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No Sequel Planned For Donkey Kong Country Returns

If you’re expecting Nintendo to deliver a quick and dirty sequel to last year’s hit Donkey Kong Country Returns, you might want to scale back your expectations. For one, Retro Studio’s president and CEO Michael Kelbaugh told us that making a platformer was a lot more work than he expected. But more importantly, we’ve been told that Nintendo has no plans to make a sequel at this time.

In a recent interview, Nintendo producer Kensuke Tanabe told us that Retro approached Nintendo wanting to work on a new Donkey Kong game over five years ago, but the publisher turned them down. A couple years later, when Nintendo felt it was time to make another DK game, it went back to Retro to see if they were still interested. While the game turned out for the best in the end, Nintendo hasn’t started thinking about a sequel yet. However, “I wasn’t even thinking about doing a sequel for Metroid Prime until Retro showed me the last scene in the game, which was near the end of development. I wouldn’t say we won’t do a sequel [for Donkey Kong Country Returns], but we don’t have anything planned at this time.”

There you have it. Make a wish upon a star or whatever you feel like you have to do. We’ll likely see another DK game eventually. The question is: how long will we have to wait?

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Comments
  • Well I say do a 2D/3D(or is it called 2.5D?) metroid for the 3DS sounds nice right now.
  • I'd love for Retro to do an original IP. Just please Nintendo, let them do it.
  • That's ok. Just as long as they don't follow the plan and make 2 more dk country games.. lol

  • As long as they stick with the Donkey/Diddy duo and don't go nuts with the Kong Family (lookin' at you, DK64...), I'll wait patiently over here.
  • Just tell me who I need to kill.
  • Staff

    Well Retro has to be working on something right now... I'd love to see a new IP from them, but I'm guessing that I will see this sequel before then.

  • My wish for Retro Studios is to see them make a new Metroid for 3DS or a completely original title, and a potentially new franchise.

  • WHAT?

  • That's a little disheartening, DKCR is a masterpiece as far as I'm concerned.  Atleast they haven't completely ruled out a sequel though, so I will keep on hoping.

  • Aw! I really liked the game. Oh well, hope they come out with something new though.

  • I'd love to see a new IP.

  • Oh hey, a shooting star outside...

  • This might be a first sign for Nintendo eventually launching a new console next year. Look at the AAA productions that are left for wii release. I believe Zelda: Skyward Sword is going to be the last big Title for the wii and they allready want their best developpers to move on to work on titles for the next hardware. Also their new Handheld already has launched successfully and therefore they can focus on promoting new hardware in the media. Waiting for them to announce their next console at e3.
  • Retro is a great company, and with the name "retro" I'm expecting them to go back and take another classic nintendo franchise that needs a revival(I have my fingers crossed for Starfox, F-Zero, or something of that nature) and bring it to life on the wii or 3Ds. Well here's to hoping whatever they do is just as amazing as DKCR.

  • Great news! DKC Returns is an overrated disappointment, and disappointments are far worse than just a bad game. I mean, it's so successful on so many levels - visually it pops, and musically it sounds great. They're even some great "gimmick" ideas for levels. But sh*t on a shingle is it not fun to play. There's a difference between challenging, but rewarding and doable and just being cheap and inconsistent as sh**. DKC Returns is cheap and inconsistent as sh**. I haven't seen anyone play this game and actually have fun. Everybody - EVERYBODY - ends up throwing controllers and spitting expletives like crazy. Not the mark of a great Nintendo game. Or a great game, period. Of course, I'm sure Nintendo will commission a sequel eventually, seeing as how it sold pretty well. But I'm also pretty certain that it won't have the long tail at retail that games like New Super Mario Bros. have had in the past. Have Retro start working on stuff for the Wii successor. Or let them take a crack at another franchise. But another DKC game? Not if they'll make another like DKC Returns. Sonic Colors and Kirby's Epic Yarn are infinitely better sidescrollers, and Sonic especially - unlike DKC - is challenging but fair (in addition to ALSO being gorgeous and sounding great). Retro should learn how to do that sometime.
  • Think its actually pretty decent, we don't have 2 see so much of the same game...*looks at call of duty* but I do believe that Retro should be working on an original IP, they've had an extraordinary track record, and should at least be given that honor

  • Well I waited 14 years for DKCR after DKC3 so this doesn't bother me too much.

  • That's a shame... definitely one of my fav games on the Wii... But at least it doesn't sound like all hope is lost with a possible sequel. I'll keep a look out...

  • Well, when they do, better believe I getting it. DKCR was outstanding and knowing Nintendo if a game is well received by the gamers its bound to get a sequel.

  • Im Done with Nintendo. They brag about having a game library of over 1000 games but how many of those are any good? I can name only 5. The 25th Anniverary of Mario turned out to be not so hot. Now your telling me that one of the better games out of the pile of crap you push thru the doors over at Nintendo isnt going to see a sequel? I doubt we'll see another Super Mario Bros. either, they're saving that for the 3DS? Nintendo has lost a fan QQ.
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