In all seriousness, most gamers accept DKC2 is better than 1, but that first one has a special place in a lot of people's heart. For me that ambient underwater score is too good
I was really surprised by that fact when I got through playing them all as I generally had the least fun with the second one, it just seemed to be missing what made the first and third one great.
Not only that. It was the original. The second one is the same thing with some upgrades and fixes. I stick to the first game. I respect the guy's tastes, though.
Shoutouts to Eveline Fischer (now Eveline Novakovic). I never see her contributions mentioned with regards to the DKC series, but she scored a lot of DKC1 and almost all of DKC3 and it's really good. The treetop theme in DKC1 and the factory theme in DKC3 are some of my favorite video game tracks. There's an interview somewhere on the internet specifying which music she wrote versus David Wise and Robin Beanland.
Thank you! David Wise deserves a lot of credit, but she's an unsung hero. She did the map music in DKC, for the love of God. People hear that more than any other song in the game! Really appreciate you making this comment.
I'll never forget those late summer nights where my brother and I played DKC. The pure excitement when we finally beat the minecart levels was immeasurable.
While Wise was involved with the soundtrack for dkc3, it was primarily composed by Eveline Fischer, the Wise did come back and compose a new Soundtrack for the Gameboy Advance port
No kidding, my brothers girlfriend bought him this game when it first came out. It was just over $120cdn. So was FFIII (FFVI). I remember it was being said that this was one of the most graphically amazing games of its time. It was. There was so much talk of this game back then. We were all very impressed.
@@zanmaru139 that's sad in a way because the Genesis exclusives destroyed what SNES had to offer. SNES sellimg more units and games wasn't because it was the better console, it just had a bigger fan base. NES owners mostly went to SNES and missed out on the amazing Genesis games. I'm still finding Genesis games that I never knew existed that blow my mind. I'm not being biased either, as I owned both consoles as a kid and still have them and play them today.
I owned a snes back in 1995 a never played DK til laround early 2000s in a computer . some people just didnt play everything. lets be fair, not everyone is a gamer.
I want to point out the benefit to playing as Donkey Kong in DKC1 is that he can defeat some enemies by jumping on them which Diddy can't do. This makes some platforming sections easier. Diddy is definitely better to play as for the more experienced player though.
I feel like if Rare really wanted to give us a reason to choose Donkey over Diddy, they should've given him 2 hitpoints instead of 1. That would've made the game way smoother to play.
That always felt to me like a half-assed way of making him more balanced compared to the obviously better Diddy. Same with Kiddy and his useless water bouncing, that was made mandatory for like two bonuses, just to justify it. Between Dixie and Diddy they managed to have a better balance, Dixie has her game breaking hovering, but Diddy actually controls better, he is a bit faster and jumps higher.
Yes DK had a couple of moves including the floor bashing that helps defeat some of the tougher enemies but the problem is the balance where you would only need DK 5% of the time in comparison.
Donkey can also do a slap ground maneuver to reveal hidden bananas that Diddy cannot. And, yeah, DK does hit harder, so he's not without SOME advantage.
You hit the nail on the head with all of these. 2 is definitely the best, but the one thing about 1 which is also my favourite thing about the games in general is atmosphere. 1's atmosphere is just off the chart. The themes are so cohesive and are just brought to life with the visuals and David Wise's music. It might just be the nostalgia of it all, but the jungle, the caves, the mines, the factories, the treetops of that world just feel so real and alive to me, if I'm going to boot up a Donkey Kong game for 30 minutes or so, it'll be that one as I want to revisit those places again.
At last! This is the first time in years that I read comment about the amazing atmospheres in DKC 1. The incredible stages in the first game were always the main reason I preferred DKC1 over DKC2 in the past. Now my opinion in this has changed, and I can accept the gameplay in the second chapter of the trilogy makes it immensely better (the fact that I dedicated much more time to DKC2 says it all); although DKC1 is a more immersive game and (I know not a lot of people shares this opinion) I find its graphics are superior.
well said. WHereas DKC 3 the music and level themes and even the colour scheme were so poor and dissonant that despite the play being very consistent and good it brought the experience down several notches
I have to agree with you. I see the point on this video. Yes, DKC2 should be the better game but for me too DKC1 is the best!!! I noticed (it's a general rule, so exception exists) that it has a lot to do with when you discover the game. If you really lived and remember the 16 bits-era, you usually prefer DKC1. DKC1 was a total shock when it came out. Any Super NES owner felt like he/she was getting a game from the next generation. And there was that famous VHS promoting the game. What an experience! If you are rational, DKC2 is the best, if you are emotional, DKC1 is the best. Both are great games and that's all that matters! :)
The original donkey Kong country wasn’t just a game it was a turning point and a moment in gaming history as a kid I never thought video games could look this amazing and I’m still amazed at the graphics of this game when you compare it to the other snes games
@@larryconnerjr1835 🥱 FFS. I never said it wasn't a good game! I'm making the same point as SNES Drunk, that it was a fine game but had some gameplay flaws which were improved on in the sequel.
Not only through dialogue, look at the start screen of DKC 1. Cranky is on the same type of platforms as the arcades Donkey Kong and plays the og song. Only for DK to crash in with a new song and style.
DKC 3 is my personal favorite. I love the atmosphere. Just a sidenote, but Eveline Fischer was the composer for DKC 3, not David Wise (who composed a different soundtrack for the GBA port, but I prefer Fischer's SNES soundtrack).
You know what I think? I think the entire game was designed with a slightly too-tall aspect ratio and when the decision to release came down they awkwardly cropped the viewport on the top and bottom edges. It explains why it feels like you can outpace the camera vertically, as well as why some hidden areas seem impossible to find, because they didn’t survive the crop. I have no basis on this theory, but it would explain a lot.
As someone who replayed 1 and 2 recently [3 will be replayed soon!] I totally agree with you. I enjoyed 1 but it definitely doesn't hold up as well as 2. Some of those secrets in 1 were so random and ridiculous, whereas 2 made sense and rewarded you for exploring.
Which Donkey Kong Country games are worth playing today? Answer? All of them. I didn’t have the nostalgia either but they’re legendary. I feel like you’re just judging them because of their popularity. Bosses in 1 were the worst though…
...I don't think I've ever seen such a fair and accurate review of this trilogy. You nailed everything here. I do think DKC1 deserves perhaps _slightly_ more credit than you gave it, but even as someone with personal nostalgia for it I think every one of your criticisms were spot-on. And acknowledging part 2 as the best while far from hating on part 3 and being very fair with its strengths and weaknesses -- this is definitely the trilogy-review vid for DKC I'll link people form now on.
Sorta agree in general but I don't get the criticism of Donkey Kong's movement. I really don't. Maybe stopping instantly is "unnatural" but it's kinda objectively better for game control. The polar opposite would be something like Sonic where it takes time to accelerate and once you get going you can't really stop quickly. Being able to stop instantly out of fast movement makes for quicker, more responsive gameplay. Donkey is slower then Diddy/Dixie, sure. But it's still snappier movement then many renowned platformers such as Mario, Kirby, and especially Sonic.
3:54 you can actually see the edge of a barrel if you look very carefully. Nothing is hidden by blind jump. It's either hinted at with bananas or items nearby or slightly peeking out like that one.
The thing that bothered me about the second one was needing certain coins to save... Saving shouldn't require currency. I only rented it as a kid so I never got far but that was my biggest takeaway from that game.
I wasn't good on DK3 at my cousin's house. My oldest cousin, he almost had it beat early 97. I just got a PlayStation and had THPS, Crash B., Twisted Metal 2, plus NHL, Mk Trilogy, Syphon Filter and a bunch of other games and demo disks like, Need 4 Speed, Tekken 2, Metal GearSolid and Tomb Raider 2. The PSX generation was delivered & ready but, Nintendo would never die. But, we played a lot less.😮
The start of the snow world in the first DKC is by far the hardest part of that entire game for the reasons you mentioned. Sure, these games hold a dear place in my heart, but there are certainly areas that I could take issue with as well. Always best to have an honest review.
Gorilla Glacier is the reason I never finished this game as a young kid. The difficulty spike was bloody stupid, especially with Candy's Save Point so far away from the first level. DKC2 was a breeze in comparison, probably just because the difficult curve was more natural.
I loved the donkey kong games. Very nostalgic of them. I agree that the first game is the worst. Both the controls and the level design. It definitely didn't age as well as the others. I also agree that donkey kong and kiddie kong controlled poorly. Dixie was the best in my opinion. The second, and especially the third game also add so much, with the different types of coins, how to open up different areas, etc. Lol. I also agree on how the first game made you feel like you had to jump down every ppit just to check if there was a bonus area barrel there.
