Yoshi, at his best, might be the only one that I think may have the edge. And that's mainly because I still think Yoshi's tongue and egg-throwing mechanics are still what I consider to be the most amusing and unique toolkit in any Nintendo platformer.Def feel the opposite lol, DK stands out the most of all Nintendo’s platformers for me
Why does a series need to have some groundbreaking mechanic or gameplay style? The DKC games have great level design and feel good to play. I just booted up DKC1 and 2 and had a great time with them. I can't speak to your questionable taste regarding the Rare characters, but the last thing I would want is them to shed the Rare stuff and focus on Jungle Beat and Arcade stuff. There's nothing wrong with the DKC formula and there's still room for it to be expanded on and tweaked.For me, the DKC games never found a strong gameplay identity like other popular contemporaries (Sonic, Kirby, Mario, Yoshi). I like how the primary attack moves you forward and speeds up with each kill - gave them a nice sense of momentum that I'd like new games to build on - but other than that, what were they really? Pretty by-the-numbers platformers with lousy British anthropomorphic character designs, great soundtracks and licensed-game-tier collision detection.
I think if you folded in design elements from Jungle Beat and DK 94, you could really get a stew going.
Also, I hope they never bring back the Kremlings dodges banana
I didn't say they need to, I just said they didn't. We obviously both agree, because you went on to justify not having one. I mean, I think it's a good idea for games to at least try to justify themselves beyond competently filling up a hole in a release schedule, especially if they want to attain classic status, but I don't think failing to do that invalidates them. At the time, DKC derived a lot from Mario and Sonic and tried to set itself apart with audiovisual lustre - but that came off in a single wash to put it lightly, and not many people nowadays will argue it looks better than its inspiration. Which left me with the question: what's left? What is there to preserve moving forward? (Setting aside that it's obvious they should have good, solid level design and should feel good to play, and nothing I've said precludes that).Why does a series need to have some groundbreaking mechanic or gameplay style?
I never said they should shed the Rare stuff
C'mon sonAlso, I hope they never bring back the Kremlings dodges banana
It's strange that it's only in DKC threads people come in going "they should totally change the series from things people like in these games."
In any case, that's how I'd reinvigorate the DKC franchise.
C'mon son
Also claiming DKC is "boilerplate" for Nintendo is absurd. How many 2D platformers stack up to Tropical Freeze in the last couple of decades? There's nothing "boilerplate" about the design of that game.
It's strange that it's only in DKC threads people come in going "they should totally change the series from things people like in these games." Nobody goes into Metroid threads going "boy I really hope they remove the maze-like gameplay and weapon upgrades and turn it into a linear simple action game."
You're both pathologically dishonest imbeciles and there are too many people on this board like you. I can't be bothered any more, so this is my last post here.Well, I think there's a point to be made here! Perhaps the gameplay of DKC is simply the gameplay of yesterday. Today's DK fans deserve something new, something fresh, something even better! That's why I've put together an idea of how to change up the DKC games to satisfy these lapsed fans, who want the big ape to take on a brand new challenge that retains the core of the series so many people love.
First, one of the things we gotta talk about is the difficulty. The DKC games all have a reputation of being fairly difficult platformers, so the first major change is adding a difficulty setting. Easy, Normal, Hard, and for those truly seeking a challenge, Very Hard. Great for both newcomers and veterans alike! Next, there needs to be more modes! DKC has single player mode and some co-op. Pretty basic. I say it needs some spicing up! Add not only co-op, but story mode (with little cutscenes before and after each stage) stage clear mode (go from stage to stage with no map), versus (up to four players), etc. Plenty of ways to expand the game by introducing new modes!
Next, let's talk about the story. Now given that it's DK, this isn't too important, but it's kind of boring just having his bananas stolen again and again, isn't it? DKC2 and 3 mix things up by having Kongs get kidnapped, at the cost of playable DK himself. So to mix things up, DK's friends have been hypnotized (by K Rool? Who knows!) and he has to embark on an adventure to free them! Of course, this will involve battling the many, various Kongs to do so. Next is the setting. When you think of DK, you think of jungles, and all these different places on DK Island. That was fine then, but we need something better now. That's why the next DK should be set on islands in the sky! To make these locations feel lived in, maybe they could be where the Banana Fairies come from. A new DK adventure in the fairy islands of the sky!
