Donkey Kong Country Returns is a sublime return of form for Nintendo. So sublime in fact that it deserves an extraordinary score from me. I almost don’t want to say anything about it, I simply want to gush nonsensically about its wonders and demand you buy it immediately.

As a child of the 1980s and 90s, I adored the 2D platformer. I grew up on Sonic, Mario and – yes – Donkey Kong Country. In every case the platforming was pinpoint accurate, the difficulty level was frequently challenging (especially before the days of save points) but never unfairly so, and the all round experience was wondrous. Sure the plotlines were terribly basic and forgettable but when simply playing the game was so joyous, it didn’t matter. The 3D generation came along changing everything. Super Mario 64 and subsequent Mario games kept the fun factor, but Sonic languished and turned a bit rubbish until he eventually redeemed himself via Sonic Colours very recently. Donkey Kong? Well Donkey Kong 64 came out but I didn’t play that, it looked too much like Mario 64 and I wanted simple barrel jumping fun.

Donkey Kong Country Returns returns to the simpler days of 2D platforming. Not in a dated manner that makes you realise you can’t go back, instead it reminds you just how much fun can be had with a minimal storyline and a mere 2 dimensions.

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