Donkey Kong Country 3 - The Anti-Climax of the SNES | GEEK CRITIQUE
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- Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
- A long, long time ago... this is a story about Baby Kiddy Kong and Dixie.
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If you're about to make a comment because I implied that Star Fox Adventures was better than Ocarina of Time, then you probably skipped to DKC3 and didn't watch the rest of this season. I was re-using a graphic from the first episode. You'll find it at about 11:30 here: ua-cam.com/video/6X1y8BwQLmU/v-deo.html
Hmm. You know strangely enough, the implication you make that Star Fox Adventures is an excellent Zelda game is totally true. Better that OOT? That's subjective, which means your opinion is quite valid as anyone else's. I remember thinking that SFA was excellent for a Zelda game when I completed it back in dem dayz. Your opinion might be unpopular, but I can tell it's the opinion of a seasoned gamer (unlike many of the comments one can encounter on youtube).
funny enough, I always called Star Fox adventure, the legend of star fox. lol. Also, DKC3 was always my favorite of the series because it was more about thinking and executing then being all out races to the finish, and my least favorite levels where the ones that were just that, races to the finish.
Actually I came down here to talk about why DKC3 might have been less than awesome- it seems Nintendo and Miyamoto in particular were getting fed up with being shown up with their own IP. Their third party policy on that seems to be "Do it justice, but don't.... outshine us on things we don't find important, okay?"
And on that note... watching Cranky Kong whine about lawyers is exactly the kind of backhanded talk I'd expect them to sneak in about Nintendo if the allegations are true.
You can post a link at a certain time of a video so that people instantly see what you wanna show them! Just right click, "copy video url at current time" and there u go! That way we don´t have to search and you don´t have to tell us the time!
The plot of Donkey Kong Country 4 should've been Donkey, Diddy, and Dixie Kong getting kidnapped and Kiddy Kong and his pet rock go and rescue them
And then DKC5 would be all the Kongs get kidnapped, so the pet rock teams up with a mysterious skull of unknown origin and one of Lopez's wrenches to compete ... no wait, that was a Red vs Blue sub plot, sorry.
DKC5 would be all 4 Kongs get kidnapped, Cranky blames K.Rool, but for once he's innocent, so Cranky and K.Rool head out together to rescue the Kong clan, only, PLOT TWIST! K.Rool actually did kidnap the Kongs, and has now lured Cranky to his stronghold and... To Be Continued...
...in DKC6 where Funky and Candy Kong, the last of all the free Kongs, team up to free ... er, everyone else from K.Rool.
I remember that I also thought very much about DKC 4. I always thought that Kiddy will be the main hero but all the enemies are baby versions of all Kremlings. I am happy that I was wrong.
In DKC7, DK is cursed to a broken form of immortality, doomed to awaken from his grave, time and time again. Over the centuries, he accumulates the scars of lifetimes as each incarnation builds upon the labors of the last. Heroes, cowards, villains; Donkey Kong becomes all these things and more, until one day he awakens on a mortuary slab with only one clue to his identity. A tattoo is scrawled across his back, telling him to check his journal and to seek out Pharod Kong. Alas, the book is nowhere to be found and our hero has no idea where to find the elusive ape. His identity forgotten in the passing of ages, the Nameless Kong undertakes a great quest to discover who and what he is.
pet rock easily being the favorite character
Queen Sectonia How about DK and friends go look for more bananas and Kiddy just gets shot in the head
I will never understand why people crap on DKC3. All three games are fun as hell
they miss diddy
Dkc3 is definitely the toughest
@@GodhandPlusOne Diddy has one of the best motion controls in all history of 2D platforming video games. How you can control him through the stages - all his agility, speed, lightness, and grace - is almost flawless. He's always been the primary character to play with in DKC1 and DKC2. Dixie and Donkey, on the other hand, are much slower and heavier but they complemented Diddy with gliding and strength abilities, respectively. In my opinion, DKC3 is flawed because they put two secondary characters together, one of them being the worst one yet to maneuver (Kiddy).
Donkey Kong Country 3 is the Sonic The Hedgehog 3 of Donkey Kong Country. Haha
CJ G But Sonic 3 was the best of them And dkc2 was the best of the dkc Gamed
I actually appreciated DKC3 for its weirdness and I'm really glad the team did their own thing instead of trying to replicate what made 1 and 2 work. The soundtrack is also underrated imo.
I loved the OST, Eveline Fischer/Novakovic did an amazing job with it. It was at atmospheric as DKC1 while going beyond being just ambient tracks.
I love the trilogy, but DKC3 is my fav by far
Rockface rumble says enough.
I find myself listening to dkc music more. It kinda grows on you. Dkc3 gets rough criticism only because it came after two masterpieces of games. It’s a high bar to reach but at least what we got is unique and fun on its own.
Pretty strange coming back here knowing you’d be making fun of a bunch of it in another 7 years. It’s cool being able to see these two videos though, this one definitely has that classic feeling of your older videos when the runtime was a lot shorter, and the new one shows how far you’ve come and is a great example of your modern stuff.
KIDDIE KONG CAN SKIP ACROSS WATER?!?!? How have I gone all this time without knowing?
How did i finished the game 103% without knowing this??!!🤔🤔
How did you get to that bonus barrel at level 4 or so without it?
You can DO that? I thought it was required to beat the record in Riverside Race
I only just found out too. You can get that early bonus barrel by taking damage from an enemy.
@@funkyrealcat2054
You didn't lol
DKC3 was my favorite of the series, I know most people like 1 and 2 specially more.
But to me DKC3 was more unique, with more exploration and new ideas.
