5/5 ★ – RawMetal's review of Donkey Kong Country.

System: Super Nintendo Started: November 2016 Ended: December 2016 Flashback Review The last game I beat was in 2016, and it was a banger. Donkey Kong Country was one of my first sets of video games that got me interested in the hobby, next to Super Mario World, Yoshi’s Island, and Star Fox. 'Country' looked very different from the other games when I first saw it. With its 3D rendering art, it was one of a kind. I did try to play it but never beat it or got very far until 2016. My brother and I played Donkey Kong Country around Thanksgiving week, and we couldn’t put the controller down. We finished it by December whenever we had free time to play through it. This Donkey Kong entry was not made by Nintendo this time but by Rare. This UK game development company dominated the '90s and well into the 2000s, creating titles like Perfect Dark, Battletoads, Killer Instinct, GoldenEye 007, Conker’s Bad Fur Day, Kameo, and Banjo-Kazooie, among others. Rare's Donkey Kong has always been a staple for his character image over the decades, until Nintendo finally gave him a fresh, new look with the recent Donkey Kong Bonanza. Donkey Kong Country is easily one of the best platformers in all of gaming. What makes it unique is the intentional placement of enemies and moving barrels within each level, which creates a gameplay flow that requires precise timing. A misstep on that timing often results in getting hit or falling off-stage and waiting for a life balloon to appear and letting it pop as a life lost. Both Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong have their own abilities: Donkey Kong can roll, ground pound, and easily wipe out large enemies, while Diddy’s high jump and cartwheeling make him fast and nimble. You also have other Kong family members, such as Cranky Kong, who is actually the original Donkey Kong from the classic arcade games and provides useful tips; Candy Kong, who can help you save your game; and my favorite, Funky Kong, who can transport you to different levels quickly via plane. Throughout the levels, you get to ride animals like a rhino, a swordfish, and even ostriches, which are very fun to use. This game's 3D rendering art style was high-tech for its time, and it has aged well like a time capsule of the 16-bit era. I also like the level art design, both in the levels themselves and on the overworld map. The weather effects, such as rain and snow, add to the details in-game. I also enjoy seeing the sun shine through the jungle level and how it transitions to night as you reach the end of a level. The music in this game is god-tier. Composer David Wise stood out with his synth-style atmospheric ambiance. Hearing Aquatic Ambience for the first time was a defining moment that solidified Donkey Kong Country as a timeless classic. The soundtrack also features upbeat tracks like Treetop Rock and more perilous themes like Northern Hemispheres. These are some of my favorite video game soundtracks. The levels are well-designed with simple linear progression, and the mine cart stages are always tense because you never know what’s coming next, requiring quick reflexes and precise timing. I cannot say anything bad about this game. The difficulty curve was just right, especially in the mine cart levels, which kept me on the edge of my seat. However, I think the game could have benefited from more end-level bosses, as you mostly fight the same enemies but with different colors, like bees, beavers, and, for some reason, a giant toxic oil drum. Rare could have introduced more boss battles. Additionally, there’s a lack of a detailed story in the game, but the instruction manual provides enough context to understand the plot. Donkey Kong Country is a bonafide Nintendo classic and a must-play for everyone. It’s even better to experience it in co-op mode. The game was so successful that it spawned sequels, spin-offs, and even an animated (though poorly aged) TV show. Its popularity led Nintendo to create a remake for the Nintendo Wii, featuring new mechanics and modern 3D art instead of the original 3D rendering. This remains one of my favorite Super Nintendo games and possibly one of my all-time favorites. I wouldn’t mind replaying it anytime.