This video is part of TGC's coverage of Donkey Kong Country games and spinoffs! Don't miss the rest of them: kzfaq.info/sun/PLYoabN6QznuIx7X1DnZyPICinmO9podH9

"Most other game heroes were out to save pricesses, conquer empires, save the world! But DK? Nope.. He was a man of the 90's. He just wanted his stuff back." LOL I love that :D

David Wise can't get enough credit! His soundtrack is a big part of what makes this game so memorable!

"Winky is a frog and is absolutely perfect in every way." Liked, favorited!

As a modern gamer, I can easily say that DKC's graphics still look fucking amaze-balls to this day.

We're liking this not for the very sweet shoutout at the end, but because of the expertly-crafted K. Rool Kredits joke. That got a good chortle out of us. Seriously though, this is probably the best summary I've ever seen of why DKC is so magical. We've spent 15 years defending the damn game during the hostile GameCube years and the Tropical Freeze backlash, and you basically wrapped up the argument in 16 minutes. Fantastic. There's nothing we can argue about here. Also, you did it by throwing in an Enguarde "hologram" joke and a Brash Bear cameo. Bravo. The prospect of you doing a video for DKC2 IS definitely exciting, since all of those criticisms were more or less resolved with DKC2 and it's more Geek Critique goodness. Then again, I'm sure you could find a way to make a video about Donkey Kong Country Barrel Maze exciting. Let's see that first!

My favorite atmospheric moment in DKC1 was level 4-1 where the snowstorm starts setting in as you progress throughout the level. First the beautiful mountain in the background disappears. Then the trees. By the time you hit the checkpoint the blizzard is in full swing and ONE wrong move sends you plummeting to your doom. At the time, it really felt like you were diving into a blizzard with no certainty of survival. It transitioned really well into the (unfortunately) one-of-a-kind crystal cave level, and then back out into another mountain level but this time with the blizzard quickly subsiding. Taken as a whole the trio of these levels is amazing, but it's that first level that gets all the memories.

I never had a snes growing up, but I started playing the trilogy recently and I fell in love with it. Even today, I can appreciate how the graphics look compared to everything else at the time. And the gameplay is so fluid it it encourages speed-runs on later playthroughs. But why nintendo removed the trilogy off the virtual console in the US I won't understand...

I've been playing this game for 20+ years, and not once did I realize that the set piece found in the intro (3:13) is from the original Donkey Kong construction site. Wow.

Here I am, once again, starting to watch all the Geek Critique videos about the Donkey Kong franchise. There's something about these videos that I just love, I love them so much that no joke I lost count of how many times I've watched them.

*Hears the DKC Credits music at **15:23* "Keep it in old boy.....keep it in....." *Tear rolls down*

I'm so glad that you pointed out the sound design of this game. One of my favorite subtle aspects that creates the particular atmosphere of each of these games were the sounds.

6:31 Funny you said that, you see in the SNES there was another game, called Plok, with such a great music that the man himself, Shigeru Miyamoto, he didn't believe that the music from Plok was coming from a regular SNES and that the composer must have installed a modified audio chip. Of course that wasn't the case, the music was just freaking awesome for a SNES game, and the composer, Tim Follin, was that good.

This is my favorite Donkey Kong Country game. I disagree about the graphics though I think they aged well.

"It would have been as well remembered as Myst" As I understand it, though, Myst is a cult classic held up as one of the best point-and-click adventure games. Also, I feel the need to point out that you mention the game starting up DK Island Swing while you have Funky's Flights playing in the background.

was that DK fucking candy in his tree house in the end? lol

Miyamoto definitely said that line about Donkey Kong, it was in an interview with Stephen L Kent and was also reiterated in his book.

This was really well put together. Keep up the awesome work, TGC!

TGC, I think I figured out one reason why your show is so good. You don't just review the video game, you review the "who, what, when, where, why, how" of the video game. My old mentor in writing would love your show if she was still around. She didn't play video games, but your videos are just so damn thorough and engaging, she would rave to me about you if she watched them. And she would explain how I needed to incorporate some of your technique into my work as well. If somebody asks me for writing tips, I'm gonna think of you, Geek Critique.

