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System:
SNES
Genre:
Platformer
Publisher:
Nintendo
Developer:
Rare
Players:
1-2
Release date/year:
1994
Other systems:
GameBoy Color
» Screenshots
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- Donkey Kong Country
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1994 Rare - Nintendo - SNES
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Donkey Kong Country. Well, what do you say about this game. It was great. The first game where Mario’s old antagonist Donkey Kong is at last put in the spotlight as a hero. This game was released way back in what I like to call the prime of video gaming. The SNES was out for a while. Long enough for it to pump out some great games and give Nintendo, no, the whole industry, a boom. This game was much hyped because it was going to be a revolutionary game in terms of graphics, and gameplay. It is this very hype that made me hear about this game. I was flipping through the latest issue of Nintendo Power, and there is was, a huge ad for this game. That is where I first heard about it. Slowly more and more hype came up. I wanted the game more then ever then. As soon as it came out I bought it, a rare thing with my monitory situation. I played it for many long hours, enjoying every second. This is truly a great game.
- {~~Main Scores~~}
Gameplay
The gameplay in this is just side scrolling, or is it? In fact, it is not. This game has so much more too offer than simple side scrolling action. For once you have some challenge, and not regular challenge, make-you-think challenge. The basics and more were put into this game.
Firstly, there is the basics. Your levels are divided into areas. Starting at the bottom where your house is, there is a big map. There are about 10 places on the map, starting at the bottom. When you reach a new area, you enter the area. From there you are taken into a smaller map of the same type. This is a map of the levels within the main area. As you finish each level, you progress to the next. Once you finish the final level in the area, you get to an area boss. These range from a big bird to a barrel.
Secondly, we have the wealth of characters and special places you can visit. The characters that have no special purposes are: Donkey Kong the main ape, and Diddy Kong the little sidekick. The characters that have special places you can visit are: Candy Kong the save kiosk owner, Cranky Kong who dispenses his contempt for apekind and advice, and Funky Kong who can transport you into other level areas from within one.
Lastly, you have all of the special things you can do from within a level. You attack your enemies by jumping on them. The other way this can be done is by throwing a barrel at it. There are many different types of barrels. The ''DK'' barrel which returns Diddy to you if he has been killed, or simply kills an enemy. Then there is the explosive barrel with blows up and can evil take out steel. Next, the regular barrel, just simply thrown to kill. Finally there is the steel barrel which can eliminate any enemy.
There are some little rules and such for using you characters. The first you should learn is that you only have one hit before being killed. But, the front character is always killed off before the secondary one, so when they are both there, it is like you can get two hits. It is highly recommended you have Diddy whenever possible for that reason. You can switch which character you want a the leading one at any time, the one you control will be the one killed, then the secondary one will come in. Finally, there are some restrictions for using either Diddy or Donkey Kong. For Diddy, his main restriction is his size and power, he can’t kill the big enemies. Whole with Donkey, the size and power is also the problem. But with Donkey it is that there is too much of it. He lurks and can’t jump or move very fast. Overall, great gameplay, that was, as it was hyped, revolutionary.
- Graphics
This is another area where this game shined. As it was hyped, the graphics were truly great. Of course held to today’s standards they’re nothing, but they opened up doors for the SNES and were great back then
Character designs were good. Although restricted to the 2D, 16 bit capabilities of the SNES, they did shine. The characters showed detail not yet seen in games. Also, they showed how well a character can react to things that happen. For example the pain of being hit, or the jumps.
Backgrounds were good as well. Of course like I said restricted, they got their spotlight too. They also had some great detailing and they were well put together. By that I mean that the arrangements of the trees and rocks and such made the backgrounds seem realistic, even when 2D.
Objects were few and not much to talk about. Basically you have the barrels, which were, well, barrels. There isn’t much you can really do with them. There were also things like moving platforms and such, but also basic and mediocre.
- Sound
This was another good area, but not quite as good as the others. Also, it wasn’t as big as was hyped. But still, quite enjoyable sounds.
Music was good, but not great. It was a little beepy and not very orchestral, but they tried to make it that way, and at least that shows. What I did like is that the music fit very well with the mood, For example in the jungle you have upbeat bongo music. While in a cave you have dark flute music and such.
Sound effects were few and fairly far apart. Your basic stuff is the attack sounds from you and the enemies, and the different moving things. But, it all fits nicely, for example the nice smooth bubbling creek sounds. Overall, good job.
- Story
Nothing much to talk about here. This was an action game and it didn’t focus much here. Your story is basically that Donkey Kong is obsessed with bananas, but his giant bunch has been stolen! You quest is to return them to his banana storage area and take down the robber. Nothing special, it just ties the other parts together, quite well actually.
- Enjoyability
This game is one of the most enjoyable I have played in ages. All areas are great and make a very good game. I found myself being sucked into the Donkey Kong world, and not coming out for hours on end. Very enjoyable, and a great job by Rare.
- BREAKDOWN
Gameplay: 10
Graphics: 9
Sound: 8
Story: 6.5
Enjoyability: 9
- {~~Other Important Scores~~}
Replay Value: Above Average
The replay value is above average. My reason for saying that is because the story is not a big factor, and it isn’t huge. Once you beat it, no story hold-backs, and not a bad game to play again, simply for the fun.
- Challenge: Medium-hard
The challenge here isn’t anything really difficult. Nor is it something really easy. Simply it is a little hard at some points, but nothing that can in any way effect your playing fun.
- Learning Curve: Almost non-existent
This game is so simple to play, you will learn it the second you are placed in the first level. Can you press B to jump? Can you use the D-Pad? If you can, don’t worry about learning time.
- Buy or Rent: Buy
This game is a buy for me. It is long enough to be worth it. Also, it is definitely fun enough to play for a long time. I don’t even suggest renting first… unless you are crazy.
- Overall
A great game this I enjoyed greatly. I suggest you play it if you haven’t already. You will enjoy it for a long time to come, I guarantee it. Two Thumbs Up!
10/10
//Seifer psx
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