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Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

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Donkey Kong Country 2:
Diddy's Kong Quest
North American Box Art (SNES)
Developer(s)Rareware
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Designer(s)Andrew Collard
Composer(s)David Wise
Steven Hurst
Platform(s)Super NES
Game Boy Advance
Virtual Console
ReleaseSNES

Game Boy Advance

Virtual Console
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (abbreviated to DKC2) is an adventurous platform game developed for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) produced by Rareware and published by Nintendo. Donkey Kong Country 2 was released on December 14, 1995.[1][2] Released on this year as a sequel to Donkey Kong Country and later followed by Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! in 1996, it was later also released on the Game Boy Advance in 2004 and is currently available for download on the Wii's Virtual Console.[3]

Donkey Kong Country 2 begins after Donkey Kong has been kidnapped by Kaptain K. Rool, leaving Diddy Kong, and Dixie Kong, to rescue him. Together the two of them travel to various different and distinct parts of Crocodile Isle where the game is set. On the island there are varying worlds. In total there are eight.[3] Markedly different from the previous game, Donkey Kong Country 2 was praised for having excellent graphics and being much more of a challenge to the player than the previous game. Donkey Kong Country 2 has received much critical and commercial praise, having sold millions of copies worldwide on the SNES, making it the second best selling game of 1995 and the sixth best-selling game on the platform overall.[4][5][6][7]

Gameplay

File:DK coin and Animal buddy Rhino.jpg
The first level of the game on the Gangplank Galleon pirate world. The rare DK coin can be seen as well as the Rhino Animal Buddy and collectable bananas.

In comparison with the original Donkey Kong Country, the game contains many new features. This includes many hidden bonus stages with a collectible token (called Kremcoins) rewarded for completing each. The player can access hidden levels by finding barrels with the letter "B" on the front. Kremcoins, once collected at the end of each hidden stage, can be used to unlock the "Lost World" and eventually the final ending.[8] There also exists rare "DK coins" in every standard level that are hidden by Cranky Kong. The placement of these coins gets progressively more cryptic, subsequently providing an extra challenge beyond reaching the end of each level. Level settings are now more diverse, although the staple ice, fire and jungle settings remain from the first game.[6][9]

As well as collectable tokens the player can also collect other items such as bananas and Kong letters. Collecting 100 bananas can gain the player an extra life, and collecting all the Kong letters will similarly give the player another life. Finding objects in (hidden) treasure chests is another feature common to the game. These can contain anything from banana coins, Kong letters, banana bunches, an extra life represented as a balloon, or a DK coin in some instances. However, sometimes these treasure chests contain nothing at all. Chests can also be used to defeat enemies, such as wasps, in an effort to pass certain passages, as wasps cannot be defeated the normal way; by jumping on them.[6][9]

The ability to "piggyback" or use various animal companions, called "Animal Buddies", returns, such as Squitter the spider, Glimmer the anglerfish, Rambi the rhino, Rattly the rattlesnake, Clapper the seal, Enguarde the swordfish, and Squawks the parrot, which can boost the gameplay experience, proving advantageous at certain points in a level or the whole level overall. These animals have certain unique abilities that the player can uitilise such as Rambi's ability to charge at enemies and Rattly's ability to jump higher in the air than with the two main characters.[8][10]

File:Final DK pic.jpg
Mario, Link and Yoshi, known characters from other Nintendo franchises, make cameo appearances at the end of the game competing with the player to collect DK coins.

There is also a greater difference between the two characters. Diddy Kong has the ability to run faster than his counterpart, use himself as a cartwheel, and can use his tail to hang upside down on hooks to reach items such as banana's, hidden barrels and other bonus items. Dixie Kong can use her hair to glide in the air over long distances which also proves to be advantageous to the player in some levels. Additionally she can use her hair to grip on hooks and can also reach items her counterpart can. However the method of defeating enemies remains the same between the two. Both can jump on an enemy to defeat them or throw one another to hit enemies, or throw objects to slay them.[9][8][10]

