SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - "Is It Still Memorial Day?" Edition

No. No, apparently it's not still Memorial Day. Curses! That means I'm late with this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, then! Well, fear not. I have some great video game tunes to share to more than make up for my tardiness!

This week we start off with Pokemon fighting one another in epic brawls in Pokken Tournament. Then we head to the Far East with Brave Fencer Musashi, making its first SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs appearance. Following that is music from Tales of Legendia and One Piece Pirate Warriors 3. We wrap up this edition in a rocket barrel with a song from Donkey Kong Country Returns.

Just click on the VGM title to be transported to the YouTube link. Also, if you are interested in listening to past VGM volumes featured on this weekly segment, check out the VGM Database.

v1151. Pokken Tournament (Wii U) - Ferrum Stadium

Every rank final takes place in Pokken Tournament's Ferrum Stadium, whether it's the tournament or the battle again the leader of a given rank. This catchy and uptempo tune plays as your Pokemon does battle with the opponent's-- a battle that will shake the very foundations of the stadium!

v1152. Brave Fencer Musashi (PS1) - The White Cloud in the Sky

One of the early games that Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts series character artist Tetsuya Nomura worked on, Brave Fencer Musashi's art style is quite engaging to the eye. However, since art style isn't the focus of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, let's focus on the music. This particular song is a peaceful and mellow one, great for the setting it plays in.

v1153. Tales of Legendia (PS2) - Ancient Ship

An epic choir-featured theme by Go Shiina, Ancient Ship is a highly dramatic track from one of the better Tales of soundtracks available. Tales of Legendia was a PlayStation 2 exclusive entry in the massive Tales of franchise, offering three-dimensional characters, an engaging battle system, and plenty of familiar anime tropes, something the Tales of series loves to offer.

v1154. One Piece Pirate Warriors 3 (Multi) - Let's Put This Matter Under

Released on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, and Windows PCs, One Piece Pirate Warriors 3 plays like many of Omega Force's Musou-styled titles, only this game features all the cosmetic trappings of the One Piece anime and manga. Also like many of Omega Force's Musou-styled titles, the soundtrack is absolutely, positively stellar, such as this funky track, Let's Put This Matter Under.

v1155. Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii, 3DS) - Gear Getaway

Gear Getaway is one of the few wholly original songs in Retro Studios' Donkey Kong Country Returns for the Wii and later on the Nintendo 3DS. It plays during the rocket barrel levels of the game, having players carefully pressing the A button to propel their rocket through an obstacle course of deadly dangers. Who could tell that DK's and Diddy's lives were on the line with this lively song?

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - Get N or Get Out Edition

Time for a special Nintendo-themed edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, an edition full of bright and bouncy music. This week SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs have music from Pilotwings, Donkey Kong Country Returns, Kirby's Epic Yarn, Tetris Attack, and Super Mario 64. As always, if you'd like to see and listen to the previous VGMs featured in this weekly segment, check them out at the VGM Database.

v871. Pilotwings (SNES) - Light Plane (Vocal Mix)

This version of the Light Plane theme from the original Pilotwings comes from the Super Smash Bros. for Wii U soundtrack. It plays during the Pilotwings stage, featuring battles aboard multiple airplanes as they soar around Wuhu Island from Wii Sports Resort and various other Nintendo titles. The vocal mix version is my preferred version of this happy-go-lucky theme.

v872. Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii) - Main Theme (Vocal Mix)

Another version which comes from Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Donkey Kong Country Returns itself had a relatively nice soundtrack, though it paled in comparison to the Rareware sound team's efforts from the SNES trilogy. However, this vocal theme based off the menu music is absolutely wonderful, featuring what appears to be the Kong crew singing along.

v873. Kirby's Epic Yarn (Wii) - Mt. Slide

Mt. Slide in Kirby's Epic Yarn is a level where fast-paced snowboarding is the order of the day. It's a very perky and triumphant theme, perfect for slip sliding down slippery slopes in search for beads. Good Feel, the team behind Epic Yarn, is now pretty much wrapping up work on their next project, the hype-inducing and incredibly adorable Yoshi's Woolly World. While Europe gets the game in a month's time or so, us North Americans will have to wait until the fall unfortunately.

v874. Tetris Attack (SNES) - Forest World

We go back in time to the Super Nintendo with Tetris Attack's Forest World, hosted by the Wiggler enemy of Super Mario fame. Known as Panel de Pon in Japan, the game was given a Yoshi coat of paint for its Western release and a new name, Tetris Attack. The soundtrack is a mix of cute, charming and catchy themes.

v875. Super Mario 64 (N64) - Encore (Slider) - Mario & Zelda Big Band Live

This version of Super Mario 64's Slider theme comes from the Mario & Zelda Big Band Live concert from 2003. It featured music from Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Yoshi, mostly focusing on then-recent games like Super Mario Sunshine and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. This version of Slider was the final theme played during the concert, the encore.

