DKC 2 is an absolute banger of a game. In this sequel, Donkey Kong has been kidnapped by King K Rool and it is up to Diddy and Dixie to save him. You get to play as Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong through 7 worlds and some optional bonus levels. Dixie was the much better option (in my opinion) because she can wave her hair like helicopter propellers and glide after her jumps. This helps out in many areas and any help is sorely needed.

Let's get this out of the way. This game is hard... much harder than most platformers and even DKC 1. I originally picked up the DKC games after playing Super Mario World and got my ass walloped. Now that I'm an adult and have many more years of gaming experience I was able to go back and finally beat this game. The first world isn't too bad... but it feels less like a difficulty jump and more like a difficulty rocket after the first world is over. I understand if this is a turn off for a lot of people... but I honestly had a lot of fun mastering each stage.

Perhaps one of the reasons I had so much fun was because of the stage variety. Each stage feels like the developer had an idea and they went through a whole game's worth of difficulty in that single stage. One of the most famous levels is one where you have to guide a hot air balloon. It constantly sinks and you need to utilize air currents to keep it afloat. At the beginning of the stage its really easy... but by the end you are gonna need to dodge enemies, manage your height, and hop between multiple balloons... then you don't really see air balloons again for most of the game. Every level is like this, there is one with ropes, another with spider mechanics, racing levels, and mine cart levels. The variety is amazing and really appreciated.

Honestly, I think everyone would have a good time here with a little bit of patience. You will game over many times your first few times playing this game... but the platforming is so smooth and the variety brings so much to the table that DKC 2 is a must play for the SNES.

Preliminary: Yessss as awlays with the Donkey Kong Countrys, great music and Sound in general. And yesss the hair whipping Kong, I must've played this one as a kid too. The world map was kind of meh and blurry but otherwise, looking to be solid like the first one.

Like with the first one, I like how fast-paced and encouraged running is. I prefer playing as the hair whipping Kong. Not a fan of the pop-out enemy design so far but I've managed, and loving the music like at the Monkey Museum.

Day 2

As good as this is, and I'm having fun with it, it just isn't as exhilarating the second time around (even tho Diddy was my preferred character in the first one so you'd think I'd love this, esp since I like the hair whipping Kong too). The Look looks meh/blurry, the reused enemies too, and I have no desire to even attempt the bonus/optional things rn just get through the game or a good chunk of it.

Ooo I really liked the music, design, and Spider (favorite animal friend so far) of the first lava level Hot-Head Hop. I like the introduction of ecah of the mechanics and quirks of the game so far, but I am dreading once they've established them all and want to bombard us with difficulty :-p

Yea I'm really not loving this Look, it's so pixelated and bad, and the enemies blend in a lot. And the design of this second level ain't it (and wayyyy too many bonus/friendly levels, just get to the action plaftforming!) And now I'm stuck at some barrel jump between two arrow barrels hmmm really questioning whether it's pushing through for the good music and DKC gameplay, or just moving on

I do really like the glide capability of Dixie Kong (I know her name now :-p ) I dislike a lot of the enemy mechanics tho. It's lucky its music is so good! Also the bosses have been really good and fun and approachable (so far).

Eh, an all-swimming, dark-with-a-moving-flashlight themed level that had the first bout of sprite overload slowdown and really brought to light the mediocre collision masks. I suppose that's gonna happen with these kinds of sprites on an SNES game, but all the more reason I'm ready for the next gen era. But here I am, continuing on anyway. Also, pretty tacky to have the spiky enemy after you come out of the water to the ending area, I suppose it's a classic platformer technique, but doesn't bode well for the later, increasingly difficult levels.

For sure the best parts of the game are (of course the music and bosses but) the parts where they just fully release to fun nonstop platforming fun. And when I get to just hair glide along. I bet that makes for some really fun speedruns/tricks. And another solid boss. I am now on Krazy Kremland--wait... that can't be the last area can it? (No it's not, this must be like a halfway point, tho it always seemed like the Valley of Bowser neon sign theme from SMW hence the ending feeling, plus it was at the top of the screen then)

As disappointed as I am about aspects of this game and my high expectations, I can't deny I am having an intense bout of my platforming hook. My palms are sweaty and I'm locked in lol. Probly this hypey music for Hornet Hole. My palms are about as sweaty and crazed as when I played through Marvel Super Heroes the other night.

