This game isn't hard, it's challenging. It strikes the right balance of being a fair challenge which many platformers fail to do. If we are going to compare this one to the original then first I have to say that I find Diddy and Dixie way more fun to control. It's fun to experience these challenging platform sections when playing this two characters. However I feel it's missing the magic of the original. Donkey Kong Country 2 is a great game and a great challenge for those who are looking for something to really test their skills, but I think as the years go by i'll be more likely to pick up the original more.