Daily Debate: Does Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Bode Well for Future Zelda Ports?
Posted on July 18 2024 by Jared Eubanks
Another Nintendo Direct and still no port of Wind Waker HD, Twilight Princess HD, or A Link Between Worlds. While there was much to be elated about after this Direct as a Zelda fan with the announcement of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, the golden Hyrule Edition Nintendo Switch Lite, and the release of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords on Nintendo Switch Online (NSO), some are still asking if and when we may see the aforementioned classic games on the Switch. However, one other major Nintendo franchise saw a high-profile port in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, set to release in January 2025, and it offered a glimmer of hope that Nintendo is far from done with ports to the Switch.
Donkey Kong Country Returns was originally released in 2010 for the Nintendo Wii, and it offered a return to form (pun-intended) for the Donkey Kong Country series after the multi-year lull since its high-point on the Super Nintendo in the 90’s. The game was a critical success, and it sold well with over 6.5 million copies, making it one of the best-selling games on the console. In 2013, the game saw new life on the Nintendo 3DS with Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D. The game included all-new levels, and it removed the one main gripe players had, which required the Wii remote to be shaken in order to start a roll maneuver. The art style and gameplay mechanics from these two versions of the game helped lay the foundation for Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, which was a success on the Wii U and Switch.
The announcement of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD offers hope to those pining for more Zelda ports for two main reasons in my opinion, the first reason being that just because Nintendo has ported a game once already doesn’t mean they won’t port it again. Some in the Zelda community believe that because Wind Waker and Twilight Princess have already received the HD treatment on Wii U, they have received their due love, and the development team at Nintendo has moved on and left them on their respective legacy consoles. However, with this Direct and other announcements in the last year like Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and Metroid Prime Remastered, Nintendo still sees value in the classics from the GameCube, Wii, and Wii U console eras. The second reason this move signals a future for Zelda ports is that Nintendo continues to mine hits off the 3DS as Donkey Kong Country Returns HD appears to be more of a port of the 3DS version rather than the original Wii, keeping the additions and improvements. This release plus others like Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD are indicative of Nintendo wanting games from its last pure handheld before the Switch to get another chance.
So, are you still holding out hope for Wind Waker HD, Twilight Princess HD, or A Link Between Worlds for the Switch? Do you think we’ll still see them before the sunset of the Switch? Did this Nintendo Direct and announcements of ports like Donkey Kong Country Returns HD give you a reason to believe they are still coming? Let us know in the comments below.
Jared Eubanks is a staff writer at Zelda Dungeon, and he is also a husband, father, and engineer. He is originally from the Atlanta, GA area and still lives there. He graduated from Georgia Tech and is a proud Yellow Jacket. He loves to play boardgames, build Lego, and read books with his family. He’s been gaming since childhood with the original NES and GameBoy, and he enjoys retro gaming, collecting, and modding consoles and handhelds. His favorite Zelda game is Breath of the Wild but is also fond of the older classic titles.
