So this is just a quick post, not gonna get into any detail since i would love to feature this into a Platformation Time Again big ass review, and i’m gonna do a quick EXPRESSO review once i beat the game…. which i apparently i’m just barely halfway through, from have i’ve been told, and that already is telling this maybe should have been the launch game, this is stuff that sells you on the console, that good.
(i’ve played platformers that were about the same lenght- can’t specify because the game doesn’t keep an internal playtimer – and nowhere as good AND dense of fun stuff to do)
It’s an impressive game, it’s basically a modern 3D DK game done by most of the core Super Mario Odissey team at Nintendo (which you can tell by how it handles costumes and special collectibles), with the main new mechanic being the ability to basically destroy and burrows almost everything in the level, almost mixing a touch of Red Faction destructible enviroment but done in a “sandbox” way, despite the game not being open world, the approach is that you’re encouraged, rewarded and if not required you might find unthordox ways to reach a certain collectable by digging in certain ways or tearing and throwing different types of terrains around.
Even more impressive how naturally the level design hints or guides you the right way without keeping you on a leash, afraid you might just tear down the wrong thing and softlock your ass (you can’t, but there’s a “rebuild terrain” option in the map if need be), just letting you frolicking about while also having precise objectives and pushing you to go deeper and deeper into the island core, and honing its mechanics while introducing new and crazier elements like unrealistic terrains and weird shit all around, with plenty (i really do mean plenty) of shit to find and extra challenges to do aside from following the main story progression.
It’s a huge collectathon, but goddamn it’s so well done and constantly rewarding and fun… i feel there’s little risk to say that this feel like DK 64 should have been, even though that really isn’t fair (it really isn’t for so many reasons), but it’s nice to see a 3D DK that feels like its own thing, something familiar yet unique.
Even if the mining-gold theming does make one wonder if this was ever gonna be a Wario game, but i guess we ain’t getting that Wario World 2, we’ll have to “settle” with this one. 😉
DK just feels perfect to control, and it’s nice to see that the classic “roll and jump” fashion from the 2D games still is useful, especially in combination with the new abilities (including a Klonoa style double jump that uses whatever item/terrain piece you’re holding/carrying) like the surfing on terrain pieces and climbing almost everywhere… but thankfully no stamina, this ain’t BOTW or Tears Of The Kingdom after all.
Also, the Bananza transformations are crazy, like aside the SSJ4 main one (with the “extra cake” not found in Saiyans), the Zebra one is some freaky shit, to say nothing of the ostrich that has DK basically become a bird-primate mutant capable of flying.. while “splicing” itself with a flightless fuckin bird. XD
Wise Cafe (International) 