A Master of Level Design - Donkey Kong Country Returns

[@fh-music692]

I love dkcr, it was my first dkc game. I played it to 200% completion when i was really young, and i still speedrun it on twitch to this day. It's nice to see that people are still seeing how awesome it is.

[@stalekarma3262]

That’s impressive being able to 200% a game like this at a young age. I only beat the main game and never even bothered to 100% it until two or three years ago!

[@legrandliseurtri7495]

3:50 It's a real shame that the furious fire track is used again in three levels of this world. I'd have love to see a few more tracks in this style. It reminds a lot of Lower Norfair from Super Metroid;that game's composer contributed to Returns soundtrack, so it might very well be intentionnal. But yeah, chilling introduction to the final world, even if lava worlds are a bit of a cliché. 9:42 I wasn't expecting this level to make it on the list, but I'm glad it did. It's such a chill and beautiful level(well except on time attack). 11:00 It wasn't always like that, but this has probably become my favorite level in the game. It's such a fast-paced and dynamic level, with stunning visuals on top of it. 12:00 I play the game in french. ''tsunami infini'' is indeed a fantastic name. This is one of the memorable and intense levels in the game, and the first major increase in difficulty. I do also kind of hate it cause the shiny gold medal here is INSANE. You have to play nearly perfectly for about 50 seconds if I remember right, cause if you're slighly too slow, you have to wait on the last wave cycle of the level otherwise you die, but you can't afford to wait if you want that medal. 14:30 I've always wondered why they made Mast Blast so open and then just never reused that structure. It's super fun to explore every little thing in those ships, and it's one of the rare time where I actually love finding all the puzzle pieces. I have to say, I'm a little surprised that Button Mash did not make it on your list. I love the puzzle elements of this levels, I like the mix of quick platforming and cannon barrel, I love the final giant spinning statue and I love the way the music track changes as you go deeper into the ruins.

[@stalekarma3262]

Button Bash and Switcheroo were actually the two that I was really debating the most. I can imagine how tough some of these would be on time attack, especially in the later worlds where the difficulty really increases

[@k-leb4671]

Personally, I think the lava world in this game is presented really well. No where else in 2D platforming have I been this intrigued and intimidated by the usually tired theme. The music has a great part in this, but the environment design also really sells it as a massive, terrifying volcanic wasteland. The tribal elements add some unique touches as well.

[@sydneyepke2146]

I will always hold this game close since it’s the game that got me hooked on video games as a kid! This game is so much fun to revisit!

[@stalekarma3262]

I can’t say it was my first, but I’m pretty certain it was one of the first five I ever played. Definitely the first game I played that was decently challenging.

[@michaelfryers1914]

I love this game so much. The original trilogy walked so returns could run. And returns ran so freeze could fly

[@stalekarma3262]

I agree completely! There’s not a dull spot in the entire series.

[@JaydenM7]

Words can’t describe how much I adore this game the level design is genius and the music is gorgeous

[@spicysesam]

The "cheeseballs" are spidereggs

[@quandal1633]

Muncher eggs

[@avnerwierzbicki7019]

1:28 Those are supposed to be spider eggs, later on you can see baby spiders hatching from them

[@stalekarma3262]

That makes a lot of sense in hindsight. I just never understood why they were in what looked like bags.

[@bostin1472]

My friend had this on his Wii and I had tropical freeze on the Wii U, I lost tropical freeze a long time ago and two days ago I bought it again and I’ve been loving it, I was never able to get past the first level of the second world in tropical freeze until now, and I’m just gonna say that I love the second boss it’s my favorite so far, I’ve made it to the 4th world. Also I had donkey Kong country returns on my 3ds, but I lost it, I’m very good at losing things.

[@stalekarma3262]

I'm really glad to hear you're playing Tropical Freeze again! The second boss is definitely my favorite out of the ones you've fought so far.

[@anthon2915]

Tidal terror was so hard for me when i first played the game 😓 Great video!

[@stalekarma3262]

Thank you! It was the first of many levels that had me stuck for awhile too.

[@TheSteerpike]

Recently bought a Wii for my son as an entry level console. I have been genuinely surprised by the ingenuity of the level design and the stunning graphics considering the limits of the hardware. It looks great on a hd tv. Used a plug output converter.

