Donkey Kong Nation Returns HD is an enhanced model of the 2o10 Wii sport coming to Change in 2025, and followers can’t imagine Nintendo is charging $60 for it. The worth was revealed within the new eShop itemizing and makes final yr’s Metroid Prime Remaster appear to be an unbelievable deal by comparability.
Revealed within the large June Nintendo Direct, Donkey Kong Nation Returns HD ports the platforming franchise’s 2010 revival to a contemporary platform with greater decision graphics and, primarily based on the trailer footage, some notable visible enhancements to degree backgrounds that give them extra element and depth. It additionally comes with the extra ranges added to the earlier 3DS port of the sport, in addition to a mode that scales down the issue. It’s an amazing sport in a beloved franchise that deserved a comeback. However $60?
Some Change homeowners on social media instantly scoffed on the worth. Many shared screenshots of an outdated Laborious Drive parody titled “Nintendo Holds 12 Hour Assembly to Determine if Firm Can Survive Promoting ‘Donkey Kong Nation: Tropical Freeze’ for Much less Than $60.” Followers on Reddit had been additionally flummoxed. “I don’t perceive why Nintendo will get away with this,” wrote one consumer. “If Ubisoft or EA pulled such a stuff, you’d see dozens of boycott posts a day.”
You possibly can see the logic within the firm’s considering. For the reason that sequel, Tropical Freeze, was priced at $60, doing the identical for Donkey Kong Nation Returns HD helps sign that it’s the same worth proposition, and deserves the identical premium. However, Tropical Freeze was a Wii U port that added extra to the earlier model. It was additionally arguably a greater sport.
You possibly can see lots of examples of Nintendo experimenting with variable pricing for its again catalog. Mario vs. Donkey Kong was a remake of a Recreation Boy Advance Recreation and it was solely $50. Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp was $60 however it included visible overhauls of two video games. After which there was Metroid Prime Remastered, an immaculate re-rendering of the GameCube basic that was solely $40.
That’s the one which has individuals scratching their heads probably the most compared to Returns HD. Does Nintendo simply have much less religion within the Metroid model or did it simply wish to see what would occur if it bought Metroid Prime 4: Past’s predecessor at a way more aggressive worth? Paper Mario: The Thousand-12 months Door, one other remaster of a GameCube sport, was $60 in any case. Such is the facility of the mustachioed plumber, even when he’s a 2D cutout. Then once more, the Tremendous Mario 3D All-Stars, a group containing Tremendous Mario 64, Sunshine, and Galaxy, was $60 for 3 video games. Who can know the thoughts of Nintendo? Not me.
It’s arduous to get too mad on the firm for attempting to protect the worth of its again catalog, even when I’ll keep on with my 3DS copy of the sport at that worth. However what it does do is make the anomaly of Metroid Prime really feel like much more of a steal. The sport’s even on sale proper now for simply $34 on the eShop. Hopefully, some potential Metroid Prime 2 and 3 remasters maintain the development going. Perhaps they’ll even get bundled for $60 for each. A Nintendo fan can dream.