Donkey Kong Country 2 also focuses more on the seaside apparel of the enemies (in a fashion sense) whereas in the first game the apparel was themed like the jungle. Many of the kremlings resemble crocodiles, have wooden legs and eye patches, and are seen with sailor like tattoos. These Kremlings are not specific to one level but are scattered throughout the game's levels with some equipped with weapons to prevent the player from completing levels.[9]

While Donkey Kong Country 2 introduced new features, it also abandoned a few from the original. For example, steel barrels were removed, eliminating the ability to roll on them. The ability to find hidden items in the ground was also removed.[6] However, some of these removed features were later brought back in the third game, Donkey Kong Country 3. As a promotion for the game after release Nintendo Power ran a contest for the fastest time in which to completely beat the game to achieve 102% game completion.[11]

Plot

Characters

Further information: List of Donkey Kong characters

The main characters of Donkey Kong Country 2 are Dixie Kong and Diddy Kong, both of whom are trying to defeat Kaptain K. Rool and rescue Donkey Kong from him. Many other non-playable characters can be found throughout the game including K. Rool who only appears at the final level of the game. K. Rool now appears suited in pirate clothing with a rather large hand-held blunderbuss.[6][9] Dixie Kong makes her first appearance in this game in the succession of the Donkey Kong franchise.[12]

The majority of the enemies are the Kremling Krew, who patrol many areas of the island in hopes of capturing Diddy and Dixie (the game over skit screen shows this outcome). The protagonists are supported by their Animal Buddies (some returning from the original Donkey Kong Country), and various other family members belonging to the Kongs. This includes Funky Kong who makes his return from the original Donkey Kong Country, as well as Cranky Kong who is back to divulge secrets of the game world, provide comic relief as well as offering paid for advice owing to "popular demand", situated in "Monkey Museum".[13] Wrinkly Kong, wife of Cranky Kong and mother of Donkey Kong, makes her first appearance in this game. She runs an educational facillty called "Kong Kollege" where she gives guidance to the player.[14] Swanky Kong is another character who is common to the game. He runs a gameshow quiz where the player can complete quizzes and earn lives.[15] Funky Kong is the last character the player can view after the first battle with the first boss. Funky Kong services a flying machine that can connect the player to the next world.

Other minor characters include ghosts, wasps and insects which are scattered all over the island. Additionally the player can meet a large Kremling called "Klubba", at "Klubba's Kiosk", who wants fifteen Kremcoins from the characters if they want to pass onto the "Lost World" and complete the game.[6][9][16]

Story

The game opens with Diddy Kong standing on the deck of a pirate ship, in the ships cabin he finds a note stating his Uncle Donkey Kong has been kidnapped by Kaptain K. Rool, an evil Kremling, who had demanded the entire Banana Hoard he stole in the previous game for a ransom from the Kongs. Diddy Kong subsequently attempts to rescue Donkey Kong from the Kaptain, and accompanying him is his girlfriend, Dixie Kong. Together they travel through Crocodile Isle and are helped on their way by an assortment of animals (called Animal Buddies) in a bid to defeat K. Rool and rescue Donkey Kong.

Donkey Kong Country 2 starts where the first game's final boss was located. The original game's island can be seen in the background, and the ship that Diddy Kong in on has run ashore. The first world, Gangplank Galleon, involves leaving the ship and moving to Crocodile Isle where the rest of the game takes place.[6][9][8][16]

In order to progress through the game, players must pass each stage and beat an assortment of bosses, with either or both the characters. Each stage makes up several levels, which get more difficult as the player succeeds completing them. There are over forty different levels which makes up the several stages. At the final level of each stage Diddy and Dixie battle a boss. The stages hold a particular theme. In, for example, the Lost World a jungle theme is omnipresent. The bosses of each of the stages relate to the stage's theme design. The player can only move onto the next world if the bosses are defeated with the player battling K. Rool at the very end, and additionally in the unlockable Lost World.[6][9][8][16]

