Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Donkey Kong Country 2:
Diddy's Kong Quest
DK Country 2.jpg
North American box art
Developer(s) Rare
Publisher(s) Nintendo
Director(s) Tim Stamper
Producer(s) Gregg Mayles
Designer(s) Gregg Mayles
Andrew Collard
Artist(s) Steve Mayles
Mark Stevenson
Composer(s) David Wise
Platform(s) Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy Advance, Virtual Console
Release date(s)
Genre(s) Platforming
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer
Rating(s)

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (abbreviated to DKC2) is an adventure platform game developed for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) produced by Rareware and published by Nintendo. It stars Diddy Kong and his girlfriend Dixie Kong. Donkey Kong Country 2 was released on December 14, 1995[1][2] 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, having become one of the most popular games of its age.[3]

Donkey Kong Country 2 begins after Donkey Kong has been kidnapped by Kaptain K. Rool, leaving Diddy Kong and his girlfriend Dixie Kong to rescue him. Together, the two of them travel to various 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]

Contents

Gameplay

The first level of the game on the Gangplank Galleon pirate world. The DK Coin can be seen as well as the rhino animal buddy, Rambi, and collectable bananas.

In comparison with the original Donkey Kong Country, the game contains many new features. These include many hidden bonus stages with collectible tokens, called Kremcoins, which are rewarded for completing the level. The player can access these hidden levels by finding barrels with the letter "B" on the front. Kremkoins, 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 exist 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, cave, and jungle settings remain from the first game.[6][9]

As well as collectible 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 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 by jumping on them.[6][9]

The ability to "piggyback" or use various animal companions, called "Animal Buddies", returns from its predecessor, such as Squitter the Spider, Glimmer the Anglerfish, Rambi the Rhino, Rattly the Rattlesnake, Clapper the Seal, Enguarde the Swordfish, and Squawks the Parrot (Rambi, Enguarde, and Squawks returned from the original Donkey Kong Country), 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 use such as Rambi's ability to charge at enemies and Rattly's ability to jump higher than with the two main characters.[8][10]

There is also a greater difference between the two characters. Diddy Kong has the ability to run faster than his counterpart and perform an extended jump by cartwheeling off ledges. 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. In addition, there are some barrels that can only be activated by a specific character. 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 (in some cases), or throw objects to slay them.[8][9][10]

Donkey Kong Country 2 also focuses more on the seaside and pirate-themed apparel of the enemies 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.[9]

While Donkey Kong Country 2 introduced new features, it also abandoned a few from the original game. For example, steel barrels were removed, eliminating the ability to roll on top of 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 its release, Nintendo Power ran a contest for the fastest time to achieve 102% game completion.[11]

Development

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 Kaptain K. Rool who only appears at the final level of the game. K. Rool appears suited in pirate clothing with a 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 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. These include Funky Kong who makes his return from the original Donkey Kong Country, as well as Cranky Kong, situated in "Monkey Museum", who is back due to "popular demand" to divulge secrets of the game world, provide comic relief as well as offering paid for advice.[13] Wrinkly Kong, wife of Cranky Kong and mother of Donkey Kong, makes her first appearance in this game. She runs an educational facility 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 demands fifteen Kremkoins 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 ship's cabin, he finds a note stating that Donkey Kong has been kidnapped by Kaptain K. Rool, a pirate Kremling, who had demanded the entire Banana Hoard that 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 is 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][8][9][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 is made up of several levels, which gets more difficult as the player succeeds completing them. There are over forty different levels which make up the several stages. In 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][8][9][16]

Music

Donkey Kong Country 2's soundtrack was composed entirely by David Wise 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 music for 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 soundtrack 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]

In addition, the game's soundtrack was the focus of an OverClocked ReMix collaboration titled Serious Monkey Business. The final track, "Donkey Kong Rescued", was remixed by David Wise himself, featuring Grant Kirkhope on electric guitar and Robin Beanland on trumpet.[21][22]