I won't dislike the video, heh, but I will argue some points. I'm one of the rare few that prefer 1 and 3 over 2, and I love all three, but I feel like gameplay-wise, they each go for a very different theme and tone. The first game, as you mentioned, is all about horizontal movement, and while hitboxes and cameras may need some serious tweaking, I love the momentum and rhythm of its speedy gameplay. Once you get to know the mechanics like roll jumping and combo rolling, the game opens up and you can find that rhythm, which, I enjoy more than 2 and 3. Now, DKC3, the third game in the series is very gimmicky, as you touched on. And while you may go "WHY?!" I love the creativity and challenge the new ideas provided, throwing a wrench in the conventions brought in by the first two games. Levels like Ripsaw Rage where a giant saw swings back and forth as you're climbing a redwood tree, or the stage Kong-Fused Cliff that has you climbing up a single rope, or rather, a fuse that's lit on fire forcing you to climb up it. Creative ideas everywhere throughout the game, changing the game to a slower pace but more methodical and puzzle oriented one (Ellie the elephant reinforces this gameplay idea with her creative trunk gameplay, just as Rambi reinforced the speedy gameplay of the original). And I'd argue Kiddy Kong helps reinforce this as well, bringing back the light/heavy dynamic but without the crippling hitbox issues. And taking the backpacking buddy up mechanic and using it for multiple functions (Kiddy can use Dixie as a platform to reach higher places, while Dixie can use Kiddy as an offensive attack or a ground pound to reveal hidden items) pushes that puzzle gameplay focus more, and gets you to switch Kongs throughout the game (unlike 2, where I always wanted to play as Dixie, so I disagree with you about it being the perfect team, just as DKC1 failed at making players want to play as DK). I love both DKC1 and DKC3 for very different reasons. And DKC2 is more of a middleground between the two games. It's not too fast, not too slow, focuses on exploration and puzzles, but also basic platforming. Some say best of both worlds, and it makes sense to think that, but for me personally, I prefer either end of the extremes, which DKC1 and 3 are. Either way, I love all three games, and I even love Retro Studios revival series, possibly even more.
Juliusaurus Great review on your part too! I wish Nintendo would release a remix to the original DKCs where Donkey Kong had a ground pound, whirlwind, or charging tackle attack with his big fists/arms; more levels with option for a long play where all three games were linked as one big adventure; and I wish the game was developed like the 4 original Sonic remixes where you could select/play as Knuckles or Tails but with DK thrown in 2 and 3 and Diddy thrown in 3 as character options. It would sell like crazy even today I imagine.
DKC was amazing when it came out due to the graphics. I have always liked it, but I agree it's not as good as 2 and 3. DKC2 is possibly my favorite platformer ever, but I am not huge on those anyway.
Don't have anything to add really about SNES, but I thought I'd mention that the "Writers starting with an ending" thing is often considered a pretty bad technique. The best stories are usually character driven. The writer has an idea for a story and decides what characters/personalities are involved. But the writer has to be flexible, because most characters grow and evolve over the coarse of the story. Sometimes when the writer gets to a certain part of the story, he or she will realize that the character they've created would react differently than the writer originally envisioned, and the outcome has to change. Deciding the ending first means potentially shoehorning characters into actions that are unrealistic to their development, which is frustrating as hell.
As a lifetime fan of this series, I think this is a good, balanced review. That is a great feat! I totally agree with you on DKC1. I do love it, but I love it so much less than I love both of the sequels, they are in a totally different league. The game has spectacular art and sound design but the gameplay is a bit raw, it was begging for being perfected. I agree with all of your complaints, and they are the reason why it ranks in the bottom of the series for me too. Good thing Rare was also very aware of its flaws and issued them with laser cut precision... I completely agree with the DKC2 part, it really is THAT good. The game is gorgeous and an incredible improvement from the first one, it is one of those sequels that really elevated the series to GOAT level, like SF2 or MegaMan 2. The inclusion of Dixie, the phenomenal soundtrack, the well put together bonus levels that actually reward the player and make getting to 102% a great, enjoyable accomplishment, it is simply a perfect game. I was very happy to hear that you put it in the system's top 5, it is definitely up there for me too. Now, the part that I didn't agree with was DKC3, but, well, that was expected. Although I can see you put an effort and made an honest, unbiased critique, this game usually gets a lot of hate. I think the problem is that people approach it with unfair expectations, they want it to be an improvement over DKC2, but as I said, that was already a perfect game, and the devs knew that. So what they did was, they didn't try to surpass it, they just took the formula and got crazy with it. Almost every level in this game has a new mechanic that only shows up there, only once, boom. Some of them are amazing, some are okay, but you gotta respect how much experimentation and variety there is here. While lots of games get comfortable with the same two or three mechanics and become awfully repetitive, DKC3 keeps spending it's resources treating us with something new every single time. Even the setting is blatantly different from the previous games, it's like DKC in a different dimension because they weren't worried about it feeling like a sequel, they just took every tool the series had established and tried everything they could do with it. And I freaking respect that and love this game for it. I am very aware that DKC2 is the better game, but hell, 3 is my favorite. Sorry for the long text, I feel very emotional about this series, haha. Thanks for another great review!
This should not be a discussion if the three Donkey Kong Country games are worth playing or not, they're some of the best SNES games of all time and are worth playing, and you know it!
I love the DKC series man! While I have more fond memories of playing and completing DKC 1, I can say that the second game objectively is better. It's definitely in the top 5 best platformers of all time!
Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if DKC2 had been a launch title on the SNES. A very vocal portion of the internet has praised it more heavily in the last few years, but I still think it’s underappeciated. I think by today’s standards it’s a better game than Super Mario World, Super Metroid, Yoshi’s Island, and just about every other SNES platformsr I can think of. The fact that it was left off of the SNES Classic while its inferior predecessor, and even Kirby’s Dream course, and Mario this and that and the other were put on, is a massively-wasted opportunity
You make valid points about the flaws of each of the titles. Even so, DKC 1 remains my favorite of the games for its atmosphere. While 2 was more vibrant and had a lot of great quality, the first just felt so... Mysterious. Each of the games is very similar, but the 1st is the one I have the memories of the most levels of.
Correction on 8:19: David Wise didn't compose the soundtrack, it was mostly composed by Eveline Fischer and it shows - it's not nearly as good as the soundtracks in DKC1 and DKC2.
I know this video is a few years old, and has probably been pointed out already. But just in case, David Wise didn't compose the levels in DKC 3; that would've been Elena Novakovic, the same person who did tracks like Misty Menace and Voices of the Temple in DKC1.
I distinctly remember the day my 9 year old self received a peculiar package from Nintendo Power in 1994. Inside the cardboard box was a VHS tape promoting DKC. I was completely blown away. Immediately invited my friends over. We must have watched that tape 5 times that afternoon. A few months later I received the game for my 10th bday. Most highly anticipated release I have ever experienced. I only wish I could go back and relive the excitement. Still own my original copy, make it a point to play through it every year still.
Regarding Rocket Rush and some of the weirder DKC3 stages, I would like to add that this is all Rare's soul. Rare was famous for trying new stuff. So those weird stages and the new RPG quest elements give it a special identity.
DKC1 has better rolling mechanics. DK is a big slow mess... but when speed running it adds to the challenge of not killing Diddy. DKC2 has more content and better secrets placement I agree... but I simply find DKC1's universe more cohesive and movements more adaptable to speeding levels. DKC3 to me is a big collectathon more than a pure platformer, still very good, just not on the 2 first's level.
Dear SNESdrunk, I just love your reviews. Of course each gamer has their own experience and that makes a huge difference, but you tend to be very accurate. DK2 is easily in my top 5 games list of all time. It was outrageously hard back then, but the dark environment brought upon a sense of restlessness that made me and my friends spend hours and hours searching, jumping, cannon blasting, dying and so on. We'd always arrange to meet again and go back for more, until it was over. Damn, the nostalgia is overwhelming! I finished DKC3 in one sitting only, maybe the second game was a good lesson for me. :D It was great to see your review over these amazing games. And yay, you did enjoy DKC2! Gotta watch more from your nice work now. Cheers!
I really really love the idea of unlocking new content by finding all secrets, like DKC2+3 do it. That's way better than just some number going up. It really kept me motivated to look for absolutely everything and 100 %ing, because I wanted more and more of the game and beat the real final boss. Unfortunately I don't know a lot of modern platformers that do this. Those are one of my absolute favourite games to this day and I play through them all at least once a year. Everyone of them has its own, special charm and I couldn't say which one I prefer the most. They are all great.
@3:17 The 2nd half of Snow barrel blast is the officially the most difficult level in any DK game... timing the barrels… the music... this level was the bane of my existence as an 11 year old...
Very interesting to get a review on DKC1 without nostalgia. I do agree that the boss battles aren't that well done, but as a kid I loved them. I still think the DKC1 soundtrack is the best in the series though. Gonna try out DKC2 again, rage quitted as a kid on the parrot flying stage, never to try it again. But it seems promising.
