Donkey Kong Country

Review

by Scott Alan Marriott

The heavily hyped Donkey Kong Country, developed by Rare, is a visual tour-de-force on the 16-bit system, displaying graphics with a pseudo-3D effect. Underneath its vibrant visuals lies a game designed closely in the spirit of Nintendo's Super Mario series, from the map method of selecting levels to the classic bop-and-bounce play mechanics. One of the more interesting features is the ability for Donkey Kong to switch places with his cartwheeling nephew Diddy, who follows behind his uncle in case of a chimp catastrophe.

This tag-team system offers you an extra chance at completing a level, since Donkey or Diddy can only absorb one hit before they disappear into a barrel located somewhere within the stage. The duo must embark on a cross-country trek to retrieve their beloved bananas from a Bowser-like villain called K. Rool and his crocodile army of Kremlings. You'll run, bounce, and swing across jungles, ancient temples, treetops, and more. Animal friends such as a rhinoceros, swordfish, ostrich, and frog can be used as temporary transportation within the game's six worlds, and there are over 100 banana-busting bonus stages to discover.

If there's one complaint, it's the game's lack of originality. You've seen and done nearly everything in this game on earlier platform titles. While the visual technique of using pre-rendered graphics clearly sets Donkey Kong Country apart from similar games on the platform, it also has its limitations. Neither Donkey nor Diddy has as many moves as Mario, and the two perform comparatively limited attacks. The use of such large characters also restricts your viewpoint, making some of the precise jumps more difficult than they should be. Expect to revisit stages more than once to familiarize yourself with each layout while perfecting your sense of timing.

Fortunately, Donkey Kong Country isn't a title you'll easily tire of, providing just the right amount of challenge throughout its eye-popping levels. There's an impressive amount of variety in the stage design, as you'll blast across cannon-like barrels spinning through the air, ride inside a mine cart, swim across treacherous waters, and more. It's no Super Mario World, but Donkey Kong Country is still a must-have cartridge packed with fun, if familiar, action. The big ape makes a triumphant debut in the spotlight after years of playing second banana to a paunchy plumber.