Donkey Kong Country Returns (Nintendo Wii)

Donkey Kong Island awakes to the sound of an unusual hum, the musical beat of a new source of evil calling themselves the Tikis. These unusual characters are turning the animals of the island into slaves for their own food gathering purposes, but unfortunately for them, they’ve also raided the banana horde of one Donkey Kong! Enraged by another act of greed, the King of Kong and his trusted pal Diddy are out to retrieve the banana’s and set everything on the island back the way it should be.

The return to the Donkey Kong series sees many familiar elements from the original saga combined with a host of new features and game play improvements. DK is once again the main playable character, while Diddy hitches a ride on his back through single player, and can be controlled by another gamer in multiplayer (replacing the old tag system). New additions include a Peanut Pop gun and a jetpack for Diddy, new hidden items to collect within each level (the classic K-O-N-G letters as well as new puzzle pieces), and upgrades for the Kongs that can be purchased within each sub-world. And of course what DKC game would be complete without the trusty mind cart levels, upgraded and given a burst of added speed.

The Wii also allows motion control elements. Moving the remote and nunchuk up and down rapidly, for example, makes Donkey Kong slap the ground, revealing hidden items or breaking apart rocks and land beneath him. Other little tricks with motion control allows DK to roll quickly across the landscape or create a gust of wind to reveal even more secrets.