Avelier Plays dkc2 is betta
The map was petty cool.
@@wozthescott2804 your opinion
Nostalgia On The Air Michael Christopher no shit
DKC3 Was actually my favorite of the trilogy. It was very different. The music makes you feel inside of the adventure. And levels needed more strategies.
It’s my 4th favorite game of all time no joke
Alberto Barrera and also the gba port for dkc3 is superior imo
Same, they got rid of the stupid later levels in DKC2 where some hazards were not foreseeable off screen and you simply had to learn where they were.
Dkc3 was the hardest in the trilogy
the music is one of the worst things in DKC3 and of course Kiddy Kong is the main problem here
These were all fair criticisms of DKC3. The majority opinion over at DK Vine has always been that DKC3 was the second best of the trilogy and more polished than the original (at least until Tropical Freeze dethroned it from the number two slot), but it's certainly down to what you prefer. DKC1 is definitely more kinetic and fluid than DKC3, but the puzzle solving of DKC3 was a nice change of pace. A good way of looking at it is that each DKC is designed around the personality and abilities of the main Kong, and this is very much the kind of game that Dixie would want to star in.
As far as Kiddy goes, we have a theory that he was kind of designed to be stupid and not as appealing as any of the other Kongs. Why? Because they had to end the need to give the sidekick their own game. This was the end of the trilogy. Kiddy was never going to get a Donkey Kong Country 4 to star in. Diddy and Dixie were each worthy of hero quests. Kiddy was a dumb baby who probably won't remember this adventure when he gets older. The chain was broken here, allowing DK and Diddy to become permanent fixtures again beginning with DK64. Why Kiddy over, say, having Donkey in the sidekick role? Because then he would overshadow Dixie's starring role.
At the end of the day, we can't help but have fond feelings for DKC3. It was definitely a step-down from DKC2, but it also did a lot of things better than that game. It lacked a cohesive theme and the genuine emotions that DKC2 stirred, but I'll be damned if Parry the Parallel Bird and the Brothers Bear aren't some of our favorite characters from the trilogy. The Northern Kremisphere also had a somewhat eerie feel to it. It wasn't enemy territory, but it wasn't quite friendly either. It was uncharted territory, which made the exploration on the map screen all the more enticing (and terrifying at times, especially when you discovered the Queen Banana Bird for the first time)
Being as objective as I can, I'll agree that DKC3 is definitely a superior game to DKC1. My preferences just mean that I have a lot more fun with the original. And yeah, the way each DKC game fits its star is something I really need to remember to include in the wrap-up video, because it got lost in the script editing here.
That's an AWESOME theory on Kiddy, that I'm surprised I don't remember hearing you guys discuss before. Now I'm trying to imagine a DKC4 released in late '97 and starring Kiddy...
It's a shame that Dixie wasn't present in DK64, where she was replaced by...Tiny. Who was basically the same character, only she could get smaller!
avgn is garbage, unless you are 5 years old
A fan box art image was made describing that very thing: "Donkey Kong Country 4: Kiddy Kong's Super Cool Game of Awesome"!LOL I do agree with that theory very strongly - DKC 3 wanted to end the need of sidekicks getting their own games; Donkey's presence would have overshadowed Dixie, and Diddy's presence would have just been a rehash of DKC 2, so... in all fairness toward Kiddy, I do believe he was the appropriate sidekick for Dixie. By the way, are you at all familiar with the fan-made "Donkey Kong Country 4: The Kong's Return"? It stars Donkey, Diddy, Dixie and Kiddy - all equal this time, and you can choose which pairing you want at any barrel! It may be unofficial, but it's fun. I've watched videos on it... maybe you have, too!
The Geek Critique dkc3 is in my top 5 games of all time
In DKC1, when the bigger character dies, you think "Oh God, I'm screwed."
In DKC3, when the bigger character dies, you think "Thank God I can still do the hair helicopter."
diddy is better than donkey kong
To be honest, everyone prefers Diddy over Donkey.
I miss the Kremlings in the New Donkey Kong Country games
Me too.
Personally DKC2 is my favorite of the trilogy: I loved the levels, the music, the perfectly balanced duo of Diddy and Dixie, the music, the bonuses, the bosses and the music! The original game was definitely the best for speed running and the music was great too! 3rd game is the perfect finale for the trilogy with every level being unique from one another!
What'd you think of DKC2's music?
DKC3 is definitely an acquired taste I think. Kind of weird tasting at first, but after you've rolled it around your mouth for a while you start to appreciate just how different it tastes. I'm honestly glad we have this to cap off the Donkey Kong Country trilogy, because you can at least say the third game wasn't just more of the same.
There's an actual reason to play this, and after the masterstroke that was DKC2, that's saying something.
+Nomad9 Haha, I like your metaphor, and I think you hit the proverbial nail on the head.
So...The Geek Critique...Which Brothers Bear is Best?
The most memorable for me would have to be Brash Bear. He's connected to one of the only speed-focused stages in the game, and I thought it was hilarious how pissed he got when I finally beat his time.
Banjo is the best of the Brothers Bear.
Or maybe he's just a cousin.
TEC Nah, I think he's one of them. His name does start with a B.
I actually love this game as one of my favorites on snes. It's northern atmosphere and feeling is beautiful and charming still to this day. The gimmicks are what gave this game a unique personality and for the reasons listed above I have a lot of nostalgia for this game and would like to replay it some day. Never played the 2nd but the 1st and 3rd were amazing as well and they had their own feel. If they were all the same it would be boring. I couldn't pick a favorite.
