Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

"An improvement on an already smokin' idea."

(okay, so I ripped the tagline off EGM, sue me :p)

Well, here it is, the sequel to the game that put a new kick to the SNES's life (somewhat). If you were like me, you were probably fascinated by the pre-rendered 3D graphics that made the first DKC look so lush and innovative. I was very satisfied playing the game. But when part 2 came out, it really blew the original away.

What's the scoop? (storyline)

In the first game, you played as Donkey and his bud Diddy Kong to defeat King K.Rool in order to get back Donkey's banana stash. In Diddy's Kong Quest, K.Rool gets revenge and kidnaps Donkey Kong. Now you, as Diddy, must rescue Donkey Kong in the Kremling Island where K.Rool resides. You're on his turf now, teeming with new baddies, but you got your girl Dixie Kong to help you along. Make your way to the peak of the island to overthrow K.Rool, hopefully for the last time.

Graphics - 9/10

The first DKC showed us what the SNES was capable of in graphics power, and the sequel doesn't fall back on it. Graphics are as great as ever, each character and background rendered flawlessly. The graphics are a bit worse in the lava stages, but that's not saying much. Each level is done with great detail. And since you're subjected to totally different environments this time around, it will be a fresh visual experience for veteran DKC players.

Sound - 10/10

Again, Rare provides us with a great aural exprience with DKC2. The sound effects are crisp and fit each action nicely. Some of the monkey sounds have been recycled from the first DKC, while more sound bites have been added. Also, more of the music has gotten a techno and industrial feel this time. I'd say it has some of the best background music in SNES games. Why not make a soundtrack out of them? (The Bramble Scramble music has really grown on me) The musical pieces sound noticably louder and 'fuller' than on DKC1. All of these are screaming 'REMIX!' and you should be glad that Overclocked lets people do that.

Gameplay - 9/10

If the novelty of pseudo-3D graphics has worn off since the last DKC game, you'll still be hooked by its incredible gameplay. Once again, you'll be switching partners on the fly while playing. Diddy is cartwheeling his way back in this sequel. But with the introduction of Dixie Kong, it gets more crucial. Dixie can slow down her descent by hovering with her long hair, which will come in handy for those long jumps and moving barrels. You'd best hope Dixie isn't gone for these situations!

Level designs are totally new. Now you got these pirate-inspired stages, murky swamps, giant beehives, and even amusement park rides. And there's variety even within the same world. Take note, there are a lot more tricky areas in this game. For instance, some levels have environmental hazards, like rising toxic waste and strong wind gusts.

Like in DKC1, you get friendly animals to team up with. The rhino, fish and Squawk the parrot return, all with new moves (Squawk is a lot more useful this time, now you can fly with him!) Most of the Kong cast has also been remade. You save your game with Wrinkly Kong for a small fee, and Swanky Kong's mini-game show gives you a chance at winning extra lives.

Replay value - 10/10

Rare has really expanded on the idea of clearing the game with more goals added to them. You gotta collect Banana Coins, Kremcoins, and huge DK Coins in addition to the KONG letters. Many of them you get through finding bonus rooms like the ones in DKC. This game is probably what inspired many 3D platformers to use the now-infamous 'collect 50 gizmos to clear' idea. The DK coins, although enormous, are hard to find in many stages. Some of them require the ingenious use of the animals while avoiding the 'no animal' zone.

Fortunately, you don't need to collect everything to beat the game. However, if you want to get 100% (and you will) you must find everything, especially the Kremcoins. These coins are used to get into the seedy Kremling world, which is full of very hard levels. They're longer than usual and there are no DK barrels to fetch back your partner. Consider it a side quest, like the Special World in Super Mario World. You'll get a ranking after you beat the final boss in the game, and it's unlikely you'll get a perfect the first time around.

Overall - 10/10

If you still have it lying around, this one's definitely worth buying for your SNES. Out of all three in the series, part 2 hits the sweet spot. And I think it's in desperate need of a port to the GBA.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 12/07/03