Donkey Kong Country
Platform: SNES
Published: 1994
REVIEW BY RICHARD FOX (Admin)
Note: Likely to contain spoilers... but it is from 1994.
Donkey Kong Country is my first review of a game I started 20 years ago but never finished. I can now finally say, that is no longer the case. The fact that I left it so long is frankly appalling as it is, without question, one of the finest games in the SNES library.
The Game
I think most, if not all, already know the story of Donkey Kong. The name dates back to the early 80's, having first appeared as the arch nemesis of Mario (who was then, I believe, called simply 'Jump Man'). The Donkey Kong we know today is apparently a descendant of his villainous namesake (later believed to be Cranky Kong, DK's grandfather) and has gone on to be one of the most successful Nintendo characters of all time.
The original Donkey Kong
(now believed to be Cranky Kong)
in all his evil glory.
Donkey Kong Country is the first in the series where DK takes a heroic role and it is done with tremendous success. Alongside him is Diddy Kong, a much smaller and quicker character which the user can control which adds a second dynamic to the game.
Each stage is designed to perfection, the animation and graphics are second to none and the soundtrack is one of the absolute best. Each stage also contains several levels on DK's quest to 'Gang Plank Galleon', the pirate ship of King K. Rool. The first stage see's you travel through DK's jungle, followed by the Monkey Mines (which introduces you to the first minecart level!), then Vine Valley, Gorilla Glacier, Kremco Industries, Chimp Caverns and finally the Galleon itself.
The long road ahead.
Part of the charm of the game is the simple fact that each level can last only a couple of minutes and it is everything an old school platformer should be.
The Experience
Without trying to repeat myself, I had loads of fun playing DKC and it served the whole purpose that I got back into retro gaming, to get the flood of nostalgia.
Sure enough there were some frustrating moments as most games have, part of the fun is in the challenge and surprisingly enough this game provides them. I completely forgot how tricky the minecart levels could be, not to mention some of the water levels.
There is s level called 'Tanked Up Trouble' that I completely forgot about (maybe it was my sub-conscious keeping it blocked out), there were times where it felt almost impossible. You have to stay on a moving platform dodging obstacles as it was moving towards the end of the level, all the while having to jump all over the place trying to collect fuel to keep the platform going. It was insane.
The MPG on these are terrible!
Even that didn't come close to the last (non-boss) level of the game. 'Platform Perils' is a ridiculously hard level, getting to the halfway point feels like an achievement. You need to try and keep Donkey Kong for pretty much the whole thing to take out the bigger enemies but for nearly the entire time you have to jump across a series of temporary moving platforms that completely knock you out of sync with the flow of a normal level. It's ridiculous and you will lose a lot of lives on it.
The boss battles were a little too easy, with the exception of K Rool, which wasn't really challenging but you had to get the rhythm down, and that bloody false ending! That is probably the only real negative with the exception of a slight gameplay issue.
When you pres the 'Y' button to increase pace and jump higher etc. Donkey and Diddy do a little animation/attack first, this can be really annoying as they sometimes spin off a platform. You also need to be pretty precise when jumping on an enemy or if landing on the edge of a platform. Finally, when you are controlling one character the other can sometimes get in the way.
Overall
The above issues are more than bearable to what is an exceptional game. The replay value of DKC is definitely there as each level is fun, and I can't really recall any that were a chore. I am sat typing this up now and could easily hop back on and go through it again to 100% it.
I think it is universal that DKC is a great game and everyone has their own sentimental feeling towards it, I certainly do. It was and still is one of the best games I have ever played. If it wasn't for the slight blemishes. It would get a perfect 10 from me.
You celebrate my friend for
you did your job tremendously.
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