Gamefan: "It just does not get any better than this!" Rareware: *Makes DKC2*

1985 swim mechanics was a great description for how they move underwater hahaha

finally a comprehensive donkey kong country review. you dont see a lot of reviews for donkey kong nowadays

This was the era when RARE was killing it with the Donkey Kong Country titles, GoldenEye, and Perfect Dark.

The GBA version gets a lot of flack that I feel is undeserved, I too used not to think of that version particularly highly, until I gave it a proper shot and was surprised at how good it actually was! While the graphics may be smaller, less detailed and more washed-out, and the controls aren't exactly the same as the SNES version, they're not bad at all! It's a solid and very competent translation of the original onto a handheld platform, a lot of the problems with the SNES version were also fixed in that version, for example, you can save anywhere so long as you're not in the middle of a stage, and because the graphics are smaller, you actually have *more* visibility on the GBA version than you do on the SNES! You can see enemies coming from farther away, which helps a lot in the minecart stages, and I'm also inclined to believe the vertical movement of the camera is better as I haven't really experienced that slow camera issue on the GBA version... Don't get me wrong though, I'm not saying the GBA version is better than the SNES version, but it is probably better than you think it is, and it deserves another shot! In fact, the whole GBA remake trilogy does...

Very fair, and balanced-especially for a game I love so much. Not too many critics address the flaws of this game properly; but this review does that while at the same time being objective! Awesome review as always. I wish that more critics would be more objective than just have childhood nostalgia goggles cutting off the circulation from their brain (they aren’t fitting anymore). One thing you forgot to mention aside from the game having a fetish for bottomless pits is how most levels tend to be reused-palettewise. There are LOTS of cave levels in this game. Some even with similarly colored backgrounds-sometimes resulting in an element of plainness. For example: Reptile Rumble is orange with brown; yet the level style gets reused in Torchlight Trouble only with a light. Since it is in Gorilla Glacier (a later world in the game mind you) shouldn’t the cave be colored I don’t know, Blue with Purple? It also gets reused AGAIN in Elevator Antics in KremKroc Industries. Why not do with what Super Mario Bros. did with world 6-3 and make the level grayscale?

Interesting stuff about Nintendo Japans difficultly requests. I’ll take my Mystic Quest without mockery now thank you very much 90’s Japanese developers :) I don’t quite know why but I just never “got” Donkey Kong Country on the SNES. I love the music and graphically it’s beautiful. But I found it difficult to delineate where a platform “ends” contributing to an increase in controller throws. I think the sprite size adds to the difficulty by shrinking the screen real estate much like many Gameboy games and adding an almost nausea inducing camera panning solution. Any-who games like this have that Megaman appeal of once you get it you come back to it time and again as a comfortable shoe.

Glad you enjoyed this. I bought the first game earlier this year to relieve childhood memories, and I love this game even more than I used to! There were quite a few people calling it overrated sometime between the SNES era and the past few years. I think due to the flashy graphics, people just said those were all DKC had going for it. I couldn’t agree less. I think it meets most of what you can expect from a great platformer: steadily increasing difficulty (for the most part; they could have gone easier on us with Snow Barrel Blast), variety, constant introduction of new mechanics and set pieces, smooth control, and a unique gimmick (the tag-team gameplay). As for the graphics themselves, some people find them cringey now and think they haven’t aged well. They honestly don’t bother me. In fact, I really like them because it gives the game its unique aesthetic. Very 90s for sure, but since when is being 90s a bad thing? This was also the first game I did a speedrun of, which I did earlier this year. It’s maddening to speedrun, but it’s also exciting.

This is one of my favorite SNES games it holds up really well.

Yeah, I love this game, but it does have it's frustrating points. Going for the 101%, I remember in a early level, it required you to fall between two random trees to get blasted through a wall without even a banana as a hint to go there. A looking down mechanic like in Sonic would have been nice. I didn't know there were any differences from the JP version. I'll have to actually sit down and play the JP trilogy. They are dirt cheap here as I got the whole trilogy for $7.50 ($2, $2, $3.50). I remember exchanging tips with my buddy in band class that was also trying to get 101%. Did you see the Nintendo Power VHS promo of this game? It's worth a view. Thanks for the video!

Yay another awesome review for a classic childhood game. I showed my boy last week the cartridge and he was in awe on the history

Love your channel, big fan. I didn't grow up with this game so I had no nostalgia interfering with my first playthrough. It got to a point where I found it just too frustrating and put it down. But put this into context, the original version of Super Mario Bros. 2 wasn't brought over because it was deemed too difficult outside of Japan. Japanese people complained the original version of DKC was too hard.

