StarTopic Donkey Kong Community |ST| No Country For Old Kongs

[Professor Chops]

Just to fuel the rumor saga -- @PikminSnezkov said that EPD is developing a new DK game, but that the whole Donkey Kong Freedom rumor is false. He also leaked the Paper Mario 2 remake well in advance.

He may have been right about the Thousand-Year Door remake, but he's dead wrong about Donkey Kong Freedom being "false." Regardless, the game was scrapped years ago and has no bearing on what EPD Tokyo is working on.

While having to wait until 2024 is disappointing, the EPD game is obviously being saved for the Switch successor at this point. Either that or Nintendo wants to announce the game closer to the theme park expansion opening, which seems… counterintuitive.

 

[Mekanos]

Frankly shocked that people are so upset about the price of Mario vs. Donkey Kong remake (but I really shouldn't); It really got people off guard? Nintendo? lol

Link's Awakening was a remake of a black-and-white Game Boy game and they charged more..

At very least, this is a full fledged Game Boy Advance with more meat on its bones. Though for this remake I hope they add at very least the e-Reader levels that were released only in Japan.

I’d argue Link’s Awakening has more content than MVDK lol

 

[CyberWolfJV]

I’d argue Link’s Awakening has more content than MVDK lol

I'd give you that you probably take longer to beat Link's Awakening, but 2/3 of your time is pausing the game to change your weapons on the inventory and being interrupted by prompts.

But what I really meant it was a much simpler and more primitive game in comparison.

 

[AngryAlchemist]

Frankly shocked that people are so upset about the price of Mario vs. Donkey Kong remake (but I really shouldn't); It really got people off guard? Nintendo? lol

No offense but I really don't like comments like this. Complaining about the price of a product and being surprised at the price of a product aren't mutually inclusive; so I don't know why people pretend like they are. It's still worth complaining about every time Nintendo overcharges for something. Just this year, Nintendo launched Metroid Prime Remastered, with tons of new high quality assets, for $40. Mario vs DK being $50 for a remake of a 20 year old GBA game just seems too much. Link's Awakening is also a mainline Zelda game and - if we're being honest - it being $60 was sort of considered justified because the hole left by no new 2D Zelda is much bigger and more critical than the hole left by no MvsDK.

I'm fine with some level of upcharge because it's Nintendo. I think $40 would have been a sweet spot, and I would have scooped it up. At $50? Ehhhhh. But either way, given we are a Nintendo board and the chance of championing echo chamber behavior around Nintendo's practices are very high, I think we should strive for higher quality discussion than "I don't know why people are upset about this, the price isn't surprising, it's Nintendo!".

 

[Stilt Village]

I'd give you that you probably take longer to beat Link's Awakening, but 2/3 of your time is pausing the game to change your weapons on the inventory and being interrupted by prompts.

But what I really meant it was a much simpler and more primitive game in comparison.

It's very much not. In many ways it's more sophisticated than A Link to the Past.

Sure, it was originally released for Game Boy, which inherently limits it in some capacities, but Mario vs. Donkey Kong is widely considered a slightly inferior version of another Game Boy game, so...

 

[Gingerbread Man]

He may have been right about the Thousand-Year Door remake, but he's dead wrong about Donkey Kong Freedom being "false." Regardless, the game was scrapped years ago and has no bearing on what EPD Tokyo is working on.

While having to wait until 2024 is disappointing, the EPD game is obviously being saved for the Switch successor at this point. Either that or Nintendo wants to announce the game closer to the theme park expansion opening, which seems… counterintuitive.

To be clear, I think that both you and Snezkov are in good faith, and I find the information you shared with us plausible. But since the two reports contradict each other, it is clear that one of you is wrong (but without intentionally lying... unlike, say, Zippo).

 

[bennettva]

I'd give you that you probably take longer to beat Link's Awakening, but 2/3 of your time is pausing the game to change your weapons on the inventory and being interrupted by prompts.

But what I really meant it was a much simpler and more primitive game in comparison.

Even on switch Links Awakening will take longer to beat them Mario vs DK. There is simply just more content to it.

 

[CyberWolfJV]

I mean, I don't love the price of MvDKR either.. just saying that I'm not surprised and frankly even a tad satisfied that is not a full price game (which I assume by default that any new Nintendo release are); I personally don't like to value games by any vague metrics.. in Brazil, this barely makes a difference anyway.. so I'll just go and buy the games I am interested. If it will last long or not, it's ultimately up to me and the time I invest to finish.

