DKCR is a great game, with very tight platforming and a nice array of level themes and ideas. The SNES games vibed with me a little more, in part due to their artstyle, but I still had a lot of fun with this entry.
There were a lot of unforgettable level gimmicks, the game always having something new to present, not unlike Mario Wonder. From rhythm levels, to fending against a kraken, to beautiful levels taking place within the shadows. Purely looking at level design and theming, this game was a blast. The most memorable levels to me were 1-4, 2-5, 2-6, 2-7, 4-3, 5-8, 6-4, 7-1, 7-3, 7-6 and 8-4.
Despite that, I did have a few issues. I felt that too many levels focused on instakill hazards rather than actually testing my platforming or exploration skills. I also feel like this game didn't need a lives system, and should've handled things like Celeste or the newer Sonic games. I played the 3DS version, so I can't complain about the motion controls, although it's unfortunate that the graphical fidelity and framerate had to take such substantial hits. Hopefully we'll get the best of both worlds with the Switch version.
The soundtrack was very good. It's a bit derivative, but really catchy. In recent years, I've come to value the OSTs of games more, because they can really make all the difference when it comes to atmosphere and general feel. None of the Donkey Kong Country games disappoint in this regard.
I appreciated how the game decided to switch things up from its predecessors. The boss fights are pretty innovative, and I also liked the alternate takes on how the Kongs are controlled. Diddy's rocket jump is an extremely powerful asset, and Donkey's roll jump is very fun to use and master. You can tell a lot of intricacy was put into the game's movement mechanics, which feel great.
The enemy variety leaves a bit to be desired, though I still found the Tiki Tak tribe to be a decent antagonist group. It helps make this game feel distinct from the SNES game, introducing a new threat while still keeping the core plot the same.
The cutscenes and bonus content were pretty good. They provide the game with a lot of identity, and will definitely aid in its replayability. Having a postgame world always feels very rewarding in games like these. The character mannerisms also captured Rare's essence well, and felt like a natural succession from classic to modern times.
Overall, I'd give the game a solid 8/10. It might not be my favourite DKC game, but it's a very worthy successor to what came before, a great framework for what's to come, and a miraculous port to boot.
There were a lot of unforgettable level gimmicks, the game always having something new to present, not unlike Mario Wonder. From rhythm levels, to fending against a kraken, to beautiful levels taking place within the shadows. Purely looking at level design and theming, this game was a blast. The most memorable levels to me were 1-4, 2-5, 2-6, 2-7, 4-3, 5-8, 6-4, 7-1, 7-3, 7-6 and 8-4.
Despite that, I did have a few issues. I felt that too many levels focused on instakill hazards rather than actually testing my platforming or exploration skills. I also feel like this game didn't need a lives system, and should've handled things like Celeste or the newer Sonic games. I played the 3DS version, so I can't complain about the motion controls, although it's unfortunate that the graphical fidelity and framerate had to take such substantial hits. Hopefully we'll get the best of both worlds with the Switch version.
The soundtrack was very good. It's a bit derivative, but really catchy. In recent years, I've come to value the OSTs of games more, because they can really make all the difference when it comes to atmosphere and general feel. None of the Donkey Kong Country games disappoint in this regard.
I appreciated how the game decided to switch things up from its predecessors. The boss fights are pretty innovative, and I also liked the alternate takes on how the Kongs are controlled. Diddy's rocket jump is an extremely powerful asset, and Donkey's roll jump is very fun to use and master. You can tell a lot of intricacy was put into the game's movement mechanics, which feel great.
The enemy variety leaves a bit to be desired, though I still found the Tiki Tak tribe to be a decent antagonist group. It helps make this game feel distinct from the SNES game, introducing a new threat while still keeping the core plot the same.
The cutscenes and bonus content were pretty good. They provide the game with a lot of identity, and will definitely aid in its replayability. Having a postgame world always feels very rewarding in games like these. The character mannerisms also captured Rare's essence well, and felt like a natural succession from classic to modern times.
Overall, I'd give the game a solid 8/10. It might not be my favourite DKC game, but it's a very worthy successor to what came before, a great framework for what's to come, and a miraculous port to boot.