One of the finest platformer series around!! Oh, god, PLEASE tell me you're gonna review Diddy's Kong Quest next! 23 years later, still a masterpiece of design. SNES nostalgia doesn't get any finer than this famed, beloved trilogy!

I never get why people find the graphics to doesn’t age up well... it still looks amazing to me. The graphics still have that eye candy that hooked me back in the day. Great vid, I’ve enjoyed your review.

I am just no good at this game, despite having beaten DKC2, Returns, and Tropical Freeze. Despite my lack of skill, I really enjoy this game, with it's pre-rendered look, tag-team gameplay, and super-solid controls and level design. I do prefer the aforementioned games listed above, though.

"The high rising terminal (HRT), also known as upspeak, uptalk, rising inflection, or high rising intonation (HRI), is a feature of some variants of English where declarative sentence clauses end with a rising-pitch intonation"

Donkey Kong Country is definitely one of my favorite games of all time. I've forgotten how many times I played this game trying to uncover all the secrets and nabbing 100% completion. With that said, I think its sequel, Donkey Kong Country 2 is a better game. I contains a lot of what was great about Donkey Kong Country 1 and made it better and adding new mechanics on top of that. The graphics and sound design are also noticeably more polished. I can't wait to see your review on that game soon enough. :)

I have very fond memories of reaching world 5 as a kid, probably due to hard and hostile the area was. It hammered home that you have breached a brave new world far from home. The blizzard that just kept getting stronger, and the struggle along the path as you can see that the save spot is still far ahead. It is honestly one of my favourite sections of the game.

Really nice video! Good work. I think you did a good job of summing up the strengths and weaknesses of the games given the benefit of some serious hindsight. I remember strolling into a ToysRus when this game originally came out -- they had it setup on their display SNES and I was completely blown away. I'd never seen graphics like that on my Genesis! Cool stuff.

This is a fair review. I love the donkey Kong country series and understandably so dkc has its flaws however they are practically ironed out in the next instalment. DKC2 (my favourite out of the originals) is the game that really shines out of the original trilogy. You’ll definitely love the modern variations of the country series both returns and tropical freeze (my favourite out of the whole lot) are phenomenal games. But just to touch on certain points you made about the trial and error is that it seems at certain points when you try to swim away from the croctopus that you weren’t moving as fast as you could have been were you holding the respective buttons for going up or down to go faster? Also I think camera being in the centre was to give the player the opportunity to explore their surroundings since stages have many invisible walls on both the left and right hand sides. Being on one side of the screen makes you subconsciously think to move in the forward direction but being in the centre encourages you to move backwards and forwards for those who want to look for secrets that the game has hidden very well, infact too well, I’m surprised you were able to 101% the game on a Japanese version when some of the secrets can be painfully cryptic. There is definitely nostalgia with the original series but rightfully so since it was revolutionary for it’s time. The artsyle is charming and unique that the game may show its age but it’s an appealing age, I mean beauty is in the eye of the beholder so. But the game conveys atmosphere so well and that’s probably the country games strongest aspect, the *atmosphere.*

You can't get rid of Squawks, but you can avoid getting him in the first place. Used to do it all the time for the fun of it in that level.

I genuinely appreciate the concepts this game's level design holds. Each level has platforms placed in such a way that speedrunning them is viable as well as slower, casual platforming, save of course for the Underwater, Track, and Minecart levels. The game, as well as the rest of the trilogy, follows a many-player-archetype design philosophy that feels great for anyone who gives these games a shot.

I love the intro theme and the swimming stage theme as well, I could seriously meditate to that. I also love the jungle theme too, it has a satisfying arabian moment in the song that is so relaxing and just perfect ear candy music.

This was the first video game I ever played. I was 8 years old, my parents got me and my brother this thing called a Super Nintendo, no idea what this was but we got hook along with our parents. I remember how hard it was to find all of the secrets because it was 1 year before the internet, so you basically had to talk with friends and hope that they found something. So many memories.

I remember dying to the Necky boss several times back in the day because the Nintendo Power strategy guide said you could bounce on the nuts to stun them and then throw them at him. Also lost Enguarde many times trying to spear a Croctopus due to false info from the same source.

