Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

"Pure Perfection!"

Introduction: Donkey Kong was an absolute smash hit so anyone with half a brain would have known that a sequel wasn't far behind. What people didn't except was that this game wouldn't just be as good as the Original but it would become possibly the best 2d 16-bit platformer ever!

Story (12/15): Once again the story is nothing very special. This time Donkey Kong has been kidnapped and it is up to Diddies Kong and his girlfriend Dixie Kong to save him from the evil clutches of Kaptain K Rool.

Graphics (20/20): Somehow Rare has managed to squeeze even better graphics out of the SNES system. Everything is even more sharp and detailed then before. There are also cool new weather effects that help give a different feel to similar levels. Another cool new thing is the facial animations on Diddy and Dixie Kong when they first see a new boss. These graphics would have looked good on ANY console at the time it was released (yes, even the playstation) but on the SNES they are only beaten by DK3.

Sound/Music (19/20): Rare have upped the standard from Donkey Kong once again. The Music has improved considerably and is up there with the best music with the system. The standard monkey Sound effects are also back and better then ever.

Game Play (30/30): Pure Perfection sums up the game play. Everything you got from Donkey Kong, plus a whole lot more with the added bonus that the two faults in the last game (too short and too easy) have gone. The game builds on the already perfect control system by including the ability to ''team up.'' This helps you reach areas that would have been impossible to reach in the original game. The game also adds even more variety to the game. For instance in one level you are getting chased by a ghost on a mine cart while in another you are at a themepark on a roller coaster. Another way they have tweaked the already impressive gameplay is by giving you different sorts of coins to collect. For example these coins allow you to get information out of Cranky Kong as well as open up the secret Lost World. All in all DKC2 is a lot longer, a lot harder and a lot more enjoyable then the original DKC

Replayability (15/15): Even better then the original. There are far more secrets for you to find including a whole new world! It will keep you going for months trying to find everything.

Conclusion: There is nothing that the Original Donkey Kong does better then the original. DKC2 takes perfection to a whole new level. If you enjoyed the first then you will LOVE the second.

Story 12/15
Graphics 20/20
Sound/Music 19/20
Game Play 30/30
Replayability 15/15
Total = 96/100 rounded to give a 10

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 09/19/01, Updated 09/19/01