Donkey Kong Country and Donkey Kong Country 2 on the NES have been in the Nintendo eShop for quite some time now. These titles have brought nostalgia to fans of the series and the trio of games is finally complete.

All 3 Super NES Donkey Kong Country games are in the #3DS Virtual Console! Have a favorite?https://t.co/xworlrqhNY pic.twitter.com/zixt3fL3ik

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) June 2, 2016

Nintendo of America tweeted today that Donkey Kong Country 3 is now available on the Nintendo eShop for the 3DS alongside Metroid Prime Hunters and Kick & Fennick on the Wii U. Donkey Kong Country 3 focuses on Dixie Kong’s quest to find Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong while babysitting her brother, Kiddy Kong. The Nintendo website also reveals that this title will only be playable on new Nintendo 3DS systems. The Virtual Console title can be purchased in the 3DS eShop for $7.99.

Metroid Prime Hunters was originally released on the Nintendo DS back in 2006. In the game, Samus is challenged by six bounty hunters from across the galaxy to claim ancient relics. The Wii U GamePad is required to play the game and can now be purchased in the eShop for $9.99.

Kick & Fennick is an Indie platforming game and the final title released today in the Wii U eShop. The game centers on a young boy, Kick, waking up in a desolate world. Here he meets the small flying robot, Fennick. When they find out Fennick’s battery is broken, the duo embarks on an adventure to the Core Tower to find a new energy core for Fennick. The Wii U GamePad is required to play the game and is compatible with the Wii U Pro Controller. Kick & Fennick can be purchased in the Wii U eShop for $10.49.

Source Images [Nintendo eShop Header Image, Metroid Prime Hunters Logo, Kick & Fennick Picture]

Aside from the graphics, the cool moves and gadgets, and the ability to play with friends, part of what makes video games so enthralling is the story. Especially when that story involves one or more romantic relationships. Here is a list of some of the most memorable and some of the cutest video game couples so far. 

1. Tidus and Yuna

Source: Playstation Bit

His first appearance: Final Fantasy X

Her first appearance: Final Fantasy X

Why they're cute: When thinking of Tidus and Yuna, Rose and Jack Dawson from Titanic quickly come to mind. This heart-breaking love story between these fated lovers ends with the revelation that Tidus is not "real." The fact that Yuna and Tidus only have a limited amount of time together makes this love story all the more special and endearing.  

2. Mario and Princess Peach

Source: Deviant Art

His first appearance: Donkey Kong

Her first appearance: Super Mario Bros.

Why they're cute: The perpetual damsel-in-distress, Princess Peach is always being rescued by Mario. His continued devotion to his lady is admirable and totally cute!

3. Luigi and Princess Daisy

Source: Know Your Meme

His first appearance: Mario Bros.

Her first appearance: Super Mario Land

Why they're cute: Similar to Princess Peach, Princess Daisy plays the damsel-in-distress. However, Daisy and Luigi's relationship is not based on Luigi saving Daisy. The friendship that grows between her and Luigi and his subsequent crush on her makes these two absolutely cute.

4. Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong

Source: Fan Pop

His first appearance: Donkey Kong Country

Her first appearance: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

Why they're cute: Aside from the fact that these two are monkeys, which are super cute, Dixie is no damsel-in-distress and proves to be a reliable sidekick. This dynamic duo makes for a super cute couple!

5. Sora and Kairi

Source: Twisenblog

His first appearance: Kingdom Hearts

Her first appearance: Kingdom Hearts

Why they're cute:  Despite Riku, Kairi, and Sora getting along like the Three Musketeers, there is an undeniable chemistry between Sora and Kairi that goes beyond friendship. Sora gives up his heart to save Kairi, and any guy that would sacrifice himself to save a loved one is cute in my book. 

6. Riku and Kairi (In my dreams) 

Source: DeviantArt

His first appearance: Kingdom Hearts

Her first appearance: Kingdom Hearts

Why they're cute: Even though this couple only exists in my dreams, Riku and Kairi share a strong bond that makes it easy to picture them as a couple. The dark, mysterious side of Riku and his devotion to his friends is attractive and makes him more likeable. Although I love Sora and Kairi together, I still secretly root for Kairi and Riku to get together. 

7. Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man

Source: Crescent Review

His first appearance: Pac-Man

Her first appearance: Ms. Pac-Man

Why they're cute: When I think of video game couples, I automatically think of these two. These bright yellow balls are the epitome of cuteness and are the perfect model for video game couples. 

8. Ash and Misty

Source: Fan Pop

His first appearance: Pokémon Red and Blue

Her first appearance: Pokémon Red and Blue

Why they're cute: Even though Misty is stubborn and has a wicked temper, Ash can be rash and impulsive, making them the ideal couple. They're loyalty, playfulness, and unlikely, yet fierce friendship makes this two-some super sweet.