That soundtrack is why so many people say it's the best game. Music is very influential on emotions and in the end we judge a game by how much fun we have playing it.
I love your perspective, great vid. I realize it's over 4 years old. Gotta remember life back in the 90's. Multiplayer gaming was not the world it is today. There's a good chance you and your friends would be all playing these games or someone is watching. The first game was the first ambitious adventure. The second is the consensus most polished DKC game. In order to get a third game that would sell in 95/96 at the end of the SNES life cycle , it really needed to be ambitious and something people would talk about. Something fresh they hadn't seen. I remember being 6 /7 years old playing this game at a baby sitters, and this game certainly had its own feel and was its own world. It's the nostalgia lenses, i know Haha. But i mean the level with the reversed directions, for example. Yea by today's standards it's a bit annoying, but i think it did pose an interesting challenge back in the day. It was a way of playing the game that hadn't been introduced before, and so for one level, that's ok. Lightning Lookout stands out in anyone's mind that has ever played it. It's freaking unforgiving and relentless, and at the time, i appreciated the challenge. The journey of struggling with a difficult level and talking to your friends about it and everything was a real experience, they were giving us memories. You do not see games with the overall caliber and appeal like what Rare did with these games in the 90's. You were guaranteed that your dollar would go far with any of these purchases. And that's really a telling tale of the value of these titles. Again i appreciate your perspective as well because it's absolutely valid to be critical. I'd say theyre all 3 in the top 10 games for the system. Just me. :)
Ruudos I agree... DKC: They were too basic. But simple and rewarding. DKC2: Battles were much more creative and fun, including the build ups and mechanics to the boss battles (especially with Lost World levels and secrets in play). Design was a tad more creative and relevant to the worlds. DKC3: Super creative boss mechanics throughout. Especially by the endgame and secret levels. Design was pushed even more too. I could be wrong, but it felt like boss battle quantity was slightly more robust in this outing.
DKC3 has more creative fights, but I find some of them obnoxious, like the fight against the snowman. The boss fight where you transform into the elephant is also one of the weakest in the series.
for sure DKC 1 is my last favorite, still pretty good, DKC 2 is the best, but DKC 3 was the first i finished 100% (105%), i was amazed by the Mountain stages song at the time i wish you made more reiews without nostalgy
Give Donkey Kong 64 a try. It's a very good one; progressive saves, and each character has their own section of content designed specifically for them (they all have a purpose to exist).
DKC 2 is the game that really got it right. Both of the main playable characters are that sort of ultra light, mobile character you always want to play as in platformers just because they're fun to control and move (well, I do anyway). The aspect of many levels being vertical instead of horizontal is a nice sort of callback to the original Donkey Kong versus Donkey Kong Junior. When you play as Mario in the first game, it's your traditional (although, I guess not really a tradition at the time) running left and right and jumping over things along the way. DK Junior on the other hand is much more focused on climbing up and down vines in at least some stages. It makes sense since your player character is a gorilla, and in real life primates of different types can often move faster (and stay safer by getting up off the ground) by swinging and climbing through trees than they can by walking or running along the ground.
Played and beaten all three multiple times. They are all really good and DK3 is my favorite followed by DK1 then DK2. I think you’re right on all your points however, you undervalue that atmosphere each game brings when everything is together. DK2 is the best if you look at each individual component but doesn’t have an atmosphere that is better than the other two for me. DK1 has a real jungle atmosphere, DK2 has the pirate feel, and DK3 has sort of a backwoods thing (plus I love those banana birds for some reason). I could see anyone liking any of the games better and these three are the best platformers to me just because of the look, music, and atmosphere the levels create.
I played all of these as they came out and even with the nostalgia glasses I completely agree with your review. Also, those two stages from dkc3 were the bane of my entire childhood. I still have nightmares about the rocket barrel stage
This is one of my most favorite game trilogies of all time. These games were my childhood, especially DKC3. They're the first games I've ever gotten max completion in and I love all of them. I absolutely appreciate how fair this video was to all three. While I think DKC2 is the best one of the series, 3 will always hold a special place in my heart for being my first one. 7 years later, thank you for the video.
nickzilla20 In DKC 3? Eveline composed the entire soundtrack of DKC 3 for SNES. Wise composed for the GBA. Eveline and David Wise shared DKC1, Wie composed the entirety of DKC 2, Eveline composed the entirety of DKC 3.
Redo your research, dude. That is the truth. If Wise has any finger on DKC 3, it is in really minor details. Eveline Fischer composed the whole, whole bulk of DKC 3. Wise composed the soundtrack of GBA version (redone entirely from the ground up because DKC 3 soundtrack uses many low keys, and the GBA sound system doesn't support it.)
The one thing I don't get is why you'd highlight the team of Diddy and Dixie in the second game as one of the best things about it, because in my opinion that was its biggest flaw- unlike the pairings of Donkey and Diddy or Dixie and Kiddie, Diddy and Dixie together are both light, agile characters, except that Diddy carries barrels in front of him (meaning he can hit enemies while carrying one just by walking into them) while Dixie carries them above her, and Dixie can hover with her hair (and throw Diddy higher). Why would you ever really want to play Diddy when Dixie is basically just better? Maybe you didn't like Donkey much in the original (he at least had gameplay value thanks to his ground slap move and being heavy enough to take out big enemies like Krusha and Klump more easily than Diddy) but Kiddie at least served an important difference to differentiate himself from Dixie, making switching between them actually an important part of gameplay.
Completely agree. I spent all the time in DKC2 with Diddy only to save Dixie's ability to hover in case I need it. In DKC3 Dixie's hovering skill is still invaluable but they made Kiddie useful, specially with the Coop actions.
ArcaneAzmadi Good Points but I disagree. Dpnkey Kong and Kiddie were just not the kind of Character you want to control in a fast paced 2D platformer. Diddy and Dixie are both good characters so atleast if you lose one you won't be stuck with a lesser character control wise. Also Diddy actually has his advantages. He is faster than Dixie and while it may not seem like much it is definitely useful in levels that focus on rope climbing. Also his speed could be preferable for peoe who speedrun the game. And this might just be me but I feel Diddy's spin jimp is easier to execute so I think that both characters are equal. With that in mind I definitely agree that Dixie's floating is an advantage in some tough platorming sections but to be honest it doesn't break the game.
Great video! Thanks for making. Quick correction... while David Wise did some of the music, composer Eveline Novakovic (née Fischer) wrote most of the tracks for DKC3.
I really enjoy playing donkey konk country today.... I dont like too much the other 2... not as much as the first one. Maybe nostalgia idk, but I think DKC 1 is one of the best SNES games ever made.
My favorite DKC is DKC 1 because it's simple and that is important I mean you make the TV and your snes on and play. That game is not so hart and so easy soundtrack is cool I now the DKC 2 is better but my nostalgic say to me DKC1👏🏽
It could very well be nostalgia talking, as I owned them all in order of release, but DKC1 had a dark almost raw grittiness that the others never matched. Not overly done or cooked for the sake of being “bigger and better” just a natural progression through the Forrest slowly into the dark (literally) Factories with some gems along the way like the mine carts, and temples. I also really liked that it’s the only Donkey Kong Country game where you actually get to play as Donkey Kong. The other games, started to show Rare’s “collect-a-thon” mindset which carried over to the N64, and was at its notorious worse in DK64. I mean even DKC2 had your own family charging you in banana coins to save your progress.... I also thought the King K Rool battle was the most epic and well themed in DKC1. Seeing the island in the background was great.
DKC2 is my favourite of the bunch as well. 3 had these annoying bears and yeah, the lightning among other things. One of the most fun aspects is the sheer amount of background humour present. Like when the TRUE final boss appears, he's still wet from the dip in the ocean you gave him. Or how you get a rematch beyond the grave later in the game. Personally, I'd love to see a proper remake of DKC2: same style of graphics, but enhanced for modern graphical capabilities. Same levels, but more with new ones added, idem on the bosses, dito on the music. The reboot games just feel off, more like Viva Pinata.... Anyhoo, still love the rollercoaster levels.
DKC 3 is amazing and slightly edges DKC2. The creativity and things to do was off the charts. DKC, while a good game, is bland compared to the latter 2.
I just love this series. I mean, I hate the 64 entry so... I love this TRILOGY! ^_^ You still haven't convinced me about DKC1, that I still think is great, but you made a really good analysis. I also liked the variety of DKC3 and I prefer the bosses of this one rather than DKC2. But the second one remains the best for me too, the levels are overall better and Diddy/Dixie is just perfect. Congratz for another great video!
Cyrus Annihilator DK 64 felt like a reskin of Bajo Tooie. The music and sound design felt totally out of place. And they just went overboard with the characters and collectables. Huge dissapointment!
Cyrus Annihilator Cyrus Annihilator DK 64 felt like a reskin of Bajo Tooie. The music and sound design felt totally out of place. And they just went overboard with the characters and collectables. Huge dissapointment!
