Donkey Kong Country for SNES.

Donkey Kong Country was a side-scrolling platform game released in 1994 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in a collaboration between Nintendo and Rare. It featured the character Donkey Kong from a series of previous successful Arcade games. However this time Donkey Kong was teamed up with his Nephew Diddy Kong in a Mario style platformer. 

At the time the game was released Nintendo was busy trying to convince people that 16 bit S NE S console still had life left in it. The company's argument was that games on the Super NES could output graphics on par with that of the forthcoming 32-bit consoles were capable of. Donkey Kong country proved that point and saved Nintendo from a possible downfall.

The object of Donkey Kong Country is to make it through 39 levels of side scrolling and recover DK's Banana hoard which has been stolen by the Kremlings. As a player you can switch between the two characters if they are both on the screen. Donkey Kong is the larger and stronger of the two  , and can defeat enemies more easily. Diddy Kong is faster and more agile , but not as powerful. Each level is uniquely themed whether it's swimming underwater , riding in mine carts , swinging from vines , or firing your character out of barrel . There are secret passages that can lead to bonus games in which you can earn bananas and balloons which essentially become additional lives. In many areas of the game , you will find crates which contain animals that you can ride , these including anything from a rabid rampaging rhino and a fearsome frog to a speedy swimming swordfish and a odd flying ostrich. 

At the first release of Donkey Kong Country people were in awe of its revolutionary pre rendered 3D graphics and also its thoroughly entertaining and intricately woven soundtrack. However the true amazement is found in today's world because although we are 17 years in the future the aspects of graphics and sound that made the game what it was still stand the test of time.   The characters were brilliantly animated and had real personality. The environments are rich with colour and imaginativeness but also make use of nearly every aspect of the Super NES's arsenal. Even though the game is a side scroller it presents a 3 dimensional sense of depth. The audio is no different  , the game is packed with real ape noises used for Diddy and Donkey Kong but also a calm and melodic soundtrack which can keep you humming along for days on end.

Donkey Kong Country spawned a number of sequels on the Super NES and also on the Game Boy and recently on the Wii with Donkey Kong Country Returns. However in my eyes no other sequel or remake or resale of the game can ever match up to the charm and dedication put into this wonder of gaming.

By Robbie Morrissey