Ideally though, at least to me, both Link's Awakening and Mario vs. Donkey Kong should had been $40 in contrast of brand new games;

 

[Professor Chops]

I'm getting really tired hearing the same talking points from the usual suspects about how the EPD game is fake, Hyle is a liar, and Nintendo would never divert resources away from Mario to make a Donkey Kong game—despite a DK theme park expansion opening next year that's almost the same size as the Mario section. The people who continually say "DK is unlikely because EPD Tokyo is making 3D Mario" are the same ones who will complain about "too many platformers" whenever DK is shown, even though the games are bound to be radically different.

 

[Dark Cloud]

I'm getting really tired hearing the same talking points from the usual suspects about how the EPD game is fake, Hyle is a liar, and Nintendo would never divert resources away from Mario to make a Donkey Kong game—despite a DK theme park expansion opening next year that's almost the same size as the Mario section. The people who continually say "DK is unlikely because EPD Tokyo is making 3D Mario" are the same ones who will complain about "too many platformers" whenever DK is shown, even though the games are bound to be radically different.

I agree. It’s the same people who hate on insiders. Nate Drake keeps being ignored when the dude just said he heard a Paper Mario game was being remastered and we got TTYD. He said it’s an EPD Tokyo DK game.

 

[Leo]

Thinking about it, I'm pretty excited about EPD DKC. I hope it's 2D.

 

[AstroOhHey]

I'm sure EPD will do a great job regardless of what the new DK game is, just not sure how it'll measure up to Tropical Freeze. I'll probably turn a blind eye to any shortcomings if it still has K. Rool/more animal buddies/something really wild like Lanky Kong back though lol.

 

[Number1000DKFan]

He may have been right about the Thousand-Year Door remake, but he's dead wrong about Donkey Kong Freedom being "false." Regardless, the game was scrapped years ago and has no bearing on what EPD Tokyo is working on.

While having to wait until 2024 is disappointing, the EPD game is obviously being saved for the Switch successor at this point. Either that or Nintendo wants to announce the game closer to the theme park expansion opening, which seems… counterintuitive.

It’s not counterintuitive

They released the Mario movie and a bunch of Mario games the same year

The thought is people will go to the park and say “darn I need to play the new DK” And some people will play DK and go “omg I have to go to the park asap”

 

[Professor Chops]

It’s not counterintuitive

They released the Mario movie and a bunch of Mario games the same year

The thought is people will go to the park and say “darn I need to play the new DK” And some people will play DK and go “omg I have to go to the park asap”

By "counterintuitive" I mean that the game should have already been announced by now so they can drum up excitement for the theme park. I think waiting this long to announce it is a mistake. When the Mario section opened, there were already like 20 Mario games for the Switch. DK has Tropical Freeze and nothing else. It's a dormant IP. If they want to revitalize interest in the brand, I feel like the new game should come before the park—and that's clearly not happening.

 

[Gingerbread Man]

By "counterintuitive" I mean that the game should have already been announced by now so they can drum up excitement for the theme park. I think waiting this long to announce it is a mistake. When the Mario section opened, there were already like 20 Mario games for the Switch. DK has Tropical Freeze and nothing else. It's a dormant IP. If they want to revitalize interest in the brand, I feel like the new game should come before the park—and that's clearly not happening.

The Super Nintendo World Direct aired in December 2020, and the park opened the following March. Nintendo also announces games close to their release date -- for example, Wonder was announced only 4 months before its release.

I think they can announce both the park and the game in February/March for a Summer opening. This also allows Wonder to have a large window without an internal competitor, and to get popular with the casual audience who will then go buy DK as soon as it is released.

 

[Pointy Tucks]

I have my own skepticism regarding DK Freedom, but regardless of whether it’s true or false, it only would have existed as an early concept behind closed doors. MonkEPD I totally believe though, for more reasons than me wanting it to be real. My guess is that MonkEPD is planned to be one of the inevitable “switch 2” system sellers, and this big marketing push is not just to cement DK as a staple of Nintendo, but also to bridge the gap between Mario and DK and sell Mario fans on their riskier project. As for the kind of game, I could see a DK64-like collectathon happening, especially considering that EPD is one of the elite few that have managed to make a universally well-received one, and also large, detailed 3D levels could show off the more powerful hardware a switch successor is sure to bring

 

[Dark Cloud]

DK is a cross gen title as far as I’m concerned or maybe a Switch 2 exclusive. We won’t see it until the reveal of the Switch 2 and it’s a 2D game. 3D Mario is the launch for Switch 2 and DK will be a launch window game.