I'm sure somebody's already mentioned it, but David Wise only did a few songs for Donkey Kong Country 3 (Eveline Novacovic/Fischer did the majority), and he also was only one of 3 people who did the soundtrack for the first game. Aside from that, you brought up a lot of good points and I respect and mostly agree with your opinion. I still LIKE the first game, but those secrets are bonkers. To date it is the only DKC game (including the 2 new ones) that I haven't 100%-ed (And I 105%-ed DKC3, just because I love it so much). DKC2 is no contest the best game in the entire series, but it isn't my favorite. Perhaps I'm just burnt out on the endless praise it gets, or because I played it the most growing up and it isn't as exciting anymore. DKC3, however, I didn't grow up with. I didn't get this game until I was 16 or 17, and it blew me away when I played it. I had heard nothing but bad things about this game, and when I finally got to it I was expecting garbage but I got a gold mine. Sure, it's difficult. Sure, it's not as fast-flowing or cohesive as DKC2. And sure, it may throw too many things at the wall and not all of them stick. But at least it took a chance. The series had nowhere left to go, as is often the case with 3rd games in trilogies. Just look at the original Crash Bandicoot series for that matter, it's almost a perfect parallel. First game was praised and sold well but hasn't aged well, second one is held in the highest regard, mostly for improving on the faults of the first game. And the third is the one with mixed reception because the developers got bored with the formula and tried to incorporate too many new level ideas. Lastly, I admire DKC3 because it had half the development team as the first 2 games. The other, more senior staff member-half was commissioned to start working on projects for the N64, since that was the bigger focus at the time. So here is a less talented, half the size team of developers forced to try and make the 3rd game in a highly praised series, on a dying system that's graphics pale in comparison to its successor, and still somehow find a way to surpass everyone's expectations. And I think they did a damn good job. It shows a bit, too. This game came out 2 months after the N64, and despite the mixed reviews and opinions, still managed to sell over a million copies. So kudos to you, DKC3. I find you to be pretty great.
The original DKC is the game I go back to the most (and I have a huge NES, SNES, and N64 collection). Amazing music, graphics that still look good (unless you're playing it on a giant 4k TV), and wonderful controls that allow me to speed run without having to be autistic. Best final boss ever, also, but people forget that how silly K. Rool looked was supposed to be a giant surprise. DKC 2 is also awesome, but I don't like the mood and level design as much (although I still love it and go back to it plenty, just less than the first). DKC 3 is kind of crap compared to the first two. The music isn't as good, the colors feel off to me, the enemy design is less cool, Kiddy sucks, and the mood is just generally off. This is all subjective, but people's under appreciation of the first game sometimes makes me want to do my own UA-cam analysis of it, explaining why everyone should see it as a top tier game. Fine video, though, even if it's wrong.
DKC 3 is light years better than the first game with its vast world map, rpg elements, creative boss fights and very good soundtrack. I'd say it's a close call between the 2nd and 3rd game.
But seriously, DKC2 was phenomenal. DKC was great because there was nothing like it ever before, and it still is a great game. You bring up a lot of good points about secret warp placement, and screen real estate. DKC3 was horrible. Characters were lame, control wasn't nearly as good, the soundtrack was horrendous, and it just felt weird.
I _did_ grow up with these games. But I support your opinions here. While i personally prefer 3 over 2 (mostly because it was my very first own snes game, my brothers owned all the rest) I do agree that the original has not aged that well and Donkey Kong always seemed a bit too big for it's own good. I was really, _REALLY_ glad when i played the Donkey Kong Country Returns Titles because they keep on the bareknuckles hardness of the originals instead of going for a "we include everyone" vibe. Superb Games and the First Returns is my favorite in the whole Country series.
I'll have to agree on making Donkey Kong Part 2 a favorite amongst the 3 Donkey Kong games and especially since it happens to be one of my favorite super SNES games haha. Great vid and thanks for the vid. :P
Donkey Kong Country, amazing experience living through the time when it came out, simply because of the graphics it was producing on the Super Nintendo, but at the time as a kid I didn't find the game play to be all that impressive. I think even Miyamoto criticized it because it was all graphics, and then he had to apologize. I like the game, it's a fun game, it's a hall of fame game, but it did not become a classic due to the game play. Still worth playing every once in a while. Then came Donkey Kong 2 and the game play for that was a ten out of ten. Masterpiece, ect. I guess since they already had an engine, graphics style, etc, then the full focus can go towards the game play.
Wow, never expected you to share my opinion of the DKC series. I semi-recently got a SNES Classic and played the first one on it hoping to relive my childhood, but none of that nostalgia came back and it does suffer from those problems you mentioned. 2 and 3 are superior.
I loved your channel,your video editions,your oral English and telling,game knowledge.I really respect you and appreciate your channel.Thank you SnesDrunk!
In all seriousness, most gamers accept DKC2 is better than 1, but that first one has a special place in a lot of people's heart. For me that ambient underwater score is too good
Add to that the parallax ocean floor, DKC was artistically the best looking and sounding game out there at the time.
I was really surprised by that fact when I got through playing them all as I generally had the least fun with the second one, it just seemed to be missing what made the first and third one great.
Not only that. It was the original. The second one is the same thing with some upgrades and fixes. I stick to the first game. I respect the guy's tastes, though.
I don't know how you feel about rap music, but Childish Gambino samples the underwater level in Eat Your Vegetables and it's great
I just played through DKC and DKC2 back-to-back, and had more fun with the first one. It is beyond me to describe why.
Shoutouts to Eveline Fischer (now Eveline Novakovic). I never see her contributions mentioned with regards to the DKC series, but she scored a lot of DKC1 and almost all of DKC3 and it's really good. The treetop theme in DKC1 and the factory theme in DKC3 are some of my favorite video game tracks. There's an interview somewhere on the internet specifying which music she wrote versus David Wise and Robin Beanland.
Thank you! David Wise deserves a lot of credit, but she's an unsung hero. She did the map music in DKC, for the love of God. People hear that more than any other song in the game! Really appreciate you making this comment.
Eveline composed my favorite song in the entire trilogy, Forest Frenzy
I'll never forget those late summer nights where my brother and I played DKC. The pure excitement when we finally beat the minecart levels was immeasurable.
Never understood why people find trouble in those. I found them to be the easiest tbh. The other gimmicky levels are just on another level.
I remember the christmas my brother got donkey kong and I got mortal kombat 2. We played donkey kong together all the time as well. The good ol days.
Themes in the game:
DK - Forest and nature
DK2 - Mostly pirate theme with mixed fantasy
DK3 - Industrial technology with mixed nature
Tropical Freeze: CoLd!
I thought dkc3 theme was horror
@@Curlyheart dkc2's the only game with ghosts
@@Curlyheart At bleast the bosses are
@@jclkaytwo I mean like Texas chainsaw massacre and Frankenstein horror
If anybody's wondering where Diddy went for DKC3: It was the 90s, and he had a rap album to record.
we can hear a bit of that in DK64 :D
"Grandmaster D"
Not to mention his own lable and company
“Can’t stop, won’t stop.” - Puff Diddy Kong
ayyyy this aged badly omgg
While Wise was involved with the soundtrack for dkc3, it was primarily composed by Eveline Fischer, the Wise did come back and compose a new Soundtrack for the Gameboy Advance port
The soundtrack definitely was different for DKC 3. Definitely my least favorite of the the three games.
"mole thing" = beaver :P
Could that be used in pick up lines? "Hey girl, I was wondering if I could get deep in that mole-thing 😉" lmbo!
I'm shocked that you didn't play these back in the day! I can't imagine anyone owning an SNES in 1994 and not playing Donkey Kong Country.
shit, got that game when it came out, too much hype was around it
No kidding, my brothers girlfriend bought him this game when it first came out. It was just over $120cdn. So was FFIII (FFVI). I remember it was being said that this was one of the most graphically amazing games of its time. It was. There was so much talk of this game back then. We were all very impressed.
DKC is notable for being the knock-out punch that caused SNES sales to finally pull ahead of Genesis sales, something Sega would never recover from.
@@zanmaru139 that's sad in a way because the Genesis exclusives destroyed what SNES had to offer. SNES sellimg more units and games wasn't because it was the better console, it just had a bigger fan base. NES owners mostly went to SNES and missed out on the amazing Genesis games. I'm still finding Genesis games that I never knew existed that blow my mind. I'm not being biased either, as I owned both consoles as a kid and still have them and play them today.
I owned a snes back in 1995 a never played DK til laround early 2000s in a computer . some people just didnt play everything. lets be fair, not everyone is a gamer.
I want to point out the benefit to playing as Donkey Kong in DKC1 is that he can defeat some enemies by jumping on them which Diddy can't do. This makes some platforming sections easier. Diddy is definitely better to play as for the more experienced player though.