9. James and Jessie 

Source: Cosplay Island

His first appearance: Pokémon Yellow

Her first appearance: Pokémon Yellow

Why they're cute: Whether they succeed or fail, which they almost always fail, these two stick together. Friends till the end, Jessie and James are extremely loyal to one another and are hardly ever apart. Whether it is life or death, this pair is super adorable, and what other couple has their own theme song. Take it from me, a couple that "blasts off at the speed of light" together,  stays together. 

10. Sonic the Hedgehog and Amy Rose

Source: DeviantArt

His first appearance: Sonic the Hedgehog

Her first appearance: Sonic the Hedgehog CD 

Why they're cute: This girl is devoted to her man, even if her love is unrequited. Amy will do whatever it takes to win Sonic's heart and in her heart, she is Sonic's girlfriend, even if he doesn't know it yet. Besides, you know what they say, obsession is the sincerest form of flattery, or something like that. Amy doesn't let Sonic's objections stand in the way of love which is really cute, and creepy, but mostly cute.

11. Shadow the Hedgehog and Rouge the Bat

Source: DeviantArt

His first appearance: Sonic Adventure 2

Her first appearance: Sonic Adventure 2

Why they're cute: Sassy, smart, sultry Rouge is the perfect match for the edgy, determined, and fearless Shadow. Shadow always tries to keep his promises and vows to stay by his side. I can definitely say that Team Dark is also part of Team Cute.

12. Spyro and Cynder (The Legend of Spyro)

Source: Fan Pop

His first appearance: Spyro the Dragon

Her first appearance: The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning 

Why they're cute: Although Cynder has needed rescuing a couple of times, she is definitely no damsel-in-distress. This tough, witty, spirited dragon will do anything to protect those she loves, including Spyro. These two may have gotton off on the wrong foot, but Spyro's curious, compassionate nature and Cynder's bold declaration of love make these two an unlikely, yet couple.

13. Link and Zelda

Source: Want Midna Back

His first appearance: The Legend of Zelda

Her first appearance: The Legend of Zelda

Why they're cute: Zelda frequently plays the damsel-in-distress and Link is more than happy to save her every, single time. Despite changes in character design and storylines, Link and Zelda's love remains constant. If that isn't cute, I don't know what is.

14. Cloud and Aerith 

Source: DeviantArt

His first appearance: Final Fantasy VII

Her first appearance: Final Fantasy VII

Why they're cute: This tragic love story is one of the most memorable. The shocking, untimely demise of Aerith puts an abrupt end to the burgeoning romance between her and Cloud. The bittersweet story of these star-crossed lovers is sure to be remembered in gaming history.

Who are your favorite cute video game couples? Who's your favorite star-crossed lover or cutesy pairing? Let me know in the comments below. 

When I first saw the Game Freak logo in the launch trailer, I have to admit, my eyes lit up. I didn't even know Game Freak made anything outside of the Pokémon series. I had to check their Wikipedia page. Sure enough, with the exception of a few obscure one-offs in the early nineties, the list goes: Pokémon,  Pokémon,  Pokémon,  Pokémon, Pokémon, TEMBO THE BADASS ELEPHANT.

So, let's cut to the chase:

What the hell is TEMBO THE BADASS ELEPHANT?

[Jump to our review of Tembo the Badass Elephant]

Well, it isn't Pokémon. It isn't Pokémon at all. Instead, it appears to be a cartoony action-platformer revolving around some sort of Rambo-inspired anti-terrorist mercenary elephant. Joining the ranks of elephants with names that end in -bo and badasses with names that end in -bo is TEMBO, whose name is always formatted in CAPITAL LETTERS.

Shell City is under attack by the evil PHANTOM, and the only one that can stop them is a BADASS ELEPHANT. Because VIDEO GAMES.

While it doesn't resemble Pokémon much, TEMBO THE BADASS ELEPHANT does look a little bit like a bizarre Sonic The Hedgehog game, right down to the obligatory pinball stage. Besides that, TEMBO also borrows heavily from the Donkey Kong franchise, right down to the familiar plinking sound that occurs after the elephant is fired from a cannon through a string of collectibles (in this case, peanuts).

According to an interview with Game Freak director and character designer James Turner, TEMBO also draws inspiration from games like Yoshi's Island and Metal Slug.

Your guess is as good as mine!

It's new, it's weird, and somehow it's something that I actually really want to play. To check out TEMBO THE BADASS ELEPHANT for yourself, find it on Steam, the PlayStation 4 Store, or Xbox One Marketplace.