Excellent fuckin review! You were on point with the high point and few gripes. I remember getting this for Christmas in 94 along with Super Punch Out, NBA Live 95 and I wanna say either StarFox or King of the Monsters (not sure), but I was totally blown away by the graphics, tight controls and addictive gameplay. Definitely a classic. Playing this game was probably one of, if not the first experiences all gamers have when you're in awe and saying to yourself, "video games will literally never get better than this". Lol I love those moments and moreso love each time when you're proven different, and even the times when you're playing an older game and you're like, "damn I missed out on this shit". Thanks for these really thorough reviews and taking me and others on a nostalgia ride back to younger and more simpler times.

Am I the only one who watches your videos as an ASMR? I may be crazy, but your voice relaxes me

DK hitting the ground is for the collecting secret 🍌 and lives!!

Man, your channel is amazing.

In 1994 this game was mind blowing! Still some of the best walking animations you will ever see. I put this game in a category with sonic the hedgehog two which is incredible

Another Great Work Kris. I knew you will enjoy the game not much like much of the people but it's good to see your time wasn't wasted at all. Some Tips: The Handslap uncovers hidden bananas and extra lifes in some cases, the Krockrocks can be beated in the japanese version if i'm not mistaken, The Super Krushas can be beated by DK in the japanese version too but in the western barrels only if i'm not mistaken again and well that's all XD. The screen has some issues but in the GBA port remedies this in the water levels with the screen been wider horizontally. The animal buddies bonus are really pace breakers and sometimes bring you back to the checkpoint but they're optional thankfully and i miss the animal buddies post DKC3 they don't appear except for Rambi and Enguarde in 64 and Rambi everywhere else. The Save System yes it's a pain to get to Candy and Gorilla Glacier it's the hardest zone in the game hands down the first four stages are hard enough but to get to Candy, that's a bigger pain, but at least it's possible to save like you said, the trial and error well that wasn't a problem for me when i replayed the game solo for the first time in 2011 but then again i was more well rounded in the genre but yeah it's somewhat annoying, all the presentation stuff it's really hit and miss, i agree with you in this the game isn't a Masterpiece and it never was a Masterpiece it's a great game the sequel on the other hand i can see somewhat of that i grew up with this game and i love it but nostalgia doesn't blind me. Sorry for the bible of comment XD. Nice review as always Kris keep the good work dude I forgot that Squawks lantern was modified in the later releases to prevent seizures becuase of the light

Awesome review as always I played this game on the gba and there are a few differences to note 1.sprites are smaller so you can see more 2. The bosses have improved! not too much but enough to make them better 3. They have more stuff to make them more like the sequels (adding the graphic in the beginning of bonus rooms and marking bonus barrels with a B)

Having watched your review of Tropical Freeze I think we have the complete opposite opinions :-) Tropical Freeze has way more areas that require trial and error and memorisation than DKC ever had. Your example of Platform Perils is imho a lot less difficult and trial and error than - let's say - Fruity Factory in Tropical Freeze. Tropical Freeze is a modern game and uses these advancements in technology: way more objects on screen, a zoomed out screen which makes it even more difficult to track everything and objects that appear sooner due to a higher refresh rate. In DKC there are two levels where the difficulty grade has an unpected high spike: Poison Pond and Snow Barrel Blast. In Tropical Freeze this is almost any level as of world two or three. I'm not going to say DKC is a revolutionary game, but it brought platform gaming to a new standard. Presentation-wise of course with the pre-rendered graphics and excellent soundtrack of David Wise. But also regarding gameplay mechanics with the barrels, minecart levels, build up momentum when you hit enemies, the ability to change your move midway and some creative level design such as the lights that go off and on in the factory. Its two biggest contras are the bonus rooms that have almost no variety and the easy bosses. For the saving it's not necessary to wait for a new point with Candy. You can go back to a previous point and save your progress there.

Fantastic video! This is a game that I have so many memories for as it was one of the first games I owned and played it so much. Your analysis on it was spot on, the game has aged in graphics but is still very unique in it's style. The gameplay is solid (for the most part, I'm surprised you didn't mention the awkwardness of controlling Winky the frog) and it is tough as nails but when it's mostly up to player skill it feels rewarding when you DO finish a level. My main complaints about the game are those Animal bonus rooms as they take you out of the level you are in and don't put you back in the same spot you left which can ruin some progress which really sucks in the harder stages. I also hate Gorilla Glacier, it's the hardest world in the game by far and I was devastated as a kid to die so many times in the first 4 levels and have to replay it all the time.

Excellent work, you put a lot of effort into making these videos, it's a real shame that you don't have more subscribers.