Almost done here! One of the most important aspects of the DKC games is the gameplay itself. But platformers are often difficult for a lot of people, so to increase the potential audience and take DK to new frontiers, I would make this new DKC game a puzzle game. Not falling blocks of course; rather, the blocks would rise from the bottom of the screen, and you would have to match three or more to clear them. Another important aspect are the characters. I have to agree with the assessment regarding the lousy British character designs, which is why I would remove the characters entirely, and replace them with an all-woman cast of cute fairies. Finally, with the characters missing, the name "Donkey Kong Country" simply would have to go. I'm thinking a name like "Panel de Pon" would fit much better instead.
In any case, that's how I'd reinvigorate the DKC franchise.
in fairness, we live in a world where two big nintendo series did dramatically change to great success: zelda and animal crossing are now very different in core gameplayC'mon son
Also claiming DKC is "boilerplate" for Nintendo is absurd. How many 2D platformers stack up to Tropical Freeze in the last couple of decades? There's nothing "boilerplate" about the design of that game.
It's strange that it's only in DKC threads people come in going "they should totally change the series from things people like in these games." Nobody goes into Metroid threads going "boy I really hope they remove the maze-like gameplay and weapon upgrades and turn it into a linear simple action game."
You're both pathologically dishonest imbeciles and there are too many people on this board like you. I can't be bothered any more, so this is my last post here.
You're both pathologically dishonest imbeciles and there are too many people on this board like you. I can't be bothered any more, so this is my last post here.
I haven't played the older AC titles so I can't weigh in on them, but I really don't think BOTW is such a drastic reimagining as you are implying here.in fairness, we live in a world where two big nintendo series did dramatically change to great success: zelda and animal crossing are now very different in core gameplay
Obviously BanjoI don't need to tell you which classic Rare characters got added to Smash Ultimate out of sheer fan demand.
it may not be directly comparable, but people talk about the "zelda formula" with the same derision and likely similarly motivation of treating what's new as entirely superior to the pastI haven't played the older AC titles so I can't weigh in on them, but I really don't think BOTW is such a dramatic reimagining as you are implying here.
It's still about Link, Zelda, Ganon, the Master Sword, and all that. There's Zoras, Lizalfos, and so on. The combat and sense of exploration are very much in line with previous 3D Zelda titles, just evolved and expanded on. It's different, yes, dramatically so in some ways, but it's not like how in DK threads you often get people dumping on the classic DKC games and their characters, acting like they are this weird aberration best left in the past. Even the Triforce, which has a downplayed role compared to a lot of classic Zelda titles, is still everywhere in the iconography of the game.
This viewpoint that the Rare era of DK is something to view with shame largely stems from attitudes both in journalism and online discussion in the 2000s after the Rare buyout to justify Nintendo's jettisoning of Rare as a net good, and permeates to this day despite the games being big successes and people clearly still loving their worlds and characters. I don't need to tell you which classic Rare characters got added to Smash Ultimate out of sheer fan demand.
Now that you mention it, my big, dumb self would actually love a spinoff with a robust combat system, focused primarily on Samus's fighting prowess. Definitely not the direction I'd want for the mainline entries, though.Nobody goes into Metroid threads going "boy I really hope they remove the maze-like gameplay and weapon upgrades and turn it into a linear simple action game."
Hey I'd play Metroid Rising Revengeance, just sayingNow that you mention it, my big, dumb self would actually love a spinoff with a robust combat system, focused primarily on Samus's fighting prowess. Definitely not the direction I'd want for the mainline entries, though.
I don't entirely disagree but I think one of the key differences is the BOTW "formula" has been proven to be successful both with Zelda fans and general audiences. In DKC threads nobody can really articulate what should replace the DKC "style," other than vague gestures to the Arcade games and the like. The best selling DK game is still the original DKC1, and even the Retro games for all their differences and lack of classic Rare characters are still obviously inspired and in the mold of the SNES trilogy, if also comfortably their own take.it may not be directly comparable, but people talk about the "zelda formula" with the same derision and likely similarly motivation of treating what's new as entirely superior to the past
I guess what I'm saying is that arguing for sweeping change is and will be more common because it now has some objective backing
Someday, I hope. Someday...Hey I'd play Metroid Rising Revengeance, just saying
Now that you mention it, my big, dumb self would actually love a spinoff with a robust combat system, focused primarily on Samus's fighting prowess. Definitely not the direction I'd want for the mainline entries, though.
Of course I would. Even if it's scary, I bet it'd also be interesting.I got a great idea about how to reinvigorate the Metroid series! But I don't know if you'd want to hear it...
Would that not diminish the prestige further?Someday, I hope. Someday...
I think Metroid's prestige is, unfortunately, unrecoverable now. They may as well cancel Prime 4. Without high sales, and without high prestige, what are you really left with?Would that not diminish the prestige further?