Rank Up! - Donkey Kong Country

It took a lot of waiting and bellyaching, but this past Thursday in North America, Nintendo finally released Rareware's Super Nintendo Donkey Kong Country trilogy on the Wii U Virtual Console. It seems to be a perfect time to break out the old "Rank Up!" machine. "Rank Up!" is a segment on SuperPhillip Central where I essentially take a game franchise and rank the titles from least great to greatest. There are five Donkey Kong Country games to rank, and here they are:

Donkey Kong Country (SNES, GBA)
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES, GBA)
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble (SNES, GBA)
Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii, 3DS)
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Wii U)

Let's get to ranking these banana slamma's!

5) Donkey Kong Country (SNES, GBA)

The original Donkey Kong Country was a massive success for Rareware and Nintendo. It brought Nintendo's main monkey out of retirement and gave him a starring role, this time as the hero. While the game is quite dated now, it was heralded for its beautiful rendered art style and glorious ambient and atmospheric soundtrack. The original Donkey Kong Country is still a pleasure to play today, but I find it the weakest of the main games because of a lack of extras in the form of a final Lost World area or the ability to collect DK Coins. The game also has one of my least favorite difficulty jumps in the series, a little level known as Snow Barrel Blast. Still, there is no denying that Donkey Kong Country still has got the gorilla goods.

4) Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble (SNES, GBA)

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble has a weak partner character in the form of Kiddy Kong, and its animal transformations aren't the series' greatest either (I'm looking at you, Ellie the Elephant). However, for the greatest amount of level variety, there's no better game than Donkey Kong Country 3. From climbing the innards of trees while being chased be a giant saw to avoiding intermittent lightning strikes, each level imposes a new gameplay mechanic to keep players on their toes. The implementation of DK Coins allows for a puzzle element in figuring out how to defeat the collectible-carrying Koin by correctly tossing a barrel so it hits him in the back. Also, the overworld is the most open, allowing for the discovery of some awesome secrets. Add in a Lost World final series of levels, and you have a game that is a severely underrated one, being released when so many Nintendo fans were moving on up to the Nintendo 64.

3) Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii, 3DS)

The folks behind the Metroid Prime trilogy, Retro Studios, could have easily emulated 100% Rareware's style with its Donkey Kong Country Returns. Instead, the studio gave the series its own flavor, offering a more starring role to Donkey Kong in the gameplay rather than the levels. When mastered, rolling and otherwise controlling the great ape feels fantastic. The level design lends itself well to Donkey Kong's movements, and the actual levels have a magnificent construction and rhythm to them that makes for amazing speedrun capabilities. The game is so good that the lack of any animal buddy outside of Rambi, the lesser bonus rooms, serviceable but not great soundtrack, and the Wii's waggle to roll and blow controls don't overly detract from the game all that much It's still superior to two of the original SNES trilogy's games. The Nintendo 3DS version lowers the frame-rate, but adds better controls, eight new levels, and sensational stereoscopic 3D, making it the definitive version in this blogger's book.

2) Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES, GBA)

The thing missing most from Retro Studios' Donkey Kong Country games are a sense of atmosphere. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest nails this, even giving games released nowadays a lesson in creating amazing ambiance. From the sounds of sloshing water in the ship levels to the lighting and visual effects used in the game, Diddy's Kong Quest delivers in its presentation. However, it's not wholly skin-deep where the beauty lies. The level design is masterful. The location of hidden bonus rooms and DK Coins is astonishing in how clever they are tucked away. Levels mechanics spring up, offering unique and fresh challenges on a consistent basis. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest may have been outdone in some regards by future games in the series, but as an overall package, there's little in the Donkey Kong Country line that can touted as better than Diddy and Dixie's adventure together.

1) Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Wii U)

Donkey Kong Country Returns showed that not just Rareware can make a satisfying and awesome Donkey Kong Country game. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze showed that Retro Studios can make a game better than what Rareware offered. Tropical Freeze was the poster child for level design mastery. Hidden trinkets and bonus rooms were expertly placed, obstacles and enemies were set up in such a way that both regular romps through levels and speedruns were both possible, and each level brought something new to the table. The ability for Donkey Kong to team up with one of three other Kongs made for some fantastic gameplay, showing levels and their respective challenges could be completed in various ways. Additionally, things like swimming returned to the franchise, better than ever before; boss battles were improved and some of the series's best, and David Wise brought the musical goods, coming back to the franchise after such a long time away. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze isn't just the best Donkey Kong Country game-- it's one of the best 2D platformers ever devised.

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Have a different opinion on the proper order of the Donkey Kong Country series? Let me know with a comment below!

Top Ten Franchise Revivals

I've written articles asking for sequels to long-forgotten or shelved game franchises many times before in the past. However, what I haven't done yet is take those game franchises that saw actual reboots and revivals to them and were not only excellent games in their own right, but they successfully brought back attention to old characters and series. Some of these revivals returned their series to their traditional genre, but some completely turned their series upside down, for the better. These are the top ten franchise revivals of all time, as chosen by yours truly.

10) Killer Instinct (XONE)

We start off my list with the Xbox One launch title Killer Instinct, originally made popular in arcades and on the Super Nintendo back in the mid-nineties. Ken Lobb, an original development team member on the original games, supervised Double Helix Games, Iron Galaxy Studios, and Rare throughout the creation of this long-anticipated revival. The end result was an even more impressive graphical beast with as many regular combos, Super Combos, and Ultra Combos as fans expected out of the series. What it lacks in content, Killer Instinct has in excellent combo-centric fighting that both genre veterans and beginners alike can enjoy.

9) Prince of Persia: Sands of Time (PS2, GCN, XBX)

Taking the original 1989 Prince of Persia game and putting it into a 3D perspective, albeit retooled and rebooted, is not a task one should scoff at. However, the fine minds at Ubisoft Montreal was able to do so, and not just complete the task but do so magnificently. The Prince had an immense number of athletic moves he could unleash at the press of a button, such as running along walls, scaling platforms like Nathan Drake on steroids, and leaping over wide chasms, giving Nintendo's Mario a run (or jump) for his money. The success of Sands of Time allowed Ubisoft to stretch out the franchise to three mostly well received sequels. It wasn't until a second reboot on last generation systems that put the Prince out to pasture, at least for now.

8) New Super Mario Bros. (DS)

1992's Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins on Game Boy was Mario's final foray into traditional 2D platforming until 2006, a good fourteen years later. We take for granted 2D Mario games now, especially as there have been three others since with the same sterile presentation. That said, Nintendo knows how to deliver excellent, imaginative, and immaculate level design, and the New Super Mario Bros. series always amazes in that regard. Mario's return to 2D in 2006 with the Nintendo DS and New Super Mario Bros. might not be Mario's most marvelous moment in his illustrious history (I'd call it the weakest of the four NSMB games), but it put Mario's 2D escapades back in the front seat and into the limelight for one welcomed return.

7) Mega Man 9 (PSN, XBLA, WiiWare)

Speaking of taking specific series for granted, remember when we complained that there was too much Mega Man? It seemed in the mid 2000's that we, at least I, was whining how Mega Man had oversaturated the market with his games, albeit in different Mega Man series. Nowadays, Nintendo remembers Mega Man and treats him better than his own publisher, Capcom, does. There has to be a middle ground, right? Mega Man 9 brought back the Classic series of games after a long slumber. It tossed aside the updated visuals of Mega Man 7 and 8 for tried and true 8-bit visuals, and definitely a Nintendo-hard difficulty. Mega Man 9 was the series going back to its roots, allowing old fans to enjoy old school Mega Man gameplay and newcomers to see what the Blue Bomber was all about.

6) Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii) 

Rare, the talented Twycross studio, was purchased by Microsoft early in the sixth generation of home consoles. This turned many Nintendo fans into unhappy campers. This meant no more Perfect Dark, Banjo-Kazooie, Jet Force Gemini, and so on for Nintendo home consoles. What also stunk was the revelation that Donkey Kong Country as an IP was no longer in Rare's capable hands. After many years of Donkey Kong appearing in side games and experimental projects through the GameCube and early Wii's lives, it seemed the dream for a new DKC was dead. That was until an E3 reveal of a brand-new Donkey Kong Country, made by Retro Studios of all people. With exquisitely designed levels that were ripe with imagination and a game that contained the same charm of the SNES trilogy, Donkey Kong Country was back and in a big way. The Wii release, Donkey Kong Country Returns, became a million seller and would spawn a terrific Wii U sequel. As a fan of the SNES trilogy, this was a miracle to me and a dream come true.

5) Kid Icarus: Uprising (3DS)

Like the Ice Climbers in Super Smash Bros. Melee, there was a newcomer in the starting roster of Super Smash Bros. Brawl fighters that some folks weren't too privy on. Who was this winged angel-looking boy? Well, he was none other than Pit from the NES classic Kid Icarus. But who could foretell that this character would be found fascinating by the Smash series creator and director Masahiro Sakurai, and enough for him to director a retro revival starring Pit in the form of Kid Icarus: Uprising? Taking his trademark directorial skills-- lots of content, simple yet deep gameplay mechanics, and lots of charm-- and putting them into one hilarious self-referential on-rails shooter/action game hybrid, Masahiro Sakurai led his team into creating one of the Nintendo 3DS's best titles and one of Nintendo's greatest revivals of one of their older IP. Just remember to stop playing and take a break if your hands start cramping up!

4) Ninja Gaiden (XBX)

There's few directors that can take a series that was traditionally a 2D side-scrolling action game from the late '80s and early '90s and turn into a successful and incredible 3D character action romp. Tomonobu Itagaki is one of those directors, and with his leadership and his team, he made Ryu Hayabusa's miraculous and unexpected return to gaming in 2004 a sight to behold, a treasure to play, and a game that kicked the hind quarters of every player that opted to take on its brutal challenge. No doubt boys were turned into men after they beat the Xbox's Ninja Gaiden, and some men even turned into master ninjas. I simply turned into a young man who wanted nothing more than to continue slicing up foes with Ryu's sensational moves.

3) Mortal Kombat (PS3, 360, Vita)

After some middling entries in the long-running mature-rated fighting franchise, Mortal Kombat returned in 2011 with a full-blown reboot to the series. This ninth installment totally retconned the events of past games, took the franchise to a whole new level with its improved combat system, and was bloodier and gorier than ever before thanks to the addition of an abundance of gruesome fatalities and the new X-ray view, giving players a literal inside look at the damage caused by certain moves. 2011's Mortal Kombat was definitely a flawless victory for fans of the franchise and newcomers too.

2) Street Fighter IV (ARC, PS3, 360)

What I consider one of the most important fighting games to come out in the past decade, Street Fighter IV once again shook the foundations of the genre and made clear to everyone that it was still fighting game king. It is as deep or as shallow a fighting game experience as the person who plays it. It never compromises its gameplay fundamentals. to create a tremendous fighter for one and all. After a sea of upgrades to Street Fighter 3, it was a breath of fresh air and a damn relieving one at that to experience the next generation of the long-running fighting game franchise. It looked great, it played great, and it continues to impress to this day.

1) Metroid Prime (GCN)

Many Metroid fans felt things were amiss with their favorite bounty hunter not making an official appearance on the Nintendo 64 with her own planet-exploring adventure. This was despite the huge critical and commercial success of Super Metroid on the Super Nintendo. It wouldn't be until Nintendo's system after the N64 that Samus would get her glorious return into the spotlight. Metroid Prime had everything going against it. It had a team that didn't have a solid vision, it had multiple revisions and reworkings to it, it was being done in an first-person perspective, and this latter idea did not have much support from fans. Then the game released and all the reactions to the game were pretty much universally amazing. Fans loved it, critics loved it, and so did millions of others. Two sequels would follow, designed by the same Austin, Texas-based development team. What was once a mess of a project turned out to be one of the best games ever created in this blogger's opinion, and it brought Ms. Aran and the Metroid series back from hibernation... well, until Team Ninja got a hold of the franchise...

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There's plenty more franchise revivals that have happened over the years that I didn't have room for in this list. Did I miss your favorite? Let me know in the comments!