I clicked on this video by total curiosity, as I've seen it appear a bit in my suggested videos feed. About 10 seconds into the video, I was already immersed, and every sentence I listened to I was already waiting for the next. Outstanding narration ! The pacing is excellent, there isn't anything superfluous, and there is a constant flow of informations at just the right pace. Add in your way of talking, that puts emphasis where needed so that listening is an ease, and helps making the jokes land, makes for what i'd call quality content x) This video might be 4 years old, but I've watched newer ones and they're just as good. Instant sub !

This is definitely one of the best retrospective videos about this game I have watched. You did a really great job on summarizing why this game is such a classic and why it still holds up well to this day.

I picked a good day to subscribe! ^_^ I love Donkey Kong Country!! :D

I kinda found it hilarious that Cranky Kong just roasts the game throughout it, even at the end and in the manual XD

“The game sounds beautiful “ gang plank gallon intensifies

The WSG sent me here, Happy Birthday Josh!

This and Super Mario RPG really impressed me back when they came out, and I still think they look pretty good now.

One of my favorite games of all-time, it never dawned on me that so much of this game never actually happened in the jungle until you aptly pointed it out. Regardless of locale, the game is phenomenal.

YEEEEEEEEES! Bout' damn time you did this review! I've never really gotten the backlash against the DKC series over the years. I guess being overrated might apply to the first game, but even then it wasn't that bad. It was a somewhat flawed and short, still but solid platformer that set the path for both a fantastic masterpiece and an underrated gem on the SNES.

man, you make me feel like it's the 90's all over again, thanks so much for this great review!

I played his game so much as a kid. Put in so much work then when I finally got to k. Rool and that song kicks in.... I still credit my love for heavy metal to that song. After so many attempts to beat it and I finally do that ending scene/ credits is nothing less than satisfying. I will never forget the times his game brought me my brother and father together, just having fun and tanking turns to play.

BTW: Nintendo just casually dropped Donkey Kong Country on their Nintendo Switch Online update today (7/72020).

I remember the TV commercial for this game. Nintendo finally clapped back at Sega's years of antagonistic advertising. The message was simple "We have a game that looks THIS good, without the need for $300 worth of useless dust collecting add-ons!"

What was that footage of Donkey Kong in his house at the end?!

DKC's been out long enough to where it COULD be many KZfaq viewers' father's Donkey Kong.

In honor of DKC1 being added to Nintendo Switch Online, I'm rewatching this video. Looking forward to finally beating this title.

A guy who might like donkey kong more than I do. Never thought I would see the day!

Didnt realize until watching this that those are girders cranky is standing on a la the original arcade game. That's amazing

To me the CGI renders of the 90's look so much better in terms of realism than the modern renditions we often get today in gaming. How is that even possible? EDIT: Oh yeah I still have my original SNES with all three DKC games. I got my system as part of the original DKC console bundle for my B-Day one year. Still have the box somewhere. :)

My 5th time starting this critique series again, this are PURE GOLD.

I keep coming back to your videos on DKC, Metroid and Smash. I just can't stay away.

I had never really cared for the graphic style of DKC, but after watching this video I am amazed by how beautiful this game looks.

Nice little dose of nostalgia on my lunch break 😅

It's funny when you said: "Instead of powerups or hitpoints Nintendo created distinct characters". Because that is just what I feel has happened with the DKC-returns games: The characters were downgraded to being nothing more than extra hitpoints and powerups. This is one of the many problems I had with the DKC-returns games.

I completed this game on the Gameboy Advance. While a bit different, I can relate to a lot of the stuff GeekCritique says.

4:20 If it's mundane motivation you want, in BFD (another Rare game), the entire reason the panther king was after Conker was because Conker was the right size to prop up a table leg so the king wouldn't spill his milk.

There are many game reviewers who are easily forgotten. You sir are NOT one of them. Excellent work.

Ah, the nostalgia. I definitely remember it but forgot what some of the levels looked like. The graphics actually hold up pretty well nowadays in comparison to other titles released at the time. But yeah, I have not forgotten how hard those later mine cart levels were. Was really cool hearing the music again too.

@ 2:04 when you said the bit where "this isn't.... This is..Donkey Kong Country!" I let out an "YEAH, DONKEY KONG!" and here I am just watching this by myself.

25 years later, I'm still learning new things about Donkey Kong Country

The thing about Miyamoto is even funnier when you retweeted that blurb about Miyamoto being shocked when during DK64's development he pulled out a realistic looking gun.