 

[Mekanos]

I'd take a Prime 4-ish teaser just to know this DK game exists, to be honest

...hopefully not a Prime 4-ish reboot though

 

[Rampo360]

Mario -> Mario vs Donkey Kong -> Donkey Kong

It's happening

 

[Tyrien]

Are they gonna bring back K Rool since they got him in smash?

 

[Mekanos]

Are they gonna bring back K Rool since they got him in smash?

No way to know, really. I'd like to think so, but Nintendo is not always predictable.

 

[SilicaKong20XX]

Going to ask y'all this real quick. As someone who has played the SNES Country trilogy twice, should I play through the GBA versions of the original Country trilogy as well or just not do those altogether? I do own the first GBA game, but not the other two after all.

 

[Superstarxalien]

Going to ask y'all this real quick. As someone who has played the SNES Country trilogy twice, should I play through the GBA versions of the original Country trilogy as well or just not do those altogether? I do own the first GBA game, but not the other two after all.

the gba remakes have some fanservice and new content iirc, so you might as well

 

[Stilt Village]

Going to ask y'all this real quick. As someone who has played the SNES Country trilogy twice, should I play through the GBA versions of the original Country trilogy as well or just not do those altogether? I do own the first GBA game, but not the other two after all.

3 GBA is a notably different experience due to adding a new world and completely new soundtrack. It also tries to improve upon the game in a way the others don't, it fixes some of the gameplay issues the original had such as the long delay when firing from a cannon and there are various small edits to the level design to facilitate not having to stop and wait for obstacles, bringing it more in line with the first two. I consider it the better version, especially for replays, though with the caveat that all the overworld stuff has been fucked and if you're looking to do that and get the Banana Bird ending stick to the SNES version. I also don't intend to imply it's more polished by any means; both versions are kind of broken. The level Criss Kross Cliffs doesn't function properly in either one.

The other ports are more curiosities. They replace some music and make minor new additions, but it'll be like one new level, some new collectibles, a new minigame, that sort of thing. They're mostly uglier, worse sounding versions that don't play as well, rather than a true alternate experience. Their attempt to bring the whole series tonally in-line with DK64 is pretty awkward if you played the original DKC2.

 

[Regulus Tera]

I wonder if Nintendo would be daring enough to make MonkEPD part of their launch window for Switch 2 in lieu of 3D Mario, or if we’re gonna have to wait until at least a year into the console’s lifespan.

 

[AngryAlchemist]

I wonder if Nintendo would be daring enough to make MonkEPD part of their launch window for Switch 2 in lieu of 3D Mario, or if we’re gonna have to wait until at least a year into the console’s lifespan.

Honestly for DK I don't think you'd want it to be a launch window game. You'd want to relaunch the brand first before relying on it to move hardware, especially since it's a 2D game. Don't get me wrong I'm a firm believer in DK's brand power and it could easily clear units for the first launch month. But what's important about launch titles is that they manage to carry hardware momentum for months, even as newer titles come out (BOTW basically carried 2 months since MK8D didn't come out till late April). You'd want DK to have more of an installbase anyways to relaunch the brand in a big way, and DK in general is a big enough game that it needs its own month, so I don't think it would launch as a title second to another big release like 3D Mario or Mario Kart at launch either.

It feels weird doing this because it's way easier to map with a March release of the Switch 2, even though that's very unlikely at this point. So here's how I could see it playing out:

March: 3D Mario, Smaller Major Game (Metroid Prime 4???)

May/June: Major Game, probably smaller than DK or Mario (Metroid Prime 4??? Possibly even a Zelda game)

Last 3 months: 2D Donkey Kong, Mario Kart (too many variables to consider what month, MK could launch earlier or later than DK I think)

If it's a summer launch, I could see something like this:

Summer: 3D Mario, Smaller Major Game

Holiday: Mario Kart

December, possibly even January-February: 2D Donkey Kong

This is obviously not a mapping of the full lineup, just talking about games that would affect a launch window

 

[Tyrien]

Honestly for DK I don't think you'd want it to be a launch window game. You'd want to relaunch the brand first before relying on it to move hardware, especially since it's a 2D game. Don't get me wrong I'm a firm believer in DK's brand power and it could easily clear units for the first launch month. But what's important about launch titles is that they manage to carry hardware momentum for months, even as newer titles come out (BOTW basically carried 2 months since MK8D didn't come out till late April). You'd want DK to have more of an installbase anyways to relaunch the brand in a big way, and DK in general is a big enough game that it needs its own month, so I don't think it would launch as a title second to another big release like 3D Mario or Mario Kart at launch either.

