"The TEAM of Diddy and Dixie JERK you through a thrill-ride of a game."

Very few moments in video games have been anywhere near as tense as many levels in Donkey Kong Country 2 are. While rocketing along on a roller coaster at blistering speeds, you jump each gap in the broken track with skillful precision as the carnival lights flicker in the background. Failure to jump at the right moment will end your trip right then and there. How about navigating your way through a hive of giant bees, sticking to the walls as you avoid those huge, spiny monstrosities? A catchy beat thumps along in the background, knowing that if you so much as touch the giant bee, you will die. And then there is the barrel blasting through a labyrinth of thorny brambles while one of the best pieces of music in video game history hums its unassuming tune throughout. All these moments of platforming had tense moments, where the moment you jump or the second you pressed a button was crucial to the successful completion of the level. It was the good type of challenge. Tense, but not frustrating.

In true sequel tradition, Donkey Kong Country 2 follows on from where the original left off. Donkey Kong has been captured by K. Rool and it's up to his former sidekick Diddy and his girlfriend Dixie to rescue the lumbering ape from the hands of the menacing crocodile. This combination of Diddy and Dixie creates a better balance than Donkey and Diddy had. This time, both Kongs are nimble, and while Diddy has better attacking power and a better jump, Dixie can glide by using her hair as a helicopter when she jumps. Both Kong's are capable of the same things, but each Kong suits a different type of player. Through the use of teamwork, you and a friend or sibling can beat this game. With two different play styles, one catering to Diddy, one catering to Dixie, you will be able to get through every obstacle the game throws at you.

You don't need a partner though, as you can play on your own, just changing Kongs when you feel it necessary, or you could even compete with another person to see who can get through the game first, by taking each level in turns. Both these modes are fine, but the teamwork mode is by far the best, an option that is missing in the platform games of today.

When you begin to play, you'll get to progress through several worlds of varying themes, the first of which is K. Rool's pirate ship, where each of the levels will give you a feel for the controls and different level styles. You'll quickly learn the art of jumping, attacking and exploring for hidden items and mini-games. Some of these levels are quite challenging, but you'll find them very easy once you return to collect the bonus items. Every level is challenging in its own way, and as you progress through, you'll find that the difficulty of each levels is so balanced that you'll suddenly find the previous level easy once you're onto the next. It is a perfect learning curve.

Thanks for the report, Jerec. I must say, that was pretty good for somebody who hasn't ever quite beaten Donkey Kong Country 2. Seriously though, all dissing and playing around aside, everything you've heard so far is true. But there's even more! The main thing that makes Donkey Kong Country 2 better than its famous older brother is how much variety has been thrown in. Dixie isn't the only newbie that makes a big impact on Diddy's adventure to rescue his best friend, Donkey, the jackass that got caught. Wrinkly Kong is the sweetest lady in any part of the world. She doesn't cook classic meals or babysit like most grandmothers, but she does save your game and give you valuable hints on various levels, bosses, and abilities. Swanky Kong is a direct opposite of Wrinkly. He's a young male that seems much more greedy. Greediness isn't all bad, however. Answer a few questions about Donkey Kong Country 2 correctly and a balloon that magically transforms into extra lives will be yours.

Some people, and monkeys I suppose, HATE change, and I've always been one of them. But these changes are awesome! The new family members are the least impressive of the great additions. Remember how fun it was to collect bananas and find secrets in the original? There are way more secrets in this second adventure, and even rewards for finding them! Now, there's a huge, golden DK coin in each level that was hidden by Cranky himself. There's no real reason for collecting these spinning giants apart from gaining the respect of that old whippersnapper that makes a living criticizing you--what better reason could there be to get them? Collect all the stars, destroy all the enemies, or just find your way to the end of each bonus stage to earn a Kremcoin that can be used to open up the super challenging levels of The Lost World.

Diddy's Kong Quest is also much more difficult than the original. Diddy and Dixie can manage most things on their own. Just look at Diddy's blazing speed and graceful cartwheels, or Dixie's ability to spin her head full of long hair around so fast that she breaks the law of gravity. That's not enough, though. Without loyal animal buddies, life would be impossible. Rambi the rhino and Enguarde the swordfish are back and they're leaner and meaner than ever! The parrot that squawks so much that they named him Squawks is also back, but instead of shedding a little light on dark places like he was known for in the first outing, he now knocks enemies silly by shooting nuts out of his mouth (trust me, it's not as gross as it sounds). But again, it's the newcomers who are the most memorable.

