Super Guide returns in Donkey Kong Country Returns

Last year, New Super Mario Bros. Wii introduced the "Super Guide" -- if you died eight times in one level, you'd get the option to have Luigi play through it for you (and you could take back control at any time) -- and gaming was ruined forever. (Not really.)

Nintendo has since included the Super Guide in Super Mario Galaxy 2, and today the company officially announced that the feature will return in Retro Studios' Donkey Kong Country Returns. Should you die eight times (apparently the magic number just before most controllers are smashed!) in any level, you'll be able to initiate a playthrough by the white "Super Kong." Once he takes over, you can either watch the rest of the level be played for you or resume playing it once Super Kong passes any problem area. Of course, you won't get to keep any of the bananas, "KONG" letters or other collectibles picked up by Super Kong -- he has to be rewarded with something for his masterful efforts, right?

Our own first experience with the game, along with a subsequent preview, suggests that we might no longer shun the Super Guide when it comes to Donkey Kong Country Returns. We fully expect to be rescued by Super Kong at least once.

Reader Comments (36)

I remember when games didn't even tell you where to go to next or what to do... and actually beating a game was something to brag about, back in the NES days.

I feel old.

@MystileArmor
Eh, NES games gave you a nudge of where to go (mostlyright) except Zelda. But Gameboy games, woo, never gave you that starting nudge. I just picked up a copy of the American release of LAst Bible and I sat there for 20 minutes trying to figure out where to go or who to talk to, or to try and leave town. Then when I left I was greeted by 5 monsters who destoryed me. Needless to say, games are getting too easy.

@MystileArmor

Man, I still brag about beating games, I don't know what you're talking about. Beating High School Musical 3? That is something to be proud about.

@MystileArmor
That's what Kaizo Mario was invented for. Or Syobon Action. Sure, they are indie games, but they are made for the sole purpose of bragging.

(Okay, I lied. Syobon Action is also wonderfully humorous)

@The Aquacharger

I remember I bought Pokemon Blue when I was like 7 or 8 and couldn't figure out how to get out my house. I almost cried.

@MystileArmor

A Boy And His Blob, anyone?

@MystileArmor
Honestly, I forgot about that game.

@The Aquacharger
Too bad because the remake is AWESOME.

Good.

I approve of anything that lets people experience more of the game they purchased.

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze I miss the days when that was solved with cheat codes.

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze That's not experiencing. That's watching a computer experience for you. It's like having someone DESCRIBE a film so you don't have to watch it.

@Rather Dashing

Yes, you watch the computer. You watch as the computer shows you how to do, so that next time you can do it yourself.

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze People are lazy nowadays.

Remember people, before anyone complains, Super Guides are the hardcore player's savior. Nintendo wants their games to cater to a broad audience, and it's only the Super Guide that allows them to still maintain a difficulty level that is more suited to a capable player.

@Greippi
Yeah, which is why I like this feature and can't wait for this game.

Uhm. What the hell is going on in that stage?

@The Aquacharger

The monkey is flying a rocket through a tunnel.
Chasing a giant drilling machine running on a corkscrew track, releasing parachuting moles with miner picks.

Duh.

@The Aquacharger

Through many focus groups, they found this to be the most economical way of mining.

@The Aquacharger

Well, OBVIOUSLY, the rollercoaster-train is dumping off enemies for the jetpacking Kongs to avoid and or kill.

@Barkley610
Neither of those two are monkeys.

Is Super Kong the Yeti Kong skin from SSBB?

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZnynueixVa4/R7nHyWrvMyI/AAAAAAAAAfU/AN7S4Xn2BEg/s400/whitedonkeykong.jpg

There is no sense of pride in doing this.

I remember when I used the super guide in NSMBW once. Needless to say I couldn't go into the office with with my head held high anymore...

...not anymore.

@Nofriendo
Well, when one tries to gain pride, one always risks obtaining shame. :P

I surely hope the difficulty is upped. It might just be that I'm too experienced with platformers, but I never saw the super guide once when I played through NSMBWii.

Then again, it is Donkey Kong Country, so I probably don't have anything to worry about.

@Mr Fister
You got all the big coins on world 9 without failing 8 times? Good player!

