30th anniversary of Donkey Kong Country

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Late November 2024 martks the 30th anniversary of Donkey Kong Country. Developed by Rare and released by Nintendo for the Nintendo Super Famicom–Super NES, it caused a revival for Donkey Kong, taking the series to sidescrolling platform gaming.

I recall playing at a friend's home before Christmas, and thinking the snow levels were amazing.

[frank_one]

My brother brought this game home for me in 1996 or 1997. I loved it back then and I still do now.

[ResidentEvil7]

My older brother bought this back in 1994 for his SNES in his room. We would play it whenever we had the chance and would say "whoa!" whenever we saw the graphics of the next levels. I liked this game so much that I would sneak into his room while he was at work as a teen and play it. In fact, I liked all his SNES games; enough to where he gave me his SNES and all the games for Christmas of 1995. I still have that same console, and the games (rebought).

I just checked, you can buy/import the late 1990s Donkey Kong Country CGI TV series on iTunes for $14.99 for each of 3 volumes.

Back in those days games were more fun and relaxing instead of today's fast-paced stressful games where too much is going on. SNES style graphics were good enough for me.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Nintendo just uploaded Donkey Kong Land (1995) and Donkey Kong Land 2 (1996) for the Nintendo Switch Online, as part of the 30th anniversary.

[Barkworm]

DKC2 was one of my favourite games ever. Some of the bosses and the level design in the first one were a bit lazy at points but the second one was perfection. And the soundtrack in those games, man! So good.

DKC3 couldn‘t live up to its predecessor but it was still a pretty amazing game.

[CyberCubed]

Ranking mainline DK games:

Tropical Freeze (Switch/Wii-U) > Jungle Beat (Wii) > Donkey Kong Country 2 > Donkey Kong Country 1 > Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii) > Donkey Kong Country 3 > Donkey Kong 64.

The 3 Gameboy Donkey Kong Land games are also fun, but DKL2 and DKL3 are mostly gameboy ports of the SNES games.

Besides that there's the Mario Vs. DK games and Donkey Kong '94 but those are sequels to the arcade Donkey Kong game where you play as Mario and DK is the enemy.

[Mad Dog McMutt]

Dk Returns > DKC 2 > Tropical Freeze > DKC 3 > DKC 1 > DK 64 > DKL 3 > DKL 2 > DKL 1 > DK Jungle Beat (also Wii for me as well). I also have Donkey Kong for the gameboy, but I guess that is more of a Mario vs DK game. I love the DK Land games. I don't think they get enough love. I thought Jungle Beat was frustrating. I can't remember why though. I beat it once and haven't played it again.

[CyberCubed]

Jungle Beat is amazing when you go for Platinum medals on every level, chaining your score through beats and enemy hits was addicting.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Nintendo just uploaded Donkey Kong Land III for the Nintendo Switch Online today. It was originally released in North America on 27 October 1997, and in Europe on 30 October the same year.

[KROW]

DKC is my favorite SNES game. I remember asking for it for Christmas but something happened and my parents couldn't get it for another week. They gave it to me on New Year's Eve and I spent the whole night playing it while they went to a party. Fun memory.

I managed to 101% it a couple times, beating it in 1:06 (which I think beat the posted record back then -- but I didn't bother taking a picture and submitting it; just didn't care). I also used to put in the sound test code and just listen to the music.

[XERO]

Originally Posted by KROW

DKC is my favorite SNES game. I remember asking for it for Christmas but something happened and my parents couldn't get it for another week. They gave it to me on New Year's Eve and I spent the whole night playing it while they went to a party. Fun memory.

I managed to 101% it a couple times, beating it in 1:06 (which I think beat the posted record back then -- but I didn't bother taking a picture and submitting it; just didn't care). I also used to put in the sound test code and just listen to the music.

It's funny, I never was able to 101% the first game, but I was able to 102% the second game no problem. I guess being able to float makes a significant difference.

[Barkworm]

I never bothered much completing the first one because the bonus rooms were often boring. The token system in the second and third one really made a huge difference to motivate me.

[CyberCubed]

In DKC1, the bonus rooms just give you 1-ups, so there's no real incentive to find them all.

In DKC2 and DKC3, the bonus rooms give you tokens and you need them all to complete the game and find all the bonus levels. So in the second and third games you have to find them all if you want to see the whole game.