History YMMV / DonkeyKongCountryReturns

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation:
** DK is immune to brainwashing, either due to being [[HeroicWillpower too strong-minded to be seduced by the tiki's music]] or [[TooDumbToFool not having that much of a mind to be controlled to begin with]]. [[TakeAThirdOption Or both.]]
** Due to the new setting and characters, there's a popular theory that Cranky here is actually the DK from the original ''Donkey Kong Country'' trilogy, with the new DK being his (grand)son and Diddy being a GenerationXerox of an older Diddy.

** K. Rool's replacement in the game with the evil Tikis. Some people welcome the new enemies citing that K. Rool had been suffering more BadassDecay with each sequel, while others sorely miss his presence as the BigBad, thinking he's just as iconic to the ''Donkey Kong Country'' series as DK and Diddy themselves.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: When ''Returns'' came out, difficult 2D platformers had largely fallen out of fashion. ''Returns'' was partially responsible for bringing the genre back into public favor, and being a decidedly NintendoHard game at a time when most of Nintendo's efforts were decidedly more casual-oriented. Since then, not only have 2D platformers become much more common (to the point that [[UsefulNotes/WiiU Nintendo's following console]] was criticized for having ''too many'' of them), but ''Returns''' [[VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryTropicalFreeze sequel]] addressed almost every single criticism anyone had of it (most notably the {{Waggle}}), making it much harder to appreciate today. Nowadays the game is considered "too safe" compared to the experimentality of its successor, despite providing the framework for it to build off of. While it is now overshadowed by its successor, it is still a fun and passionate game in its own right.

* WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs: The BrutalBonusLevel is [[spoiler:the Golden Temple, which has giant, floating fruit as platforms and purple, tie-wearing flying koalas that toss bombs at you as enemies]].

* MoralEventHorizon: Assuming that Stu was in fact a hatchling, the lead up to his BossFight shows that the Tiki Tak Tribe is perfectly fine with brainwashing ''babies and/or children'' for their own gains.

** DK is immune to brainwashing, either due to [[HeroicWillpower stubbornness]] or [[TooDumbToFool stupidity]]. [[TakeAThirdOption Or both.]]

* SignatureScene: [[spoiler: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LleGVbLHx2w DK punching the moon out of orbit]]]].

* AnnoyingVideoGameHelper: After dying a certain amount of times within a level, Professor Chops appears at every checkpoint to give you the option to use the Super Guide. It wouldn't be so bad if he wasn't constantly jingling, and there's no way to disable it. Once he appears, the only way to get rid of Professor Chops is to beat the level.

* {{Waggle}}: The most common complaint with the game are the clunky motion controls, especially in regards to rolling, which is performed by shaking the Wii Remote.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: When ''Returns'' came out, difficult 2D platformers had largely fallen out of fashion. ''Returns'' was partially responsible for bringing the genre back into public favor, and being a decidedly NintendoHard game at a time when most of Nintendo's efforts were decidedly more casual-oriented. Since then, not only have 2D platformers become much more common (to the point that [[UsefulNotes/WiiU Nintendo's following console]] was criticized for having ''too many'' of them), but ''Returns''' [[VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryTropicalFreeze sequel]] addressed almost every single criticism anyone had of it (most notably the {{Waggle}}), making it much harder to appreciate today.

* WinBackTheCrowd: After Microsoft's acquisition of Creator/{{Rare}}, the Donkey Kong franchise went through a bit of a DorkAge. Though games like ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongJungleBeat'' and ''VideoGame/DKJungleClimber'' have their defenders, this was the first DK game to be universally acclaimed since ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong64'', or even before. And for good reason.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: When ''Returns'' came out, difficult 2D platformers had largely fallen out of fashion. ''Returns'' was partially responsible for bringing the genre back into public favor, not to mention being a decidedly NintendoHard game at a time when most of Nintendo's efforts were decidedly more casual-oriented. Since then, not only have 2D platformers become much more common (to the point that [[UsefulNotes/WiiU Nintendo's following console]] was criticized for having ''too many'' of them), but ''Returns''' [[VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryTropicalFreeze sequel]] addressed almost every single criticism anyone had of it (most notably the {{Waggle}}), making it much harder to appreciate today.