I personally never played a DKC game out of not caring enough, though with this review I'd be willing to try one if them.

Hm... I wonder what your opinion on DKC2 would be? Since... I'll be honest. DKC1 is actually probably the easiest in the series. DKC2 is a bit more brutal in my opinion. Although, perhaps this is just nostalgia. But, I still really love that game.... It actually improved on a lot of the things you mentioned in DKC1. The bosses are a LOT better in DKC2. Anyway, I shouldn't go so far off track. I like that your reviews aren't biased. You seem to really know how to convey your points. You don't go overly negative, but, you also keep your positivity in check too.

It IS a masterpiece. You're describing a masterpiece. What it ISN'T is flawless. Not being flawless doesn't change that it's a masterpiece. Breath Of The Wild is one of the best games ever made, and I can sit here and list problems with that game for about 30 mins straight. MegaMan X is a masterpiece and it IS effectively flawless, but MegaMan X4 is an EVEN BETTER game and ISN'T flawless, because X4 attempted more things and had more ways to not get it completely perfect (i.e. X1 didn't have voice acting at all, but X4 had voice acting that wasn't great).

You didnt mention the 2 extra side rooms in each bonus room, with the multipliers and the double worth tokens.

Just an FYI.... WE ARE GETTING A DKC DARK MINES RIDE at UNIVERSAL STUDIOS in the near future!! That and we are also getting a MARIO KART ride too!

You can talk about the graphics as you did after all these years but this blew away anything out on console at the time of release. Even the original 3d Crash Bandicoot in terms of visual.

I recommend you master the roll for dkc2

I noted that most people nowadays don't hold the Y button all the time while playing. In the SNES era, most games required you to do it in order to run faster o charge your weapons. It makes them all that much easier. That´s why you had kind of a hard time in some areas. Holding Y, will make you move slighlty faster even underwater.

I’m glad DKC3 doesn’t hold the ability to save hostage like its two predecessors

Im gonna shed a tear, the nolstalgia is so strong that I wish I can go back and relive this game all over as a kid, as the 8 year old me. Playing it on an emulator today just isnt the same.

When this game came out, I rented it ferociously. Until I bought my own copy. I loved this game. Chasing that 100% was one of my be goals. I thought this game still holds up in 2020.

The bosses are lacking and the level variety (in terms of area types like jungles, caves, etc) kind of disappears in the last world, as if the developers ran out of time or ideas, but I still like the first DKC a lot. Honestly, its biggest sin to me is that most of the time I'd much rather replay DKC2 instead, and I don't say that as criticism of DKC (more as a compliment to the sequel). Other than that, I've always hated the bonuses in the game; some of them are way too obscure, and I think a couple of them require the player to jump into what appear to be bottomless pits, without any bananas as hints. I've never completed the game to 101% as a result, since there isn't any real reward, like new levels, for completing everything. I can't complain about this too much, as it's not like the game punishes me for having no interest in its secrets (aside from missing out on a few potential extra lives, which aren't that necessary). I'm not sure if you missed it from playing the Japanese version or wanted to keep it a secret, but I've always loved the fake ending in the King K. Rool fight; it's one of the little details that gives the game charm, and of the reasons why K. Rool is the only memorable boss in the game. Also, I hope you comment on DKC3. It's the game in the trilogy I feel the most mixed and conflicted about.

You're using the framemeister for this ey? Where did you get the RGB cable for the SNES? I got one a while back and all it outputs is audio. :S

Haven't even seen the video yet but I know that he'll start it by saying " X GAME IS A PLATFORMER DEVELOPED BY Y"

I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have...are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have expanded over a very long career, skills that make me a nightmare for reptiles like you. If you let my bananas go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't...I will look for you, I will find you...and I will banana-slamma you.

implantgames should be now named terrificgames

It's nice to see a fair review on this one. It's one of the top-tier platformers of the era, but it's far from a masterpiece.

I have always respected this game. To this day I love the audio and visual experience and I have some fond memories of a few stages. However, I do think the level design is extremely overrated. Many stages feel harder than they need to and I am not fond of the gimmick stages of "stay on the platform", those would be better as level segments rather than full stages.

Is Donkey Kong Country for the SNES UNDERRATED? Btw, good video. I honestly agree with a lot of what you have to say about DKC1. It's definitely not perfect, but something about it is just charming and replayable, even if the 100% reward was disappointing.

I never finished this game, but it is really good. Nice review as always

This is where *Donkey Kong* grabbed me. 0_o

You forgot to mention Expresso The Ostrich when you talked about the Animal Friends @ 5:45.