Music

Donkey Kong Country 2's soundtrack was composed mainly by David Wise with additional support from Steven Hurst, Eveline Fischer and Robin Beanland and was released in the same year of the games release (1995) on October 1.[17] The soundtrack of the series has been well received critically. Wise has in addition also composed the original game and the third installment of Donkey Kong Country.[18] The music in the second installment has been described as "majestic" and "serious" by some reviewers, such as Michael Alfera of Soundtrack Central.[19] His praise is however short as he complains about the music sounding "too" game like: "I really don't like the DKC2 soundtrack much at all. I hardly even listen to it, for one simple fact: It sounds *way* too "gamey". It's hard to describe. It just doesn't seem fitting to create a soundtrack out of it...".[19] Marko Polovina gives the sountrack 4.5 out of 5 and rates the game highly in his review on the Sputnik Music website.[20] The game track runs for fifty-six minutes and twenty-one seconds.[17]

Reception and legacy

Released in the year 1995 for the SNES platform Donkey Kong Country 2 has received mostly positive reviews from critics and has been well received by the public, selling millions of copies worldwide on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System platform. It has scored an overall 93% on the GameRankings aggregator website based on seven reviews.[7] Since the release of the game onto the Game Boy Advance on November 15, 2004, Donkey Kong Country 2 has similarly had much success, scoring an overall 80% on aggregator site Metacritic based on twenty two critical reviews.[28][29] Of the entire trilogy this game is the highest rated and praised on the Game Boy Advance platform according to Metacritic.[30][31] The game has also been highly rated on the Wii, given a rating score of 80% based on one review on GameRankings.[25] A sequel of Donkey Kong Country 2 was released in 1996 starring Dixie Kong further followed by a succession of more related Donkey Kong video games.[31]

Mark Birnbaum, of IGN, notes that the game "more than delivers in its ambitious aim of equaling and sometimes exceeding the standard set by its predecessor", referring to the original Donkey Kong Country and that "players should notice that the levels quickly increase in difficulty, encouraging a "trial by fire" design". He further adds "DKC2 also looks and sounds a lot like its forerunner[...] The atmospheric orchestrated soundtrack returns, providing catchy and eerie tunes alike. Donkey Kong Country boasted some of the most beautiful graphics ever seen on the SNES, and DKC2 does justice to that reputation".[16]

Another positive reviewer at GameSpy mentions "the challenges, environments, and cast of baddies are varied enough to prevent this game from ever seeming tedious".[28]

On the subject of graphics Birnbaum also refers to the colour scheme as being "highly detailed" with "multi-layered backgrounds, smooth and unique character animations and designs" which are "mixed with a vibrant and varying color palette that provides a feast for the eyes". Jeff Pearson of Nintendojo also agrees and highly praises Rare's achievement at the "improved graphics for this game". Pearson also believes "the graphics look much smoother and more cartoon like as opposed to the computer generated look in DKC". Birnbaum guarantees that the player will feel "rewarded" after playing each level.[6][16]

Referring to the Game Boy Advance edition GameSpot stated the game was a "diverse platform game with excellent graphics and sound and an impressive list of bonus features", whilst IGN feels "the Donkey Kong Country series is better known for its graphics than its gameplay, but even still the game's level designs offer up more than the "routine"".[28]

However, on the other hand the main critcism Birnbaum draws towards is that the game has a few missing features which its predecessor had. Namely, finding objects hidden in the ground and steel barrels integral to the first but does not complain.[16] Pearson meanwhile lauds the fact that new features have been installed in the game, applauding Rare who had added "a whole bunch of new features and whatnot into this game to spice it up a little bit and keep you on your toes"[6] whilst Yahoo! Games is impressed on "how much variety Rare squeezed into this game, mainly by liberally scattering minigames throughout the world".[5]

The game was released on Nintendo's Virtual Wii console on 21 May 2007 in 480i resolution.[3][32] The game can be downloaded for 800 Wii points.[33]