I do like the Look of this area (at last) gives almost Abe's Oddysee vibes

Yessss and the dance music and Look of this level

And yea I see what people mean about teh difficulty, not sure how I'd do without savestates. Tho it hasn't felt obnoxiously hard or un-fun from it (yet).

Well I'm calling it for tonight, I get annoyed with the swamp levels' tendency

Day 3

Welp the way the background and foreground meld and the Look in general and the delay in throwing barrels/shooting as an animal/etc is taking its toll on me. But on to Gloomy Gulch I go

Yeaaaa as high-quality as it is I think I'm calling it at Gusty Glade. Which is kinda silly cuz I'm so close to the end but. Trying to follow through with not feeling the urge to finish a game that isn't likely to get a 5 star.

Look: 7.5/10 I really like some screens but I can't deny this was one of the biggest detractors/negatives. Too many blended foregrounds/platforms, not as exhilarating as the first one, and felt very pixelated for its time.

Sound: 8.5/10 This series has great music. Not as spectacular as the first, but great all around.

Play: 8/10 Some flaws, sure, but still that plaforming hook I struggled to deny.

Feel: 8/10

Attachment: 8/10

Overall: 8/10

After playing and not enjoying DKC 1, I figured it was only fair to give the second one another chance, especially since everyone regards it as the best in the SNES trilogy. Unfortunately, what I found was virtually the same experience with some new added mechanics.

The problem with this game is the fact that it is insanely difficult for what it is, and is horribly inconsistent. I know that old games are hard, I play and beat a lot of them. They were designed this way for a reason, so that companies could give people value for their money and make sure they couldn't beat it in one sitting straight out of the box. However, the high praise that DKC 2 gets does not match nearly how tedious and annoying it is.

The hitboxes are still broken, just like in DKC 1. Multiple times your jump or attack just won't land properly for some unknown reason and you die. The levels have constant blind jumps that are unforgiving and that are annoying. The controls are incredibly janky and hard to manage. There is specific areas of the game that you need very tight precision in order to navigate obstacles, but the floaty feel of your character combined with terrible hit boxes makes the game inconsistent. This isn't like SMW where the controls are tight when you move and you have complete control over your sprite.

There is no continues. You have to farm banana coins and save your game frequently, which involves possibly back tracking and getting more coins or pushing forward to get a free save at the next part of the map, but by doing that you risk losing all your previous progress.

For how hard people are on games like Super Ghouls and Ghosts, Castlevania 3, or Contra 3 for being "too hard" and in comparison this game gets a complete pass for some reason makes no sense to me. In DKC, if you lose one of your characters and you die in a hole, you respawn with ONE character, so ONE HIT. There is no guarantee you are getting your partner back right away. Even in Super Ghouls and Ghosts, you always spawn with two hits. And in the other games, the controls aren't absolutely horrible.

Lots of people probably remember DKC from their childhood as being a fun, light hearted platformer with cool looking graphics. I can guarantee if you put this game in the hands of any average ass person today after not touching it for years they would probably be super happy to play it for like 20 minutes, before they realize how insanely difficult it actually is and they throw in the towel. If I could rate this game lower, I would. Fuck this game.

Developed by Rare, it improves upon its predecessor in nearly every way, offering tighter controls, more complex level design, and a darker, more atmospheric tone. You play as Diddy Kong and newcomer Dixie Kong, each with unique abilities that enhance gameplay variety, the game features a rich, moody soundtrack, one of the best soundtracks on a video-game through all gaming history, and striking pre-rendered visuals that pushed the SNES hardware to its limits. It's challenging but fair, with loads of secrets and collectibles that reward exploration, definitely a standout 16-bit classic with depth, style, and replayability.

This is my favorite SNES DK game, Diddy is simply the most delightful character to play as, and the level design is simply perfect when you match both playable characters, and the challenges you are about to face. Similar to the first title, there are several different mount options as your animal friends, and this time they are even more fun than the first entry. I highly recommend doing doin 100% on this one, it is one of the best games to 100%, not just on the SNES platform, but of all gaming history.

The game’s world progression is also very cohesive, with each themed environment building on the last while steadily increasing the difficulty. Levels introduce mechanics gradually, then remix them in clever ways that keep it engaging rather than frustrating. From tense bramble-filled stages to lightning-fast mine cart runs, it constantly tests timing, awareness, and mastery of movement. The bonus stages are especially well designed, feeling like compact puzzles rather than throwaway challenges, further reinforcing the game’s emphasis on precision and skill.