* GameBreaker: The Banana Juice power-up gives you an additional ''ten'' health points on top of the existing 2 (4 with Diddy), and only costs 20 coins (it's not hard to acquire that many during a single level, and almost guaranteed across two levels). This can make some levels go from mind-shatteringly difficult to extremely easy simply by equipping it. It only lasts for one life though, unlike the Heart Boost (1 extra heart), which stays with you for an entire level no matter how many times you die (but will be removed if you exit the level). Given the game's [[NintendoHard difficulty level]], the Banana Juice is almost ''necessary'' in certain situations in order to get HundredPercentCompletion. [[spoiler:Especially in the hidden temple levels; World 6's in particular.]] If you were dependent on these items, then good luck trying to complete these levels in Mirror Mode, where you can't use items, Diddy is unavailable, and you only have one heart!

* ReplacementScrappy: The Tikis for the Kremlings. Many have their reasons as to why they're disliked, but for some it could be the sudden amount of wizardry and sorcery added into a series that didn't rely on it that much through the original trilogy and ''64''.

** After a particularly tough level segment, nothing boosts your spirits more than the sound of a [[FanNickname Checkpoink]], or the stage clear barrel fanfare.
** The sound of repeated smacks, delivered by Wiimote shakes. Whether you're smacking open an end-of-level barrel for something on the order of 15 banana coins, or saying goodbye to that world's Tiki Tak tribesman, it's always a welcome noise.

* PolishedPort: The 3DS release has better controls and optional easy modes with more items to make levels less frustrating (e.g. green balloons to save your kongs from falling to their deaths, Crash Guards which let you take several hits in mine cart and rocket barrel sections), as well as more levels in the Golden Temple. The only drawbacks are a slight graphical downgrade and that it runs at 30 FPS (as opposed to the Wii version running at 60 frames).

** The {{waggle}} abilities are already getting a reputation. The Ground Pound and the Blow aren't so bad. Having to waggle to do a roll (and thus perform a super jump, a key ability in the platforming) can really suck, especially if you're in a very chaotic and fast paced level. This is largely mitigated in the 3DS port, as waggle functions have been mapped to normal button presses.

** Behold... [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrZMtFR6WSs DK as a rhyming gentleman.]]

** Colonel Pluck (the world 7 boss) can be frustrating because his pattern is hard to figure out at first and it takes awhile for him to reveal his weak point.* ThatOneLevel: It's almost universal that [[GoddamnedBats Stage 4-5]] is not fondly regarded. To an extent, World 4 as a whole is this due to the total reliance on navigating through the chaotic levels with a minecart or a rocket barrel (though in the latter's case, the Rocket Barrel levels in the game already have this reputation).

* TheScrappy: Professor Chops, to some [[NintendoHard frustrated]] players. Mostly when offering the Super Guide after countless deaths.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: All of the animals that the Tikis hypnotize to fight DK and Diddy were animals they have never met before. But imagine if the Tikis instead hypnotized a fellow Kong or two they cared about (Cranky, Dixie, Candy, etc.), or otherwise somebody they cared about. That would surely create a more emotional response than controlling strangers.

** Colonel Pluck (the world 7 boss) can be frustrating because his pattern is hard to figure out at first and it takes awhile for him to reveal his weak point.
** The final boss, as well. If you die any time during the boss battle, ''you don't get Diddy back''. This is after a {{Trial and Error Gameplay}}-filled rocket barrel section.
** The bosses of world 7 and 8 are even more annoying in Time Attack Mode, because you have to fight them while hoping their ''random'' attack pattern is in your favor. Yes, those particular time trials are entirely luck-based.
* ThatOneLevel: It's almost universal that [[GoddamnedBats Stage 4-5]] is not fondly regarded. To an extent, World 4 as a whole is this due to the total reliance on navigating through the chaotic levels with a minecart or a rocket barrel (though in the latter's case, the Rocket Barrel levels in the game already have this reputation).

* UglyCute: Toothberries, the creatures first seen in Stage 3-5 and Snaggles, the sharks that leap out of the water to bite you.
* {{Waggle}}: The most common complaint with the game, especially in regards to rolling.
* WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs: [[spoiler: The Golden Temple. Giant, floating fruit? Alright. A bunch of floating island things? Fine. ''Purple, tie-wearing flying koalas that toss bombs at you''? Okay, now ''this'' is weird.]]

* GoddamnedBats: Played literally in Crowded Cavern.

* DemonicSpiders: A growing wall made of them in the level Muncher Marathon from World 5.

* SuspiciouslySimilarSong: The Mine Menace track from the Rocket Barrel stages sounds a lot like ''Friend Like Me'' from ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}.''

* SuspiciouslySimilarSong: The first of the tracks that play during Rocket Barrel stages sounds a lot like ''Friend Like Me'' from ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}.''

* SuspiciouslySimilarSong: The Mine Menace track that plays during the Rocket Barrel section of Gear Getaway sounds a lot like ''Friend Like Me'' from ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}.''