Another nostalgia-bomb from Nintendo, this time with an eShop rerelease of what was once the original Game Boy’s most technologically impressive title. Considering that the battery-chugging grey monolith ran on a 4MHz processor, that Rare managed to squeeze pseudo-3D character models and expansive worlds into its ape-shaped platformer is almost a miracle.
But looking at it now, the screen seems cluttered, with Donkey Kong and his sidekick, Diddy, too often blending into incredibly detailed backgrounds. The lack of colour doesn’t help, raising the question of why Nintendo is reluctant to release superior SNES versions of retro games on the 3DS – Donkey Kong Country would be a joy on the handheld.
Although the visuals don’t retain their former glory, thankfully gameplay does. Perfectly timed jump or roll attacks, pixel-precise leaps and plenty of secrets to uncover are a reminder of the game’s core genius. It definitely shows its age, though, and will really best be enjoyed by players eager for a spot of nostalgia.
