Developer: Rare Publisher: Nintendo Released: 1995 Genre: Platformer
Donkey Kong Country was a phenomenon that until that point was uncommon in the industry. As the SNES and Genesis began to age most looked to the new consoles coming the following year for new experiences. But DKC, with its pre-rendered visuals and tight gameplay proved there was still life left in the 16-bit consoles. It quickly became one of the best-selling games of the generation and a defining title. While it may have been overrated at the time no one can deny that there was something there. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest improves on every aspect of its predecessor and is one of the greatest 2d platformers of all time.
With Donkey Kong kidnapped Diddy has gained a new partner. Dixie Kong is not a bruiser like the big man but might be more useful. Her ponytail enables her to glide, making platforming easier. Her only drawback is picking up and throwing items is slower. Diddy isn’t as versatile but is slightly stronger because he can cartwheel, carry items in front of him and jumps higher. Neither has Donkey Kong’s strength but the game makes up for it in a different way. You can piggy back on each other and toss your partner around. Not only does it take out stronger enemies but it can be used to collect items and access bonus rooms. It isn’t infallible but is pretty handy throughout the game.
Unlike the first game Diddy’s Kong Quest has a consistent pirate theme. It sounds limiting but in reality gives it a great deal of variety. Each “world” takes place on a different part of the island and is themed. Crocodile cauldron takes place inside a volcano while Krazy Kremland is a theme park. Gloomy Gulch and Krem Quay are both swamp themed yet still distinct.Just like its predecessor when Diddy’s Kong Quest reuses a setting it is done with an interesting twist. Lockjaw’s Locker is your standard water level. When you revisit it later in Lava Lagoon you must use Clapper the Seal to cool down the water temporarily, giving it a frenetic pace. The latter portion of the game is the most unique as you explore the inside of K. Rool’s castle.
All of the elements that made Donkey Kong Country unique return and have been expanded. The animal helpers have some cool new additions like Rattly and Squitter. More importantly the barrels have even better additions. There are barrels that you can steer for a limited amount of time, rotating barrels and probably the most unique, plus and minus. These are only in Gloomy Gulch but are instantly memorable. These barrels increase/decrease your invincibility time to avoid Kackles the ghost. The slight differences between Diddy and Dixie make exploring the levels an absolute blast. To find all of the game’s secrets you will have to use their abilities in ways you might not expect and still probably need a guide. Those that manage it can call themselves true platforming veterans.
Rare has gained a reputation for collectathons in their games and that is true to an extent here. However everything you collect has a purpose. In addition to bananas and balloons now the game has currency in the form of banana coins. The Kong family has grown with some charging for their services. Wrinkly Kong offers tips and saves your game, Funky will allow you to revisit prior worlds. Swanky Kong has a game show that allows you to earn extra lives. Cranky Kong returns and offers the same cryptic hints disguised as insults but more importantly he will clue you in to DK coins.
The kremcoins grant access to the Lost World, the Donkey Kong equivalent of Star World. The requirements to enter each of its five levels are steep; you need fifteen kremcoins per stage. These coins only exist in the bonus rounds. Every level has at least two or three; you’ve got some work ahead of you if the Lost World is your goal. For those that are looking for a challenge these levels give it in spades. If you are good enough to complete the Lost World you can fight the true final boss and get the best ending. But you’ll have to work for it.
To an extent Diddy’s Kong Quest assumes you played the first game. It starts out simple but ramps up quickly. In my opinion the difficulty curve is near perfect. The mechanics established in the original have been fully realized and are an absolute joy to play with. Levels like Stickerbush Symphony and Bramble Blast push your barrel blasting skills to the limit. Even simple levels like Target Terror manage to add tricky elements that will cost a few lives. There is a reason the game gives you so many opportunities to earn extra lives; you will need them. Early on it is liberal with extra lives and checkpoints. By the midpoint the game begins to space them out further and further. But it does so knowing that it has prepared you what is to come. They’ve even managed to make the boss battles interesting; how crazy is that?
Donkey Kong Country was already a technical showcase. Yet somehow Diddy’s Kong Quest betters it on every level, both technically and artistically. The art direction in particular is far better; these look more like characters than stylized pieces of plastic. Crocodile Isle is darker overall than the previous game and more diverse in its setting. Despite Rare’s at times questionable character design the Kremlings are pretty funny antagonists. The game uses practically every special effect the SNES can produce outside of Mode 7 but does it sparingly and only to enhance gameplay. Diddy’s Kong Quest is one of the best looking titles of that generation and still holds up today.
The game’s orchestral soundtrack is some of the finest music on the SNES. The soundtrack for DKC was largely tropical themed but that would be inappropriate tonally with this game’s setting. The music is moodier and tense but can swing back to joyous and upbeat when necessary. There are more instances where the music will fade to put the sound effects in focus and it works wonderfully. Even the comical sound effects are a perfect match for the music.
In Closing
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest is an absolutely phenomenal game and one of the best 2d platformers ever made. Rare dug deep and created a classic with this one and produced one of the best reasons to own a SNES. A classic in every way.
