4/5 ★ – jackohdee's review of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.

Donkey Kong Country is not a complicated series. There’s few gimmicks outside the odd minecart or animal buddy - it’s a straightforward platformer. The secret sauce is that it’s simply cool as hell. Diddy’s Kong Quest is the laid-back, streetwise (dare I say funky) vibe of the 90s crystallized in pre-rendered glory. Every time you clear a stage, you feel like Fido Dido taking a refreshing sip of 7 Up. Diddy busts out the boombox, Dixie shreds a victorious riff - those nonchalant fanfares never fail to satisfy. David Wyse is on fire. Level tracks are among the best in gaming history - from the new jack swing of Funky the Main Monkey to the masterful chillwave of Forest Interlude, the soundscape is just immaculate. The Flying Crock is so dope. These are the Kremlings I want back in my life - K. Rool's wild machinery and rotating disguises add so much character to these bizarre tales of Ape vs. Alligator. When you get down into the Lost World (I cheated for the Kremcoins) it feels like there's some real lore behind these iconic villains waiting to be unearthed. I'm looking forward to returning to the world of DK - but I’m not convinced Bananza is going to capture the atmosphere and charm of Rare’s titles. I just want to go back to DK Isle, hear the "GUH" of a felled Klump, and maybe have a little barrel plane. Thankfully, these classics are still lookin’ good, dudes.