Reception and legacy

 Reception
Aggregate scores
Aggregator Score
GameRankings 92.24% (SNES)[7]
80% (Wii)[24]
Metacritic 80% (GBA)[25]
Review scores
Publication Score
Electronic Gaming Monthly 8.62 out of 10[4]
Game Informer 9.75 out of 10[26]
GamePro 5 out of 5[27]
GameSpot 9.2 out of 10 (SNES)[28]
8.1 out of 10 (GBA)[10]
IGN 8.8 out of 10 (SNES)[16]
8.8 out of 10 (Wii)[3]
Nintendojo 9.9 out of 10[6]
Mad Gamers 9.5 out of 10[29]
Cubed3 8 out of 10[30]
Yahoo! Games 4/5 stars[5]
Awards
IGN: Editors' Choice Award[16]

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 4.37 million copies worldwide on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System platform. The total number of copies sold in Japan have been 2.21 million, and in the US 2.16 million.[31][32]

It has scored an overall 93% on the GameRankings aggregator website based on seven reviews.[7] The Game Boy Advance version has similarly had much success, scoring an overall 80% on aggregator site Metacritic based on twenty-two critical reviews.[25][33] Of the entire trilogy this game is the highest rated and praised on the Game Boy Advance platform according to Metacritic.[34][35] The game has also been highly rated on the Wii, given a rating score of 80% based on one review on GameRankings.[24]

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".[25]

On the subject of graphics Birnbaum also refers to the color 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", while 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'".[25] However, on the other hand, the main criticism Birnbaum draws towards is that the game has a few missing features which its predecessor had.[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] while Yahoo! Games is impressed on "how much variety Rare squeezed into this game, mainly by liberally scattering minigames throughout the world".[5]

UGO listed Diddy's Kong Quest on their list of the "Top 50 Games That Belong On the 3DS", stating "Climbing the mast of a ship with epic music, 3D fog and backgrounds, and funny enemies deserves a chance on the 3DS."[36]

A sequel, Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, was released in 1996 starring Dixie Kong. It was further followed by a succession of more related Donkey Kong video games.[35] The game was released for the Game Boy Advance on November 15, 2004. It was later released on Nintendo's Wii Virtual console on 21 May 2007[3][37] for the cost of 800 Wii points.[38]