I feel like if Rare really wanted to give us a reason to choose Donkey over Diddy, they should've given him 2 hitpoints instead of 1. That would've made the game way smoother to play.
That always felt to me like a half-assed way of making him more balanced compared to the obviously better Diddy. Same with Kiddy and his useless water bouncing, that was made mandatory for like two bonuses, just to justify it. Between Dixie and Diddy they managed to have a better balance, Dixie has her game breaking hovering, but Diddy actually controls better, he is a bit faster and jumps higher.
Yes DK had a couple of moves including the floor bashing that helps defeat some of the tougher enemies but the problem is the balance where you would only need DK 5% of the time in comparison.
Donkey sucks. Good thing he didn’t came back
Donkey can also do a slap ground maneuver to reveal hidden bananas that Diddy cannot. And, yeah, DK does hit harder, so he's not without SOME advantage.
You hit the nail on the head with all of these. 2 is definitely the best, but the one thing about 1 which is also my favourite thing about the games in general is atmosphere. 1's atmosphere is just off the chart. The themes are so cohesive and are just brought to life with the visuals and David Wise's music. It might just be the nostalgia of it all, but the jungle, the caves, the mines, the factories, the treetops of that world just feel so real and alive to me, if I'm going to boot up a Donkey Kong game for 30 minutes or so, it'll be that one as I want to revisit those places again.
At last! This is the first time in years that I read comment about the amazing atmospheres in DKC 1. The incredible stages in the first game were always the main reason I preferred DKC1 over DKC2 in the past. Now my opinion in this has changed, and I can accept the gameplay in the second chapter of the trilogy makes it immensely better (the fact that I dedicated much more time to DKC2 says it all); although DKC1 is a more immersive game and (I know not a lot of people shares this opinion) I find its graphics are superior.
well said. WHereas DKC 3 the music and level themes and even the colour scheme were so poor and dissonant that despite the play being very consistent and good it brought the experience down several notches
I have to agree with you. I see the point on this video. Yes, DKC2 should be the better game but for me too DKC1 is the best!!! I noticed (it's a general rule, so exception exists) that it has a lot to do with when you discover the game. If you really lived and remember the 16 bits-era, you usually prefer DKC1. DKC1 was a total shock when it came out. Any Super NES owner felt like he/she was getting a game from the next generation. And there was that famous VHS promoting the game. What an experience! If you are rational, DKC2 is the best, if you are emotional, DKC1 is the best. Both are great games and that's all that matters! :)
I would say it is a close call between the 2nd and 3rd games. Both are amazing games.
@@jacobschmidt2709 I agree with you. I can't choose between the two latter games. They're so similar anyway. DKC1 feels primitive in comparison.
I love all 3. Each one has different strengths. Altogether one of the best trilogies in gaming.
“ like I’m supposed to just jump down here. Why? How?” 😂😂😂
The original donkey Kong country wasn’t just a game it was a turning point and a moment in gaming history as a kid I never thought video games could look this amazing and I’m still amazed at the graphics of this game when you compare it to the other snes games
it was a tech demo as much as a game. its flaws are clear to see in hindsight
@@listerofsmeg884 well I was a kid when this game came out and it’s one of my all time favorite games
@@larryconnerjr1835 doesn't make any difference to what I just said 🫤
@@listerofsmeg884 I don’t agree with your point that DKC wasn’t a good game, to the contrary it’s one of my all time favorites
@@larryconnerjr1835 🥱
FFS. I never said it wasn't a good game!
I'm making the same point as SNES Drunk, that it was a fine game but had some gameplay flaws which were improved on in the sequel.
Dropping some #lore: through in-game dialogue, Cranky backhandedly reveals that he was the original arcade Donkey Kong.
Not only through dialogue, look at the start screen of DKC 1. Cranky is on the same type of platforms as the arcades Donkey Kong and plays the og song. Only for DK to crash in with a new song and style.
DKC 3 is my personal favorite. I love the atmosphere. Just a sidenote, but Eveline Fischer was the composer for DKC 3, not David Wise (who composed a different soundtrack for the GBA port, but I prefer Fischer's SNES soundtrack).
Has anyone ever hacked the GBA soundtrack into the SNES version?
Wise made some of the minor tracks on DKC3 as you may know
He did make some tracks on the SNES version. And the GBA game has a much better OST imo
I like 2 and 3, equally.
me too
You know what I think? I think the entire game was designed with a slightly too-tall aspect ratio and when the decision to release came down they awkwardly cropped the viewport on the top and bottom edges. It explains why it feels like you can outpace the camera vertically, as well as why some hidden areas seem impossible to find, because they didn’t survive the crop. I have no basis on this theory, but it would explain a lot.
finally someone who did DKC 3 justice
As someone who replayed 1 and 2 recently [3 will be replayed soon!] I totally agree with you.
I enjoyed 1 but it definitely doesn't hold up as well as 2. Some of those secrets in 1 were so random and ridiculous, whereas 2 made sense and rewarded you for exploring.
Which Donkey Kong Country games are worth playing today? Answer? All of them. I didn’t have the nostalgia either but they’re legendary. I feel like you’re just judging them because of their popularity.
Bosses in 1 were the worst though…
The SNES trilogy will always be my favorites. I haven't played anything since DK 64, but nothing will bring back the feels like those first 3.
This trilogy is a masterpiece, especially the 2nd one :)
Its snes at its best..
...I don't think I've ever seen such a fair and accurate review of this trilogy. You nailed everything here. I do think DKC1 deserves perhaps _slightly_ more credit than you gave it, but even as someone with personal nostalgia for it I think every one of your criticisms were spot-on. And acknowledging part 2 as the best while far from hating on part 3 and being very fair with its strengths and weaknesses -- this is definitely the trilogy-review vid for DKC I'll link people form now on.
Slightly? Smh.. he was way too fucking hard on DKC and you know it.
And its just under the 10 minute mark which is a much better option than other overly long reviews here on UA-cam.
Sorta agree in general but I don't get the criticism of Donkey Kong's movement. I really don't. Maybe stopping instantly is "unnatural" but it's kinda objectively better for game control. The polar opposite would be something like Sonic where it takes time to accelerate and once you get going you can't really stop quickly. Being able to stop instantly out of fast movement makes for quicker, more responsive gameplay. Donkey is slower then Diddy/Dixie, sure. But it's still snappier movement then many renowned platformers such as Mario, Kirby, and especially Sonic.
3:54 you can actually see the edge of a barrel if you look very carefully. Nothing is hidden by blind jump. It's either hinted at with bananas or items nearby or slightly peeking out like that one.
The thing that bothered me about the second one was needing certain coins to save... Saving shouldn't require currency. I only rented it as a kid so I never got far but that was my biggest takeaway from that game.
The coins can be found everywhere in every level. It’s not that bad. Plus every first save at Kong Kollege is free
I wasn't good on DK3 at my cousin's house. My oldest cousin, he almost had it beat early 97. I just got a PlayStation and had THPS, Crash B., Twisted Metal 2, plus NHL, Mk Trilogy, Syphon Filter and a bunch of other games and demo disks like, Need 4 Speed, Tekken 2, Metal GearSolid and Tomb Raider 2. The PSX generation was delivered & ready but, Nintendo would never die. But, we played a lot less.😮
The start of the snow world in the first DKC is by far the hardest part of that entire game for the reasons you mentioned. Sure, these games hold a dear place in my heart, but there are certainly areas that I could take issue with as well. Always best to have an honest review.
Gorilla Glacier is the reason I never finished this game as a young kid. The difficulty spike was bloody stupid, especially with Candy's Save Point so far away from the first level. DKC2 was a breeze in comparison, probably just because the difficult curve was more natural.
I loved the donkey kong games. Very nostalgic of them. I agree that the first game is the worst. Both the controls and the level design. It definitely didn't age as well as the others.
I also agree that donkey kong and kiddie kong controlled poorly. Dixie was the best in my opinion.
The second, and especially the third game also add so much, with the different types of coins, how to open up different areas, etc.
Lol. I also agree on how the first game made you feel like you had to jump down every ppit just to check if there was a bonus area barrel there.
David Wise didn't do the soundtrack in 3
DKC1 is still one of the best platformers ever released. All of them should be in anyone's top 30 list of best games for the SNES.
Best games of all times. It would be in my top 50.
They sure are. I want to make a list now just because I read your comment haha. I loved to makes lists when I was like 12 years old.
For best games ever, it comes in at #1
I won't dislike the video, heh, but I will argue some points. I'm one of the rare few that prefer 1 and 3 over 2, and I love all three, but I feel like gameplay-wise, they each go for a very different theme and tone. The first game, as you mentioned, is all about horizontal movement, and while hitboxes and cameras may need some serious tweaking, I love the momentum and rhythm of its speedy gameplay. Once you get to know the mechanics like roll jumping and combo rolling, the game opens up and you can find that rhythm, which, I enjoy more than 2 and 3.