References

  1. ^ a b "Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (Moby Games)". Moby Games. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
  2. ^ "Donkey Kong Counry 2 (GamesSpot)". GamesSpot. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
  3. ^ a b c d "Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Virtual Console". Retrieved 2009-09-30.
  4. ^ a b "Donkey Kong Country 2 Reviews". GamesSpot. Jun 27, 2003. Retrieved 2009-09-22.
  5. ^ a b c Harris, Craig. "Donkey Kong Country 2 [GBA]". Another SNES classic hits the Game Boy Advance with equal results as the first time around. (in Englsh). Yahoo! Games. Retrieved 2009-09-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Pearson, Jeff (Jun 19, 2003). "Donkey Kong Country 2 (Review by Nintendojo)". Nintedojo. Retrieved 2009-09-22.
  7. ^ a b c "Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest". GameRankings. Retrieved 2009-09-22.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Donkey Kong Country 2 at Amazon.com". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-09-25. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h Donkey Kong Country 2, in gameplay
  10. ^ a b c "Donkey Kong Country 2 Review". GamesSpot. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
  11. ^ Nintendo Power volume 83, page 43
  12. ^ Curtiss, Aaron (Jan 18, 1996). "VALLEY WEEKEND; Donkey Sequel Not the King, but a Good Kong; Nintendo pairs Diddy with a new character, Dixie. But the action's not as exciting as the original". Los Angeles Times (pre-1997 Fulltext) - Los Angeles, Calif. LA Times Archive. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  13. ^ Rareware (November 20, 1995). Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (Super Nintendo Entertainment System). Nintendo. Level/area: Monkey Museum. Cranky Kong: Come in and say hello to your old grandpappy Cranky. I'm back by popular demand to offer you my wealth of gameplaying wisdom for this unnecessary sequel. O.K, which of these would you like?
  14. ^ Rareware (November 20, 1995). Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (Super Nintendo Entertainment System). Nintendo. Level/area: Kong Kollege. Wrinkly Kong: Hello dearies, I'm Mrs Wrinly Kong, Headmistress at Kong Kollege. I'm available to teach courses in how to play this game, or you can just pop in when you want and save your little old game.
  15. ^ Rareware (November 20, 1995). Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (Super Nintendo Entertainment System). Nintendo. Level/area: Swanky's Prizes. Swanky Kong: Give them a big hand folks! Good evening, I'm Swanky Kong and you're tonight's contestants on my Bonanza! It's easy to play! Just pick a game and you're away!
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h Birnbaum, Mark (May 29, 2007). "Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Review" (in English (U.S.)). IGN. Retrieved 2009-09-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  17. ^ a b c "Donkey Kong Country 2 ~ Diddy's Kong Quest (at GameOST.com)". GameOST.com. Retrieved 2009-09-30.
  18. ^ "donkey kong country 2 (last.fm)" (in Englsih). last.fm. Retrieved 2009-09-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  19. ^ a b Alfera, Michael (2000-08-14). "Donkey Kong Country Trilogy: Greatest Hit Soundtracks". Soundtack Central. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
  20. ^ a b Polovina, Marko (2009-07-12). "David Wise Donkey Kong Country 2 Soundtrack". Sputnik Music. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
  21. ^ Donkey Kong Country 2: OST soundtrack listing
  22. ^ "Donkey Kong Country 2 Reviews". GamesSpot. Retrieved 2009-09-22.
  23. ^ "Donkey Kong Country 2 Reviews". GamesSpot. Dec 1, 1995. Retrieved 2009-09-22.
  24. ^ "Donkey Kong Country 2 Reviews". GamesSpot. Jul 25, 2003. Retrieved 2009-09-22.
  25. ^ a b "Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (Wii Rating)". GameRankings.com. Retrieved 2009-09-30.
  26. ^ "Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest". GameRankings. Mar 9, 2002. Retrieved 2009-09-22.
  27. ^ "Donkey Kong Country 2 Reviews". Cubed3. November 8, 2006. Retrieved 2009-09-22.
  28. ^ a b c d Kong Country 2 "Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong's Quest". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 2009-09-23. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  29. ^ Shetty, Stefan (August 15, 2004). "ArmChairEmpire Donkey Kong Country 2". ArmChairEmpire. Retrieved 2009-10-31.
  30. ^ kong country "Donkey Kong Country (GBA)". Metacritic. Retrieved 2009-09-23. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  31. ^ a b kong country "Donkey Kong Country 3 (GBA)". Metacritic. Retrieved 2009-09-23. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  32. ^ Povo, Frank (05/29/2007, 05/21/2007). "Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (Wii)". CNET Reviews, GameSpot. Retrieved 2009-10-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  33. ^ "Nintendo Wii Virtual Console (information)". Nintendo. Retrieved 2009-10-31.
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