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - Born a Bit Before the Fourth of July Edition

This Thursday the United States will be celebrating its birthday with the Fourth of July. SuperPhillip Central has fireworks of its own with SPC's Favorite VGMs, a weekly segment showcasing our favorite video game themes. This week we have music from Anarchy Reigns, Donkey Kong Country Returns, and Phantasy Star Online. After listening to this week's picks, come stop by our VGM Database.

v406. Anarchy Reigns (PS3, 360) - Fast Lane

Anarchy Reigns, or as it's known in PAL territories as Max Anarchy, has a soundtrack that is quite eclectic, featuring mostly electronica and rap. Fast Lane is part of the former category, and it is without a doubt our favorite song from the game. Rushden & Diamonds are the force behind Fast Lane.

v407. Pac-Man World 2 (PS2, GCN, XBX) - B-Doing Woods

Although not a very good game, Pac-Man World 2 featured a fun soundtrack with lots of happy-go-lucky tunes. B-Doing Woods has a song fitting of its many canopies-- a jungle rhythm, brass, and xylophones go hand in hand to create this marvelous and melodious piece of music.

v408. Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii) - Palm Tree Groove

Played in the levels where Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong are mere silhouettes, Palm Tree Groove starts out eerie, but it soon gets a driving jazzy rhythm to it when the piano leaps in. What is then heard is the Jungle Groove theme from the Super Nintendo's Donkey Kong Country. Throw in a lively interlude, and you have a great track from Donkey Kong Country Returns.

v409. Phantasy Star Online (DC) - You Have Nowhere to Go

There were actually two bosses in the third area of the original Phantasy Star Online. This theme, You Have Nowhere to Go, plays during the latter battle, and is a take of the first boss theme. We absolutely love the orchestral score that Phantasy Star Online comes packing with, and this tense track made our heart race when we originally faced the creature the theme accompanies.

v410. Super Ghosts 'n' Goblins (SNES) - Main Theme

A classic piece of video game music, this is the Ghost 'n' Goblins theme in Super form! The Ghost 'n' Goblins games are known for their brutal difficulty, and many controllers will be tossed down in disgust after failing that one level for the hundredth time. Here's hoping Capcom returns to this much loved series.

New-stalgia: Donkey Kong Country Returns

It's time for the second edition of New-stalgia. What is New-stalgia? Simply put, games of this segment are modern classics-- titles that will most likely give players in the future much nostalgia as they fondly look back on them. The subject of today's edition of New-stalgia is Donkey Kong Country Returns for the Wii. We're going to monkey around a bit and see what I thought of the game back in 2010 and what I think about it after playing it now. Will my opinion shift for better or for the worse?

What I said then:

"Donkey Kong Country Returns isn't an exact replica of the Super Nintendo trilogy. There's some changes. For instance, in solo play, Diddy rides atop Donkey Kong's back and can hover for a limited amount of time. Another change is that each Kong now gets two hits instead of just one. While playing solo, players will lose Diddy if the team gets hit twice. They'll lose a life if they get hit four times (Donkey's two lives plus Diddy's two lives). More so, continue barrels have been replaced by a tutorial pig who waves a checkpoint flag when DK and Diddy cross his path. Most levels have multiple continue points to make this challenging game feel fairer. Additionally, Donkey Kong and Diddy can now cling and climb on grassy walls and ceilings. Lastly in this game, DK and Diddy can ground pound and blow on flowers to uncover hidden goodies. This is all mapped to waggling the Wii remote."

"[The controls] take getting used to as shaking the Wii remote takes up three different commands. Holding the analog stick left or right while shaking (nunchuk controls are only used in this game) will cause Donkey or Diddy to roll. Holding the stick down while waggling will initiate DK or Diddy to blow, and finally, the ground pound is performed by holding the stick in a neutral position while wildly moving the Wii remote and nunchuk. Again it takes getting used to, but unless you're an incompetent person you'll have it down by the first world's completion."

"Onto the level design which is spectacular. Sometimes these levels require memorization such as the ravishing rocket barrel levels where you steadily press the A button to lift up you rocket barrel to avoid hateful hazards that are a one-hit kill. Or even the mine cart levels where sometimes lucky leaps are the way to pass through them. You'll go crazy in one level where your mine cart falls into a circular rail which rolls down a hill as you leap over the only gap in the rail in a continuous fashion. That's just in the fourth world! Later worlds are full of perilous platforming, hard-to-judge jumps, and rude dudes with attitudes (speaking of the enemies here)."