My parents and aunts came together to get me the DKC/Mario All Stars SNES bundle. I was playing these games before I could even read. It took me years to find the guts to git gud and finally beat K Rool. It was my first triumph in a game. The Gangplank Galleon theme still invokes a heroic spirit in me to this day. This game along with its sequels inspired me to be a true gamer. More than even Mario, Metroid, Mega Man, Sonic had yet done. I hold the DKC trilogy in the fondest place in my heart as far as games go. Next to Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask.

Was Donkey Kong getting it on with Candy at 15:42?

I just finished up my second DKC playthrough of the year, and I never realized there were so many cavern levels until watching this video.

nothing more satisfying than having Winkey and stepping on those giant wasps

I have never gotten tried of rewatching your DKC1 and 2 Videos, you truly speak to why I love the Donkey Kong Country series.

one of the first games i'd deliberately turn the game on just to listen to the music. Funky Kong's Ride especially. DKC's music...all 3 of them really...is insanely fantastic

LOL the walking away as the kiss is being blown @ you @ the save point!!! I remember doing that!

This game was released the same day as I was born, and ever since I learned how to use a controller I've played this game. I still do, and I still love it.

15:02 I take great umbrage with this line. Myst is a quality game that is far more than just the pretty picture collection it's often stereotyped as. It's a quality puzzle game with unparalleled atmosphere, and helped lay the ground work for an incredible universe of games. There's a reason the game gets ported 50 billion times per year. It holds up surprisingly well. Hell I'm not even nostalgic for it. I only first played it about two years ago.

I loved the animal token bonus levels! I really missed them in the second and third entry!

The Geek Critique Your review is just awesome, you really understood what the game went for. Your narration really gears me up to play the game again.

15:35......................Was Donkey Kong getting JIGGY with Candy Kong?

DKC is one of the best games ever made. The graphics still hold up to this day just like Sonic does. When I played this game at my friend's house in 94, I was BLOWN away by the gameplay and graphics. The music in these games are just magical.

Huge props to crediting all three musicians.

this was so fascinating because I've always sprinted though Mario levels as fast as possible and take my time through DK levels very deliberately

ah, the first TGC I saw waaaaay back in college. still a classic!

14:29 It looks really good though. I didn’t grow up with the DKC games, but there’s something about the graphics that I really like.

Those opening 2 minutes were so incredibly well done.

I mean, don't exactly agree with your comment on Myst, but putting that aside this is a fantastic video. Keep up the good work - I'll need something new to watch when I finish catching up.

Man I cant believe it took me this long to find these videos. Donkey Kong Country was my all time favorite game. No other game can come close to the greatness of DKC. I have just sub and i cant wait to see what other videos you make.

By far one of my favorite series on YT

As I hope to always state, 'Your videos are amazing!' In a way I could compare them to a good book or I guess audio book, you never want it to end! Although they seem to be few and far between that makes me appreciate them more, sucking up more of the detailed script, enjoying the thoughtful look at the games. DKC was a game I never really played, having been born a few years after its release but I thoroughly enjoyed DKC2 when I got the port for my GBA SP. During this video I realized a few things; that the HUD wasn't riddled with common things and that the levels had their own flair that no other game could compare to. This game definitely stands the tests of time and probably inspired may game developpers who are relevant nowadays. Until the next one! Cheers! :)

we stan a king who puts the name of the song right on the screen when it starts

DKC may have been the most widely-known, the most ground-breaking, and the most formative of the three SNES DKC games, but I am still of the opinion that it pales in comparison to its sequels (including the Retro games). In 2 and 3, the visuals were upgraded and refined, the character move-sets expanded, the levels designed more interestingly and uniquely, the secrets made more worthwhile, the animal buddies more common, the maps more developed, the entire games being longer...

12:25 Not sure if it's been mentioned but that 'Leap of Faith' in the second level is there because the enemy placement makes it likely you will die and see the barrel on your way off the screen.

Your DKC vids have always been my faves, so, yeah, I'm watching through them again!

Going in the empty banana cave scared me as a kid… a combination of the music and not understanding why DK was upset

I am SOOO GLAD that you talked about the cave/mineshaft levels. But a/an correction- There are 20!? Underground levels!👺👿bullshiz...

Donkey Kong "just wanted his stuff back." I like that. Lol. And I would argue that the criticisms you have for the original DKC were fixed in DKC Returns.

