Donkey Kong Country

"A revolutionary game that's a few levels short from perfection"

Donkey Kong Country; A game that revolutionized everything about it; Graphics, Gameplay, music, and the whole side scrolling genre. Released in November 21, 1994, by Nintendo and RARE, this game gave Donkey Kong a change from kidnapping Mario's woman to saving his own love: A Crap load of Bananas.

I received this game Christmas of '94 along with a relatively unknown game PLOK, and as a 7 year old lad, I was astounded. The game was a landmark in video game history. Now today, 10 years later, I'm still playing, trying to find all the bonus levels.

Now come, young lads and lasses, as we jump into the jungle and explore Donkey Kong's Country!

You wanna banana?

GRAPHICS
This game pushed the SNES to its limits. Fully rendered 3D models in a 3D environment: CRAZY! How did they accomplish this task? Well, they used this super computer called The Challenge to make these models using advance computer modeling (ACM) and has 32 megabits. All of this allows for a variety of different levels. From the Jungle to Blizzards to an Industrial Factory, these graphics are beautiful and don't let down one bit.

The graphics are highly detailed, both foreground and background. The graphical engine allows this game to have multi scrolling backgrounds. “What does that mean?” you ask? Well, there are multiple layers, each scrolling at a different pace, giving you a more realistic feel.

The environments make this game partially what it is. The graphics really pull through here. The environments also change depending where you are on certain levels. For instance, when you reach the end of the first level, the sun quickly sets to night, and continues till the end of the second level, which the rain then stops and the sun rises to great the jungle. In the snow levels, there are multiple layers of snow, and as you advance through, the snow will get thicker or start to fade. All this makes for a great experience.

The character models are great looking too. Donkey, Diddy, and the whole crew are finely tuned to look their greatest. The Kongs all have their own looks and style. Donkey wears a tie; Diddy has got a red shirt and a hat. Funky Kong, who will transport you all across the island, has got the whole rad surfer look. Candy Kong, Donkey's love, wears a skimpy swim suite and saves your game. Then we got Cranky; in his old man plaid vest, rocking chair, and whooping stick, he is the one who will give you tips.

The over world maps are greatly done. You are able to see the geological features of the level on the map before you enter it. For instance: When you are going to a cave level in the first world, the map has a cave on it. Or when you enter an industrial factory, the building is right there.

STORY:
One night, Donkey Kong is sleeping, forcing poor Diddy to guard his gargantuan banana hoard. A thunder storm rolls in, and Diddy starts to get scared. Then, Kremlings come out and shove Diddy in a barrel and make off with Kong's bananas. Next day, Donkey finds them missing, and so he goes out to get them back from the evil Kremlings.

One might think that a game this cool comes with a cool story, but it doesn't. But look who we are talking about, monkeys and bananas go together like a plumber and gold coins or a hedgehog and rings.

MUSIC/SOUND EFFECTS
AMAZING. That says a lot, but it doesn't do the sound justice. CD quality music on a SNES, and not many games are able to do that. They match each level well, and aren't as over powering like the sequel. This music is more atmospheric (listen to the water level theme and I assure you, you will LOVE it). Each song sets the mood. From the jazzy, upbeat trumpets of Jungle Hijinks to the mellow, soothing sounds of Winkies Walkway; The urgent, sense of trouble the Mine Cart levels make, to the slow moving cords and wind to make the mine shafts seem eerie and mysterious. Each song sets the mod like you would never believe.

GAMEPLAY
This is your typically side scroller in terms of gameplay, not in terms of the game itself. You go from one side to the other, bashing baddies, switch monkeys if you want to, and collecting items along the way. You can jump, roll (Donkey) or cartwheel(Diddy), swim, climb, run, walk, and duck. It's pretty simple, and its simplicity is what makes it great and highly addictive.

There are all sorts of items to collect along the stages. First, you got your bananas. These are the equivalent to Mario's Coins of Sonics' Rings. You get 100 bananas and you get a free life.

Then, we got the KONG letters. Golden blocks with the letters K, O, N, and G. There are 4 within each level, and collecting them all makes for a free life.

Animal tokens. These are pretty sparse throughout each level, maybe one or two. Each token representing each animal (Rambi, Espresso, Enguarde, and Winky[where is Squaks?!?!]). Collect 3 of the same kind of token, and you will be brought to a bonus stage. In these stages, you take control of that animal and run through a custom made stage collecting tiny animal tokens, which act like bananas. You have set time limit, and you are to collect as many as possible. In each bonus stage, there is a giant token well hidden, and if you can find it, it will double your collected tokens At the end, for every 100 you have collected, you will gain a free life.

There are also balloons, which give you extra lives. There are 3 different colors of balloons; Red (1 life), Green (2 lives), and Blue (3 lives).

In different levels, you need to use different tools to get across. Some of them are Tires, light switches, and ropes. This all adds to the challenge of the game. There are also hundreds, that's right, HUNDREDS of bonus levels in this game. Each are spread throughout each level. They can be out in the middle of nowhere, or hidden very well. “Will that pit lead to a bonus level, or will it kill me?” That's what you will be asking yourself at times throughout the game.

Then you have your animal friends. These guys can help you destroy enemies easier, find bonus levels, and reach new heights. There are 5 of them. Rambi the Rhino can charge at enemies and spear them with his horn and bust open bonus doors. Espresso the Ostrich can flutter through the sky and run fast, even run over some enemies, avoiding there attacks. Winky the Frog can jump very high and jump on enemies that the Kongs couldn't. Enguarde the Swordfish spears most underwater enemies. Then you have Squaks the Parrot, who, sadly, is only in one level. He lights up a dark cave for you later on in the game.

What would a game like this be without its share of enemies. This game has got a good amount of them. Not too many, but not too few. What are the enemies, you ask? Kremlings. Kremlings are the evil reptiles that inhabited Kong Island. You need to jump, roll, cartwheel, toss barrels at, and bash these baddies to their doom. However, not all Kremlings can be destroyed the same way. For instance, the bigger Kremlings like Klump Krusha need different means of destruction. Diddy can't jump on Klump, but he can cartwheel into him. Neither Donkey nor Diddy can roll into Krusha, and only Donkey can jump onto Krusha.

Then there are non reptilian enemies. These guys got a bad rep. of their own kind. Take the bee, Zing. Neither Donkey nor Diddy can jump or roll into these spiny bees. You will need to throw barrels or use Rambi the Rhino or Winky the Frog.

But what about underwater levels? Well my friends, you can't jump or roll, and there is no way to pick up barrels. You'll need to find your swordfish friend, Enguarde. Only he can destroy these evil fishes.

And the bosses are fun too. Each boss is a giant version of an enemy in the game. Each requires you to bounce on it or throw barrels, while trying to avoid its attacks.

BUY OR RENT?

My only gripe about this game is that there aren't enough levels, but that wont stop you from enjoying the game. It is highly enjoyable and I recommend, no, I COMMAND you to get it. There is also a port for this game on the GBA and GBC. So get this game now. Oh, and here, have a banana.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 07/08/04