Which NES franchise revived for today?

[BeamClaws]

I like to think the game would be called Donkey Kong Country and actually be a compilation of them all with redone graphics and more levels.

And spiffy remade music to go along! I could listen to whole new versions of Hot Head Bop, Krocodile Kacophany and Stickerbrush Symphony

[Shrikeswind]

Thing about that is that it's just a remake, an idea I LOVE, but don't feel would expand the series. I feel that flowing into a new kind of 2D platformer would be a good idea, and let's face it, when you're dealing with Donkey Kong, you really don't have alot of options for a good concept. The only viable options I can think of are an RPG/Platformer, which would feel bad in a game where the basic plot is "Gorilla wants bananas, crocodile stole bananas, gorilla must kill," or a Fighter/Platformer, which is a proven concept (the DK/Diddy portion of SSE really felt right.)

Also, if they did a DKC game, I'd like some kind of non-adventure Multiplayer mode, like they had in DK64, but, you know, not.

[seanking64]

Gorilla wants bananas, crocodile stole bananas, gorilla must kill

Have you only played the first game, or something... ? I'm not saying the DK series has much in the way of in-depth stories, but that particular plot applies to only two games in the whole thing, maybe three with DK64.

[Manspeed]

Yeah, the second game was "bad guy from first game kidnaps protagonist as revenge, protagonist's sidekick must rescue him to prove himself a true hero", and the third game was "protagonist and newly-ranked up sidekick mysteriously disappear, leaving the newly-ranked up sidekick's girlfriend to go find them".

It's not Shakespeare, but people seem to forget that it's more than children's book material.

[Shrikeswind]

You're missing the point. With the simple plots like that of the DK series, you're really walking into failure by making it an RPG. It's easy to understand why RPGs tend to have such complex story-lines, the engine of an RPG isn't built for blunt aggression, it's made for the intricate workings of the mind, which is why RPGs tend to have emotionally complex stories. Now, playing as a gorilla, can you honestly say you'd focus on mathematical formulae and strategically placing your attacks, or are you going to just go ape-shit on the first thing you see?

[Manspeed]

Uh... weren't you the one who suggested it be made into an RPG/Platformer hybrid?

[Shrikeswind]

The only viable options I can think of are an RPG/Platformer, which would feel bad in a game where the basic plot is "Gorilla wants bananas, crocodile stole bananas, gorilla must kill..."

Full sentences are fun.

[seanking64]

How many Mario RPGs are there again? Are you honestly telling me that the Mario series has more in-depth plots than the DK series? I'm calling your bluff on how many DK games you've played, because that is an asinine standpoint. (You've clearly not played Jungle Climber, if nothing else.) I don't see the massive "emotionally complex" gap between playing as a bunch of monkeys with jungle technology and magic, and playing as a high-pitched plumber with a bunch of mushrooms and dinosaurs. I don't buy it, at all, and the DK series has at least the cast to carry an RPG on, say, Paper Mario's level. We're not talking the Arcade DK here, we're talking the guy who likes to laze around and is impossibly cheerful and largely unflappable in Jungle Climber.

Plus the nice thing about having an RPG is that you'd be forced to use the DK cast by sheer virtue, which was a big reason why I used to really push for the idea a couple years ago.

[Koopaul]

Most people here seem to argue that DK isn't the relaxed and cheerful guy we think he is Sean.
And I still got the lumps from that discussion.

Anyway, Mario has had one "emotionally complex" game but the characters that were complex like that weren't Mario and co.

You can stick DK perhaps in a complex situation featuring OTHER characters that are complex. But you should NEVER try to make DK and friends complex. Or you're gonna ruin them.

[Shrikeswind]

We're talking the guy who likes to laze around and is impossibly cheerful and largely unflappable in Jungle Climber.

That's kinda what I'm saying. You don't get that kind of emotional durability or simplicity in RPGs. In every game where he shows any emotion, Donkey Kong has been pretty emotionally firm. Mario RPGs don't show this sort of simplicity. Every Mario RPG, Mario's emotions are expressed through his partners, his dancing, or his facial expression. And it's shown alot.

Also, you've found an irritant. Sorry, but I can't finish this post without saying it. They aren't a bunch of monkeys. Monkeys have tails, and only one Kong has one, Diddy Kong. Everyone else is an ape.

[seanking64]

It's a figure of speech and a literary shorthand that even the games subscribe to. So sue me, I used to get huffy about people using the proper terminology back in the day too until I realized it didn't bloody matter and was a stupid thing to argue over.

And again, Jungle Climber. DK goes through the exact same things you just described Mario doing in the RPGs, being a sounding board for the other characters and doing several expressions and vocal clips as the game goes on. He is identical to Mario in this regard, the only difference being that Mario's had infinitely more games to do it in. Heck, beautiful example in JC has him even doing a little bit of character development, for lack of a better term: as the boss fight cutscenes go on, DK starts out being as freaked by the bosses as the rest of the group, but slowly regains his composure as the game goes on (and learns to step back when the Kritters use the Crystal Bananas), until the second last boss where he stands completely firm and isn't intimidated by it in the slightest. There's stuff there if you look for it, and there's really no difference between it and Mario, beyond the fact that so few people have bothered to do it with DK. And an RPG, by sheer virtue of what it is, is the perfect place to explore and solidify that.

[Shrikeswind]

I know, but like I said, it's an irritant. And, just an idle thought, not to instigate anything, but wouldn't ape be a shorter-hand than monkey?

...Meh. Anyways.

Character development is different from pattern recognition, so I'm STILL not convinced. Basically, until I see exactly what you're talking about, I'm going to doubt. For all I know, the only reason he startles early on is that he wasn't expecting a boss, not that he was scared of the boss, likewise for him stepping back when the Kritters use the Crystal Bananas.

[Koopaul]

Ugh... Why must everything turn into a DK discussion?

Lets get back to game revivals here.

[seanking64]

So you didn't play Jungle Climber. That's not surprising since no one did, but meh.

Basically, to completely spoil the game for everybody, in the beginning the entire group (DK, Diddy, Cranky and Xananab) get freaked out when the first Crystal Banana Kritter pops up, then in the second one Cranky gets wise and ushers everyone off the screen but DK doesn't pay attention and gets knocked back by the second Kritter's growth spurt, and then gets scared when the Mega Amp appears in the background. In the next fight he learns to step back, thumps his chest challengingly at the third Kritter, but gets freaked out when it turns into a goddamn dragon. Finally, in the second Mega Amp fight he stands his ground the entire time, not getting knocked back and chest thumping even when the Mega Amp rises up. This is all done with just the normal in-game sprites, and it's really well done all things considered. If that's not what you're looking for then kindly tell me what you are.

More to the point, all of the special character-defining stuff Mario does... how much of that was introduced and is primarily featured in the RPGs? Name me something you think Mario has over DK in whatever your requirement is and I'll match it with something from a DK game.

And koopaul, shoosh. I haven't done this for a year and I kind of missed it. Not so much, but... unless this is bad form for this board in general, in which case I'll gladly shut up to avoid triggering something I shouldn't.

[Koopaul]

Hey its my topic.

Besides all DK discussions seemed to be doomed for mayhem around here... At least the ones I've seen.