What goes better than Donkey Kong and a banana from his horde? The answer is a simple one, Donkey Kong Country games and the eShop/Virtual Console service, that's what! The Nintendo eShop is running a DK "Knock-Out" offer where certain Donkey Kong games will be part of a sale that allows you do get Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze at a 30% discount as well as Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D at the same discounted price.

Make sure you have your Wii U/3DS linked with your Nintendo Network ID because if you don't, you won't be eligible for the discounted price. The Donkey Kong Country games are some of the best games on the Super Nintendo and the Game Boy system and these games belong on the eShop Virtual Console service. This DK knock-out deal is for a limited time and goes from February 26th until March 3rd so make sure you Banana-slamma over to the eShop to buy these great games.

The Donkey Kong Country games that are a part of this deal are: DKC, DKC2: Diddy's Kong-quest, DKC3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble( SNES) and Donkey Kong Land 1,2, and 3.( Game Boy)

An actor who wore a Donkey Kong suit at the Los Angeles Zoo for a Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D launch event is suing Nintendo after suffering heart problems.

Parker Mills, the actor, claims through his attorneys that he didn't get the required breaks and an ice pack while donning the costume. According to an article from the Los Angeles Times, he needed a heart defibrillator after having "an aortic dissection."

Mills’ attorneys said he suffered an aortic dissection, which is a tearing of aortic walls. He had to undergo surgery to implant a permanent heart defibrillator, they said.

The launch event took place back on May 24, 2013, the day Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D was released. Mills met and took pictures with fans who visited the L.A. Zoo. Nintendo was responsible for both the event and the hiring of Mills.

Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D was a port of the original Donkey Kong Country Returns released nearly two and a half years later on the Nintendo 3DS. It was recreated on the 3DS by Monster Games (originally developed by Retro Studios) and published by Nintendo.

Image credit: Nintendo Life

Before taking the nostalgia goggles off and doing a review of this game, I'd like to say that Donkey Kong Country is one of my favorite Nintendo titles of all time. It and its sequel were some of the first games I played, as well as the first two games I completed on my own as a child. The level design (especially in the second game) is amazing, the music is superb, and the gameplay is stupendous. Enough flattering the designers, now it's time to take the goggles off, boot up the SNES, and see if the game still feels like it used to.

Sound

The music in Donkey Kong Country still holds up, in my opinion, as some of the most memorable music in any video game of all time. Revisiting it, each note is like an old friend passing by, giving your ear drums a gentle massage. The drums at the beginning of Jungle Groove still get me pumped up to return some stolen bananas.

Besides the music, the game has some great sound effects. Whether it's the screaming of your bonked enemies, the swooshing of the marlin in the water, or the hilarious ape sounds your partner makes when stuck in the DK barrel, all of the sounds are memorable and iconic. The cart clanking noise still gives me shivers to this day. Yikes.

Graphics

Donkey Kong Country has awesome character designs. All of the individual characters and even the levels themselves look good, but the one thing this game does suffer from is recycled level themes and enemies. There is a decent variety of enemies overall, but they do tend to reuse the same enemy sprites, just color swapped. The sequel improved upon this, but playing the first game again, it's like "Okay, we get it, bees come in every color!"

Level Design

I'm a bit torn on what to say here. The level design is definitely memorable, but playing through it now, you see where a lot of the levels are just repeats of previous stages with a slightly different twist. It still provides you with some entertainment, but this game could've been better by making each stage vary a bit more.

Despite the level design being a bit repetitive, one of the best features of Donkey Kong Country comes from the large amount of secrets placed in each stage. These bonus mini-challenges provide a lot of entertainment and help you build up lives for when you start going through the difficult levels.

Gameplay

I am pleased to say that the gameplay is still amazing. Whether you're looking to try and speed run through it or you're taking your time going through every secret, Donkey Kong Country is nearly flawless.

The only times Donkey Kong Country itself isn't fun is when you get stuck on a rather difficult part on one of the levels that makes heavy use of the rotating barrels or some of the mine cart levels. However, beating these levels does feel you with a sense of relief and pride, making them worth the effort.

The difficulty level fluctuates in this game. I made it through the first world without dying, but as soon as I hit a cart level, I watched my lives drop like stock in parachute pants come the 1990s. Who thought it would be a bright idea to put apes in carts?

Donkey Kong Country feels like it's a lot shorter now that I'm no longer a kid. There's not that many worlds and you go through each pretty quickly, unless you're throwing your controller against the wall due to shooting out of a barrel a millisecond too soon.

Verdict

Donkey Kong Country has its flaws, but ultimately, it is one of the best games available on the SNES and I had a great time playing it again for this review. It provides a solid platforming experience with a bit of difficulty. If you get over some of the repetitive level design, it'll steal your heart, just like Donkey Kong's banana horde.

Due to retaining its charm throughout the years, the author of this Donkey Kong Country review awards a Friends-era Matthew Perry out of ten.