I think a Metroid game with more cats is a better idea.
Would that not diminish the prestige further?
I think a Metroid game with more cats is a better idea.
Of course I would. Even if it's scary, I bet it'd also be interesting.
I didn't know what to expect. At first, I was nervous.Alright! You asked for it...
So as we are all aware, Metroid is one of the lesser Nintendo franchises in terms of sales, but thankfully by making a few quick adjustments we can give the series a universal appeal that will guarantee success! The first thing we need to do away with is the "isolation" aspect, and go back to what made Metroid Prime Hunters appealing for so many people. That is, the social aspect! Playing against other people. That will need to be the focus of the Metroid franchise. Between two to four players ought to work fine! The next issue is exploration. It's just a bit too complicated for some people, so we needn't explore at all. Better to stick to a single location, that way nobody can get lost or frustrated. Next we must consider the gameplay. Let's face it; action is just too hard for most people who play games. Most people just want an engaging, yet gentle experience, and that's something the Metroid series is seriously lacking. With one notable exception of course: Metroid Prime Pinball. But I certainly wouldn't suggest making a sequel or follow-up to that to reinvigorate the franchise!
After all, pinball is (quite sadly) dead. It's fortunate that there other genres of board based games to use, the most notable of all these games, and one Nintendo has a long history with, being, mahjong. Now I know what you're thinking; "Metroid Mahjong? Really?" And my answer is, "of course not." Fans of mahjong would be terribly put-off by the frightening iconography of the Metroid series, which is why it would stripped away completely. And of course, a mahjong game called "Metroid" would be terribly confusing for fans of the classic game, so something like "Yakuman" would be much more appropriate.
After all, pinball is (quite sadly) dead.
This happens in every Star Fox threadIt's strange that it's only in DKC threads people come in going "they should totally change the series from things people like in these games." Nobody goes into Metroid threads going "boy I really hope they remove the maze-like gameplay and weapon upgrades and turn it into a linear simple action game."
It does, when the real answer should always be "yes AND".This happens in every Star Fox thread
For me, the DKC games never found a strong gameplay identity like other popular contemporaries (Sonic, Kirby, Mario, Yoshi). I like how the primary attack moves you forward and speeds up with each kill - gave them a nice sense of momentum that I'd like new games to build on - but other than that, what were they really? Pretty by-the-numbers platformers with lousy British anthropomorphic character designs, great soundtracks and licensed-game-tier collision detection.
I think if you folded in design elements from Jungle Beat and DK 94, you could really get a stew going.
Also, I hope they never bring back the Kremlings dodges banana
Uh, I kinda agree with both of these posts.The real thing holding back DK’s sales potential in the 21st century has been lack of Kremlings. Bring them back and Nintendo can fill a banana horde with the money they will make.
But actually… while I started this comment as a joke, I do think there is some correlation to it. Rare-era DK on the SNES and N64 kind of marketed itself as an “cool / edgy, but unlike Sonic is available on Nintendo” alternative to the more universally welcoming Mario. They really milked cool 90s kid interests and vibes with the franchise. I.e.: The somehow simultaneously dark yet colorful graphics were a selling point, realistic jungle/adventure theme, soundtrack full of bangers (culminating in the DK Rap), Taco Bell and Lunchables cross promotions, Diddy’s jukebox and hip hat, Cranky‘s ornery dialogue, Candy‘s flirtatiousness, Funky Kong’s existence, and K. Rool being marginally more threatening than Bowser, DKR was more chaotic than MK64. The list goes on. Some of these things are present in modern DK, but it’s a different vibe. The difference in player experience and visuals alike between DKC and SMW felt more stark than, say, NSMBU and DKCTF. To me, at least.
Where Mario hit the Disney kid demographic, DK hit the Nickelodeon kid one. And, with nothing but love to post-Rare DK, I do feel like a lot of that specific brand of personality was lost when the Rare breakup happened. I think this “edgy” theming I am referring to has been delivered really well in the Splatoon franchise, so Nintendo can pull it off without Rare. And while a brand new Switch DK is probably going to sell great regardless, a return to its “90s era personality“ (which includes Kremlings) would be a unique feel relative to Nintendo’s other Platformers.
They made this in 2016 and people didn't like it, presumably because All Range Mode wasn't miserable enough.It does, when the real answer should always be "yes AND".
Yes, keep the rail shooter main gameplay loop AND add more to it that is sensible for its overall setting and does not impede or betray that core loop.
The moment you're subtracting from a core gameplay loop before making additions to it, the far greater the likelihood is that you're gonna have people get contentious about it.