Now, DKC3, the third game in the series is very gimmicky, as you touched on. And while you may go "WHY?!" I love the creativity and challenge the new ideas provided, throwing a wrench in the conventions brought in by the first two games. Levels like Ripsaw Rage where a giant saw swings back and forth as you're climbing a redwood tree, or the stage Kong-Fused Cliff that has you climbing up a single rope, or rather, a fuse that's lit on fire forcing you to climb up it. Creative ideas everywhere throughout the game, changing the game to a slower pace but more methodical and puzzle oriented one (Ellie the elephant reinforces this gameplay idea with her creative trunk gameplay, just as Rambi reinforced the speedy gameplay of the original). And I'd argue Kiddy Kong helps reinforce this as well, bringing back the light/heavy dynamic but without the crippling hitbox issues. And taking the backpacking buddy up mechanic and using it for multiple functions (Kiddy can use Dixie as a platform to reach higher places, while Dixie can use Kiddy as an offensive attack or a ground pound to reveal hidden items) pushes that puzzle gameplay focus more, and gets you to switch Kongs throughout the game (unlike 2, where I always wanted to play as Dixie, so I disagree with you about it being the perfect team, just as DKC1 failed at making players want to play as DK).
I love both DKC1 and DKC3 for very different reasons. And DKC2 is more of a middleground between the two games. It's not too fast, not too slow, focuses on exploration and puzzles, but also basic platforming. Some say best of both worlds, and it makes sense to think that, but for me personally, I prefer either end of the extremes, which DKC1 and 3 are. Either way, I love all three games, and I even love Retro Studios revival series, possibly even more.
Juliusaurus
Great review on your part too!
I wish Nintendo would release a remix to the original DKCs where Donkey Kong had a ground pound, whirlwind, or charging tackle attack with his big fists/arms; more levels with option for a long play where all three games were linked as one big adventure; and I wish the game was developed like the 4 original Sonic remixes where you could select/play as Knuckles or Tails but with DK thrown in 2 and 3 and Diddy thrown in 3 as character options. It would sell like crazy even today I imagine.
You have almost my exact same opinion.
Couldn't have said it better myself. But I totally agree with you!
The original is by far the best
As a Huge DKC fan who IS super nostalgic about the series, I have to say it was all incredibly fair criticism. 👍 Well said friend
DKC was amazing when it came out due to the graphics. I have always liked it, but I agree it's not as good as 2 and 3. DKC2 is possibly my favorite platformer ever, but I am not huge on those anyway.
Don't have anything to add really about SNES, but I thought I'd mention that the "Writers starting with an ending" thing is often considered a pretty bad technique. The best stories are usually character driven. The writer has an idea for a story and decides what characters/personalities are involved. But the writer has to be flexible, because most characters grow and evolve over the coarse of the story. Sometimes when the writer gets to a certain part of the story, he or she will realize that the character they've created would react differently than the writer originally envisioned, and the outcome has to change. Deciding the ending first means potentially shoehorning characters into actions that are unrealistic to their development, which is frustrating as hell.
"Mole thing" :) They are very clearly beavers sir.
As a lifetime fan of this series, I think this is a good, balanced review. That is a great feat!
I totally agree with you on DKC1. I do love it, but I love it so much less than I love both of the sequels, they are in a totally different league. The game has spectacular art and sound design but the gameplay is a bit raw, it was begging for being perfected. I agree with all of your complaints, and they are the reason why it ranks in the bottom of the series for me too. Good thing Rare was also very aware of its flaws and issued them with laser cut precision...
I completely agree with the DKC2 part, it really is THAT good. The game is gorgeous and an incredible improvement from the first one, it is one of those sequels that really elevated the series to GOAT level, like SF2 or MegaMan 2. The inclusion of Dixie, the phenomenal soundtrack, the well put together bonus levels that actually reward the player and make getting to 102% a great, enjoyable accomplishment, it is simply a perfect game. I was very happy to hear that you put it in the system's top 5, it is definitely up there for me too.
Now, the part that I didn't agree with was DKC3, but, well, that was expected. Although I can see you put an effort and made an honest, unbiased critique, this game usually gets a lot of hate. I think the problem is that people approach it with unfair expectations, they want it to be an improvement over DKC2, but as I said, that was already a perfect game, and the devs knew that. So what they did was, they didn't try to surpass it, they just took the formula and got crazy with it. Almost every level in this game has a new mechanic that only shows up there, only once, boom. Some of them are amazing, some are okay, but you gotta respect how much experimentation and variety there is here. While lots of games get comfortable with the same two or three mechanics and become awfully repetitive, DKC3 keeps spending it's resources treating us with something new every single time. Even the setting is blatantly different from the previous games, it's like DKC in a different dimension because they weren't worried about it feeling like a sequel, they just took every tool the series had established and tried everything they could do with it. And I freaking respect that and love this game for it. I am very aware that DKC2 is the better game, but hell, 3 is my favorite.
Sorry for the long text, I feel very emotional about this series, haha. Thanks for another great review!
Thanks for leaving a great comment Leonardo
This should not be a discussion if the three Donkey Kong Country games are worth playing or not, they're some of the best SNES games of all time and are worth playing, and you know it!
I thought David Weiss didn’t do most of the soundtrack in DKC3?
I love the DKC series man! While I have more fond memories of playing and completing DKC 1, I can say that the second game objectively is better. It's definitely in the top 5 best platformers of all time!
Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if DKC2 had been a launch title on the SNES. A very vocal portion of the internet has praised it more heavily in the last few years, but I still think it’s underappeciated. I think by today’s standards it’s a better game than Super Mario World, Super Metroid, Yoshi’s Island, and just about every other SNES platformsr I can think of. The fact that it was left off of the SNES Classic while its inferior predecessor, and even Kirby’s Dream course, and Mario this and that and the other were put on, is a massively-wasted opportunity
You make valid points about the flaws of each of the titles. Even so, DKC 1 remains my favorite of the games for its atmosphere. While 2 was more vibrant and had a lot of great quality, the first just felt so... Mysterious. Each of the games is very similar, but the 1st is the one I have the memories of the most levels of.
Correction on 8:19: David Wise didn't compose the soundtrack, it was mostly composed by Eveline Fischer and it shows - it's not nearly as good as the soundtracks in DKC1 and DKC2.
Huge fan of this channel!
DKC is my all-time favorite game!
And as a Canadian, I can tell you it's not a Mole but rather a Beaver, haha.
Also DKC is my all time favorite game so far
Little known game: "this is the best game ever"
Awesome game: "eh so-so"
Donkey Kong country three has always been my favorite just recently beat it again and it was great!
@@BroDude0 LOL it’s actually one of the few games I can speed run!
@@BroDude0 what part is the hard one and I will upload it to my channel
These classics will never die. I will still play these as retired.
DKC 1 will always have a special place in my heart but dkc 2 is a really really good game
I know this video is a few years old, and has probably been pointed out already. But just in case, David Wise didn't compose the levels in DKC 3; that would've been Elena Novakovic, the same person who did tracks like Misty Menace and Voices of the Temple in DKC1.
I still like the first one the best but two sides really close
I distinctly remember the day my 9 year old self received a peculiar package from Nintendo Power in 1994.
Inside the cardboard box was a VHS tape promoting DKC. I was completely blown away. Immediately invited my friends over. We must have watched that tape 5 times that afternoon.
A few months later I received the game for my 10th bday. Most highly anticipated release I have ever experienced. I only wish I could go back and relive the excitement.
Still own my original copy, make it a point to play through it every year still.
Why am i barely finding this channel. Good job bro saw some vids liking the channel. Just earned a new sub.
Did you just say David Wise did the music for DKC 3? He did not.
I must be the only person who actually prefers DKC1 lol. Great channel!
DKC1 is the best if the group including DKCR and DKCTF
@Bryn About 6 years ago, I actually finished it in one day, I was addicted to the game!
Your not alone bud.
I like the first one the best
Has a much more immersive atmosphere, and this is coming from someone who just beat it for the first time.
Regarding Rocket Rush and some of the weirder DKC3 stages, I would like to add that this is all Rare's soul. Rare was famous for trying new stuff. So those weird stages and the new RPG quest elements give it a special identity.
DKC2 is by far the best plattformer on the SNES. Thatswhy definitely Top5 on the system.
along with Super Mario World, Yoshi Island and even the first DKC
And DKC 3.
Gang Plank Galleon from DK1 was a delight.
DKC1 has better rolling mechanics. DK is a big slow mess... but when speed running it adds to the challenge of not killing Diddy. DKC2 has more content and better secrets placement I agree... but I simply find DKC1's universe more cohesive and movements more adaptable to speeding levels.
DKC3 to me is a big collectathon more than a pure platformer, still very good, just not on the 2 first's level.