Always felt that sense of slowed momentum from this game. The way you described the flow of the first game was perfect.
I love DKC3, especially the pacific-northwest/canada theme it has. Great music, gameplay, and visuals that match the other two games.
I actually thought it was a pretty good game.
Funky munky8 he said it was lol
I just started playing for the first time ever a couple of days ago. I like it quite a lot. Defo think the music is lacking though.
I like the first game best, but might be because that's the only one of them I had as a kid, didn't even know there was a third one back then.
I personally think DKC3's music is awesome. The only "song" I find annoying to the highest level is the one in the first level, third and the Kreeping Klasps. The rest is very good. The music is really a strength of the whole trilogy.
My preferences:
Jungle levels : DKC1 > DKC2 (Lost World) > DKC3
water levels : DKC3 > DKC1 > DKC2
Ice Levels : DKC1 (outdoor ice levels) > DKC2 > DKC3
cave levels : DKC3 > DKC1 DKC2 = N/A (excluding lava and ice cave levels)
Factory levels : DKC1 > DKC3 DKC2 : N/A
Bramble levels (DKC2) = Mountain levels (DKC3) > Tree platforms levels (DKC1, Tree Top Town etc.)
Haunted woods levels (DKC2) = Tree levels (DKC3 > forest levels (DKC1, World 3)
castle levels (DKC2) > Pipeline levels (DKC3) > suspended platform levels (DKC1, like Trick track Trek)
River side levels (DKC3) > Temple levels (DKC1) > marsh levels (DKC2)
Levels with a unique song : Haunted Hall (DKC2) > Slipslide Ride (DKC1) > Rocket Rush! (DKC3) > Screech's Sprint (DKC2)
Yes, music is of another style in DKC3 (They are not in the tropical area in that game) but it is great nonetheless, same for the other 2 games. I don't think there is any SNES game with a better soundtrack than those three except Chrono Trigger.
And yes, it was a pretty good game. But even if DKC 3 was far from being a bad game, it was also far from being as good as the first two were.
It is great game, anybody without na agenda to push will confirm. This guy is insulting the game cause conflict brings views
As far as the Banana Birds providing a retroactive explanation for why the Kremlings stole Donkey Kong's banana hoard goes, there's a really great video called "In The Mind of: King K. Rool" that provides an alternate explanation that, while it doesn't hold up in light of _Returns_ and _Tropical Freeze's_ additions to the series lore, is a lot more compelling if you only view it in light of the first game (plus a synopsis of the character arc K. Rool undergoes over the course of the whole series, to boot). Definitely give it a watch if you haven't already.
This is honestly my favorite of the series. The music, the hub areas (especially the first one and the woods where you fight the spider), hanging out in Wrinkly's cave....the whole experience felt very welcoming to me.
That moment when you realize that K Rool apparently has a wife
XD
"My god, He fucks!"
I love DKC3 the game is beautiful, the soundtrack is so much fun, the functions and mechanics between the kongs are very creative, very different from each other. Boss fights are creative, the rpg system on the world map. I don't understand the problem with Kiddy, he's fun. I miss him at the games. Functions and themes of the most diverse in the game, I find it technically better than the trilogy. To me it's as good as DKC2
I really like DK3. I've enjoyed all 3 DK's since I was young. I rate them: DK 9/10, DK2 10/10, DK3 9/10.
DK3 was fun and inventive. The levels were creative and the world was fun to explore. I like that it wasn't the same old, same old but tried to be more of a thinking game. I love them all for what they bring.
DKC3 is probly my favourtite SNES game. Sry guys.
But the DKC1+2 soundtracks are some of the best game soundtracks ever imo
Bob Slartibarti I agree!
Hey man, I'm with you on this! DK3 is my favorite Snes game and I Kiddy Kong is my favortie character of DKC
Alexander Sanchez dude we are like the same person!
Bob Slartibarti same
Bob Slartibarti 2 is my favorite but 3 is excellent
I love DKC3 but still, I like this review a lot. I appreciate a point of view that is not completely bloated and filled with hate on a game. When I watch reviews its either people saying good things about a game or bad things about a game.
This video however took a look at both sides of the coin and explained perfectly why DKC3 is not like the other two.
This one was my favorite as a kid. I remember being so stoked seeing the tv commercials. Love the videos dude x) keep up the great work
DKC3 is just as good as the rest of the SNES entries. It has a different tone and setting, but it’s a masterpiece nevertheless.
Masterpiece is a stretch.
@@grantkeller4634 you never played it I see.
Just because it's on the tailcoats of an excellent franchise doesn't make it great by default. It's like Terminator 3, it had similar ingredients to the first two, but it doesn't live up to the momentum they built up or break the same ground that they did.
Pfff comparing this game to terminator 3? It's way closer to a masterpiece than that
It was a hyperbole, I'll give you that. But similarly they were both weak points in the trilogy (I'm pretending Terminator 4 doesn't exist here)
This was a bit of a harsh review. I always thought DKC3 was a great game. Maybe not as strong as DKC2 particularly with the music, but still great with all the different levels. I’m surprised a lot of people are critical of this game.
@ArtBuffalo People seem to think that if you think DKC3 is the worst in the trilogy you INSTANTLY hate it.
No, it's still a good game. Just 1 and 2 are better/more fun.
DKC 3 is my favorite out the series and I actually like DK64. i hope they some day get their second chance to fix what problems the first one had.
Fantastic wrap up to this trilogy of videos! You definitely did them justice and I can tell that their was so much passion put into them, great job man! :)
Thanks, man! Yeah, DKC has always been on of my favorites.