References

  1. ^ "Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (Moby Games)". Moby Games. http://www.mobygames.com/game/donkey-kong-country-2-diddys-kong-quest. Retrieved 2009-10-01. 
  2. ^ "Donkey Kong Counry 2 (GamesSpot)". GamesSpot. http://uk.gamespot.com/snes/action/superdonkeykong2dd/tech_info.html?tag=tabs;summary. Retrieved 2009-09-29. 
  3. ^ a b c d "Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Virtual Console". http://uk.wii.ign.com/objects/907/907463.html. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  4. ^ a b "Donkey Kong Country 2 Reviews". GamesSpot. June 27, 2003. http://uk.gamespot.com/snes/action/superdonkeykong2dd/review.html?mode=web&tag=scoresummary;critic-score. Retrieved 2009-09-22. 
  5. ^ a b c Chick, Tom (2004-11-23). "Head over to Donkey Kong Country for some great old-school platforming action on the Game Boy Advance.". Yahoo! Games. Yahoo!. http://videogames.yahoo.com/gba/donkey-kong-country-2/review-53934. Retrieved 2009-09-25. 
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Pearson, Jeff (June 19, 2003). "Donkey Kong Country 2 (Review by Nintendojo)". Nintedojo. http://www.nintendojo.com/reviews/SNES/view_item.php?1052508623. Retrieved 2009-09-22. 
  7. ^ a b c "Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/snes/588283-donkey-kong-country-2-diddys-kong-quest/index.html. Retrieved 2009-09-22. 
  8. ^ a b c d e "Donkey Kong Country 2 at Amazon.com". Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00002SVG2. Retrieved 2009-09-25. 
  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. http://uk.gamespot.com/gba/action/donkeykongcountry2/review.html. 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. 
  13. ^ Rareware. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest. (Nintendo). Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Level/area: Monkey Museum. (November 20, 1995) "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. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest. (Nintendo). Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Level/area: Kong Kollege. (November 20, 1995) "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. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest. (Nintendo). Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Level/area: Swanky's Prizes. (November 20, 1995) "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". IGN. http://uk.retro.ign.com/articles/868/868009p1.html. Retrieved 2009-09-22. 
  17. ^ a b c "Donkey Kong Country 2 ~ Diddy's Kong Quest (at GameOST.com)". GameOST.com. http://www.en.game-ost.ru/info.php?id=1151. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  18. ^ "Donkey Kong Country 2 (last.fm)". last.fm. http://www.last.fm/music/donkey+kong+country+2. Retrieved 2009-09-29. 
  19. ^ a b Alfera, Michael (2000-08-14). "Donkey Kong Country Trilogy: Greatest Hit Soundtracks". Soundtack Central. http://www.soundtrackcentral.com/cds/donkeykongcountry_trilogy.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-29. 
  20. ^ a b Polovina, Marko (2009-07-12). "David Wise Donkey Kong Country 2 Soundtrack". Sputnik Music. http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=31358. Retrieved 2009-09-29. 
  21. ^ OverClocked ReMix Presents 'Serious Monkey Business' (March 2010)
  22. ^ ReMix: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest 'Re-Skewed' - OverClocked ReMix
  23. ^ Donkey Kong Country 2: OST soundtrack listing
  24. ^ a b "Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (Wii Rating)". GameRankings.com. http://www.gamerankings.com/wii/939593-donkey-kong-country-2-diddys-kong-quest/index.html. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  25. ^ a b c d Kong Country 2 "Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong's Quest". Metacritic.com. http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/gba/donkeykongcountry2?q=Donkey Kong Country 2. Retrieved 2009-09-23. 
  26. ^ "Donkey Kong Country 2 Reviews". GamesSpot. July 25, 2003. http://uk.gamespot.com/snes/action/superdonkeykong2dd/review.html?mode=web&tag=tabs;reviews. Retrieved 2009-09-22. 
  27. ^ "Donkey Kong Country 2 Reviews". GamesSpot. December 1, 1995. http://uk.gamespot.com/snes/action/superdonkeykong2dd/review.html?mode=web&tag=scoresummary;critic-score. Retrieved 2009-09-22. 
  28. ^ "Donkey Kong Country 2 Reviews". GamesSpot. http://uk.gamespot.com/snes/action/superdonkeykong2dd/review.html?mode=web&tag=scoresummary;critic-score. Retrieved 2009-09-22. 
  29. ^ "Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest". GameRankings. March 9, 2002. http://www.gamerankings.com/snes/588283-donkey-kong-country-2-diddys-kong-quest/index.html. Retrieved 2009-09-22. 
  30. ^ "Donkey Kong Country 2 Reviews". Cubed3. November 8, 2006. http://www.cubed3.com/review/421/. Retrieved 2009-09-22. 
  31. ^ "Japan Platinum Game Chart". The Magic Box. http://www.the-magicbox.com/topten2.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-22. 
  32. ^ "US Platinum Videogame Chart". The Magic Box. 2007-12-27. http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-USPlatinum.shtml. Retrieved 2008-08-03. 
  33. ^ Shetty, Stefan (August 15, 2004). "ArmChairEmpire Donkey Kong Country 2". ArmChairEmpire. http://www.armchairempire.com/Previews/Gba/donkey-kong-country-2.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-31. 
  34. ^ Kong Country "Donkey Kong Country (GBA)". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/gba/donkeykongcountry?q=Donkey Kong Country. Retrieved 2009-09-23. 
  35. ^ a b kong country "Donkey Kong Country 3 (GBA)". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/gba/donkeykongcountry3?q=donkey kong country. Retrieved 2009-09-23. 
  36. ^ Sal Basile (July 6, 2010). "The Top 50 Games That Belong On the 3DS - UGO.com". UGO. http://www.ugo.com/games/the-top-50-games-that-belong-on-the-3ds?page=5. Retrieved 2011-04-25. 
  37. ^ Povo, Frank; CNET Reviews (29 May 2007, 21 May 2007). "Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (Wii)". CNET Reviews, GameSpot. http://reviews.cnet.com/wii-games/donkey-kong-country-2/4507-9993_7-32457818.html?tag=rnav. Retrieved 2009-10-16. 
  38. ^ "Nintendo Wii Virtual Console (information)". Nintendo. Archived from the original on July 2, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080702024015/http://www.nintendo.com/wii/virtualconsole/games/detail/DSPZlkwslhVNXkGjnRgY0tDWBTMm7pr6. Retrieved 2009-10-31. 

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