3 is awesome too, but the setting is hit or miss for most ppl.
I enjoyed it greatly though, it has it's classic levels like the snowball fight against the ice boss and the rocket ship level in the secret world.
Best remains part 2 ofcourse.
As for DKC Returns, i HATE the waggles here and there, but overal it's fairly addictive so far.
First bonus temple level in the first world made me RAGE.
It's the kind of level you only got at the very end of the SNES DKC games.
Learn the jumps or die, that kind of level.