ITS CONNER
"DKC 2 made me feel things!"
Interesting memory attached to this one...
My parents and I went to Toys R Us for some reason. A gift for a cousin? DKC3 was playable on a tv in the gaming section...remember when that was a thing? I wasn't into gaming at the time, I was only 6 or so years old, but I remember walking by, maybe even playing it, and being really wowed by the visuals. I didn't know the different between Snes and N64, that's how naive I was about gaming.
But when all is said and done, this was probably the last outing my parents and I went on before they got divorced. I also see it such a 90s outing, so it's one that really stands out in my memory!
First of all, KAOS is pronounced "CHAOS".
Secondly, the overlying theme with the Kremlings and their allies is that almost all have been genetically altered, hence the final villain being Baron K. RoolENSTEIN!
And third, the idea here is that Donkey and Diddy are missing, so Dixie and Kiddy are searching the entire Northern Kremisphere for them.
First of all, there’s no need to be pedantic about his pronunciation. It’s not that big of a deal
Secondly, he clearly addresses the overlying theme and states that the problem was that it wasn’t as cohesive as it could have been (he specifically mentions that only a handful of the enemies and one world, Mekanos, really adhere to the theme)
Thirdly, no one needed you to explain the plot. It was impossible to miss. And the developers more than likely decided on the characters before they created the plot so it’s a moot point anyway
I hope that we can see a new Donkey Kong Country on Nintendo Switch. DKC Returns and Tropical Freeze were both amazing games.
Wish granted.
Kt Ash We aren't getting a new one, Tropical Freeze is just getting ported over
Didnt enjoy returns as much (maybe because played on 3ds) but damm tropical freeze is a JAM
The visual aesthetic of Tropical Freeze is incredible. It and Yoshi's Wooly World are probably my two favorite games for the Wii U
FUNKY MODE BABY!
DKC2 is my favorite game of all time with Brambles "Stickerbrush Symphony" being my favorite video game soundtrack of all time. I also loved DKC3 so, I especially enjoyed playing during the holiday season with the holiday themed items cheat codes, which u failed to mention. :(
DKC2 was the very dictionary definition of "tough act to follow." Any game charged with the task of being a follow-up to that masterpiece has my undying sympathy.
DKC 3 had a variety of interesting game mechanics. While 1 will always have a place in my heart, 3 just offers so much replay value. And figuring out the minigames and getting around the world map was so damn fun
Negatives of DKC3:
1. Overall Art Design being inferior to 1 & 2 (most notably for enemy designs)
2. Music is also not as good when compared to both of its predecessors
3. Kiddy Kong and his special move to roll jump on water is limited to a small amount of levels
4. Collecting Banana Birds
Positives of DKC3:
1. Innovative Level Design concepts and surpassing DKC1 in the department (and even 2!)
2. Boss Fights are more creative and are the best in the trilogy
3. Ability to choose from World 3 (Cotton Top Cove) and World 4 (Mekanos) on which one to tackle first
4. Manageable 100% Completion due to the "two bonus barrels/coins per level" limitation; easily obtainable DK Coins instead of being 'cryptically' hidden
5. Difficulty within the reasonable limits for the 'Lost World'
6. A Trading Sequence with the Brothers Bear is a plus (unlocks additional banana birds)
7. Swanky's Sideshow Minigame for being too much fun
Honorable Mentions:
1. Interactive Overworld Map provides more freedom
2. Ability to Save your game's progress at any given point
3. Main K. Rool Fight for not being extremely challenging
4. Gyrocopter Award for collecting all 41 DK Coins
What about the GBA version?
Haven't played it. I've noticed that the sound effects and the music are different. And wait, even the overworld? Wonder how this compares.
Stephen P I would recommend watching a video called Donkey Kong Country 3 Remake or Rebreak by a UA-camr called ExoParidemGamer for a review that looks at the two versions in depth.
As for my opinion, I think the music's better in the GBA version with the exception of a few tracks in a few levels, and because of my Music-headed self, I like GBA version more, but Swanky's Minigame is better in the SNES version.
Also, I enjoy Pacifica (The GBA-exclusive world) so I guess I like the GBA version of DKC3 More.
Power B Swanky's Minigame, dude! I love being up against Cranky. Show him who's boss!
I liked most of the negatives you give in DK3. I think the music is just as good, just a bit different and light hearted. Level 1 in DK3 is one of my favs
What we need is a 3D re-creation of DKC and DKC2..but the graphics need to be just as good as the pre-rendered SNES versions...not polygon shit
It ain't 96 anymore bruh
@@cypher838 then why do all your favorite rappers wear band shirts from that era??
People like the 90’s,
They like it more than your opinion.
@@nicks4802 Why would you pay attention to the preferences of rappers? Ew
When playing it, one of my biggest gripes is that almost every single enemy sprite looks out of place, and doesn't help to convey any cohesive, or satisfying tone/mood.
I like this game. Definitely upped the difficulty in the later levels....
I never understood the stigma behind this game and Kiddy Kong, I always thought DKC was much better and more enjoyable than DKC 1. DKC2 is clearly the best but 3 was a much better game than everyone gives it credit for.
Jordan Moore objectively the best.
"clearly the best"? How?
DKC2 is clearly the inspiration for the best, which is DKC3. *
Fixed it for you.
2 and 3 are amazing. I have a hard time getting into the first one.
The original dkc was the reason I purchased the snes. When 2 came out I couldn’t believe how amazing it was. Still my favorite game of all time. I couldn’t wait to get 3 and boy was I disappointed.
