Donkey Kong Country Universal Studios Japan Review

[@__wildwildwest__]

I'm still stoked Orlando's getting the Donkey Kong treatment, but I have been bummed knowing that Nintendo has seemingly turned the page on the 90s Donkey Kong Country theming. Imagine K Rool and the kremlings coming after you in the mine cart ride instead of the Tiki Tribe. They're far more iconic. At least some OG merchandise? Throw the older DK fans a bone! Either way, still excited for it.

[@cadendicky1855]

I think part of the reasoning for it is because of them trying to appeal to the general audience, as some fans haven't even really played the 90's games and would find their theming to be a bit too unfamiliar, but yeah, it would've been quite nice to see King K. Roll, but I don't think the themeing we got is bad at all.

[@滝野智-y7n]

And the OG dk fans are the only real ones let’s be honest. I can’t agree more with your sentiment it would have been way better I couldn’t help but be disappointed that it’s based solely off the newer dk which is much more bland and has a whole lot less personality and atmosphere.

[@GPXBrent]

Design started all the way back in 2014, and a model of the land leaked in 2019, so it was designed before K Rool became more known again. Allegedly Universal wanted to use K Rool, but Nintendo declined

[@滝野智-y7n]

@@GPXBrent Nintendo just has no idea what they are doing with donkey kong anymore because rare is what made it so likable and iconic so without them all that personality,music and atmosphere is lost. I don’t know any fans of donkey kong that only know the new donkey Kong. The majority of fans are from the classic donkey kong country or dk 64 era. I wish they either brought back Some of the old team from rare or at least tried to follow through with that style to the best of their ability. But here we are with some generic tiki mask concept that just reminds me of crash instead of donkey Kong sigh.

[@jaredf6205]

My guess is that they want the branding on these parks to be generic because they want them to still look good and relevant in even 30 years and beyond.

[@entertheziggy]

i hate when reporters say, "i don't know how to explain this", dude its your literal job to explain it, find a way.

[@supercatchans]

Fr like it’s kinda their job to explain to the audience

[@MarcMarioMaster]

Absolutely agree. King K.Rool and the Kremlings have a proper vendeta with the Kongs plus actual personalities. Using the Tikis which are but hypnotising objects with facial expressions add nothing to the franchise and therefore nothing to what should be a celebration of the Kong adventures. Extremely unfortunate and a failed assessment by the Nintendo folks.

[@aaronsarchive82]

They also should have used the frantic fast paced music from the original mine cart level in DKC1. The Returns music feels slow and cumbersome.

[@MissUmbra]

Honestly, if Nintendo bought out Rare entirely in 2001 instead of Microsoft, they would have probably made the Donkey Kong area in SNW more accurate to Rare’s DK games and the mine cart ride would have a bigger focus on chasing K. Rool and the Kremlings instead of just being a simple spectacle, plus we would have even gotten a Banjo-Kazooie world that looks like Spiral Mountain and Gruntilda’s Lair would have a ride like the Mario Kart one in Bowser’s Castle

[@RaptorTheWild1312]

I’m gonna have a hot take here. I think we need to remove the nostalgia glasses with K. Rool and the Kremlings. I’m not saying they’re bad. In fact, I think they’re great! I’m sure in the future they’ll be brought back again, but you guys need to remember that the theming is very clearly based around the newer games, especially Returns. Because of that, I don’t see why K. Rool would completely fit in that regard. I also feel like because we like K. Rool so much, we dog on the other two villain squads from Returns and Freeze for not living up to the expectations of the original. These standards are quite harsh and we don’t give them a chance because of those standards. It’s hard to fill in the shoes of the Kremlings and their king, this has been established. However, the other two have merits to them. I think we should start looking at it that way. Maybe then there will be some worth with the Tikis and Snowmads.

[@masenmeans5893]

Not nostalgia glasses, the complaints stems from the whole park (from the music to the aesthetics) being themed around a single game from 15 years ago as opposed to a celebration of Donkey Kong or even just DKC as a whole, leaving it lacking in variety and feeling a bit dated in comparison to the Mario one. If the Tikis had continued to be villains going forward or Kremlings weren’t the main antagonists for more than half the series maybe you’d have a point, but that’s not the case. Also not sure why you even brought up the Snowmads since they’re also no where to be seen either

[@RaptorTheWild1312]

@ I brought the latter up because it seems to be a problem with DK fans in general Ofc I’m not disagreeing with you, and I do think that it’d be nice to have K. Rool come back and get more rep in future DK installments, but I do feel like there’s still some appreciation to be had with the land and how it looks. I know that just sounds like me being all “blah blah y’all’s opinion is trash” but I don’t want that to be the message y’all receive Plus, this was just a hot take that I wanted to share, nothing else really

