#17: Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii)
Retro Studios certainly know how to handle the franchises they're given (more on that later...). DKCR managed the impossible task of not only matching the quality of the original trilogy but in my opinion they actually surpassed it. The game is beautiful, colorful, challenging, diversified, a true platforming gem. Getting all the KONG letters in each level is quite the task but it's incredibly satisfying especially since you're rewarded with the awesome "K" levels which are some of the best platforming proving grounds ever made. I've yet to tackle the hard mode (with no hearts and only DK) only because my Wii died and I'm still in the process of making my way through the game again on my new save.
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