Talk:Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest/GA2

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Reviewer: SNUGGUMS (talk · contribs) 03:26, 24 January 2016 (UTC)[reply]


I'll review. Expect comments within a few days. Snuggums (talk / edits) 03:26, 24 January 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Sorry for the delay. Here's my review:

Infobox
  • There's no support within the article body for any of the release dates
  • Release dates in the article body isn't required, or at least I've never seen them mentioned outside the lead or infobox before JAGUAR 
  • Thanks, luckily Polygon (who are useless for pretty much everything!) had a handy overview of the game. I've sourced them in the infobox, if that's OK. Do you think I should move the citations to the lead? I'm wary of WP:LEADCITE. JAGUAR  20:53, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Infobox is fine when it isn't sourced anywhere else in the article, though that Polygon link only contains a December 1995 SNES release date; something separate for the GBA release is needed
  • Ah I forgot. I sourced the GBA release date. JAGUAR  16:09, 7 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Good catch; done JAGUAR  16:17, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Lead
  • See previous note on release dates
  • Once details on time spent working on the game are added, they will also need to be included here
  • Is this referring to when production began on the game? I mentioned below that I can't find anything on that in any source :( JAGUAR  20:50, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Gameplay
  • "The game is a 2D side-scrolling platformer in which the player controls either Diddy Kong or Dixie Kong through 52 varying levels over eight different worlds" is missing a period
  • Fixed all (I didn't know he had his own article). JAGUAR  16:17, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Let's move the first citation to the end of the first paragraph since the content it is currently attached to isn't fully supported, though it does cover lots of the text that comes after it within the paragraph
  • "spin her hair in order to slow her descent"..... Gamespot actually just says she can float following a jump
  • Though I think Gamespot's definition is a bit inaccurate, I've changed it to that so it reflects the source. JAGUAR  17:18, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • I don't see support for "Throwing barrels or the other character in certain areas of a level, such as breaking down walls or caves, may reveal secrets"
  • Removed - not even in the manual JAGUAR  20:30, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • The review linked just says "animal friends", not "Animal buddies", and the given source doesn't list any of their names except Rambi
  • I've added a IGN source which gives out all the names of the animals, and changed it to "animal friends". JAGUAR  17:18, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Actually, it doesn't mention Rambi, Squawks, or Enguarde, though you can use what the manual says for their names and abilities Snuggums (talk / edits) 23:19, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • I used the manual JAGUAR  16:16, 7 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Please find another source for "unlimited flight"; I don't see it in Gamespot
  • Sourced to the manual as just "flight" JAGUAR  20:30, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • "exclusive minigame" is misleading, try "
  • I didn't see that suggestion, but I uncomplicated it JAGUAR  20:30, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • I meant to say "bonus game" or "bonus round", but for some reason didn't type that out {{facepalm}} Snuggums (talk / edits) 23:19, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Unless I'm missing something, there's no support for bonus barrels that include gathering "special bananas" in bonus stages, and it doesn't specifically indicate that the coins players get for beating these are "DK coins"
  • Tweaked. I removed the part about "special bananas" and corrected the coin error, the player earns Kremcoins, not DK coins. Sourced this to the manual. JAGUAR  20:30, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • "In addition, there are some barrels that can only be activated by a specific character" isn't backed by the given source
  • Sourced to the manual JAGUAR  20:43, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • If the game instructions contain any of the above things I've listed, feel free to use that for supporting them
  • The game's manual is great, but I don't know if I can actually include the pdf file in the article because of unreliability etc. Nevertheless, I'll use it for sourcing. JAGUAR  17:18, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Plot
Characters
  • I don't think we need to state again that Dixie is Diddy's girlfriend, and there's no need to link them again when already linked in "Gameplay"
  • True, fixed! JAGUAR  20:43, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • "family members belonging to the Kongs" → "Kong family members", and we don't need to link this either
  • Klubba isn't mentioned in either of the given citations