[@Maubari]

@@masenmeans5893No. I agree with Raptor here; stop being blinded by nostalgia and APPRECIATE that there even is a Donkey Kong theme park! Like, the franchise got majorly ignored these last ten years; the fact that we even got this - with pretty good theming to boot - as well as DKC Returns is actually really nice. Would I have loved to see K.Rool and the Kremlings return? Yes, very much so! Or even a brand new donkey kong game! But bitching about smaller stuff that you KNOW won't happen is just pointless. It's not just you that needs to learn this; but pretty much every other fanbase out there.

[@GiantSquid2319]

2:33 CART!!!!!

[@paigegguy]

Looking forward to (hopefully still) going there next week! Also hope it has the parent pass system.

[@maxsouthy]

Jane got a round of applause for his performance

[@ParkTwister]

Great overall review of DK Country 👏

[@mikaelviven7413]

I heard diddy Kong and dice Kong will come as a meet greet and hopefully to see cranky Kong to as well

[@suaveclt]

Maybe K Rool will walk around the land for photos?

[@Woopitywop]

I’m scared of rollercoasters and have only ever been on Slinky Dog Dash at Disney World. In comparison of that ride with this donkey Kong ride, is the speed/drops about the same ?

[@Evan_Campbell]

awesome stuff dudes!

[@Jc_ute]

Hope it opens in Hollywood soon

[@GPXBrent]

It won't

[@fallenhornet1058]

Sadly it won't due to not enough land or room to expand the land itself. That's why it's being skipped and going to open in Orlando for Epic Universe in May 22nd

[@M3chpencil]

Its not coming to hollywood

[@IchibanKasuga-6969]

Did y'all pull straws to see who goes on this trip or did Andy pull rank? Great stuff as always, boys

[@maxsouthy]

Jimmy is telling Jane about the new donkey Kong country area at Super Nintendo Chessington world of adventures

[@remconet]

3:48 they made is too bright in my opinion.

[@Onosume]

I went to Super Nintendo World in 2023, and I think visually and audibly it’s a spectacle but was disappointed with the content. The interactive elements didn’t really work, the Mario Kart ride was really clunky, Yoshi ride was dull. Sounds like they’ve got it the other way around with the DK bit interestingly. I think it’s fine as part of the grander whole of USJ, but not worth solely going for.

[@moneygrabbercodswollop8133]

2:15 You mispronounced Rambi. It’s ram-BEE.

[@knuclear200x]

If only it still wasn't a rollercoaster, and instead a mechanism similar to Indiana Jones or Radiator Springs Racers ;_;

[@bigboomer1013]

Kinda wonder if itbwould of been posible to do both. Because I thought the same thing that it would also work like Indiana Jones. But because it is a mine cart stage, it makes more sence for it to be a roller-coaster as thats basicly what it is. Would be very crazy if the cart moves and shakes like Indiana jones

[@maxsouthy]

Ed was in a typhoon

[@fufu5068]

The best Nintendo ride? Super low bar to clear tbh.

[@mariomoney1001]

I already bought a few merch on eBay

[@maxsouthy]

POV you’re a school student

[@maxsouthy]

Eating a scrambled egg

[@ddrusa]

Oh look more pov showing us how to film it

[@zarajenkins6948]

No POV?

[@fire2box]

I was excited for the Mine Cart ride/coaster and while it looks thematically good I was hoping for faster speed out of the cannon barrels/drop. Hopefully the American ones can fix that.

[@therealventures]

It will most likely be a replica of Japan's. It was never meant to be a high speed coaster like Hagrids.

[@kamikazilucas]

i havent been to nintendo world yet so

[@josb2574]

So in resume just one mini ride? And no K Rool? Meeeh 😴

[@BuddyLongplays]

Ohhhh..! BA-NA-NAAAA! 🍌🦍

[@plotpoints1034]

No on ride video. Hard. Pass.

[@Virus-20-h1l]

Not really hype for it since this is the Donkey Kong Returns version of Donkey Kong and not of the one Rare did which we all know and love. Would been great to see Donkey Kong's wooden house rather than hut and maybe King K Rool and a Pirate ship of his. I mean I will go see it but will take it with a grain of salt.

[@TheBitBlock]

I'm happy it is not themed to the old SNES Rare games. Returns / Tropical Freeze are far superior games and styles.

[@td3053]

Looks lame

[@booznonlife5165]

Love them both but Returns and especially tropical freeze is better then the Super Nintendo version