Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D

As far as recognisable characters go, Donkey Kong is up there with Mario and Sonic. So his return to the 3DS is a welcome one, if only for the nostalgia. But Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D offers more than just a trip down memory lane. It's surprisingly good, with all the charm that made the original games so appealing.

The story is typically fluffy. Donkey Kong and his mini sidekick Diddy Kong have had their bananas stolen, and they’re not happy about it. You will have to retrieve the banana stash with the usual running, jumping and climbing.

If you’ve played the Wii version, try to put it out of your mind; this 3DS version, while visually a step above many of its fellow titles, will suffer in comparison. But as 3DS titles go, it’s impressive. The stereoscopic 3D is used to good effect, although extended sessions may have your eyes feeling a bit odd by the end.

The controls have been changed to suit the 3DS, and players are now spoilt for choice. You can choose to play either with the D-Pad or Circle Pad, so whichever mode suits you best.

The 3DS version comes with eight new levels that need to be unlocked. Because it can be fiendishly difficult to clear some levels, the “New Mode” might come in handy for newbies. This gives an extra helping hand where necessary (extra health, for example). Should you fail to pass a certain point too many times, the console will take over and autoplay will get you out of difficulty. It may seem like a cop out, but if it’s a choice between that and tearing your hair out, it seems like a better proposition.