[@stalekarma3262]

I bet! I love seeing some of these games looking even greater on newer technology. The game itself is fantastic. I think that the Donkey Kong Country series as a whole has some of the best level design in platformers. I hope you and your son have a great time with it!

[@shadowthief6471]

Happy to hear that you mentioned the furious fire music track

[@SirCquin]

This video was a masterpiece and this was my first ever game, You and me have the same favorite level BTW

[@stalekarma3262]

I actually wasn't expecting people to agree with my number 1 choice. It's nice to hear that you agree!

[@SirCquin]

@@stalekarma3262Thanks, keep up the good content!

[@Juli_is_Online]

This game truly deserves more love, it's so lively and beautiful, creative and fun, in my opinion not being nearly as far off from all the other DKC games as so many people claim. Love that you talked about the music so much too, people always say this games OST is "just remixes of old DKC songs" which in my opinion really isn't doing it justice as this games music is just as beautiful, varied, captivating and atmospheric as that from the other games, even if most of it is just remixes. Great vid, very enjoyable

[@stalekarma3262]

Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it! This game served as my introduction to the series, so maybe I’m biased, but even today, after having played all of the other titles, it’s still amazing! The tracks that were remixed, were done so well, but even then, a lot of originals like Boulder Roller and a ton of the Beach-themed tracks are amazing too!

[@Blockulous]

played this game with my dad, truly peak of platformers

[@donkeykongisbetterthanmari7495]

Punch Out is good at mastery as well.

[@Duck_with_grapes55]

This game was the dark souls of my childhood

[@krealyesitisbeta5642]

This video has such great writing~

[@stalekarma3262]

Thank you so much!!

[@cole6843]

Returns and Tropical freeze are some of my favorite games!

[@stalekarma3262]

I’d say the same. The entire series is phenomenal!

[@learningwithharry4996]

I love this game because Donkey Kong punches the crap out of everything.

[@corn8837]

Great video!

[@gabbypigg8359]

Why doesn't he have more likes

[@michaelhockaday6474]

Good list. Mine would be similar. Try Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D on the 3DS. 8 new levels.

[@stalekarma3262]

I can’t believe that I never knew the 3DS version had new courses! Thanks so much for letting me know!! Now I have to check it out.

[@michaelhockaday6474]

@@stalekarma3262 yep. World 9 has eight new courses and they are rather difficult

[@cheeseman463]

My favorite level in donkey Kong country returns is crowded cavern.

[@stalekarma3262]

That’s a great one as well! I always dreaded the Cave when I was younger, as I was really bad with controlling the vehicles. It’s very fun nowadays though!

[@TrainWreckYT]

I think those cheese balls are spider eggs....

[@stalekarma3262]

I think it was the color of them that threw past me off.

[@hysteria697]

Cheese balls? I think you mean spider eggs 😂 1:30

[@stalekarma3262]

This is one of the most obvious mistakes I’ve ever made in hindsight…

[@sanstheredpikmin7363]

Unfortunately those "cheese balls" are actually spider eggs

[@stalekarma3262]

That definitely makes more sense now, but my younger self could never see them as anything over than cheese balls considering their bright orange color.

[@sanstheredpikmin7363]

True

[@DJ-sd7kq]

All your favorites are some of my enemys

[@stalekarma3262]

Every stage in this game was an enemy to me when I first played them, believe me

[@DJ-sd7kq]

Thanks, i finally did longshot launch thanks to you stale karma

[@Zinaius]

Great video but what do you mean you never cared for Ramby? :( Also Tidal Terror is my favorite DKCR level.

[@stalekarma3262]

He can be fun to control, but he’s probably one of my least favorite animal friends. I can see why he was the one they chose to bring back though

[@Zinaius]

@@stalekarma3262 I like the Ostrich the most probably.

[@stalekarma3262]

@@Zinaius Espresso is really fun. I like Squawks too just because of how his role varies in different games

[@MrChapStick91]

Is tidal terror the one with the waves crashing down on the beach? If so definitely that level was amazing and so memorable

[@stalekarma3262]

@@MrChapStick91 Yup, that's the one!