"Ultimately, this kid-friendly game might be more for the retro crowd who have the patience for the sometimes brutal difficulty of the game. Even so, cooperative play is a suggestion for one more experienced to play with a less experienced player. Although Rambi the Rhino is the only returning ride-able animal in the game, he controls very well and feels like riding a rhino should. Because we all know I ride rhinos in my spare time.

Regardless, the level design is some of the best the series has ever seen, the visuals are vibrant and vivacious, and the music is oftentimes soothing and fitting of the level you're in. Without a doubt, Donkey Kong Country Returns is one of the best 2D platformers in quite some time, rivaling the excellent New Super Mario Bros. Wii. For a hardcore platformer that will take quite a while to complete, you can't go wrong with Donkey Kong Country Returns."

What I say now: 

When I previously played Donkey Kong Country Returns before my first Wii died on me and I sent it in for repairs, I had done a cooperative run with my older brother as well as a single player run through the game. However, I never fully completed the title (i.e. getting a 100% on the game profile). My brother and I went back to DKCR with that goal in mind this time around.

Let's start out with the level design. Unlike the original trilogy on the Super Nintendo, Donkey Kong Country Returns contains very long levels. Thankfully, there are several checkpoints rather than just one like Rare's Donkey Kong Country games. The levels themselves are absolutely astonishing in design-- clever, challenging, and just all-around entertaining. Each level has its own gimmick-- for lack of a better term-- that continually gets expanded upon from the beginning of the level to the end. One of my favorite levels is in the seventh world of the game. It is known as The Switcheroo. By hitting color-coded buttons on the walls, different platforms either jut in or jut out of the background for Donkey Kong and Diddy to traverse on. By the conclusion, you need to plan your jumps carefully as to not booby trap yourself into a bottomless pit.

Mine cart levels are a hallmark of the Donkey Kong Country franchise, and they return in full force. In fact, an entire world is devoted to mine cart levels and the all-new rocket barrel levels. The latter has you pressing the A button to steer a rocket barrel carefully through an obstacle and hazard-laden course. One crash and you're dead. As for the mine cart levels, these take a little memorization to get all of the secrets, but fast reflexes are essentially what will save your life nine times out of ten. There are different types of mine cart levels too. Some have you jump with the mine cart while others have you jumping out of the mine cart each time you press the A button. This kind of variety is most welcomed.

Levels contain plenty of secrets to find. The main collectibles consist of puzzle pieces, which unlock art and assets from the game, and K-O-N-G letters. Unlike the original trilogy, K-O-N-G letters actually serve an important purpose, other than simply giving the player an extra life for collecting them in a given level. Instead, when all of the letters have been gathered in a given world, an extra-difficult bonus level is unlocked. Completing all of these bonus "K" levels unlocks a final trippy level that will then open up Mirror Mode. I'm no Donkey Kong Country Returns professional platformer, so I shied away from that mode, which eliminates Diddy and only gives DK one hit. Yeah, that's more frustration than I could probably deal with.

Perhaps my only gripe with the level design is the lack of the underwater levels that the SNES DKC trilogy was an important part of the games. That said, there is already a brilliant variety of level ideas within Donkey Kong Country Returns as is, so I can't complain TOO much.

As for the controls, I stated in my 2010 review that having to shake the Wii remote to roll, ground pound, and blow took some getting used to, and that any uncertainty of the controls would be eliminated by the first world's end. That isn't necessarily the case. Particularly with rolling, the shaking required to perform the moves don't work 100% of the time, but this is generally when you have to do multiple rolls in succession. That said, there were times where I did die because the game didn't read my remote's waggling. Other than that, the game handles wonderfully, and you feel in control of DK and Diddy. The addition of using Diddy's jet pack might seem like a crutch for players, but it is absolutely essential for certain levels and specific tricky jumps.

The main thing I greatly enjoyed about the Wii was the resurgence of  the 2D platformer. Donkey Kong Country Returns is one of the better types on the system and of the generation, Wiimote waggling troubles aside. The game might not feature Kremlings and might not follow the DKC formula to a T, but it engages, it delights, it challenges, and it encourages players to search through every nook and cranny as they possibly can. It is a terrific complement to the original Donkey Kong trilogy, and it should not be passed up by any Wii owner or self-proclaimed lover of platformers. If you are in the mood for a difficult game, Donkey Kong Country Returns fits the bill and is one heck of a banana-slamma'.