Donkey Kong Country

- Reviewed on Gameboy Advance SP -

Donkey Kong Country released on November 21st, 1994. 

Developed by Rare and published by Nintendo, Donkey Kong Country became one of the defining platformers of the 1990s, and even today, it's still talked about as one of the greatest games on the Super Nintendo. 

Although I'm reviewing the Gameboy Advance version, the core experience is still here.

After finally sitting down and completing this classic myself, I can definitely understand why Donkey Kong Country has remained so beloved for over three decades.

This review WILL have Major Spoilers so keep that in mind before continuing...

The story of Donkey Kong Country is very simple, but that's really all it needs to be. 

Donkey Kong's massive banana hoard has been stolen by the evil King K. Rool and the Kremling Krew.

Teaming up with Diddy Kong, the two set off across Donkey Kong Island to recover every last banana while defeating anyone standing in their way. 

The plot isn't overly complicated, but it gives players a fun reason to travel across the island's many unique environments.

Gameplay is where Donkey Kong Country truly shines. This is a side-scrolling platformer that constantly introduces new mechanics and ideas throughout its adventure. 

Every world feels distinct from the last, and I was surprised with just how creative the level design remained from beginning to end. 

Whether I was exploring jungles, caves, snowy mountains, or even underwater environments, each stage felt memorable in its own way.

Speaking of underwater stages, I normally don't enjoy water levels in platformers. They're usually slower than the rest of the game and tend to drag on. Funny enough though, Donkey Kong Country is one of the few games where I actually enjoyed them! 

The swimming controls felt responsive enough, the enemy placement was fair, and the atmosphere made these levels surprisingly relaxing compared to what I was expecting.

One mechanic that makes Donkey Kong Country stand out is switching between Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong. Both characters control differently, giving players small advantages depending on the situation. 

Donkey Kong is stronger and can defeat larger enemies with ease, while Diddy Kong is much quicker and more agile. 

Losing one Kong doesn't mean the adventure is over either, as long as your partner is still around.

Throughout the game you'll also come across Animal Friends. 

These helpful companions each have their own unique abilities that change how certain levels are played. 

Riding these animals always felt exciting because they weren't just cosmetic additions. They genuinely changed the gameplay and often opened up new opportunities during stages.

Another feature I really enjoyed was all the extra content hidden throughout the game. 

Finding the KONG letters in every level gives completionists another objective to focus on, but that's only scratching the surface. 

The Gameboy Advance version also adds collectibles like photographs to discover, along with fun distractions such as the dancing minigames and fishing minigames. 

There's even Golden Animal Tokens to collect, rewarding players who take the time to thoroughly explore each level instead of rushing straight to the goal. 

I always appreciate when platformers encourage exploration without forcing it upon the player.

The bosses were another highlight for me. Rather than simply becoming damage sponges, each boss builds upon mechanics or enemy patterns you've already encountered throughout the world leading up to them. 

It makes every encounter feel like a satisfying conclusion to each area instead of just another obstacle before moving on. Good boss design like this helps tie the entire world together.

Of course, no Donkey Kong Country review would be complete without mentioning the soundtrack. 

This is easily one of my favorite aspects of the entire game. 

Nearly every area has memorable music that perfectly matches its environment, and several tracks are still recognizable decades later. 

It's one of those soundtracks that sticks with you long after you've finished playing, and I can absolutely understand why so many people praise it.

The enemies deserve recognition as well. From the different Kremlings to the various animal enemies scattered throughout the island, there is plenty of variety to keep levels feeling fresh. 

New enemy types are introduced at a nice pace, and many require different approaches rather than simply jumping on everything in sight.

There were a couple of things that held Donkey Kong Country back from being a perfect experience for me though. 

The controls sometimes felt a little awkward, particularly when building momentum for longer jumps or faster movement. 

Traversing certain sections didn't always feel as smooth as I wanted, and it took me a while to get comfortable with the physics. 

I also wasn't a huge fan of the minecart levels. I completely understand their importance to the Donkey Kong series, and I know many fans absolutely love them, but they just never clicked with me personally.

Even with those small complaints, Donkey Kong Country is still an excellent platformer that has aged remarkably well. 

Fantastic level design, memorable music, enjoyable collectibles, creative boss fights, and plenty of replay value make this an adventure that's easy to recommend. 

Whether you're revisiting this Nintendo classic or experiencing it for the very first time, there's a reason Donkey Kong Country continues to be celebrated after all these years.

Pros: 

    - Outstanding and Memorable Soundtrack

    - Excellent Level Design

    - Fun Boss Battles

    - Plenty of Collectibles and Side Content

    - Great Variety of Enemies

    - Surprisingly Enjoyable Water Levels

    - Good Replayability

Cons:

    - Controls Can Feel Awkward at Times

    - Momentum Doesn't Always Feel Great While Traversing

    - Minecart Levels Weren't My Favorite

My Rating for Donkey Kong Country (on Gameboy Advance SP):

4 / 5

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Disclaimer

All Reviews, Ratings, Pros, Cons, and Opinions Shared on this Blog (Press A Reviews) are my (Connor Butler) own Thoughts and Feelings.