I feel in some regard this game analysis shares a bit of a kinship with your review of Sonic the Hedgehog (1) from back 2 years prior. The way its described as being somewhat newcomer hostile but overall rewarding is a nice connection to be made, even if they're two conceptual projects that have very little in common. Aside from jumpin' on dudes, of course :)

This game looks nice, I saw and played this game once...

Wut? I love the Klap Trap sounds.

Your reviews are fantastic! Very well thought out and you actually play the games and know them. I'm glad I discovered your channel

Still my favorite of the trilogy

I guess it time to pick this game up

Saved the super? I never knew the super Nintendo was ever in any kind of danger

You doomed yourself now, you must make the 2nd and 3rd game now

I loved these games... check out earthworm Jim and the aaahhhh real monsters game... those were really fun too

Requiring trial and error isn't a flaw, though. It's only an issue because of the save system. Modern players are most likely going to play on platforms with save states, eliminating that problem.

Great review as always man. :) While I think this game can be a bit overhyped I certainly think it's great. Now in terms of the DKC games I can call a masterpiece, well, I hope DKC 2 and TF are your liking. ;)

Still a masterpiece in 2020.

I wonder how the mags who awarded DKC a 100% think a year later when they played DKC2 or DKC3 that improved over the original in ways they didn't expect.

The title screen in the japanese version is different and is rendered in 256 blended colors, whereas in the western version, the title screen is rendered at 16 blended colors.

Smacking the ground also could reveal hidden items. Yay players guide.

11:30 The graphics look much better when they're softened a little, either through a CRT monitor or a filter. Hard upscaled pixels don't work well with some of these detailed 16-bit games, they can look quite harsh and ugly.

I hope they make a proper DKC4. Don't get me wrong, DK:TF was a really fun to play game (I didn't find into DKC:R because of the shitty controls) but IMHO the visuals and the atmosphere (feeling) of the original trilogy wasn't met at any point again.

This is somewhere in my top five list of games everyone loves but I never enjoyed.

Using save states to save at the start of a stage of when reachig a checkpoint is a great way to dodge some of the dumb tings in this game

DKC2 is the masterpiece of the series

One of my favorite games

Bro if you hold up or down on the dpad when those croctopi are chasing you it makes you move up/down much faster

I never had those problems with collision detection and I still haven't.

This is a stupid reason but I prefer Donkey Kong Country over Donkey Kong Country 2 because I can play as Donkey Kong. I wish there was a hack to make Donkey Kong playable in DKC2 and DKC3. Someone has already made the sprites. Check it out: www.deviantart.com/phyreburnz/gallery/37344348/Custom-animated-DKC-sprites. Edit: I now watched the video and this is a really nice and fair review of Donkey Kong Country! I grew up with this game and it's my 2nd favourite Super Nintendo games behind Super Mario World! I can't say I disagree with anything you said here. Controls are on par with Super Mario World, the levels are beautifully atmospheric but the camera could have been better and the trail and error is quite annoying. A great review!

Great video as alway's and by the way, when is the next podcast?

My first game.

Hey Kris, great review. Keep on doing high quality reviews like this one. And add another original XBox review to the bunch, please?

This game Is a MASTER PIECE!!

My favorite SNES game, hands-down. :)

Still my personal favorite

I suddenly miss Gamepro and Electronic Gaming... #RIPVideogamemags

Bees why does there have to be bees? slipping was never my issue but then again I played it on a console and it seems you did an imulator. The barrel timing worked for me just fine... but next to enemies caused the second most deaths for me. Which is why I have the opening question. Them SOB's were way more of my death count then I want to admit. I like how things progressed in this series until the 64 killed my interest in the franchise.

Does anybody know if the GBA ports are good? I heard some bad things about the DKC3 port, but what about DKC and DKC2?

1:35 I didn’t know the SNES ever was in need of being saved..?

Yes I'm glad I'm not the only one that has a problem with the klaptraps chomping. I HATE that sound.

Emulation fixes the save point debacle, just use save states on my SNES MINI (Y)

i didnt struggle at all playing dkc for the first time. lives are plentiful. i never got a game over.

the k next to your subscriber count should be replaced with m also dk country returns is imo the best dk country game

I like this guy

Did you know that you can kill Krushas only in the Japanese version?

The game is a masterpiece!

This game IS a masterpiece!!!!!!!!

An absolute classic ... DKC2 is better imo. But this one is close to perfection.