[@YashBeanz]

I thought the cheesballs would be mangoes because the boss of the world is called Mangoruby

[@stalekarma3262]

That’d be more mangoes than I’ve ever seen in my life

[@ANJACRADDEN]

Keep up the quality content, man! (Remember me :3)

[@stalekarma3262]

I’ll do my best! Thanks for your support :)

[@pelucheCR7]

Love your vids

[@agreedboarart3188]

I'm in the minority in that I much prefer Returns over Tropical Freeze. The level design just feels so much better to me.

[@salomonthefish]

I disagree but hey the game is coming to switch and we’re both probably gonna buy it. Peak platformer 👑

[@dripp_dropp]

returns is my favorite game ever, so i have to agree

[@TheLemonSweat]

Kinetic

[@BlueBMWClassicGames]

You had me until you said you didn't care for Rambi. 😞

[@stalekarma3262]

I’ve started to warm up to him since I made this video. It’s not Rambi as a character that I dislike, but rather the way he controls in the newer games. It just throws me off a little bit.

[@wootmasterzorsx]

You don't like Rambi? I've only know you for roughly 30 minutes, but you're already dead to me. ...Jokes aside, though, I like Rambi, but I can agree he is a bit basic in his kit compared to other animal buddies. I do appreciate him more in Returns and Tropical Freeze since the levels feel designed to let you charge at all times and just blaze through them, but he's not my absolute favorite, since I'd probably peg Squitter as my favorite. But that's not what I wanna talk about, that's just a tangent from a poor attempt at humor. Truth is, Returns is the first DKC game I ever played, unless you wanna count DK64. And on my first playthrough, I HATED a lot of the levels. I don't even remember why I got the game outside "Oh, look, Donkey Kong. I had one of those games once... only on N64, but still. That's brand recognition! I'll get it since it's a new version of an older game I never played, since I like side scrolling platformers! It can't be that bad, right!?" Oh, how foolish and naive I was back then. I had no clue just how difficult Donkey Kong Country was intended to be, so I kinda totally hated the game on my first playthrough. But between watching a let's play and replaying the game after both time to get better at games and having experience from playing the game once before, I grew to like the game a lot. It really goes to show how time and a different perspective can make a game better or worse depending on the right circumstances. And while it's not my favorite game and I have more issues with it than Tropical Freeze, I still love this game like I do all the games in this franchise. Like, the Rocket Barrel levels kinda suck comparatively, given how crowded the design is with obstacles and how you die in one hit. Still fun, since they have great music and backgrounds to them, but they really fixed the Rocket Barrel in Tropical Freeze. Mine Cart levels fared a lot better since they feel a bit less claustrophobic to me. And the soundtrack is a lot more ambient, just like the first game, which isn't bad by any means, it just doesn't stick in my head like DKC 2 and Tropical Freeze do. But that's about all I have to say, this was another fun video to watch and just talk about my experiences with the game as you did yours. Keep up the excellent content.

[@stalekarma3262]

I certainly didn’t mind him. I feel like I’m in the same position as you; he can be fun, especially in these games where he’s placed in levels that are clearly made for him, but he just wasn’t my favorite. I’d say Squitter and Rattley where the best to me. I don’t even remember how I ended up getting this game either. It may have just been a present to me before I knew much about Donkey King at all. It was easily the hardest game I’d played at the time, especially when I got to the Cliff and Factory, but I eventually finished it with some help from Super Kong and have loved these games since. I have a soft spot for this one, as it was my first, but it certainly isn’t my favorite. Tropical Freeze is essentially the same game, but so so much more memorable in design, concept, music and everything else. I do like it more than the SNES games, but not by much, and that’s a hard comparison to make anyways considering they’re all great games, just made around 20 years apart. Thanks for the comments! I really liked hearing your stance on these games.

[@DJ-sd7kq]

Dk rules

[@chavesa5]

Sorry dude, the algorithm punted me to you but I'll be blunt I couldn't care less about you on-camera. All filler, no killer.

[@stalekarma3262]

Hey, no problem, man. The honesty is appreciated

[@MobusBambus]

Kinkuys