- Intro
DKC is a Super Nintendo platforming videogame released in 1994 on the holiday season developed by RARE, at the time a Nintendo second party . It was a groundbreaking product of its period because it used a new technique with pseudo 3D graphics thanks to the Silicon Graphics Challenge workstation that RARE bought gambling the future of the company.
SGC was very very expensive at the time. The gamble paid off it turned out to be the third best selling game on the SNES beating games like Super Mario 2 Yoshi's Island and many more.
- Story
Donkey Kong and his family and friends are living peaceful lives on their Island when pirates led by the King K. Rool steal all of their bananas and make their new base in the summit of the Island.
Donkey and his nephew Diddy Kong go after them to take back their bananas. Funny fact is that is not known untill this day if Donkey Kong is related in some way with the original arcade game. Crank Kong seems to be the original Donkey Kong but he treats Donkey Kong as his grandson so we cannot say for sure if he is Donkey Kong Jr. from the arcade sequel. - Graphics
As said before, RARE bought the SGC workstation to try making games with use of cutting edge technology in 3D. They made all the characters models and the background stages using the SGC and then transferred the models and backgrounds to the SNES as 2D still images. The result were amazing. Deep 3D environment, realistic graphics with flawless movement and controls. - Gameplay
All that used for making a platform videogame. But what a platform! Donkey Kong Country isn't just a pretty face but it's a damn good videogame. The visuals is just to grab your attention but behind that you have a classic old school challenging game with many hours to master. You play as DK and his Nephew Diddy and each one of them have their pros and cons. DK is the tank strong and heavy he can stomp his hands into the ground to find some items, the cons are he is big and the hit box is different when he jumps. When jumping he put his arms up and add more area to his hit box. Diddy is the agile Kong, he is fast, jumps a little more further and doesn't have a different hit box area when he jumps. You kill enemies by jumping on them but there are some that only DK can kill jumping.
You traverse the Island in a well-known map overview just as many games before it. There are no secret paths to open sadly. But inside the stages you will see many challenges ahead. Almost every stage has secrets to find that adds to a percentage. Every area has a different theme and at the end you have to face a boss. It's a fun concept but again nothing new.
- Ending Thoughts
Donkey Kong Country is one of the best games of the 16-bits era. It doesn't add much in the platforming genre but with its awesome visual pushed numbers never before seen by any games. It still holds the record of the fastest selling game.
With DKC you will have a good time for a game and very appealing visuals to look through the whole adventure.