  • Sorted; I used a different ref which mentions his abilities in the game. JAGUAR  20:43, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Better, though that link doesn't mention Kremkoins, and not even the manual says how many the player needs to pay from what I can see Snuggums (talk / edits) 23:19, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • I've rephrased this to "a number of Kremkoins" JAGUAR  16:16, 7 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Story
  • It seems odd to just stick citations in the middle of one paragraph when the rest of the text doesn't have refs. Neither of them mention K. Rool's defeat or Donkey Kong being rescued (although that is the goal). Per WP:WikiProject Video games/Article guidelines#Sources (WP:VG/GL), {{cite video game}} can be used for plot sections. These two paragraphs could also probably be merged per MOS:PARAGRAPHS
  • I understand that the plot summaries don't have to be referenced at all. I think at the time I just wanted to source the Lost World, but I see what you mean about how odd it is to have two citations in the middle like that. I've removed them and merged the two paragraphs in. JAGUAR  20:43, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Interestingly, WP:VG/GL says to source plot summaries. I was somewhat surprised to see this myself given how film and television plots don't require them. The guideline also says that when plots aren't too complicated, they can be integrated into the "Gameplay" section, and this game's plot isn't too complicated now that I think about it and has lots of overlapping content. Snuggums (talk / edits) 23:19, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • I've added a citation to the manual, as that seems to include far more than any review would. I'm surprised too, as most VG articles don't usually have citations in their plots either! JAGUAR  16:26, 7 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Development
  • When did work begin and conclude for creating the game itself?
  • Unfortunately I can't find any information on that, or at least the information on this game's development is scarce in itself. I had to use extracts from sources of development from the first game for this one. I enjoyed writing Donkey Kong Country's development section because it was well covered and comprehensive, however that isn't the case for this game nor DKC3. JAGUAR  20:47, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • That's a shame :/. However, it does explain why this section was so short compared to the "Development" section of the original DKC. Can you at least find how long it took to make (i.e. first DKC article says it took "18 months" to make)? Snuggums (talk / edits) 23:19, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • According to both sources in development, the production began "shortly" after the release of the first DKC, but that's quite vague. I hate to disappoint but I couldn't find any information on exactly how long development took, although the sources say the game was released a year after the first, but I can't speculate. It seems that all of the attention is focused on the first DKC, which is a shame because I'm eager to start work on DKC3. Nevertheless, I've added the fact that development began a short time after the first game's release. JAGUAR  16:26, 7 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • allgame doesn't mention Silicon Graphics
  • I found a new source for that JAGUAR  21:03, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • I don't think "Advanced Computer Modelling" should be in quotation marks
  • Rare should be linked
  • How does one "direct" a video game?
  • Neither of the given sources include a release date for the soundtrack
  • Strangely I couldn't find anything on the release date. I was forced to remove it JAGUAR  21:03, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • "As with its predecessor, the music was produced for the SNES's SPC700 chip for the game to sound similar to the Korg Wavestation synthesizer" isn't backed by the ref used
  • I've outdone myself this time. I've just discovered a whole article dedicated to that! JAGUAR  21:03, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Reception
  • GameRankings actually gives a score of 89.81% for SNES, not 92%
  • GameRankings Wii link is dead, though can be replaced with this, which says 81.14%
  • Fixed, thanks JAGUAR  21:18, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • "Diddy's Kong Quest sold 4.37 million copies worldwide" is WP:SYNTH; you can't just combine two nations and assume that it is the global total, and there isn't even a ref used that gives a worldwide figure
  • Good point. Rephrased this sentence JAGUAR  21:18, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • GameSpot's ratings are actually 8/10 for SNES and 8.3/10 for GameBoy Advance
  • "Best selling" should be hyphenated, and what was the year's highest selling SNES game?
  • Hyphened. That would be Yoshi's Island, an inferior game to any Donkey Kong Country[citation needed] (though czar would hate me if he heard me say that). I don't think this source would be accepted, but I could only find other statistics through unreliable sites like IMDB. Otherwise, it would be a good mention. I did find reliable sources for best-selling games in the US of that year, but I can't see the relevance. JAGUAR  21:18, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Eh, I wouldn't say one vastly exceeds the other... but I'm not IGN:

