Donkey Kong Country on GBA, port of the SNES classic with some bonus levels. The pre-rendered 3D has aged but gameplay remains impeccable. An absolute must for the console.
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Category
Platformer1 player3+
Description
Japanese version of Donkey Kong Country on GBA, published by Nintendo in Japan in December 2002. Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong explore DK Island to recover bananas stolen by King K. Rool's Kremlings. Varied action-platform levels across forest, glacial and underground environments, animal friends like Rambi the rhino and Enguarde the swordfish, two-player mode and bonus levels. Japanese version known in the West as Donkey Kong Country.
Super Donkey Kong review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
Pre-rendered CGI sprites, lush jungles and shimmering reflections: Rare imposed a spectacular look, unheard of at the time. The depth of the settings and the roundness of the characters still strike by their richness. This visual feat, a pioneer, keeps an immediately recognisable cachet.
Signed by David Wise, the soundtrack works wonders on GBA, from the steamy jungle to the haunted depths of the unforgettable "Aquatic Ambiance". Between tribal groove and atmospheric pads, the music transcends mere platforming. This sonic elegance, pioneering at the time, remains a peak of the genre even today.
A GBA port of Rare's SNES classic, Donkey Kong Country sends Donkey and Diddy against King K. Rool's army to recover their bananas, across varied levels of impeccable design. The platforming stays precise and inventive, and the port adds modes and challenges to flesh out the content. The visual and audio compression loses a bit of the original's splendor. A safe bet of platforming on the move, worth recommending to fans of the genre and nostalgics of Rare's golden age.