I think SNES Drunk did just fine with this video. He informed us about the pros and cons about the games without being disrespectful.
Dear SNESdrunk, I just love your reviews. Of course each gamer has their own experience and that makes a huge difference, but you tend to be very accurate.
DK2 is easily in my top 5 games list of all time. It was outrageously hard back then, but the dark environment brought upon a sense of restlessness that made me and my friends spend hours and hours searching, jumping, cannon blasting, dying and so on. We'd always arrange to meet again and go back for more, until it was over. Damn, the nostalgia is overwhelming!
I finished DKC3 in one sitting only, maybe the second game was a good lesson for me. :D
It was great to see your review over these amazing games. And yay, you did enjoy DKC2! Gotta watch more from your nice work now. Cheers!
Thanks for taking the time to watch
I really really love the idea of unlocking new content by finding all secrets, like DKC2+3 do it. That's way better than just some number going up. It really kept me motivated to look for absolutely everything and 100 %ing, because I wanted more and more of the game and beat the real final boss. Unfortunately I don't know a lot of modern platformers that do this. Those are one of my absolute favourite games to this day and I play through them all at least once a year. Everyone of them has its own, special charm and I couldn't say which one I prefer the most. They are all great.
I'm gonna say it-- DKC2 is the best 2D platform game of ALL TIME. All 3 are amazing, and have incredible visuals, atmosphere and of course, music.
You could make a strong case for it
SNES drunk there's a ton of competition to be fair, but in my opinion, it's DKC2 at #1
@3:17 The 2nd half of Snow barrel blast is the officially the most difficult level in any DK game... timing the barrels… the music... this level was the bane of my existence as an 11 year old...
Very interesting to get a review on DKC1 without nostalgia. I do agree that the boss battles aren't that well done, but as a kid I loved them. I still think the DKC1 soundtrack is the best in the series though. Gonna try out DKC2 again, rage quitted as a kid on the parrot flying stage, never to try it again. But it seems promising.
Finished DKC2 now. Very nice game - certainly more interesting than DKC1! But the soundtrack for the first game is simply the best.
That soundtrack is why so many people say it's the best game. Music is very influential on emotions and in the end we judge a game by how much fun we have playing it.
I love your perspective, great vid. I realize it's over 4 years old.
Gotta remember life back in the 90's. Multiplayer gaming was not the world it is today. There's a good chance you and your friends would be all playing these games or someone is watching. The first game was the first ambitious adventure. The second is the consensus most polished DKC game. In order to get a third game that would sell in 95/96 at the end of the SNES life cycle , it really needed to be ambitious and something people would talk about. Something fresh they hadn't seen. I remember being 6 /7 years old playing this game at a baby sitters, and this game certainly had its own feel and was its own world. It's the nostalgia lenses, i know Haha. But i mean the level with the reversed directions, for example. Yea by today's standards it's a bit annoying, but i think it did pose an interesting challenge back in the day. It was a way of playing the game that hadn't been introduced before, and so for one level, that's ok. Lightning Lookout stands out in anyone's mind that has ever played it. It's freaking unforgiving and relentless, and at the time, i appreciated the challenge. The journey of struggling with a difficult level and talking to your friends about it and everything was a real experience, they were giving us memories. You do not see games with the overall caliber and appeal like what Rare did with these games in the 90's. You were guaranteed that your dollar would go far with any of these purchases. And that's really a telling tale of the value of these titles. Again i appreciate your perspective as well because it's absolutely valid to be critical. I'd say theyre all 3 in the top 10 games for the system. Just me. :)
DKC3 has the best boss fights.
Ruudos
I agree...
DKC: They were too basic. But simple and rewarding.
DKC2: Battles were much more creative and fun, including the build ups and mechanics to the boss battles (especially with Lost World levels and secrets in play). Design was a tad more creative and relevant to the worlds.
DKC3: Super creative boss mechanics throughout. Especially by the endgame and secret levels. Design was pushed even more too. I could be wrong, but it felt like boss battle quantity was slightly more robust in this outing.
DKC3 has more creative fights, but I find some of them obnoxious, like the fight against the snowman. The boss fight where you transform into the elephant is also one of the weakest in the series.
The GBA port even improved some of them...although the unique boss they added to that port was kinda lame.
The changing "SNES Drunk" opening voice always cracks me up. I'm not being sarcastic. To me it's a quick joke that's funny every time.
for sure DKC 1 is my last favorite, still pretty good, DKC 2 is the best, but DKC 3 was the first i finished 100% (105%), i was amazed by the Mountain stages song at the time
i wish you made more reiews without nostalgy
The 3 games are gems, I would def recommend all of them.
Give Donkey Kong 64 a try. It's a very good one; progressive saves, and each character has their own section of content designed specifically for them (they all have a purpose to exist).
on the poison pipe level in dkc 3 you just turn your controller upside down and guide with your right hand. way easier.
My response when I read this title “ehmmm all of them?”
DKC 2 is the game that really got it right. Both of the main playable characters are that sort of ultra light, mobile character you always want to play as in platformers just because they're fun to control and move (well, I do anyway).
The aspect of many levels being vertical instead of horizontal is a nice sort of callback to the original Donkey Kong versus Donkey Kong Junior. When you play as Mario in the first game, it's your traditional (although, I guess not really a tradition at the time) running left and right and jumping over things along the way.
DK Junior on the other hand is much more focused on climbing up and down vines in at least some stages. It makes sense since your player character is a gorilla, and in real life primates of different types can often move faster (and stay safer by getting up off the ground) by swinging and climbing through trees than they can by walking or running along the ground.
Eveline Fischer actually did most of the music in DKC3.
Played and beaten all three multiple times. They are all really good and DK3 is my favorite followed by DK1 then DK2. I think you’re right on all your points however, you undervalue that atmosphere each game brings when everything is together. DK2 is the best if you look at each individual component but doesn’t have an atmosphere that is better than the other two for me. DK1 has a real jungle atmosphere, DK2 has the pirate feel, and DK3 has sort of a backwoods thing (plus I love those banana birds for some reason).
I could see anyone liking any of the games better and these three are the best platformers to me just because of the look, music, and atmosphere the levels create.
I played all of these as they came out and even with the nostalgia glasses I completely agree with your review.
Also, those two stages from dkc3 were the bane of my entire childhood. I still have nightmares about the rocket barrel stage
This is one of my most favorite game trilogies of all time. These games were my childhood, especially DKC3. They're the first games I've ever gotten max completion in and I love all of them.
I absolutely appreciate how fair this video was to all three. While I think DKC2 is the best one of the series, 3 will always hold a special place in my heart for being my first one.
7 years later, thank you for the video.
The composer of DKC3 is Eveline Novacovic (nee Fischer), not David Wise.
Eveline Novacovic composed all the stages and boss music, while David Wise composed everything else.
nickzilla20 In DKC 3? Eveline composed the entire soundtrack of DKC 3 for SNES. Wise composed for the GBA.
Eveline and David Wise shared DKC1, Wie composed the entirety of DKC 2, Eveline composed the entirety of DKC 3.
That's not from what I heard.
Redo your research, dude. That is the truth. If Wise has any finger on DKC 3, it is in really minor details. Eveline Fischer composed the whole, whole bulk of DKC 3.
Wise composed the soundtrack of GBA version (redone entirely from the ground up because DKC 3 soundtrack uses many low keys, and the GBA sound system doesn't support it.)
I know Wise compesed the gba version completely. But I did look it up again. He worked on some minor tracks.
Man. He didn't wish me a great rest of my day. How am I going to enjoy myself now?! :P Gotta love coming back to old videos.
You heretic! All 3 games are untouchable! :D DKC 2 being possibly in the top 10 of best games ever made
LOL
Donkey Kong country is the goat of video games
I beat poison pipeline, by turning the controller upsidedown
2nd was the absolute best sn game
I didn’t play any of these growing up either but have all 3 of them on my SNES now. Thanks for the objective review! Looking forward to trying em out
The one thing I don't get is why you'd highlight the team of Diddy and Dixie in the second game as one of the best things about it, because in my opinion that was its biggest flaw- unlike the pairings of Donkey and Diddy or Dixie and Kiddie, Diddy and Dixie together are both light, agile characters, except that Diddy carries barrels in front of him (meaning he can hit enemies while carrying one just by walking into them) while Dixie carries them above her, and Dixie can hover with her hair (and throw Diddy higher). Why would you ever really want to play Diddy when Dixie is basically just better? Maybe you didn't like Donkey much in the original (he at least had gameplay value thanks to his ground slap move and being heavy enough to take out big enemies like Krusha and Klump more easily than Diddy) but Kiddie at least served an important difference to differentiate himself from Dixie, making switching between them actually an important part of gameplay.
Completely agree. I spent all the time in DKC2 with Diddy only to save Dixie's ability to hover in case I need it. In DKC3 Dixie's hovering skill is still invaluable but they made Kiddie useful, specially with the Coop actions.
