Of all of the studios to doubtlessly work on a Donkey Kong challenge, Vicarious Visions (now recognized merely as Blizzard Albany) admittedly wasn’t notably excessive up on our record.
Nevertheless, particulars have emerged of a now-cancelled DK challenge on the studio through a brand new video from Did You Know Gaming (with prior reporting from DK Vine). In line with the analysis, management at Vicarious Visions had wished to collaborate extra intently with Nintendo after the studio’s work on Skylanders: Superchargers (which, for those who bear in mind, included the likes of Bowser and Donkey Kong on Wii U, Wii, and 3DS). It had acquired developer kits for the Nintendo Change and wished to create one thing really distinctive for the upcoming system.
Partitions have been reportedly erected throughout the studio with the intention to enable for a really choose few builders to debate the challenge. The demo was stated to showcase a brand new Donkey Kong set on an open-world island, with a specific deal with character motion and fluidity. DK might, after all, climb partitions and swing on vines, however the studio had additionally utilised its expertise with Tony Hawk video games to introduce a grinding mechanic.
Accoridng to the unique DK Vine article, which DYKG was not capable of confirm, Miyamoto himself was additionally reportedly in shut talks with Vicarious Visions and appeared apprehensive concerning the grinding mechanic, seemingly frightened about DK getting rope burn on his toes. As such, Vicarious devised that DK put on makeshift banana peels at any time when he would grind to alleviate the problem.
Different rumours surrounding the challenge embrace the concept that Pauline would function as a playable character, together with a storyline by which DK’s residence was polluted by some ‘ecological catastrophe’. Though some would christen the sport as ‘Donkey Kong Freedom’ within the years since its short-lived improvement, DYKG clarifies that ‘Freedom’ was merely a codename for the challenge, and no precise title was determined upon.
So why did not this recreation come to fruition? Properly, it was apparently Activision that finally pulled the plug, not Nintendo. Improvement had solely lasted round six months, throughout which the setting had developed right into a jungle-infested cityscape by which you may construct momentum to succeed in increased ranges. Sadly, after gross sales of Skylanders declined drastically, Activision started to pivot away from single-player titles and determined to ditch the Donkey Kong challenge solely.
After all, Vicarious Visions itself would then go on to help Bungie with the Future franchise earlier than engaged on the wonderful Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 1 + 2. It has since helped out on franchises like Name of Responsibility and Diablo and has modified its title to Blizzard Albany.