It feels weird doing this because it's way easier to map with a March release of the Switch 2, even though that's very unlikely at this point. So here's how I could see it playing out:

March: 3D Mario, Smaller Major Game (Metroid Prime 4???)

May/June: Major Game, probably smaller than DK or Mario (Metroid Prime 4??? Possibly even a Zelda game)

Last 3 months: 2D Donkey Kong, Mario Kart (too many variables to consider what month, MK could launch earlier or later than DK I think)

If it's a summer launch, I could see something like this:

Summer: 3D Mario, Smaller Major Game

Holiday: Mario Kart

December, possibly even January-February: 2D Donkey Kong

This is obviously not a mapping of the full lineup, just talking about games that would affect a launch window

What happens if it releases end of the year?

 

[Number1000DKFan]

What happens if it releases end of the year?

Basically every console from Nintendo except the Switch has launched in November

Same is true of Nintendo’s competitors

It’s going to be fall or holiday 2024

So

Basically we know the big game for the late winter early spring period (peach)

We are going to have another big summer game or two (Metroid and or Donkey Kong)

Then come late fall we will get the new switch and probably a new 3D Mario

 

[Ylork]

I hope Switch will have its Donkey Kong. Cross-gen or not, it doesn't matter. This console doesn't deserve to have only a Wii U game or a remake of Mario vs Donkey Kong.

The Switch's last year (probably) doesn't satisfy me at all. Princess Peach, it's good, but it must also have, at least :

• A new Donkey Kong (2D or 3D)
• Metroid Prime 4 (promised since 2017)

I don't think we're asking Nintendo for the moon ?

 

[Dante Kong]

All I really plan on playing on Switch next year is LM2HD and TTYD. Peachs game doesnt look bad but definitely not my style. Plenty else I plan on playing from other devs on pc, but I'd love one or 2 more big Switch games before Switch 2 comes out, assuming we're waiting until the holiday to get it. (Cough cough donkey kong cough cough)

 

[CyberWolfJV]

I admit that big part of me still hoping that DK is at least a cross-gen title, is the fact I will not be able to buy a whole new console so soon.. but even without the hopium, I do believe is reasonable to still expect it to be a 2024 game in both platforms. Nintendo won't be abandoning a 100+ million userbase overnight.

 

[Dante Kong]

DK did convince me to buy a wii u when it was revealed in 2013, so he could probably do it again on Switch 2 assuming I've got the cash for it, and it's not hard to find like Switch was when it came out. But yeah, I'd rather just have the next DK on Switch for now.

 

[Mekanos]

I'll take whatever if a DK game comes out next year, but I'm not expecting it to be a launch window game. Probably bumped to 2025 if that's the case.

Like I said, still a faint chance the game is announced in the February Direct for a June-ish release on Switch 1, but I'm not outright expecting it.

 

[SilicaKong20XX]

I've got a question to ask all of y'all. If the Switch 2 possibly becomes a system akin to the Xbox Series S / X, where the company will still make games for the previous system, do you think that DK could still be 2024? Personally, I just hope that that is the year where we will get our due.

 

[AngryAlchemist]

What happens if it releases end of the year?

What happens is I'm too lazy to guess

Basically every console from Nintendo except the Switch has launched in November

Yes, every console except the Gameboy, Gameboy Advance, 3DS, and Switch

but besides that every console.

 

[AngryAlchemist]

I've got a question to ask all of y'all. If the Switch 2 possibly becomes a system akin to the Xbox Series S / X, where the company will still make games for the previous system, do you think that DK could still be 2024? Personally, I just hope that that is the year where we will get our due.

I expect it to be 2024, whether or not it's crossgen honestly.

 

[CyberWolfJV]

If anyone is interested, DK Vine's latest episode of the Kongversation podcast (feat. The Geek Critique), and their reactions on the Nintendo Direct reveals



Nothing much new here, just yet more reassurance;

 

[AstroOhHey]

I don't think we're asking Nintendo for the moon ?

