reflexes and some smart forward planning.

Donkey Kong Jr. is ?available for download on Nintendo Switch now, priced at around $8.

The post Reminisce on Mario’s heel-turn as Donkey Kong Jr. returns on Switch appeared first on Destructoid.

Trademark alert

A trademark doesn't necessarily mean confirmation of a project, but I can easily see Nintendo following through on this pair they filed this month. Japanese Nintendo uncovered two trademar??ks: "Mario vs. Donkey Kong" and?? "Spirit Tracks," which were apparently filed for "program for home video game machine, downloadable video game program, and program for smartphone" details.

This all-encompassing listing could mean a lot of things. Nintendo might be gearing up for a Spirit Tracks re-release on 3DS for E3. It makes perfect sense: it's not a super high-risk venture for a system that's becoming increasingly lower priority. Mario vs. Donkey Kong has also enjoyed a long life since 2004, hosting games on the GBA, DS, 3DS and Wii U. A Switch iteration with amiibo support (like amiibo challenge) is a no-brainer.

Of course, either would translate very well on mobile devices. Mario vs. Donkey Kong already lends itself well to a touch-based control scheme and Spirit Tracks is a perfectly accessible encapsulation of what makes Zelda&??nbsp;great: a modified mobile edition could bri?ng in fans of all ages.

Spirit Tracks Trademark [Japanese Nintendo]

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Mean monarch prepares to join bust-up

In a touching show of gratitude, fans of Donkey Kong Country's troublesome antagonist, King K. Rool, have offered up their heartfelt thanks to Masahiro Sakurai for giving the crafty crocodile a roster slot in the upcoming Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. for Nintendo Switch

"Thank you for listening to us, and thank you for being such an amazing game director," said the statement. "Thanks to his inclusion in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, K. Rool will be forever immortalized as a Nintendo all-star, looking better than?? we could? have ever imagined."

The statement appeared on the Twitter account @BringBackKRool, the "official" account for requesting the villain's return to the big time. Accompanying the statement was some neat artwork (by artist @ZombieSaurian) of K. Rool buddying up with Sakurai, who pretty much spends his wakin??g life bombarded with fan requests for the crossover fighter.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate,?? starring King K. Rool, launches on N??intendo Switch December 7.

キングクルール お礼の手紙 - The following is our thank you to @Sora_Sakurai, @Nintendo and the fans for bringing back King K. Rool. Long live the King! pic.twitter.com/fT5ZtyGsX3

— Kremling Kampaigner (@BringBackKRool) August 26, 2018

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Like something out of Battletoads

The dynamic between Rare and Nintendo is fascinating. You have th?e former, whose fate was intrinsically linked to Nintendo for so long, now out and about with the competition -- Microsoft.

Then there's Nintendo, who has continued to use Rare's Donkey Kong Country series to its advantage, passing the torch to Retro Studios after a 14 year hiatus. While the two aren't exactly at odds, Rare is more than willing to give us extended looks at what might have been under the Nintendo era of their development history, and that's just what we're getting this week with more Donkey Kong Country concept art.

According to Gregg Mayles, King K. Rool, the latest Super Smash Bros. participant and big bad of the DKC universe, was called "Krudd." He also sported a more menacing look straight out of the Battletoads universe (also developed by Rare). Evidently the first Country game also had a more militaristic theme that was dropped. I'm a fan of both this concept and what we ac?tually got ?-- a testament to the raw talent of Rare's art team.

Unearthed some very early #DKC Kremling concepts, which showed the origins of a far more serious and tough-looking #KRool as 'Krudd'. Also the military theme that was dumped pic.twitter.com/DEYJhLe5OY

— Gregg Mayles (@Ghoulyboy) August 13, 2018

The post Donkey Kong Country’s King K. Rool was almost more evil looking appeared first on Destructoid.