It’s funny how when Dixie uses her helicopter float thing, Kiddy has to float using his hands, it looks so wrong xD
As far as just simply beating the games I think the third was just barely below the other two. But for completing I loved this game and found it more fun to get every collectible than the other two. the first game had issues on this part because of some bonuses being almost impossible to find without a guide, and the second game frustrated me with having to pay funky Kong to go to other areas.
I love DKC 1 and 2...they're my childhood....but DKC 3 is my absolute favorite game of all time. I don't see why people bag on it....the whole series is so good but 3 had my favorite music and atmosphere. Not saying much though because 1 and 2 are right up there with it.
Seriously though...if you love DKC 1 & 2 so much, how could you not like DKC 3? Just because of kiddy? That's a really bad reason to ignore that this game improves everything that the first 2 games did. This is the greatest game of all time!
Oh my gosh, you totally got me at 3:40, I was surprised that the video so abruptly ended, did like a triple take at the timeline, and when you continued I did a big LOL!
You know, I never noticed the commercials saying that as a kid (nor did I notice the whole biker guy theme with a rep of Dixie in the bitch seat.... SNES game commercials being what they were at the time, I figured it was just some silly skit with a loose connection to primates to tie in with the game's focus). Granted, it's easy to assume that they meant it's "featuring" Kiddie Kong, rather than "starring" in the more literal sense of him in the main role. Dixie's name is already in the title, so saying it's starring her just sounds redundant. Still, they could've said "featuring" instead of "starring" in the first place, but I'd say it was just a slip.
And yeah, I wasn't too fond of the baby either. There really didn't seem to be a point to him when Donkey could've filled the exact same role. However, I guess that DKC sequels were establishing a trend of letting the new character take the mantle because the previous star(s) were put out of commission. Needless to say, it was Dixie's time to shine, and in giving her a new partner, someone at Rare must've decided to go back to having a bulky character like the first game did while not necessarily having it be Donkey himself. With this in mind, we should probably be thankful there wasn't a Donkey Kong Country 4.... whether that's because DKC3 was less successful than its predecessor, or it was simply the timing with the SNES being phased out (and 2D platformers along with it), I'm not sure, but if DKC4 did happen, you can bet that Kiddy would've taken the starring role just because of the pattern.
I'm pretty sure Rare knew there'd be an effectively 0% chance of DKC4 being existing. The fact that they made Kiddy much less memorable or likable than Dixie or Diddy pretty much proves that they never thought of him being a potential star.
Kiddie Kong sucks, but this dude clearly just wanted to insert a feminist rant into his review
I had never seen that secret ending to DKC2 before! It looks gorgeous!
You know, I owned all three DKC games as a kid and absolutely loved all three. I could flip a coin on my favorite. I do hate Kiddy Kong, but I adore the world, the mini-games, and the secrets. This game felt amazingly large at the time, and I still adore it.
3 is great imo. It doesn't have the serious tone of 2 and it doesn't play quite as fast but it was very unique and adventurous for what it was and pretty much every level had a new fun gameplay gimmick. As far as gameplay goes, in my opinion it is by far the most innovative.
I kinda of like this game more than dkc2. Dkc2 is a great game and I love the speed. I really love the stages and environment more in this game. I also love how you can collect items in this game to progress the story. Though of all three games dkc1 is my favorite.
I agree with you. While I respect a lot about the design and feel of DKC2, I must admit feeling a little bit bored with all the levels being really dark and gritty. The other games were a little more diverse.
5:48 There's no way they could have done that without Donkey stealing all of Dixie's thunder. MistareFusion explained that when he did his disseciton of this game.
I will never understand why you couldn’t play as donkey Kong twice in his own trilogy. The only thing I hate about dkc3 is kiddy Kong, there was no reason to create him and not letting us play as DK. Still love dkc3 but it makes it harder than it should to look back at this game
This video articulates my thoughts on DKC3 perfectly.
I always have a soft spot for this game. I personally don't mind the slower pace the game's levels had since I really liked the more puzzle/exploration oriented design they had and I'm surprised you did not mention the game's bosses since they are, in my opinion, the best bosses in the original SNES trilogy.
Yeah, I should have mentioned the bosses. I don't think as a whole they're as strong as DKC2's, but they're definitely memorable. Barbos is probably one of my favorite bosses in the trilogy.
Something goofy happening in a game about anthropomorphic monkeys trying to get their bananas back from a fat crocodile king? Preposterous!
Bah, DKC3 is Rare's best Super Nintendo game. I love the variety of levels, it really makes DKC1's basic "just run to the right" stuff look kind of dated in comparison... and the graphics are the best of the trilogy, too.
ABlackFalcon It certainly isn't but it comes close to DKC2. It improved the item collection aspect but DKC2 is a tighter game overall, i'd describe it as hardcore even and i guess that's what put a lot of ppl off. DKC3 in comparison was a breeze if you didn't collect stuff and for some ppl too many collectibles is a bad thing (main reason DK64 is the worst DK game for some, i liked it better than DKC3 though), specially after what DKC2 accomplished.
ABlackFalcon f
Ebani
I was able to beat DKC2 more than DKC3 when I was a kid, and I'm pretty sure I played both equally. I remember Bleak being a huge blockade for me.
@@Ebani DKC2 has collectible too.
@@k-leb4671 Yeah Bleak is a real pain. But not as tough as Barbos.
the information highway of the web on aol.....that the most 90s thing I've ever heard and i love it
*"stawin kiddeh kaawng"*
Baby Mario was a REALLY good idea! Kiddy on the other hand...
