Time Attack is haaaaard. But the level themselves are doable. I'm just in World 2 though lol

lol. Yeah keep going a bit more ;)

edit: Also make sure to try to a least get all the kong letters to unlock the secret levels. though I would advice you to leave those for last. they are like world 9 in nsmbwii just spread throughout the worlds themselves. I LOVE them

Yeah I unlocked the one in World 1. I died many many times but it was so much fun! I don't even want to try Time Attack on that one :S

I still have to pick this up..

I want this game.  I was in the same boat but after playing the old DKC's on the VC, trying Super Meat Boy and Splosion Man on the 360, and playing the two NSMB games, I think I'm up for the challenge.  But let's be honest.  The games of today have held our hands and rolled over for us so often that gamers have lost our killer instinct.

Rare needs to bring back Killer Instinct.

Time attack is what is really really hard.

I am at level 6 and though I´ve lost tons of lives, haven't seen the gameover screen yet and I doubt I´ll see it. You are gaining enough lives all the time.

I don't really see what's the problem about loosing many lives, anyway. In my opinion, that is a good indicator of this game. It is hard yet very addictive and I have lots of fun every time I manage to make some time to play it.

Those who always felt that gaming was all about having fun beating a challenge should really be glad that Nintendo and Retro Studio are giving us this opportunity.

What I would really would like to know is how are people new to the series doing.

You'll see them as sson as you get to try getting stuff in World 6 onwards or try any of the secret levels. Believe it's true. I though the same in World 4 where I had no gameovers and had 99 baloons. In the end of the game I had 5 gameovers and had to hunt for baloons (although I could just buy hundreds of them).

Definitely a tough platformer.  I'm really glad for that.  And it's not frustratingly hard, it's the kind of hard that's addicting and makes you want to try again.  I grew up on platformers and have bested all the rough ones from back in the day (All the Ninja Gaidens, Ghosts'nGoblins, Castlevanias, etc), so this is a welcome change from the hand holding games that are so prevalent now.  I'm really in love with this.

Honestly I noticed last year when I bought all three origionals that they seemed alot harder then they used to. I used to be able to beat DKC in one sitting. I could also beat SuperMarioWorld in one sitting. But last year when I bought the classics and bought NewSuperMarioBros:Wii that I am really rusted and while I could beat them all it took me several game overs and lives to do so.

Now with DKC:R I think its way harder then the others (DKC 1,2,3) and anything Mario has ever thrown my way. I'm stuck in the cave world but I will not resort to the Super Guide I am determined to beat it the right way.

So yes your not alone when you haven't played platformers on a regular basis in my case for the last 16-years you tend to get rusty. Jungle Beat was a peice of cake compared to DKC:R!