n light of the two companies’ recent messy divorce, Donkey Kong Country is a bittersweet reminder of the days when Rare and Nintendo were the Eminem and Dr. Dre of video games, producing chart topping hits with each new release. I still remember the day I went to a friend’s house and saw this game playing on his SNES. I was simply blown away by the visual splendor, and could never look at my Genesis the same way again.
Years later, this faithful reproduction demonstrates that this DKC’s gorgeous pre-rendered graphics have not dimmed with age. Thankfully, neither has the demanding platforming gameplay. However, if you’re prone to frustration, you’ll be happy that one of the new enhancements to this port is the ability to save mid-level. Also, there is a challenge mode that lets you try to post the fastest time through a level, a feature inspired by the Crash Bandicoot series.
The other extras aren’t nearly as useful – especially the dreadful new fishing and Bemani minigames. But really, why worry about the garnish when the main dish is so tasty? There’s a certain intensity of action and sense of urgency that only a 2D platformer can deliver. This game is a great way to rediscover that feeling for yourself.