We give Donkey Kong Country Returns HD a swing, plus go hands on with Audio-Technica’s ATH-CKS50TW2 Earbuds and more.
With the Switch 2 now formally announced to the public, it puts Nintendo in a bit of a pickle. The company still needs to satiate its loyal audience, but also hold onto plenty of its heaviest hitters for the inevitable launch. Where does that leave us gamers then? With refreshed hits like Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, and it’s not a bad solution at all.
Like it or not, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is by and large the same game as it was in 2010. That means aside from the merciful removal of waggle controls and slightly sharper visuals, the adventure of trying to recover the precious Kong banana hoard from the villainous Tiki Tak Tribe remains as it always has.
If you have yet to play the platforming classic, that means you’re getting the best version so far, but if you’re a returning fan there’s not a lot new here for you outside of some extra levels from the Nintendo 3DS version which may be disappointing.
What’s not disappointing is the game itself – Donkey Kong Country Returns HD still handling exceptionally well, backed up by some strong level design, polished movement and occasionally dastardly collectible placement.
It’s worth noting though that this is certainly one of Nintendo’s more challenging titles in its catalogue. Where the likes or Kirby and Mario are generally more forgiving and family-friendly, it often feels as though Donkey Kong Country Returns HD takes no prisoners and isn’t afraid to show you a restart screen. Personally I found that change of pace a little refreshing and pushed me to nail the impressive level-design with the equally great movement. That said, minecart and rocket barrel-focused levels perhaps edge things a little too far and actually end up a little aggravating.
Handle those pressures though and you’re in for a fun time with Donkey Kong Country Returns HD. It’s an enjoyable romp that’ll do well to help tide you over until the Switch 2.
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Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is out now on Nintendo Switch.
Also out now…
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC)
It certainly feels as though nostalgic throwbacks to the 2D beat em’ up genre are having an absolute moment right now and while the likes of TMNT and Karate kid have had their moment in the spotlight, and now it’s Power Rangers Turn with Rita’s Rewind.
As you might expect from the title Ritas Rewind embraces the zany chaos early. It sees a frustrated Robo Rita conjuring a portal designed to send her back in time to 1993. By doing so, the classic villain is able to team up with the younger version of herself to do away with the Rangers once and for all.
It also means you get to control the series’ classic line-up as you work to put a stop to the deadly duo as well as a range of other classic series baddies like putty patrollers. Combat consists of the usual fare – basic combos, running attacks and super flashy specials, but there’s enough variety to keep things fresh even when encounters do start to feel a bit repetitive (more so if you’re not playing alongside a friend which is unquestionably the best way to play).
Rita’s Rewind’s most interesting elements however are the moments it strays away from the more traditional sidescrolling beat-em-up formula. In one mission you might be riding Ranger-themed bike shooting baddies as you dodge obstacles, while in another you embrace your childhood dreams and pilot the Megazord from a first-person perspective to lay a mechanical smackdown. These diversions often feel like exactly that, but do well to break up the pace and formula of the main game.
Not every single one of these diversions is a winner, but they provide Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind with just enough pizazz that I’d be keen to see a sequel.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
Dynasty Warriors: Origins is one of the most interesting releases in 2025 so far. That’s because, somehow, against all odds and after years of increasingly-stale sequels, this surprise gem has rejuvenated the franchise while also giving it new life for years to come.
Acting more as a series-spin off than continuation of the longstanding lore, Dynasty Warriors Origins is able to do this by shaking things up considerably. It all starts with the story, which focus on a more traditional method of storytelling over segmented levels of years past.
You play a new silent protagonist who finds themselves in amongst the early stages of the Three Kingdoms – three warring Chinese states. I appreciated the change in approach along with the more RPG-styled trimmings like an explorable map, characters to meet and even some important choices to make along the way.
At its core though Origins is still a Dynasty Warriors game, meaning you can expect to face hordes of shows in a classic power fantasy spectacle. Officers, however, now shake things up considerably – requiring far more than the series’ classic button mashing approach. Instead, these more challenging foes demand more deliberate attacks and parries in order to succeed.
It’s just one of the many ways Dynasty Warriors: Origins shakes up the series and did well to remind me why I fell in love with the series in the first place. It looks great, plays great and tells an enjoyable yarn. More of this please.
Hands-on with the Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 Earbuds
When Audio-Technica first released the ATH-CKS50TW I was impressed with the strong audio performance and respectable battery life. A few years later we have the follow-up, the ATH-CKS50TW2. But while the forgettable name hasn’t improved, it seems like plenty of other things have.
The biggest thing you’ll notice about the ATH-CKS50TW2 is its formfactor. While the debut model had a quite bulky, elongated case design that made it difficult to pocket, it’s a lot more traditional now. As a result, the ATH-CKS50TW2 adopts a flatter square-shaped design, which although still significantly larger than many competitors, is a lot more comfy to shove in your jeans. It also features a transparent cover and internal indicator light which are both nice touches.
The design of the bud itself has gotten a refresh as well, and actually shares more in common with Sony’s WF-1000XM5 from a pure aesthetic perspective. I quite like the change and certainly makes the bud feel more modern and stylish, but they were unfortunately still a little bulky for my ear, meaning I did encounter the odd difficulty keeping them in place for extended periods, even after trying to swap out the various tips for a snug fit. If your ears are also on the smaller size I would certainly suggest giving them a bit of a test before committing.
It’s a shame because once again the audio output is rather impressive, with a great amount of bass that consistently booms and is the brightest star here. From re-living Kendrick Lamar’s half-time performance to casual games of Balatro, the ATH-CKS50TW2 is able to pump out consistent performance across the board. The noise cancellation and transparency modes aren’t huge leaps forward but are effective enough to help round out the earbud’s overall package.
Much better is that the ATH-CKS50TW2 tout a truly bonkers 65 hours of playback, with 25 hours from the fully charged headphones, plus 40 hours available from the charging case. Helping achieve that figure is the new Magic Switch technology. Simply put, the feature allows the earbuds to turn off when joined by built-in magnets (there’s two on either side).
I get it, this feature sounds like a gimmick that you’ll never use – I initially thought the same thing. But after a week of use I came to realise how powerful Magnetic Switch is. Some days I had to place the buds down in between Zoom calls, while during others I put them down for a moment only to get side-tracked for hours. That’s neglecting the multiple instances I foolishly misplaced the charging case entirely, but in all these examples my battery life was completely unaffected. Where previous AirPods would slowly drain away, the ATH-CKS50TW2 did well to snap right back into action unphased and I appreciated that the more time passed.
Available on the Audio-Technica website for $329 the ATH-CKS50TW2 sits smack bang in the middle of a competitive field, but if you’re in the market for a bass-heavy performer that has a killer battery life, they’re well worth a look.
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