Funny enough, DKC3 is my favorite of the bunch even to this day. I grew up with all three and the atmosphere of DKC3 seemed the most inviting to me. The bizarre, cartoony-ness style of DKC3 seemed such a drastic turn point in the series that you could barely tell it's a DKC game. But it's fine because I like stuff that's different, especially if the new stuff works.
I loved the exploration and added story stuff with the bears. As a kid I was always so excited to get to a new bear or a new Banana Bird cave or a new vehicle. I can see what you're saying about the level design now, but I did enjoy the puzzle solving, and I really like Ellie and her ability to shoot water.
DKC2 > 3 > 1. Don't get the hate for the 3rd tbh. The odd one out of the bunch is the first, not the third. Looking back, DKC1 feels like a test subject, while DKC2 is where they used the results of those tests do it properly, and then DKC3 is just more of the 2nd with minor changes.
This game is amazing. The trick is just playing it without ever being salty at the commercials because you never saw them in the first place
I spent hours and hours with my friends playing DK3.
Felt this game was more challenging than the previous DK's
Can't see I enjoyed it less, I think all three games are, in their own way, gems.
My son loves these games also, so I achieved my lifegoal.
I see your son has excellent taste.
DKC3 is my favourite SNES game, and it's one of my favorite game ever like Spyro and Crash Bandicoot. When I was little I didn't undestand English, so I never finished the game 100% because for me was impossible to find "The Lost World" although I spent a lot of hours for find the reason I can't get more 78%. Some years ago (about 20 years after the first time I played it) I discovered how to do in a casual youtube video, so I took back the console from the attic and I finished it to 100% for my first time. It was very exciting.
6:22 PLEASE go listen to the song from the GBA version of the first level. It completely makes up for this point and is one of my favorite tracks in the entire series.
lol "the information superhighway"
That hits me right in the '90s
i really dug the country theme of this game, reminded me of going to a mountain resort or something of the sort, i like that the whole game had a flavor to it like that, kind of like how much they pushed the ice theme with tropical freeze
You know a lot of your critiques are things I love about the game. To me this game was just as fun as the other two games.
DKC3 is my favourite of the 3. Tropical Freeze is my favourite overall, but man.. DKC3 is so good. I understand there are criticisms of it, but I have always had the most fun with it, I think the difficulty is the most balanced, the levels are the most varied (although DKC2 comes pretty close), the graphics are the best, and most varied.. I could go on. A lot of this stuff is subjective, but DKC3 will most likely always be my favourite from the original trilogy.
I had to look it up - "Experience is the greatest inhibitor of creativity and innovation." - Paul Heyman. Nicely done, man!
Ooh, I'd totally forgotten I used that! And now I'm confused as to why I completely failed to attribute the quote to the man! But yeah, I'd just recently watched his DVD when I was writing this episode.
Well said. I've always had trouble articulating how the gimmicky nature of DKC3 was different from that of of the first two. I've ended up settling for "...it just kind of...is". To me, it comes down to finesse. I fell in love with the first one because, between the music and the simplistic design, it felt like you were in the middle of the jungle. By the time they got to this one, all the atmosphere was gone. No more sunsets and lush forests, just carnival games and snowmen.
The New SMB of DKC games!
I love how DK1 and many stages from DK2 are really fluid. You just keep running, bouncing, jumping till the end if you want to, DK3 really frustrated me in this aspect as a kid.They could really have used more from Kiddie's skills as rolling around and bouncing on water.
Hi,
In my eyes Donkey Kong Country 3 is the best DK of all time ;-)
Kind regards
Andre
I'm with you
I"m not with you but i see what you mean yes refined in graphics complex mechanics puzzle platformer maybe but the music in dk 2 rocks bramble blast enchanted wood and the worlds are just mystic
*****
Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
Do you also like the Mortal Kombat games and Street Fighter games for snes?
Thank you
Andre
Thank you ;-)
Andre Eichstedt I like 2 more but 3 is still great. I do not get why people say it's bad. It's a hell of a lot better than the Wii ones.
David Wise DID do some music in DKC3. He just didn’t do a lot of it. He did certain ones like Brothers Bead, the bonus area, and the title screen music. Your point about the music, however, still stands.
I actually thought DK3 was the best game in the series
I have had this game for nearly 20 years and I JUST now learned that Kiddy can skip across water, and I now know how to get to that bonus barrel.
Hm... I think I knew about it from that same issue of Nintendo Power, but yeah, unless you read the instructions... or even HAD the instructions... that move would've been almost impossible to know about.
I'll never understand while people have such disdain for 3.
After the strong pirate theme of the second game, I just felt the third one needed more of an overall theme to tie it together. Also I agree that Kiddie Kong did not work as a protagionist. Might have been better to bring Donkey Kong back since oddly enough he's only playable once in his own series.
Personally speaking, I adored DKC3, largely down to associating it with a period of my life- Remember getting it for Christmas the year of release; one of the last Christmases I remember being too excited to sleep for as a kid, so it stands as a poignant time in life for me as it marked the transition from childhood to adulthood.
Everyone liked DKC 2 best, because both characters were good to use. DKC 1, and DKC3 you felt like it was a burden if you were stuck with Donkey or Chunky Baby, because they were slower and dind't jump as good. The fact they can hurt some enemies easier, didn't feel like enough of a trade off for the mobility.
Ahh! You got me twice at the end! Didn't realize you had three Patrons named Ben. :P
Benjamin Woodring Yeah, isn't that weird? I've got 12 backers, and a FOURTH of them just happen to be named Ben.
That's me! Sorry to complicate things... What are the chances?
Even better is the other guy that runs the radio station with me is named Ben...
