The first Donkey Kong Country is definitely a great platformer, but personally I find that it's a bit less polished than its SNES sequels. You can tell that the level design philosophy for the series was still being sorted out, as it's a bit choppy in places. The bosses, other than K. Rool at the end, underwhelm. Expresso is janky. In the end, though, you still have a game with fun gameplay, iconic visual design, and outstanding music, and it makes for a memorable game all the same.

Fantastic game. Recommend playing this on Nintendo Switch Online and using restore points to your desired level of comfort. There are a few dud-levels that end up being unfair, but for the most part the game is an enjoyable, challenging adventure full of great vibes and even better music.

And it all culminates in a fantastic final boss.

A picturesque platformer with eye-dilating graphics and a soundtrack composed entirely out of whimsy. Don't be fooled by the cartoonish style, this game is pretty tough the further you get. It's always satisfying to spin an attack and throw your hat at foes. If I could buy and hang frames from this game in my house, I'd be a poor man.