More than anything, the 2nd DK Country entry has aged exceptionally well. Its visual style remains striking, its OST unforgettable, and its gameplay loop deeply satisfying even by modern standards. It set a benchmark not only for platformers on the SNES, but for sequels in general, showing how refinement, confidence, and creative risk-taking can elevate a series. As a complete package, it stands as Rare at the peak of its powers and remains a timeless example of how thoughtful design can turn a great game into an all-time classic.

Gameplay, Story and Value:

For the most part, Donkey Kong Country 2 is almost an exact copy of its predecessor, which is to say it's a very good game! Not everything is identical, however, and it's those differences that really elevate DKC2 to another level.

K. Rool is back at it again, only this time he's straight up kidnapped Donkey Kong himself! It's up to Diddy Kong and newcomer Dixie Kong to save the day! Diddy plays exactly like he did in the first game, while Dixie can use her helicopter hair to glide over a pretty long distance if used right. She's much slower than Diddy, and holds items over her head rather than in front of her, and takes longer to throw them. She also can't roll jump. While I predominately used Diddy for the majority of the game, Dixie was definitely invaluable when used in the right situations, and I generally had a great time using either monkey to make my way through stages.

The game follows the same pattern as the last, with multiple stages over multiple worlds, each world ending in a boss encounter. The bosses in DKC2 are much better than in the first game, all using unique mechanics and mostly unique models. All the bosses still had pretty predictable patterns, but executing each encounter was still very satisfying. Stages themselves introduce new an interesting mechanics. One stage may have you riding wind currents while another will have you racing rollercoaster carts. All of this is enhanced by the addition of new animal companions and improvements on old ones, as well as the ability to actually transform into the animals themselves!

Platforming and controls are still top notch, and while the game is still very difficult, every stage can be learned and practiced to perfection, making for a very satisfying experience.

Presentation, Music and Sound:

Visually, DKC2 adopts the exact same styles as the last game which it uses to equally excellent effect. Even still, it does find ways to make some improvements. The water levels from Donkey Kong Country, for example, are enhanced in the sequel thanks to the game's ability to have hybrid water/land stages, with water acting as an independent entity. What this means is you'll have stages with shifting water levels, water that changes from boiling to cool, and even stages where you'll need to freeze the water to move across it!

While DKC2 uses more or less the exact same sound effect pool as its predecessor, I found the music to be a solid step up. All tracks fit the series perfectly, and many play on motifs from the first game's, but I definitely prefer the tunes in Donkey Kong Country 2.

Afterthoughts:

It's not something that happens often, but here's a great example of a developer taking an already excellent game and improving upon it in every possible way in the sequel. Better levels, better mechanics, better bosses, better characters, better music and all in all just a better game! Donkey Kong Country 2 is easily the best in series, and will always be among my favorite platformers of all time.

Review:

Playthrough:

They were conquerors, and for that you want only brute force – nothing to boast of, when you have it, since your strength is just an accident arising from the weakness of others. –Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness

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Okay, this is a highly personal review for me. Donkey Kong Country 2 was a game I became obsessed with as a kid, way back in 1995, and I’ve played it regularly ever since. Why? Well, it’s a classic. The successor to Rare’s 1994 smash hit Donkey Kong Country, there was a great deal of anticipation to see what Rare (rapidly breaking out as one of the world’s leading games developers) would add to the experience.

Although the series’ more famous first outing was a graphical triumph, a landmark title, and a good game, revisiting it now you can see some flaws – it’s too easy, the levels generally only offer linear gameplay, and it’s too short. It shifted some nine million cartridges, though, so it was only natural British developer Rare, situated in its cozy location in the tiny village of Twycross, produce a sequel.

The result hit the shelves in November 1995, only a year after the original had launched, with the team (headed by Rare co-founder Tim Stamper) paying close attention to fan feedback. The result? DKC 2 was an enormous improvement over the original – a vibrant, dramatic, challenging, and complex 2D platformer with surprising emotional heft and artistic values.

Commercially, it didn’t reach the original’s heights (five million copies sold worldwide, enough to still make it the sixth best selling SNES title), but I bet many DKC aficionados would say this is a much better game. In fact, I’d say it’s one of the best games on the console, which also happens to include a legendary soundtrack from a genius just going about his thing. Let us reminisce.

