Knights Peak
It ’s surd to believe that it has been over a decade since we ’ve make a unexampled Donkey Kong Country platformer . Retro Studios’Donkey Kong Country : Tropical Freezewas one of the best Wii U plot , but we ’ve yet to get a new platformer in that flair from Nintendo or Retro since . We wo n’t be getting a unexampled Crash Bandicoot anytime before long either since Activision canceledCrash Bandicoot 5 , whichwould’ve feature Spyro the Dragon . gratefully , we ’re on a bit of an upswing regarding the return of these kinds of platformers .
Donkey Kong Country Returnsis total to Nintendo Switch in January 2025 . AndToys for Bobmade itself independent from Activision to work on something ( hopefully a new Crash or Spyro plot ) . For those who ca n’t wait , a new biz hearken back to the best ofDonkey Kong CountryandCrash Bandicoot . That game isNikoderiko : The Magical World , which launch on PlayStation 5 , Xbox Series X / S , and Nintendo Switch in the beginning this week . It ’s deserving check out out for those who ca n’t look any longer for the return of their preferent platformers .
Knights Peak
Nikoderikofollows the writing style formula to a tonne , down to a lighthearted , adventurous narration needed to back everything up . Mongooses Niko and Luna are Indiana Jones - type who obtain a token stashed away on a magic island , but it ’s stolen by a villain named Grimbald . The rest of the adventure is about bewilder that keepsake back , and that will only bechance after several macrocosm ’ worth of platforming challenges .
Most ofNikoderikoconsists of 2D platforming segments that closely imitator theDonkey Kong Countryformula . Niko and Luna ’s jumps are weightier than those of Mario and Sonic . They can thrash into the reason , blame up and throw objects , and the main collectible in level are letters that spell out Niko . Even the stage design systematically pulls from Retro Studios’Donkey Kong Countrygames .
Some set pieces are outright copies , like underwater levels that reverse Niko into a sinister silhouette , minecart levels , and barrels that scud the player around . It also sounds likeDonkey Kong Country , as former Rare composer David Wise composedNikoderiko’ssoundtrack . Occasionally , levels will shift to play out in 3D. Here , the formula feels more like Crash Bandicoot beyond the fact that Niko is an orange and blue marsupial .
Its 3D platforming is often just about go through very running segments of stage where enemies and corner are very seeable in front of players . Niko has a swoop attack like Crash , and there are fortune of loge around the stage for participant to break . The most unique move in Niko ’s move set is a glider , which is there rather of a double jump and allows him to stay airborne longer than Donkey Kong or Crash ever could .
For better and for worse , Nikoderikoplays very closely to its master inspiration . Donkey Kong Country : Tropical FreezeandCrash Bandicoot 4 : It ’s About Timeare fantastical games , so VEA games is emulating a succeed expression . In stead of unexampled games in those serial , I appreciate having a whole biz full of new levels that follow that recipe . That fresh flavour only go so far when I palpate like I ’ve seen most ofNikoderiko’stricks before .
Nikoderiko’slevel design and artistic production direction are n’t quite as memorable as its inspiration . Those game were simply more originative in coming up with new , never - before - seen ideas for their stage . If you ’ve never roleplay any of these games before , I highly recommend check outTropical FreezeandCrash Bandicoot 4beforeNikoderiko . For those of us feeling the pain that comes with a dearth of raw platformers of a certain style , Nikoderikoat least understands what made those games special and offers more of a good thing . Hopefully , this is the showtime of a revival of sorts for these animal - focalize platformers .
Nikoderiko : The Magical Worldis available now for PS5 , Xbox Series X / S , and Nintendo Switch . It will issue forth to PC sometime in the futurity .