Nice documentary thanks for not filtering the gameplay footage, it's best to see it in all of it's pixely Glory!
Although this game was different than the first 2, i feel like it still captured the mystique of donkey kong! There's something about the DK lore that I can never get enough of. I'm hoping they make a new DK for the switch. Maybe they can take. A darker take on the series. Making it more serious
What do you think of a different take on the series? @geekcritique
You mean a somewhat darker story like how DKC2 was to DKC? Or do you mean more like the tonal shift from Sonic 3 and Knuckles to Sonic Adventure 2?
Power B yea I guess a tonal shift. Maybe a little more story heavy. But still great gameply
DK3 is an awesome game actually! I love it, the levels are creative and fun. Not a fan of the character "kiddy kong" either but it doesn't ruin the game for me. I like they added the unlockables and the more open map between worlds. I remember when I was a kid I was initially disappointed getting this game, I think because N64 was out, but I did cone to really appreciate it. I think the timing of its release has a lot to do with why its overlooked
No idea what you're talking about. I reckon DKC3 is easily the strongest entry in the original series.
Kiddy skips over water?!
It's fairly challenging to float Dixie over to that bonus barrel. It worked, but now I find out 20 years later I was doing it wrong.
I really like DK3
It's true what they say, Josh/Geek: Once a series reaches its peak (DKC2), there's nowhere to go... except down.
Despite its weirdness, I really enjoy the game for what it is and appreciate the variety of the stage "gimmicks," as well as its Northern landscape and aesthetic. I felt DKC2 already moved away from the "kinetic gameplay" of its predecessor, which irked me back when I first played it, so I didn't feel any disappointment there.
Rare probably should have had Donkey Kong rather than Kiddy Kong, yes. It would have been great to have Donkey Kong finish up the series himself, but Rare most likely felt that including him would have meant putting Dixie Kong into a secondary role again and they wouldn't have that, of course.
+Jacob R DKC1 was MUCH more linear than DKC2, yes, but I think the sequel struck a good balance.
Let me put it like this. When I think of DKC2's gimmicks - ghost ropes, rising toxic fluid, freezing water to run across, wind - most of them CHANGED UP the gameplay, but they didn't slow it down or impede you, and they weren't often used for puzzle-solving. The only ones that slowed things down were Red Hot Ride and I guess Glimmer's Galleon, to an extent.
Compare that to many of DKC3's gimmicks - hiding behind metal plates from Krack-Shot, a purple tunnel that reverses your control, taking out Squeals to open doors, taking out Squeals so an elephant can pass, solving a barrel puzzle to get a DK Coin - most of them really COULDN'T be blasted through the same way that the prior games could be. YMMV on what you like about the series, but like I said, I think DKC2 struck the best balance, because it could be played and enjoyed in either style.
I don't know, if Nintendo's marketing department was insisting that a female character couldn't be the star anyway, maybe DK could have come back in a co-starring role? Like, still have it be Dixie's game with her as the default lead Kong, but market DK as being BACK and on equal footing with her?
By the way, thanks for the substantial and thought-provoking comment. It's nice to get one of those in this sea of Pokémon comments I'm digging through. xD
+The Geek Critique
Thanks for responding and the complement. I’ll elaborate more, then.
“Linear?” All the DKC games are ultimately linear, though DKC3 had a point where there is a choice on which world to complete next. I don’t want argue semantics but did you mean verticality? DKC1’s horizontality allowed its designers to create levels that could be completed swiftly without being impeded, mostly according to the character’s run speed and player’s ability, as you already know, and I loved that. There were exceptions that slowed the pace deliberately, and those levels had verticality. Yes, DKC2 added much more of this verticality compared to its predecessor, and this consequently slowed the overall pace of the gameplay as running isn’t the ultimate speed determining factor now, rather the level with some “gimmick” setting and slowing the pace often.
I must admit that I think it was slowed down more often than its predecessor than are willing to admit, aside from those two levels you mentioned. Off the top of my head, there are such encumbering miscellaneous “gimmicks” in many levels like disappearing ghost ropes, slow moving controllable barrels, total obscuring darkness, wind that moves against your direction (you didn’t mention that part), and, the worst, very slow moving hot-air balloons that require waiting on thermal vents to continue forward (had to mention it again). Most of K. Rool’s Keep levels are all vertical and also set its own pace with "gimmicks” like a rising floor, rising wind, rising acid, vertical chain ropes, and all with obstacles and projectiles in every direction which usually requires a pause for quick decision-making. The bramble levels are slower paced due to tedious meandering barrel puzzles, rope climbing, and an overall 360 degree level design. The hornet nest levels are an attractive mix of both verticality and horizontality, though with a sticky encumbering honey used as a progression device. Even more, every additional controllable animal buddy (Squawks, Squitter, and Rattly) were designed according to the new emphasis on verticality, and as such slowed down the pace of the game whenever they were required. Squawks must climb upward or descend slowly and maneuver around moving obstacles or projectiles, sometimes even slower because it is carrying our new hero and heroine, Squitter must slowly and deliberately create web platforms to progress, and Rattly is so vertically inclined that it constantly and awkwardly bounces up and down on the ground when moving forward. As an aside, bonus levels are now required to be completed in order to reach all the game’s content, forcing many uninspired and easy bonus levels on players while slowing game progression down.