I know this video is old, but I gotta say I love everything about 13:40 to 13:56. The insults, the credits joke, everything. I was just waiting to hear you didn't actually mean any of it lol

Nice job matching up the graphics with the remix DKC/Arcade Donkey Kong medley.

I remember a book that I bougth a while ago called "La historia de los videojuegos" and while watching this I rememberd from where i Heard that quote before. So for answers i went back to that book and this is what I found. Supposedly that quote from shigeru Miyamoto was made while he was developing Yoshi's island for the SNES, the higher ups wanted the Game to look like Donkey Kong Country, having all of those 3D effects, and shigeru didn't want to do that, so what ended up happening is that he made the graphics have a more convincing hand drawn effect and supposedly because of this problem while developing Yoshi's island he basically sayd that in a interview. I don't know i don't believe that's how everything went :b

Wow, this brings back a whole lot of good memories.

"A good game shouldn't need any explanation" I couldn't put it better

That music from the underwater levels always takes me back

So true about being a fast and rhythmic game! I've played so many times I love just blasting through the levels. Feels great.

Man, I first played and finished this game on the Switch Online SNES service a year or two back... and boy am I glad I powered through it! If I had decided it was too hard to play and dropped it, I would have never discovered the joy and charm it brings. The graphics are still gorgeous despite being somewhat dated - the once advanced pseudo-3D graphics work just as well as a stylistic choice. And BOY is it a fun challenge to play!

So if that's true, then in a way, Kranky represents Miyamoto, and Donkey and Diddy represent Rare

I think you read new comments from here but you intoduced me to 2 series I thought I would never like metroid and DKC recently bought DKC2 and Metroid so thanks just wanted to say how much I love your vids and your channel ! Alfo thanks for showing me games I now love !

Enjoyed the video, I never played this game growing up, asides from the Gameboy version, but have really enjoyed it since adding it to my Super Nintendo games collection. this game is an integral part of the library of power-titles the Super Nintendo had, it was titles like this that gave the system such a well-rounded library of games. Also nice to see someone using 720p60 for retro game videos, looks great!

Found this through DK Vine and I love it! Very well done and a great look at one of my favorite series ever. As others said - I'd love to see a similar video on DKC 2. You could do it justice! Subscribed. Can't wait to watch more of your work.

Thank you for making me realize how much I miss this game.

It's honestly quite sad what Nintendo did with Rare, I feel like that quote Miyamoto said was probably true and made out of jealousy. It's honestly he only reason I see why Nintendo would sell the developer Rare instead of keeping them on board after the insane generation they had with the N64, they really were some of the most talented developers during their time.

The day I decide that I want to play through the Myst games is the same day I watch a video about Donkey Kong that randomly mentions how forgotten Myst is. I guess it's fate. Oh, and subscribed!

Wait, that opening sequence for DKC... those red girders... I had no idea that was actually in reference to the original Donkey Kong game. Holy crap.

I still have the Donkey Kong Country promotion video with Daniel Kayser on VHS, hilarious. _Im fuck old._ I was so stoked for DKC, and when it was released, it revealed it self as one of THE best games ever created. A game worthy of a Diamond Award, because gold and platinum was yesterday. RARE games alone were System seller back in the days. Nintendo let them go, and M$hit destroyed them absolute and utterly.

The level design music and art style of the game were fantastic and it made great innovations for a bombastic series. But those animal tokens man…

I ALWAYS have fond memories of DKC. I was born in 1990, so naturally a lot of the earlier SNES stuff I overlooked due to being too young at the time. I played Super Mario World, but DKC is a game I played for years and years, and later I did the same for DKC2 and DKC3, and I still love them all. I was also a HUGE Sonic fan, as well, but DKC is still my favorite platforming franchise to date. Only Nintendo franchise to beat it in my eyes is Legend of Zelda and its puzzle-solving adventures. Sucks that the buyout era hurt DKC for several years, but I'm glad its back, and I'm looking forward to FINALLY playing Tropical Freeze this weekend. ^^

15:30 If DK's Cabin is rockin, don't go knockin, his coconut gun can fire in spurts.

14:28: "...what were amazing visuals in 1994 look like dithered plastic nowadays..." Well, it also doesn't help that a lot of people don't see this game over composite cables on a CRT TV--if one can replicate the look in an emulator using filters/shaders, I recommend it. It makes the aesthetic look considerably more natural.