"This is a 7 based on the DK series, 8 compared to other SNES games."

Donkey Kong Country 3, the third installment of a great series. Is it as good as the first two or is it lacking? Well I will tell you. First off this game features one new Kong named Kiddy Kong. Ok now on with the review.

Gameplay 7/10- Ok Donkey Kong 3 lacks in this department badly. Sure it is a fun game but it is nothing compared to Donkey Kong Country or Donkey Kong Country 2. Why? Because the levels in this game are just same old same old, Donkey Kong 2 levels were bright new environments and whole new baddies, but Donkey Kong 3 is just plain old levels and same old bad guys.

Difficulty 9/10 Donkey Kong Country 3 is a challenging game, the levels are pretty hard and the bosses are even harder. You will try each level a bunch of times. It starts off easy but its gets hard when you travel through this quest. Levels are much longer, and have a lot more to do and that adds to the difficulty of the game. Nothing to hard but it will provide you fun levels that may take a few tries to complete. Another thing that makes it hard is the new way to collect/obtain DK Coins. You have to throw barrels certain ways and at different angles to knock the coin from the Kremling who has a shield and blocks everything in front of him. Some are pretty damn tricky as you have to have the barrel crash into there back. This will further increase the difficulty of trying to complete a perfect game file.

Fun Factor/Side Quest 10/10 Wow, this is one of the things that made DKC3 an alright game. There is bonus stages at the Side Show. You can compete against Cranky Kong in all types of matches. Like you throw balls at targets. There is an endurance mode, last until someone misses, a Race to 25 mod, and a head to head mode. This is one GREAT feature in this game that I always played when I had the chance. You gamble away coins so don’t get to carried away and lose all your money. There is also Banana Bird Caves, these are caves that you secretly run into on the all new 3d world map. When you find a cave you press in the button commands and the Bird is yours. Wrinkly keeps these in her save cave and you want to try to collect them all for a perfect game. This was fun and some of them were challenging not only to find but to obtain.

Control 10/10 All you do is jump and run. The controls are easy and easy to learn. All people can learn to control the Kong’s, but it is not as easy to complete the levels. Just as other DK’s it is a side-scrolling adventure and the controls are basic.

Graphics 8/10 The graphics in this game are good. I guess I wasn’t shocked like I was when I saw DKC2 graphics but then again we had to expect up to par or better. The levels are done pretty good and the Kong’s also look good. The bosses look good also as do the baddies and Kremlings. Nothing great, but not bad. You won’t be “Wowed” but you won’t be disappointed. The graphics are good and that is all there is to say.

Sound and Music 10/10 Like all Donkey Kong’s the music in this game is great! I love the music. Each level has music that suits it great. I should have known to expect nothing less then great when it comes to music for Donkey Kong games. When you are fighting a boss the music gets tense and you know you’re up for a fight, when you’re running along side levels you have the happy music that just flows. Like I said the music is great and this is another part of Donkey Kong Country 3 that lifts the bad parts and makes them forgettable.

Story 4/10 I guess you could kind of figure what would happen but still it shouldn’t have. The story is you try and rescue Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong. You get to use Dixie who returns from DKC2 and a new Kong called Kiddy, Kiddy is a rip off of Donkey Kong basically just turned into baby form. I didn’t like this idea at all and it ruined part of the game. Two Donkey Kong’s with out Donkey Kong..I don’t feel that. Maybe if the story wasn’t a rip of DCK2..but sadly it is, you go on a quest to rescue DK and Diddy. That is the whole story line in DKC3. Not to amusing after playing DCK2 trying to rescue DK as well, not innovative at all.

Sound Effects 9 /10 The same sound effects as the other DK’s and still great. The water affects sound good, the jumping on heads of bigger and smaller baddies. Yep it’s all here and it is still all great. With that said good thing they didn’t change anything because this is another part of the game that shines.

Replayabality 6/10 This game doesn’t compare to it’s first two great ones. After you play this you will realize that you might as well play DKC2 with the characters you love and basically the same story line. This game is pretty much DKC2 watered down with a new Kong and new enemies and new bosses. It’s nothing great and it’s nothing bad. I think one time threw this game should defiantly be enough. Maybe twice if you want to get everything, but I’m not sure it’s worth it.

PROS:
New Mini Games
New Banana Bird Side Quest
Great Music

CONS:
Story is just a rip off but done poorly.
Kiddy Kong is a rip off of Donkey Kong but is a baby.
Donkey Kong is not in this game.

To buy or to rent?- This game is OK, So I would say go ahead and buy the game. It is a DK after all and you don’t want to miss out on your collection. Sure it’s as some major flaws but you will enjoy this game at least one time thorough, plus what do you have to loose? I’m sure this game is $15.00 now and that is not much.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 02/09/03, Updated 04/10/03