Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

"Simply one of the greatest games ever created by man."

Wow.

These were the words lil' ol' 8-year-old me said when I got DKC2 on one of the best Christmases ever. The first was simply incredible, and made me love Nintendo even more. But this....this is a very important game to me. It told me to forget the new-fangled PSX and Saturn, which had just been released, and stay loyal to Nintendo and Rare while they release a few more SNES classics, and the N64.(The N64 was worth the wait, and the SNES's spectacular swansong came from Super Mario RPG, DKC3, which is slightly worse than this, and Kirby Super Star, all three of which are all-time favorites to me.)I just couldn't get enough of this game. For the next month, life was DKC2. Nirvana and heaven were DKC2. The black monolith from 2001 was DKC2. Looking back, now 15 with my N64 in the same position as my poor late SNES, and a shiny new Gamecube, DKC2 is still as amazing to me as it was when it first came out. Pushing the SNES's technology to the limits, Rare strived hard and long to make this as good and possible, and it completely worked.

Gameplay: 10/10
Beautiful. The best way to explain it is this: They took the basic gameplay of DKC and threw in so, so much more. The new banana coin payment system for the other Kongs' help, the hidden DK and Kremcoins, which which the true endings of the game could be unlocked, a special new Kong ability(Dixie's helicopter hair. That, and the fact that she's as small and nimble as Diddy, makes her the best Kong ever.), and a stylish new atmosphere. Making the old and new Kremlings adopt a pirate theme was awesome as well.(Let's face it, King K. Rool was too basic, and Baron K. Roolenstein didn't have a big monster army. Therefore, Kaptain K. Rool, with that frickin' big musket, rules.) New and old animal friends open up tons of different gameplay methods. The bosses are a blast to play. Clever and innovative, and it never gets old.

Graphics: 10/10
Only now are modern games matching the DKC trilogy's fantastic prerendered quality. This game has it all: Fog, smoke, liquids that change when you move away and forward, and emotions for every character.

Music/Sound: 10/10
Ooooooh.......Here we are. Forget Final Fantasy. Forget Zelda and Perfect Dark. I remain with the same opinion I've always had: This game has the most fantastic, beautiful music in any game. The haunted forest theme is among the greatest themes I've ever heard. David Wise is truly a genius.

As for the sound, the Kongs have a great array of chimp noises for their reactions, the Kremlings all grunt when you stomp them, and the background always has something going on-in Krazy Kremland, fireworks boom loudly in the background. On the ship levels, the boat rocks and creaks. Wind whistles in high levels, acid boils, and the cutest seal ever(ALL HAIL CLAPPER!)barks.

Overall: 10/10
DKC2 is in my top 3 favorite games. It and Super Mario RPG are the games that confirmed my belief that Nintendo and Rare are simply the greatest out there. It is not just a game, it's one a person of any age can destroy, it's cute yet dark and eerie(Play the level where Kackle chases you...brrrrr.)....it's simply an immersive experience, grabbing the title from Mario 64 a year before it. One great website, dkvine.com, absolutely WORSHIPS it. And for good reason. Rare has hinted on their letters page that a GBA port of the game might be in the works.

I'm really looking forward to this E3.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 03/26/02, Updated 03/26/02