You'll never forget the level named Toxic Tower. A lake of deadly slime is slowly but surely crawling up the screen. Neither Diddy nor Dixie can jump over 50 feet straight up to the next ledge, so they morph into Rattly the snake and use his jumping ability to survive at least one more day. Web Woods isn't nearly as action packed; it's a rather long and boring stroll through misty woods until you find out why it has the word 'web' in its title. Squitter is a shoe-wearing spider that can destroy nearly any foe that steps in his way by hitting them with your everyday spider web. He can also spit what looks to be a thick hocker, and make it unfold to form a sturdy web that can support his weight, allowing him to reach heights higher than the woods that are surrounding him. The biggest highlight is saved for Animal Antics. In this one, you'll take turns controlling each and every animal buddy in his own respective environment, making for one of the most challenging and classic levels ever seen in a video game. It's not just the animals that seem to be on the same page. Everything in Donkey Kong Country 2 seems to mold together as one to form what could arguably be the best platformer for the SNES.

Indeed, Donkey Kong Country 2 provides immensely varied and original world for the player to explore. But that's not all that makes the game great. Somewhere in between the ghostly forests, the bubbling volcanos, and the silent ice caves, the series finally found itself a soul. The original game, while certainly a pleasant enough romp, nonetheless felt strangely empty once you removed the almost-3D graphics. DKC2, on the other hand, brims with personality throughout. No longer does the series feel like a cheap imitation, a ho-hum platformer dressed up in pretty graphics - no, Donkey Kong Country 2 can stand proudly all by itself.

It's difficult to pinpoint exactly what makes DKC2 succeed where its predecessor didn't. Certainly, part of this is because DKC2 introduced so many things to the series - new objectives, new characters, new playing styles. You may also attribute it to the developer's increased talent for level design. It would be impossible to name all the unique concepts for levels Rare came up with in the space of one review; equally as important as the concepts themselves, however, is their willingness to push the concepts to their limits. Take, for instance, the idea of wind. In the Gusty Glade level, the wind is simply a minor hindrance, making running and precision-jumping more difficult. Later on, however, you must guide Squawks the parrot through a windy maze, desperately trying to avoid the brambly walls of the labyrinth, while keeping a lookout for waves of flying enemies - certainly one of the most creative and challenging segments ever seen in a platformer. Similarly, Rare isn't content with giving you ''just'' a huge beehive, a roller coaster, or a tower with quickly-rising slime; you must scale towering walls of the help of the sticky honey covering them, you must race ten baddies to the end of the ride, you must use enemies as stepping-stones in the frantic ascent with the knowledge that one misstep will irredeemably doom your chances.

However, perhaps the most important aspect that lifts DKC2 above its predecessor is the most overlooked: its atmosphere.

Technologically, very little separates this game from the first; a few trivial matters such as somewhat cleaner backgrounds and slightly more detailed sprites are all that have improved. What DKC2 brings, however, is a coherent style to the stunning technology. From the very moment you start a new game, the game makes it clear that this is no romp across your own backyard; Welcome to Crocodile Island, the foreboding and slightly militaristic map theme, sets the stage for a darker, grittier adventure, and this feeling of gloom and decay is sustained throughout the game.

While the background - the somber march of the world theme; the treacherous, paranoid creaking of a ship deck's warped wood; the rotting, swampy undergrowth - evokes a surreal feeling of discontent, our pair of heroes provides color to an otherwise joyless world. Dixie's blonde, flowing ponytail is emblematic of the bright friendliness of the protagonists. When she’s not helicoptering around by it, you’ll see the yellow lock bobbing merrily behind her as she runs and leaps. Certainly, Dixie is a far more entertaining and fun companion for Diddy than his hulking father. The contrast of this well-partnered pair against a dark background is perfect, creating a more engaging atmosphere than other platformers possess.

It’s difficult to praise Donkey Kong Country 2 in a way that hasn’t been done before, so perhaps it’s not worth it to try. This is simply one of the best games ever made. One could point to the graphics – stunning for their time – or to the legendary variety of your animal companions and their abilities, but it is that element of tension and engagement which stands out most. Few other platformers, Mario, Kirby and the other classics included, have had such a sincere, absorbing atmosphere as DKC2. This game doesn’t mess around. It’s all out action from start to finish, and considering that it’s on the SNES, and acknowledging its depth and challenge, its 15 hours seem an eternity. Even if you manage to speed through and win in just a few sittings, you might still be playing in a month or three. It’s not a game where the joy is in the accomplishment of victory. The joy is in the playing itself.

I know it’s been said before, but I don’t think it’s a cliché yet. Right now, it’s simply an increasingly appreciated truth. Don’t fall for the apparent allure of Goldeneye or Perfect Dark - this masterpiece is Rare’s paramount effort.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 11/17/03