@Mr Fister

I am another person who has yet to see this super guide. I have completely finished NSMB Wii and am working on Galaxy 2.

I also miss the days of the NES when you had to really bust your ass to beat a game. I wish another Zelda would come out that told you absolutely nothing about where to go. Here is a huge world populated with all kinds of enemies and secrets.. Go beat it..

@r4in
Okay, we're very impressed and all, but personally, although I don't think I ever *used* the super guide playing galaxy 2 (or maybe I used it once on that level with the walls that come out and you have to jump between? can't remember), I certainly *saw* the super guide bloody loads of times.

So if you are some kind of godlike genius player, that's cool. Personally I'm glad they cater for people who aren't godlike genius players. I love that it's usually possible to finish most levels of most games without dying more than 8 times.

I like a challenge, but a challenge is where I die a few times then manage to pull it off. If I have to replay something more than eight times it's pretty much turning into tedium. I finished the Luigi's Purple Coins level in the first Mario Galaxy, but it literally took me something like 100 attempts. Maybe the first 20 or so were fun, but after that... I don't really know why I persisted.

i wonder if you'd be able to turn it off ,cause i don't wanna use it.

@Aero02Feline

...it's completely optional. Even if it pops up, you can still opt not to use it.

AAAAHH!!! I can't beat donkey kong! MOMMY HELP ME!

I wish they put this feature in Wii Golf for my overly drunk friends who get +30 over par.

They need to put this feature in Kirby's Epic Yarn.

Wait....

I'd like a way to disable this so I don't have to see it. Because an integral part of the Donkey Kong Country experience for me is trying 33 consecutive times to beat a level with a horseshit jump through a network of bees.

That's so racist! Why's it always gotta be the white man to come to the rescue?!

Also, I like that the games are becoming accessible to more people but if you keep having that much trouble with an easier game (at least easier than Ninja Gaiden or Demon's Souls) then I think more practice should be in order.

I'm glad they're using the super guide so they can keep these games challenging. The Ratchet & Clank franchise, even with the new difficulty setting, has gotten so easy to the point where it isn't even fun anymore.

Donkey Kong Country Returns

Super Guide returns in Donkey Kong Country Returns

Reader Comments (36)

Posted: Nov 8th 2010 7:06PM MystileArmor said

Posted: Nov 8th 2010 7:09PM The Aquacharger said

Posted: Nov 8th 2010 7:09PM touch said

Posted: Nov 8th 2010 7:18PM Greippi said

Posted: Nov 8th 2010 7:41PM IRCheesecake82 said

Posted: Nov 8th 2010 7:49PM MystileArmor said

Posted: Nov 8th 2010 8:19PM The Aquacharger said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 10:23AM Neter said

Posted: Nov 8th 2010 7:09PM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said

Posted: Nov 8th 2010 7:21PM cuteSAVAGE said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 2:53AM Rather Dashing said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 4:16AM Kaminaaa said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 5:26AM SewerShark said

Posted: Nov 8th 2010 7:12PM Greippi said

Posted: Nov 8th 2010 7:15PM The Aquacharger said

Posted: Nov 8th 2010 7:14PM The Aquacharger said

Posted: Nov 8th 2010 7:19PM Barkley610 said

Posted: Nov 8th 2010 7:25PM Nofriendo said

Posted: Nov 8th 2010 7:27PM Foetoid said

Posted: Nov 8th 2010 7:28PM The Aquacharger said

Posted: Nov 8th 2010 7:19PM Xpike said

Posted: Nov 8th 2010 7:20PM Dopple Boppler said

Posted: Nov 8th 2010 7:30PM Nofriendo said

Posted: Nov 8th 2010 8:47PM blahblah55 said

Posted: Nov 8th 2010 9:25PM Mr Fister said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 10:26AM Neter said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 3:00PM r4in said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 3:50PM xxxsam said

Posted: Nov 8th 2010 9:55PM Aero02Feline said

Posted: Nov 8th 2010 10:01PM Mr Fister said

Posted: Nov 8th 2010 10:26PM LittleMofreaky said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 1:45AM TaskMaster said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 10:30AM romevi said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 2:36PM JPeak said

Posted: Nov 12th 2010 9:29AM tlingitsoldier said

Posted: Nov 13th 2010 10:00PM Erdie said

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