2011 Top 5

My top 5 games of 2011 are:

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

Wario Ware: DIY

Pokémon Black

Portal 2

Super Mario 3D Land

Honourable mentions go to:

Mass Effect 2

Monster Hunter Tri

2012 is already off to a great start with Skyward Sword, which I'm pretty sure will be featuring here next year.

Has Donkey Kong Country Returned?

I've been a huge fan of the Donkey Kong Country series since I first played the first game on the SNES so I was delighted to hear the series was returning and felt it was safe in the hands of Retro Studios, the people who brought us the Metroid Prime trilogy. Having played and enjoyed the game I've been surprised to hear a few people say "it's not really Donkey Kong Country". I don't agree with that sentiment so I've decided to review each area of the game and put my thoughts on the matter into words:

Graphics - It goes for a more colourful, cartoony style than the more realistic style of the original trilogy, which is a big change but not a major problem as far as I'm concerned. It still looks gorgeous and most importantly, manages to create a sense of atmosphere, with special mention going to the silhouette levels. I'd love to watch someone else play the game sometime just so I can take in the backgrounds.

Sound - I really can't fault it on this, it stays faithful to the original by including the main theme and a few other remixes while also having an excellent soundtrack all of it's own. I particularly like the hypnotism song.

Story - DKs bananas are stolen again but at least they try to explain why they were taken this time, even if it doesn't make sense. The lack of K.Rool is a disappointment I admit, Donkey Kong has lost his arch-nemesis. The Kremlings were also a bit more menacing than the Tikis so I agree this is one aspect where it loses a little "DKCness". But ask yourself, are crocodiles really what Donkey Kong Country was all about?

Controls - This is the main problem area, as it lacks the precise controls of the original trilogy. Shaking the remote and nunchuk to pound the ground is fine, satisfying even, but rolling with a remote shake is problematic. Fine 99% of the time but that 1% when it fails is very annoying, especially if you were intending to roll-jump over a bottomless pit. Shaking while holding down to blow is also a bit awkward and potentially dangerous if you forget to actually hold down as I did a few times. If there was an option to roll using B or Z and the shaking was optional it would have been a lot better, but that's obligatory unnecessary Wii controls for you.

Gameplay - This is the big one, as always, and I will admit there are some issues. It walks a very fine line between challenging and frustrating a lot of the time. An entire mine cart world is a bit much all at once and creates a pronounced difficulty spike about halfway through. Having to stop to investigate every bush and flower for hidden items can become a bit tedious and sometimes breaks the flow of a level. Multiplayer is generally awkward, 2 players simultaneously can get in each others way and losing 2 lives a pop is ridiculous. It would have been nice if they'd also included the take turns co-op and competitive multiplayer modes from the old games.

Those issues aside, it's got all the elements I expect from a Donkey Kong Country game: themed levels, hidden bonus stages, collectible items, barrel blast sections, animal buddies, tricky platforming challenges, gimmicky set pieces and a special set of extra hard levels. Previously mentioned Wiimote niggles aside, the Kongs control in much the same way as before and are fun to play as. The levels are clever and I get the same feeling of satisfaction from clearing them 100% that I used to get from the old DKC games. It's pure fun! Even with the high level of difficulty, I never felt there was any obstacle that a bit of perseverance couldn't overcome. Sure, there are some big changes, but a lot of them are for the better in my opinion and provide a fresh take on the DKC formula. If the series is to continue I'd rather see it develop than stay the exact same as it was back in the 90s, even if there's the odd slip along the way.

When I was playing the game I felt like I was playing a new DKC game so as far as I'm concerned Donkey Kong Country has returned, and it's been a triumphant return indeed.