ArcaneAzmadi Good Points but I disagree. Dpnkey Kong and Kiddie were just not the kind of Character you want to control in a fast paced 2D platformer. Diddy and Dixie are both good characters so atleast if you lose one you won't be stuck with a lesser character control wise. Also Diddy actually has his advantages. He is faster than Dixie and while it may not seem like much it is definitely useful in levels that focus on rope climbing. Also his speed could be preferable for peoe who speedrun the game. And this might just be me but I feel Diddy's spin jimp is easier to execute so I think that both characters are equal. With that in mind I definitely agree that Dixie's floating is an advantage in some tough platorming sections but to be honest it doesn't break the game.
Exactly. Diddy's roll has more frames of animations making more easy some jumps. Also he throwns barrels faster and jumps a little higher than Dixie.
Roll jump is more easier and accurate with Diddy. He is also faster than Dixie.
Great video! Thanks for making. Quick correction... while David Wise did some of the music, composer Eveline Novakovic (née Fischer) wrote most of the tracks for DKC3.
I really enjoy playing donkey konk country today.... I dont like too much the other 2... not as much as the first one. Maybe nostalgia idk, but I think DKC 1 is one of the best SNES games ever made.
i would say, top of my head, zelda, super mario world, and dKC are in top 5
My favorite DKC is DKC 1 because it's simple and that is important
I mean you make the TV and your snes on and play. That game is not so hart and so easy soundtrack is cool I now the DKC 2 is better but my nostalgic say to me DKC1👏🏽
It could very well be nostalgia talking, as I owned them all in order of release, but DKC1 had a dark almost raw grittiness that the others never matched.
Not overly done or cooked for the sake of being “bigger and better” just a natural progression through the Forrest slowly into the dark (literally) Factories with some gems along the way like the mine carts, and temples.
I also really liked that it’s the only Donkey Kong Country game where you actually get to play as Donkey Kong.
The other games, started to show Rare’s “collect-a-thon” mindset which carried over to the N64, and was at its notorious worse in DK64. I mean even DKC2 had your own family charging you in banana coins to save your progress....
I also thought the King K Rool battle was the most epic and well themed in DKC1. Seeing the island in the background was great.
DKC2 is my favourite of the bunch as well. 3 had these annoying bears and yeah, the lightning among other things. One of the most fun aspects is the sheer amount of background humour present. Like when the TRUE final boss appears, he's still wet from the dip in the ocean you gave him. Or how you get a rematch beyond the grave later in the game. Personally, I'd love to see a proper remake of DKC2: same style of graphics, but enhanced for modern graphical capabilities. Same levels, but more with new ones added, idem on the bosses, dito on the music. The reboot games just feel off, more like Viva Pinata.... Anyhoo, still love the rollercoaster levels.
DKC 3 is amazing and slightly edges DKC2. The creativity and things to do was off the charts. DKC, while a good game, is bland compared to the latter 2.
Which DKC titles are worth playing on the SNES?
All of them.
DKC3 was composed mostly by Eviline Fischer. Not David Wise. Though he is credited too.
I just love this series. I mean, I hate the 64 entry so... I love this TRILOGY! ^_^
You still haven't convinced me about DKC1, that I still think is great, but you made a really good analysis.
I also liked the variety of DKC3 and I prefer the bosses of this one rather than DKC2. But the second one remains the best for me too, the levels are overall better and Diddy/Dixie is just perfect.
Congratz for another great video!
+Cyrus Annihilator Thanks Cyrus, thanks for watching as always
Cyrus Annihilator DK 64 felt like a reskin of Bajo Tooie. The music and sound design felt totally out of place. And they just went overboard with the characters and collectables. Huge dissapointment!
Cyrus Annihilator Cyrus Annihilator DK 64 felt like a reskin of Bajo Tooie. The music and sound design felt totally out of place. And they just went overboard with the characters and collectables. Huge dissapointment!
lol double comment
Ugh...that DK64 game felt like work. It was such a chore to play
I'm sure somebody's already mentioned it, but David Wise only did a few songs for Donkey Kong Country 3 (Eveline Novacovic/Fischer did the majority), and he also was only one of 3 people who did the soundtrack for the first game. Aside from that, you brought up a lot of good points and I respect and mostly agree with your opinion. I still LIKE the first game, but those secrets are bonkers. To date it is the only DKC game (including the 2 new ones) that I haven't 100%-ed (And I 105%-ed DKC3, just because I love it so much). DKC2 is no contest the best game in the entire series, but it isn't my favorite. Perhaps I'm just burnt out on the endless praise it gets, or because I played it the most growing up and it isn't as exciting anymore.
DKC3, however, I didn't grow up with. I didn't get this game until I was 16 or 17, and it blew me away when I played it. I had heard nothing but bad things about this game, and when I finally got to it I was expecting garbage but I got a gold mine. Sure, it's difficult. Sure, it's not as fast-flowing or cohesive as DKC2. And sure, it may throw too many things at the wall and not all of them stick. But at least it took a chance. The series had nowhere left to go, as is often the case with 3rd games in trilogies. Just look at the original Crash Bandicoot series for that matter, it's almost a perfect parallel. First game was praised and sold well but hasn't aged well, second one is held in the highest regard, mostly for improving on the faults of the first game. And the third is the one with mixed reception because the developers got bored with the formula and tried to incorporate too many new level ideas.
Lastly, I admire DKC3 because it had half the development team as the first 2 games. The other, more senior staff member-half was commissioned to start working on projects for the N64, since that was the bigger focus at the time. So here is a less talented, half the size team of developers forced to try and make the 3rd game in a highly praised series, on a dying system that's graphics pale in comparison to its successor, and still somehow find a way to surpass everyone's expectations. And I think they did a damn good job. It shows a bit, too. This game came out 2 months after the N64, and despite the mixed reviews and opinions, still managed to sell over a million copies. So kudos to you, DKC3. I find you to be pretty great.
The original DKC is the game I go back to the most (and I have a huge NES, SNES, and N64 collection). Amazing music, graphics that still look good (unless you're playing it on a giant 4k TV), and wonderful controls that allow me to speed run without having to be autistic. Best final boss ever, also, but people forget that how silly K. Rool looked was supposed to be a giant surprise. DKC 2 is also awesome, but I don't like the mood and level design as much (although I still love it and go back to it plenty, just less than the first). DKC 3 is kind of crap compared to the first two. The music isn't as good, the colors feel off to me, the enemy design is less cool, Kiddy sucks, and the mood is just generally off. This is all subjective, but people's under appreciation of the first game sometimes makes me want to do my own UA-cam analysis of it, explaining why everyone should see it as a top tier game. Fine video, though, even if it's wrong.
DKC 3 is light years better than the first game with its vast world map, rpg elements, creative boss fights and very good soundtrack. I'd say it's a close call between the 2nd and 3rd game.
But seriously, DKC2 was phenomenal.
DKC was great because there was nothing like it ever before, and it still is a great game. You bring up a lot of good points about secret warp placement, and screen real estate.
DKC3 was horrible. Characters were lame, control wasn't nearly as good, the soundtrack was horrendous, and it just felt weird.
I _did_ grow up with these games. But I support your opinions here. While i personally prefer 3 over 2 (mostly because it was my very first own snes game, my brothers owned all the rest) I do agree that the original has not aged that well and Donkey Kong always seemed a bit too big for it's own good.
I was really, _REALLY_ glad when i played the Donkey Kong Country Returns Titles because they keep on the bareknuckles hardness of the originals instead of going for a "we include everyone" vibe. Superb Games and the First Returns is my favorite in the whole Country series.
I'll have to agree on making Donkey Kong Part 2 a favorite amongst the 3 Donkey Kong games and especially since it happens to be one of my favorite super SNES games haha. Great vid and thanks for the vid. :P
Donkey Kong Country, amazing experience living through the time when it came out, simply because of the graphics it was producing on the Super Nintendo, but at the time as a kid I didn't find the game play to be all that impressive. I think even Miyamoto criticized it because it was all graphics, and then he had to apologize. I like the game, it's a fun game, it's a hall of fame game, but it did not become a classic due to the game play. Still worth playing every once in a while. Then came Donkey Kong 2 and the game play for that was a ten out of ten. Masterpiece, ect. I guess since they already had an engine, graphics style, etc, then the full focus can go towards the game play.
Wow, never expected you to share my opinion of the DKC series. I semi-recently got a SNES Classic and played the first one on it hoping to relive my childhood, but none of that nostalgia came back and it does suffer from those problems you mentioned. 2 and 3 are superior.
it goes like this.. 2, 1 then 3.
Nah. 3 was light years better than the 1st. 3, 2, 1
I loved your channel,your video editions,your oral English and telling,game knowledge.I really respect you and appreciate your channel.Thank you SnesDrunk!