Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

"Easily the best Donkey Kong game"

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest is the best Donkey Kong Country game, it really is. It is very similar to the original Donkey Kong Country but better in just about every aspect. The game is amazing and is one of the best plat formers to date and one of the top Super Nintendo games.

Storyline: Donkey Kong has been kidnapped by Kaptain K. Rool!!! You (Diddy Kong) have to journey across the world and rescue him. Diddy Kong won't be doing it alone though, he'll get help from his girl friend, Dixie Kong. Together, they team up to defeat Kaptain K. Rool and save Donkey Kong! There could have been more of a story but it works. 8/10

Game Play: This game goes by a "dot level system." Basically, whenever you beat a level, you'll be placed on another dot on the current world you are in. Yes, you can backtrack. There are about six to eight levels in a world plus a boss and six worlds plus the final boss.There is also a lost world, where there is more, harder levels. You can also go to Swanky Kongs, where he'll quiz you for lives, you can go to Wrinkly Kongs for advice and to save or you can go to Cranky Kongs for advice.

Now for the actual game play. You jump over pits and enemies all to get to the end of the level. You will start as Diddy Kong and if you get hurt, you will switch to Dixie Kong. To get the other Kong (assuming you have one in your party currently), you must find a D.K. barrel and if one Kong gets hurt, it switches to the other available Kong. If you don't have anyone else, you die. A pretty neat concept. You can also switch any time you want. Diddy Kong can cartwheel and cartwheel jump in midair. Dixie Kong, is better. She can use her hair to glide over long pits which REALLY comes in handy. You can put one Kong on the other one's shoulders and throw them up to activate hidden bonuses or get bananas and coins.

There are many features in this game. For example, there are TNT barrels you will have to use to get places. You also get animal buddies in this game. Animal buddies will have special abilities that neither Donkey Kong nor Diddy Kong have. For example, the swordfish can allow you to attack under water, the rhino can bash in secret cave doors and the parrot will let you fly and it can shoot eggs to kill enemies. Like the Mario games, if you collect one hundred bananas, you gain an extra life. Bananas are scattered all over the world and banana bunches count as ten. The game play is awesome overall. 10/10

Graphics: The graphics are a much bigger improvement over Donkey Kong Country's.... and Donkey Kong Country had good graphics. The Kongs look pretty much the same but the enemies are much more clear and much more realistic (Ignore the giant bees among other things >_>), the landscape and scenery and stunning and vivid, the graphics are truly great and will blow you away. 10/10

Sound/Music: The sound is much better, the sound is not as cartoon like as it was in the original Donkey Kong Country but I will admit, some of the sounds still can be silly. But it is much better. The music is awesome! The levels are filled with epic rhythms that flow really well with the game. I was extremely impressed with the music and I still am even to this very day. 9/10

Difficulty: There are a few tough levels in this game, nothing too severe but some tough ones nonetheless. This game could have still used a little more difficulty but at least it is not ridiculously easy like the first Donkey Kong. 4/5

Replay Value: Replay value is an important aspect of this game and this game delivers great replay value (Like most Super Nintendo games!) You will play this game more than once, I guarantee you. There is also the lost world in this game and D.K. coins that are in every level. This game's extra side quests are a nice twist to extend and maximize your game time as much as possible. 5/5

Recap:

Storyline: 8/10
Game Play: 10/10
Graphics: 10/10
Sound/Music: 9/10
Difficulty: 4/5
Replay Value: 5/5

Overall: 46/50 = 92% = A

Pros:

Good storyline
Great game play
Great graphics
Improved sound
Awesome music
Excellent replay value
Extra quests

Cons:

A little too easy.

Overall, I would recommend you purchase this game, as you can see this game only has one negligible con. This game is that good and you will love it! It's a classic, everyone needs to play it. If you can not get it on a Super Nintendo because it is an outdated system, at least get it on the game boy advance. The only difference is that it is even easier but it is still worth your money.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/18/05