My Top 5 Games of 2010

Top 5: Name:				System:	Score:
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story				DS	10
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks				DS	10
Pokémon Heart Gold				DS	10
Super Mario Galaxy 2				Wii	10
Donkey Kong Country Returns				Wii	10
The rest: Persona 3 FES				PS2	9
Elder Scrolls: Oblivion				Xbox 360	9
Miles Edgeworth: Ace Attorney Investigations				DS	9
Dragon Quest IX				DS	9
Little Big Planet				PSP	8
Plants vs Zombies				PC	8
The World Ends With You				DS	8
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords				Wii	8
Chrono Trigger				DS	8
Dragon Quest V				DS	8
Final Fantasy CC: Crystal Bearers				Wii	8
Half Minute Hero				PSP	8
Limbo				Xbox 360	8
Maestro: Green Groove				DS	8
Paper Mario				Wii	8
Picross DS				DS	8
Final Fantasy XIII				Xbox 360	8
Batman: Arkham Asylum				Xbox 360	8
Professor Layton and the Lost Future				DS	8
Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts				Xbox 360	7
Final Fantasy Tactics A2				DS	7
Half Life 2				Xbox 360	7
Tales of Monkey Island 3: Lair of the Leviathan				Wii	7
My Sims Kingdom				Wii	7
Tomb Raider: Anniversary				Xbox 360	7
Mini's March Again!				DS	7
Metroid: Other M				Wii	7
Tales of Monkey Island 5: Rise of the Pirate God				Wii	7
Perfect Dark				Xbox 360	7
Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection				Xbox 360	7
Super Mario All Stars				Wii	7
Super Mario Sunshine				GC	7
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1				Xbox 360	7
Klonoa				Wii	6
The Simpsons Game				Xbox 360	6
Dragon Quest: Rocket Slime				DS	6
Tales of Monkey Island 4: The Trial of Guybrush				Wii	6
Jam with the Band				DS	6
Runaway: A Twist of Fate				DS	6
The Powerpuff Girls: Relish Rampage				Wii	5
Secret Agent Clank				PSP	5
Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of Osbourne House				DS	3
Crayon Physics Deluxe				PC	0
Echochrome				PSP	0
Prince of Persia				Xbox 360	0
Jak & Daxter: The Lost Frontier				PSP	0
Fallout 3				Xbox 360	0
Little King's Story				Wii	0
Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?				PSP	0

My Top 5 Movies of 2010

Top 5: How to Train Your Dragon	10
Toy Story 3	10
Scott Pilgrim vs the World	10
Ponyo	9
Kick-Ass	9
The rest: The Disappearance of Alice Creed	9
Mulan	9
Avatar	8
Sherlock Holmes	8
The Road	8
The Princess and the Frog	8
Inception	8
My Neighbour Totoro	8
Despicable Me	8
The Kids Are Alright	8
The Social Network	8
Monsters	8
A Single Man	7
Daybreakers	7
Up in the Air	7
Triangle	7
Pandorum	7
Shutter Island	7
I Love You Phillip Morris	7
Cemetery Junction	7
Iron Man 2	7
His & Hers	7
Predators	7
Splice	7
Brothers	6
Hot Tub Time Machine	6
Shrek Ever After	6
Please Give	6
Greenberg	5
Twilight: Eclipse	5

#1 - Suikoden 2

Game: Suikoden 2
System: Playstation 1
Genre: RPG


To think that I only made the decision to buy this game because of a short 1-page review in CVG magazine and the only reason I ever saw it in a shop at all was because I happened to be in Scotland when it was released. I had no idea it would turn out to be my favourite game ever by a huge margin. It tells a deep, emotional story with a cast of 108 brilliant and memorable characters set in a beautiful world with a real sense of politics and history. The highlight for me is the castle, to watch it grow from crumbling ruins to a lively castle town as your new recruits fill it with life is truly inspiring. It's the kind of place I'd love to visit in real life. Add in one the best videogame soundtracks ever, fast-paced battles, intense duels, sweeping strategy battles, addictive recruitment gameplay, some bizarre and mysterious characters, a great sense of humour, clever connections to other games in the series and multiple heart-wrenching endings and you've got the defining moment of my gaming life.

#2 - Donkey Kong Country 3

Game: Donkey Kong Country 3
System: SNES
Genre: Platformer


In order to get this game we had to run from one end of town to the other and back again in order to borrow the money needed to get it before the last few copies sold out. It was worth it. I'm not blind to DKC3s faults, it is a bit short and easy for the most part, in fact I had the first 5 worlds completely done by the end of the Christmas Day I got it on, bonus stages and all. I don't care though, I love it and it's one of those games I could play endlessly. The music (the proper music, not that GBA rubbish) is great and really gives it an isolated "frontier" atmosphere. It's brilliant to have Dixie in the starring role with her helicopter hair and it's interesting to go back to the heavy/light dynamic thanks to Kiddy. Very nice graphics too being a DK country, I especially liked the water effects in the stilt levels and banana bird ending.

#3 - Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

Game: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
System: SNES
Genre: Platformer


I was so excited about this game and by coincidence I stayed over at Tonys house the night I got it so I envisioned a fun evening of the two of us playing it together; he spent the entire time play A Link to the Past while I slowly went mad.. Yoshi is great fun to play as with his egg making and throwing and trying to get 100 points on each level is a very good incentive to fully explore each one. Yoshi can't die from normal damage as long as he can catch Baby Mario within 10-30 seconds which is a refreshing change from the norm even if that baby's cry could split stones and sent our mother running in to find out why there was a baby in the house the first time she heard it. I love the graphics in this game, all hand-drawn crayons and patchwork quilt, they're so charming. Also gotta give credit to whoever decided Yoshi should transform into a helicopter, a train, a submarine, a mole tank and even a car for one level only.