Was this ultimately disappointing to me? No, because, while I loved DKC1’s physics and pace, I grew to appreciate DKC2’s slower pace because its increased variety created more suspense and challenge. That can make it feel faster than it really is sometimes. Indeed, I felt DKC3 took the same approach and I felt just as satisfied because of its quality level design. If the pace was ever slowed down or impeded, it was to add some suspense or variety, which I was already open to, and there never was anything as offensive as the pace of DKC2’s Red-Hot Ride. Admittedly, DKC3's pace may be slightly slower overall just due to Dixie and Kiddy’s running speed, which I am assuming is slower than Diddy just based on sight and feel alone. Still, I could generally run through all the levels, including the ones you mentioned, with a quick pace without feeling impeded, just as in DKC2, but perhaps that is because I am experienced and know the level layout enough to enjoy moving around such obstacles.
I said I liked the DKC3 despite its “weirdness.” I should elaborate on that as it’s related to pace in a way. Story-wise, DKC3 doesn’t have the sense of urgency that its predecessor has. It doesn’t seem to want to despite its premise and is more akin to DKC1 in that regard: a fun adventure through the countryside that doesn’t even care to establish who the ultimate villain is until its climax. DKC2, in contrast, makes its sense of adventure, purpose, and urgency known immediately as the game is launched, that is, from the blasting fanfare, title and title screen, overworld layout, and ominous letter from K. Rool. Further, the threatening art design, moody soundtrack, and varied level design are fully unified behind this immediacy in order to instill the emotional drive in the player to continue pressing forward (or upward) towards our captured hero and gaming icon, Donkey Kong. This is beautifully utilized when, near the expected end of the game, Donkey is cruelly teased and taken away, leaving the player angry and horrified. It is an effective sleight of hand by crafty and deliberate designers.
That being said, should DKC3 have tried to attempt something similar when it was done so well in DKC2? No. It made more sense to go back to something more lighthearted and silly, as in DKC1. But Rare didn’t, at least not fully. Instead, the initial premise of the game was finding our missing heroes, Donkey and Diddy, in the Northern Kremisphere, who, unbelievably, have probably somehow allowed each other to be captured despite DKC2’s events. The game never makes it clear and comes off as a crude facsimile of its inspired predecessor with no emotional effect, and, even worse, betrays the serene Northern landscape and ambient soundtrack of the game, subconsciously throwing players off. I think it’s a primary cause of the game’s disjointedness, or “weirdness,”compared to DKC2. I would have preferred Dixie, Kiddy, and some of the Kong family go on a summer vacation up North, only then to discover that the Kremlings have taken control of the countryside from the benevolent Brothers Bear under a new leader, a mad scientist, later revealed as K. Rool, who has finally uncovered the mysterious connection between the bananas and Banana Birds and is now using it to fuel his evil science (which ties nicely into his previous stealing of Donkey’s banana horde in DKC1). It is up to Dixie and Kiddy to reunite the captured Banana Birds from the clutches of his devious minions throughout the land to break the seal that holds their ancient Banana Queen, the power behind the power of the banana, who can defeat K. Rool once and for all.
It did sort of play out that way, though.
Huh, it kind-of blew my mind when you explained that all of the new animal buddies in DKC2 emphasize the new verticality of the game. And yeah, none of them are good for rushing through DKC1 style (although Squawks is actually fairly fast when he isn't weighed down by the Kongs).
I can't believe I never noticed that.
Jacob R
That was the most amazing analysis of the DKC series I have ever read.
@@jacobr1671 Both of your comments are quite underrated and an excellent summation of the differences in design philosophies for the first two games. I've recently been getting into the DKC series and while I find myself enthralled with the first entry, I cannot seem to connect well with the second entry despite knowing how enamored the fanbase is with it. I'm not here to dispute its quality but I simply cannot get into the game and I feel that it is exactly for all of the reasons you outlined. There appears to be very little dissent to the "DKC2 is the best and a masterpiece" narrative so it leaves me wondering if I even like 2D platformers to begin with. But on the other hand I adore the classic Megaman and X series of games, whose level design largely focuses on your characters abilities as opposed to introducing gameplay altering gimmicks at regular intervals, all while keeping the pacing fast. DKC1 to me happens to be the most in line with that philosophy and ends up being my favorite.
You pretty much nailed it, I think. I used to hate this game because of Kiddy and how it just failed to live up to the first games in tone, but playing it now, I really respect the level design and its commitment to new ideas in every stage. Every other aspect is a letdown. Character design, music, "humor", and bosses all fail to live up to 1 & 2 to varying degrees, with the final boss being an embarrassment. I mean, the guy isn't even engaging with you. He flies back and forth, like, lost in thought, while you throw barrels at him.
Wow, talk about not knowing what you're talking about. Few SNES platformers are as tight or well-designed and varied as DKC 3. It wipes the floor with most platformers released as late as 1996 on the SNES.
Damn straight! All three have excellent controls and hold up well to this day.
Yoshi’s Island? Haven’t played both games for a long time tho
This will sound weird for me and for the ones that are reading this comment, but in the middle of the video I started to cry as I remembered the good old naive and fantastatic days... and is principaly for DKC2 that is my favorite from the saga and one of my most beloved games of all times.
Goodnight everybody! 🇵🇪👋🏽
HA! Your editing tricks couldn't fool me! I'm watching this on mobile!...
Still made me double check the time bar though...
So they did fool you... ;p
Honestly surprised people didn't like this game... You have good arguments. It's just a good game at heart, if that makes sense.
This is my favorite one of the three. Really don't understand the hate. I think the level variety is one of the best parts that set it apart from 1 and 2.
dkc3 was great
Dixie Kong was our favorite growing up. We had a black lab that we named "Dixie" - after her! This was the only video game (other than Pac-Man) I ever saw my dad play, too. Think it's safe to say the marketers had it wrong.