I love Jungle Beat but that game absolutely did suffer without the RARE cast, from both in fan reception and sales. Fans certainly weren't happy their favorite characters were missing. Sales-wise, you can't even say it was because it was tied to a peripheral since Donkey Konga, which included Diddy and friends, outsold Jungle Beat.Jungle Beat showed that you can ditch all the friends and focus on just Donkey Kong and nothing is lost, so especially if a main Nintendo team is working on it I would love to see something closer to that. Characters like Cactus King and Dread Kong have tons of potential and deserve another chance to shine.
If we can't get that I want to see characters like Diddy Kong and King K Rool replaced by Donkey Kong Jr and Stanley the Bug Man. The classic games are a lot better than the country games and it's been too long since those characters were last around, and it would be awesome to see a 2D platformer with some urban influence.
Yeah because instead people come into Metroid threads and talk about how the series should die while praising the sales success of Xenoblade and FE in other threads lmaoIt's strange that it's only in DKC threads people come in going "they should totally change the series from things people like in these games." Nobody goes into Metroid threads going "boy I really hope they remove the maze-like gameplay and weapon upgrades and turn it into a linear simple action game."
I can't be bothered any more, so this is my last post here.
I knew you’d come into this thread with this take eventually and you didn’t disappointI hope a new Donkey Kong game brings back the classic characters. I like 64, Returns, and Tropical Freeze a lot but without Rare or Retro working on it I don't see why they should bother. Jungle Beat showed that you can ditch all the friends and focus on just Donkey Kong and nothing is lost, so especially if a main Nintendo team is working on it I would love to see something closer to that. Characters like Cactus King and Dread Kong have tons of potential and deserve another chance to shine.
If we can't get that I want to see characters like Diddy Kong and King K Rool replaced by Donkey Kong Jr and Stanley the Bug Man. The classic games are a lot better than the country games and it's been too long since those characters were last around, and it would be awesome to see a 2D platformer with some urban influence.
That was why this rumor was always so exciting to me, if its EPD there's a legitimate chance it's something like Jungle Beat or Donkey Kong 3.
They made this in 2016 and people didn't like it, presumably because All Range Mode wasn't miserable enough.
I am this forum's #1 Donkey Kong Jr and Dread Kong fan for a reason. Let's just hope EPD feels the sameI knew you’d come into this thread with this take eventually and you didn’t disappoint
The classic games are a lot better than the country games
Returns to me was a straight up boring game
fwiw Returns is my fave DKC. If we had a remaster with a Wise soundtrack even more so
fwiw Returns is my fave DKC. If we had a remaster with a Wise soundtrack even more so
The worlds are the best part. You get a wonderful progression that is completely absent from Tropical Freeze. The music is imo pretty bland but it has tons of minecart and rocket barrel levels along with the extra difficult special levels which is what Retro Studios excels at (carried over from Metroid Prime 3 morph ball segments to an extent). I think lack of Diddy is a huge positive, although he's still a little too present for my tastes.Returns is a DK game that has bad controls and mostly rehashed worlds and music. Also you can't play with Diddy unless it's multiplayer, and Dixie, arguably the best character, isn't even in the game.
I'm very happy for people who liked it, but it's not exactly a modern classic lol
Returns is a DK game that has bad controls and mostly rehashed worlds and music. Also you can't play with Diddy unless it's multiplayer, and Dixie, arguably the best character, isn't even in the game.
I'm very happy for people who liked it, but it's not exactly a modern classic lol
The worlds are the best part. You get a wonderful progression that is completely absent from Tropical Freeze. The music is imo pretty bland but it has tons of minecart and rocket barrel levels along with the extra difficult special levels which is what Retro Studios excels at (carried over from Metroid Prime 3 morph ball segments to an extent). I think lack of Diddy is a huge positive, although he's still a little too present for my tastes.
It not a modern classic because it came out like 12 years ago
Not surprising that the most exciting part of Tropical Freeze is when you return to the islandThe progression is I think an underrated/overlooked part of it. In DKTF, the worlds are completely separate islands, but in DKCR everything feels part of this one huge island. That feeling of making your way to the top of the island is just so much cooler to me than launching to 6 totally separate islands.
Also, yeah I love the worlds in DKCR. Maybe they're similar to the worlds of DKC1, but I love these environments in the first place. The jungle, the beach, etc, they're places I'd like to visit irl. I feel like people always say DK needs to be dark/moody, but the beautiful nature environments are what draw me to the series, and DKCR has a ton of those.
And I didn't even get to the terrible art direction and enemy designs
Not surprising that the most exciting part of Tropical Freeze is when you return to the island