IGN's Thomas added that the hand-drawn style of Yoshi's Island made the computer-generated Donkey Kong Country appear outdated, though both games sold well.[1]

Still, still, there's no way Yoshi's Island is inferior to DKC3 czar 21:40, 6 February 2016 (UTC) [reply]
  1. ^ Thomas, Lucas M. (May 24, 2010). "Yoshi: Evolution of a Dinosaur". IGN. Ziff Davis. p. 4. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
What! How can children's drawing be better than cutting edge Silicon Graphics technology? I don't take IGN seriously as critics any more, not after they gave Alpha Sapphire a 7.8 for having "too much water"! JAGUAR  21:52, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Complex is reliable. However, since the citations currently used don't say this was second best-selling of the year (or even anything on its sales rankings), I'd remove or resource that bit Snuggums (talk / edits) 23:19, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Viola, I found a source stating it was the second best-selling of 1995 and sixth best-selling on the SNES. Also mentioned Yoshi's Island with the other source. JAGUAR  16:34, 7 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Ratings should be included within the prose
  • I've been told numerous times in the past not to include them in the prose, and I've done so all the time now. I hardly see ratings in VG content as I think it clutters the prose. I can mention them if you really want me to? JAGUAR 
  • Fair enough; it's not a glaring omission, but I've often seen them included in prose for film and television articles Snuggums (talk / edits) 23:19, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • "However, Whitehead opinionated that the gameplay was"..... criticised the gameplay as
  • Thanks, changed JAGUAR  21:30, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • I feel "much smoother and more cartoon like" can be one quote
  • Me too, changed JAGUAR  21:30, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • "as opposed" → "in contrast"
  • The "Cubed3" reviewer actually says the game doesn't re-use art at all, so no need to include the skepticism bit
  • "JeuxVideo" doesn't appear to give an overall rating, just individual ratings for certain aspects of the game
  • My bad. Removed JAGUAR  21:30, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Sequels
  • The given ref doesn't say Kiddy is Dixie's nephew or mention the overall ratings it got from critics
  • I've added a Gamerankings ref for that game's overall ratings. Also removed the nephew part and added his name. JAGUAR  21:36, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Viola, added JAGUAR  21:36, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Game Boy Advance and Wii U releases aren't exactly "sequels"; they're really more re-releases
  • Renamed the section to Sequels and re-releases JAGUAR  21:36, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
References
  • Removed Yahoo! Games because Wayback Machine couldn't do it. Sorted the others. JAGUAR  21:45, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • GameSpot, Yahoo! Games, and "Square Enix Music Online" shouldn't be italicized
  • Are "Nintendojo", "Now Gamer", "OverClocked Remix", or "Cubed3" reliable? I found no definitive answers in WP:WikiProject Video games/Sources (WP:VG/RS). A forum is definitely not usable either way for OverClocked.
  • I've used OverClocked and Nintendojo sources in other GAs too, I know Overclocked is alright because it's a run by a group of professional video game composers; Grant Kirkhope was on there once, if I recall correctly. Though Nintendojo isn't deemed unreliable at WP:VG/S, I'll do some checking. I'll get back to this one. JAGUAR  17:41, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Changed this and GameRankings too. JAGUAR  17:41, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Overall
  • Well-written?
  • Prose quality: Could be better
  • Manual of Style compliance: Not quite
  • Verifiable?
  • Reference layout: Needs a bit of work
  • Reliable sources: One unreliable link and four questionable sources
  • No original research: Some content isn't supported by the given references, and content is harder to verify with dead links
  • Broad in coverage?
  • Major aspects: A bit incomplete
  • Focused: No excess detail
  • Neutral?: Looks good
  • Stable?: Nothing of concern
  • Illustrated, if possible, by images?
  • Appropriate licensing: The source link used in File:DK Country 2.jpg is dead and needs to be replaced
  • Relevance and captioning: Both images are beneficial and adequately explain their use
  • Pass or Fail?: Placing the article on hold for seven days. This is going to take some work, but it just might be able to be brought up to par in time. Snuggums (talk / edits) 07:12, 5 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • I haven't looked at the review, but I wrote up a fair amount of gameplay/reception that I just never dumped into the article, if it can be useful czar 19:15, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • @SNUGGUMS: thanks for the review! I think I've addressed everything, except for including the review scores in the prose, as I don't think that's something that has to be done. I used to do that when I first started writing VG articles but I have been discouraged from doing so from numerous people. I'm not completely objected to doing it though, but I think it would clutter the prose. If there's anything else you want me to do, if there's anything I might have missed, please do let me know. Thanks again! JAGUAR  21:45, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • My pleasure. It's mostly good but isn't quite there yet. I'll look through again later after more changes. Snuggums (talk / edits) 23:19, 6 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Thanks for the additional comments, SNUGGUMS. I managed to clarify everything else. Most of all, I found the source which states that the game was the second-best selling game of 1995. If there's anything else, please let me know. JAGUAR  16:34, 7 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • We're getting there, Jaguar. What's left to do is ensure all release dates are cited (I currently see two with citations and two without) or removed if they cannot be reliably sourced, merge the "characters" and "story" sections from "Plot" into "Gameplay" since there's lots of overlapping content and the plot isn't very complex per WP:VG/GL, and stick a citation at the end of "story"'s content (a cutscene with dialogue can be used via {{cite video game}}). Snuggums (talk / edits) 22:48, 7 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Done the release dates, luckily a Gamesradar source contains all of the dates - I wish I would've found that earlier. I've merged the characters and story section into one, then merged that into gameplay, liked you asked. I would have preferred if they had their own section, but you're right, I have to adhere to the guidelines. I've also sourced the game's ending using the {{cite video game}}. JAGUAR  16:56, 8 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • I don't see any more issues with the article, so now passing :D! Snuggums (talk / edits) 19:23, 8 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Thank you for the review! I would love nothing more than to bring DKC3 to GA status, but given the complete lack of development info, I don't know what else to do other than to re-use most of the development section from the first DKC. I'll think about that when I get to it. Anyway, thanks again! JAGUAR  20:46, 8 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
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