 

[Brock Reiher]

I hope Switch will have its Donkey Kong. Cross-gen or not, it doesn't matter. This console doesn't deserve to have only a Wii U game or a remake of Mario vs Donkey Kong.

The Switch's last year (probably) doesn't satisfy me at all. Princess Peach, it's good, but it must also have, at least :

• A new Donkey Kong (2D or 3D)
• Metroid Prime 4 (promised since 2017)

I don't think we're asking Nintendo for the moon ?

fwiw this puts DKC on the same level as Mario Kart. glad we're getting a DK at least

 

[AstroOhHey]

After seeing how the Paper Mario thread devolved in the span of 12 hours yesterday, sort of glad DK's well beyond the era where fans were at each other throats post-Rare buyout/pre-DKCR and rather everyone's happy in the same ship, desperate for more monkey business to happen.

 

[Mekanos]

After seeing how the Paper Mario thread devolved in the span of 12 hours yesterday, sort of glad DK's well beyond the era where fans were at each other throats post-Rare buyout/pre-DKCR and rather everyone's happy in the same ship, desperate for more monkey business to happen.

Something about Paper Mario discourse brings out the beast in people

It’s gonna be a fun year or so discussing that remake

 

[Gingerbread Man]

After seeing how the Paper Mario thread devolved in the span of 12 hours yesterday, sort of glad DK's well beyond the era where fans were at each other throats post-Rare buyout/pre-DKCR and rather everyone's happy in the same ship, desperate for more monkey business to happen.

I think that, at least on this message board, there's now a general understanding that each DK style (Arcade, '94, Rare, Jungle Beat, Retro) has its pros. So even if you don't like certain elements of a style, you also know there's something else very good.

... except for the Minis games. But even with them, the problem was that they released the same game with a different coat of paint on three different systems.

Paper Mario opinions, on the other hand, are more radicalized.

 

[Uncle Squingis]

Basically every console from Nintendo except the Switch has launched in November

Same is true of Nintendo’s competitors

It’s going to be fall or holiday 2024

So

Basically we know the big game for the late winter early spring period (peach)

We are going to have another big summer game or two (Metroid and or Donkey Kong)

Then come late fall we will get the new switch and probably a new 3D Mario

N64 launched in Sept 96 in NA, earlier in Japan. This allowed them to drop multiple first party releases before Christmas, which I think they'll try for with Switch 2, namely Mario and Metroid.

 

[SilicaKong20XX]

If anyone is interested, DK Vine's latest episode of the Kongversation podcast (feat. The Geek Critique), and their reactions on the Nintendo Direct reveals



Nothing much new here, just yet more reassurance;

That video is where I found out about the idea of the Switch 2 being like the Xbox Series S / X.

 

[Number1000DKFan]

What happens is I'm too lazy to guess


Yes, every console except the Gameboy, Gameboy Advance, 3DS, and Switch

but besides that every console.

I obviously meant every home console

 

[Number1000DKFan]

I think that, at least on this message board, there's now a general understanding that each DK style (Arcade, '94, Rare, Jungle Beat, Retro) has its pros. So even if you don't like certain elements of a style, you also know there's something else very good.

... except for the Minis games. But even with them, the problem was that they released the same game with a different coat of paint on three different systems.

Paper Mario opinions, on the other hand, are more radicalized.

Yeah but the Rare and Retro games are way more popular than anything else, and I think for good reason

 

[SilicaKong20XX]

Just heard on Famiboards that the Switch 2 might be revealed somewhere around late-October to November. I'm betting that some of you have also heard about this. Wondering if this means that DK will be on the new system in the summer, possibly...

 

[Superstarxalien]

those guys are speculating their ass out of denial that the switch 2 won't be out until november 2024. but then, donkey kong still has a chance of being a launch-period title for switch 2 or so, right? the dk park is only opening in japan next year. shrug

 

[Mekanos]

To me ideally the Switch 2 targets a September release so supply chains aren't so choked for the holidays and it lets them have a nice launch window with multiple games. But I'm fully expecting a November launch.

 

[Leo]

Okay yeah, even as an old fart who grew up with Rare DKC, Tropical Freeze is really fucking good. Just like in 2014, again I went into the game thinking "I wish this was like the old style" and it's just so good it makes it impossible for me to not surrender.