As our esteemed editor, Mr. Mage, covered in his excellent Anatomy of a Game Review: Nostalgia post recently, I’ve approached this one as objectively as possible. I’ve reigned in the sycophancy as much as possible, although if I fanboy too much then I’m a dismal failure.

Anyway, I pointed out the “plot” of DKC games in my Tropical Freeze review – usually it involves a character, or some bananas, getting kidnapped/stolen and then you set off on your journey. Exposition is over within a minute, usually, in favour of launching you into the fun. Fun it is, too, from the word go – the sparkling opening screen features dramatic pounding music, then the equally dramatic level section screen really gets you stoked for your adventure.

The first world is set around a giant pirate ship. Wham, into it you go with a sea shanty sounding in the background of the first level, Pirate Panic, as you traverse a giant ship, complete with creaking and groaning noises as it shifts in the water.

The evolution of the series is obvious straight away. Aside from the more expansive levels, Dixie Kong (making her video game debut) can team up with Diddy to perform some nifty tricks to reach areas which, initially, appear out of reach. Dixie’s hair spinning move is particularly important as it lets the player reach distant areas and, essentially, paraglide across entire levels. It offers a terrific sense of freedom as you can launch yourself into the air without fear of plunging to your doom – even now, decades on, I use it and immediately realise how inspired its inclusion was.

Diddy, of course, doesn’t have this ability, but he’s lightning fast and agile; you can swap between the two easily at any stage in the game (unless you’ve lost one of the Kongs – if you get hit, the respective monkey will scarper in a panic) to manage the many new challenges you face. With these two, though, you’re provided with some excellent tools to take on this adventure and beat it.

The range of levels is still impressive. After the fairly tame opening stage, you move higher up into the sails of the ship for Mainbrace Mayhem with its glorious, concise, looping music and sense of isolation. This gives way to other stages including swimming through the bowels of the ship, and it’s during these opening stages you come across helpful animal dudes such as Ratty the Rattlesnake. There are plenty more along the way to get to grips with, my favourite being Squitter the Spider who becomes your most frequently used acquaintance.

The boss battles are also a big improvement on the, frankly rather lame, selection from DKC. This starts with the bird dude pictured above, with the eyeball-popping reactions from the Kongs being an example of Rare’s famous sense of humour. However, most of the bosses aren’t exactly memorable (DKC 3 tried harder in this respect) and the main source of enjoyment from DKC 2 will be taking on the 52 levels.

The adventure ramps up with each new world – this is not a case of a load of levels cobbled together for the sake of it. There are, however, a few moments of disappointment – this is, likely, due to the short amount of time Rare had to turnaround the sequel.

Whilst 52 is an impressive total, there are several later in the game which are derivative of earlier efforts (with only minor changes, such as a different colour background). Plus, some of the high concept ideas for stages are taken from other games. Plenty of other platformers do this, though, and Rare added some spark to the ideas to make them their own (the main example here is a wind direction changing stage, which I first came across in Ninja Gaiden on the NES).

On the whole, you’re faced with an inspired and impressive challenge that’ll really test your gaming skills. One of the best examples is a tense, even exhilarating, update on the famous Mine Cart Carnage level from DKC – this time, you’re on a skull at a fairground (like you do) racing against the clock to wipe out enemies.

This is all complemented by the tight as a snare drum control system (it’s really incredibly streamlined, one of the sharpest I’ve ever come across), impressive graphics (including environmental effects like fog and rain), and an exceptional attention to detail. Retro Studios has carried this across to the modern era titles but full credit to Rare for all the little visual, musical, and intertextual references added throughout.

The difficulty really does ramp up, too. By collecting enough DK coins hidden around normal levels, plus the Kremkoins from beating bonus areas (usually two a level – sometimes three), you can open up the tough as nails Flying Krock and the Lost World areas. It’s a big challenge – to get 102% and annihilate the game, you need to get all the hidden coins, complete all levels, bosses, and visit all four Kong family members at least once. The latter is the easiest bit, obviously.

As it was so lovingly crafted, the love and appreciation for the game remain strong.

Click here for the full review... https://thewellredmage.com/2018/04/28/donkey-kong-country-2-diddys-kong-quest/