Donkey Kong Country Returns is the absolute 2D platformer. DKCR2 is a public demand, you hear that Retro and Nintendo?

User Rating: 9.5 | Donkey Kong Country Returns WII
This has to be one of the best 2D platformers of the post-16 bit era. Donkey Kong Country Returns manages to mix the old with the new. Even though it draws a lot of influences from Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (more cartoony design, beating the Tikis up, similar enemies e.g. compare Roc with Stu), it does preserve the minimum references to the original series. Despite the fact that Cranky, Rambi, Squawks are the only characters present from the DKC trilogy, the spirit of the game is maintained. Banana coins, K-O-N-G letters, balloons, barrel blasting, bonus levels are all pure DKC elements that old and new fans will love.

Advantages:
+ Maintenance of the DKC spirit: the level of difficulty, the depth of secret levels, bonus levels, very well hidden puzzle pieces and KONG letters that only gifted players can get guarantee the enjoyment of the game.
+ High level of difficulty: Do you think you are a great DKC gamer? Go get that 200%!
+ The Tikis manage to replace the Kremlings quite satisfyingly
+ Wonderful graphics
+ Innovative yet classic 2D gameplay
+ Great controls: some reviews complain about the motion controls, but if you play with the Wiimote horizontally, you are not going to have a problem. In fact, this is a huge step from the SNES game, where you could lose a lot of lives due to the fact that the cartwheel movement and running were activated by the same button.
+ Cool music: good old remixes with nice new tunes (like "red rockin")

Disadvantages:
- Great Kong members like Funky, Dixie, Candy, Wrinkly are all left out from the game. It really looks like that Retro only wanted the minimum connection with the DKC characters. Especially Funky Kong could fit very well as the designer of Diddy's jet pack, the peanut pop gun and the rocket barrel.
- No water levels. A couple of water levels would not have affected the game's pace, unlike what Tanabe worried about. And come on, a DKC game has to have Enguarde.
- The rocket barrel levels: even though the fact that you die with the first touch (like in the minecart levels) increases the level of challenge and difficulty, the controls are too clumsy in this one. It's sweet when you get to beat the level, but it can be very very frustrating. In contrast, the vertical levels (only a couple) with the rocket barrel are quite fun because you just use the d-pad to move.

I really hope that the DK series will continue to thrive under Retro's (or potentially PAON's) development. However, Retro needs to implement more elements that belong to the very core of the series. No future game should exclude Funky, Dixie, Candy, Enguarde, while Kremlings will have to reappear at some point, maybe joining the Tikis against the Kongs.