A Kong-quest to find a barrel of fun! 🛢️

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest is an absolute BANGER of a platformer that supersedes the first Donkey Kong Country in every way. One year after DKC the visuals to its challenging gameplay are amped up and lets not forget the LEGENDARY memorable soundtrack from David Wise, it's Rareware Magnum Opus on the Super Nintendo!

Moving from DK Island to Crocodile Isle was a bold move and even switching the tone to mysterious and dark I think was the right choice in making the sequel stand out. Every location from Krazy Kremland to Gangplank Ganlleon; every location feels alive and full of personality suiting both our protagonists as they maneuver through obstacles to save Donkey Kong.

That's right! Donkey Kong is nowhere to be seen almost 98% of the game. Introducing the newest addition to the Kongs is Dixie. Her ability to glide through the air adds a new dimension to the platforming, allowing for even more creative level design and traversal options. With this in mind there never felt a dull moment from beginning to end as each level and world felt expertly crafted.

One flaw that DKC had is immediately addressed here. The World bosses now offer a challenge and actually require some thinking instead of the typical jump on their head and move on. Some require you to play as animal buddies. This adds another layer of gameplay to what is already a well built system. I never felt like I was cheated at all besides 1-2 levels.

Now to my favorite part, no review of Diddy's Kong Quest would be complete without mentioning its incredible soundtrack. Composed by David Wise once again, the music is simply phenomenal, that I think is better than DKC. From the upbeat rhythms of Stickerbush Symphony to the dark melodies of Welcome to Crocodile Isle and who can forget the BANGER bonus stage music Token Tango easily top 10 for me.

Overall, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest is a masterpiece of 2D platforming that stands as one of the greatest games ever made for the Super Nintendo. Replay value is insane as there is a secret world and motivation to continue on and collect everything from all the levels. I absolutely recommend this game!

🎈That Balloon pop sound gives me PTSD 20+ years later 🎈

Donkey Kong Country for the Super Nintendo is an absolute classic that stands the test of time. Its addictive gameplay, quickly became one of the most beloved platformers for me almost superseding Super Mario. From its stunning visuals using pre-rendered 3D graphics, the game boasts charm and vibrant colors, and often overlooked character animations that were not present much in SNES games but Rareware were the top dogs in the 90s.

DKC solid gameplay always had me coming back for more. Being both Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong offered a extra layer of gameplay without you ever realizing it as DK is more Brute and Diddy is fight and fast. As I navigated through the in game world "DK Island" It provided alot of challenging levels filled with enemies, obstacles, and secrets to discover. As I played this game so many times I am always learning new things and locations about the levels. Which brings me to the level design; It is top notch. Each level has its challenge or gimmick but just amps up the difficulty just enough that players of all skill levels can enjoy the game. Also adding a two-player co-op mode adds another layer of gameplay that really makes you work together to beat each level as each Kong is controlled by a different person.

The music in this game is top tier! It perfectly complements the action on screen, immersing you in the world and also giving each world and level its own identity.

Now while the game is excellent, it is not without its drawbacks. Some people that are not familiar with these types of games may experience frustrating difficulty spikes While the game generally strikes a good balance in challenge, there are a few levels that can feel unfairly difficult, leading to frustration for some players. The usual consensus is "git gud" when this happens but some people may be turned off due to some unfairness which doesn't really relate to skill IMO. Another drawback I had was the variety in Boss Battles. While each boss are fun and memorable, there isn't a huge variety in the types of bosses you face often repeating enemies you have already seen. Many of them follow similar patterns, which can make them feel repetitive after a while. In retrospect it makes the them easier than the levels themselves.

Overall, I think Donkey Kong Country holds up as one of the greatest platformers ever made. It's a timeless classic and really accessible if you have the Nintendo Switch Online. Give it shot you will not be disappointed. Donkey Kong Country is an absolute must-play for anyone.

Operation: Nightfire has begun....

James Bond 007: Nightfire delivers a thrilling and action-packed experience with a challenging Single Player Story.

The gameplay in Nightfire is varied but sticks to its first person shooter style. In some missions it offers a mix of gunplay, stealth, and vehicle based missions. There is about 12 missions in total which on the surface doesn't seem like a lot but there are parts within the levels which creates longevity in the game. As James Bond you are infiltrating enemy strongholds or engaging in high-speed car chases, there's never seems to be a dull moment and certainly doesn't pause at all. It's all action packed from start to finish.

Having to control Bond I feel like the PS2 controls are quite dated compared to the modern FPS controls we have and takes some getting used to but they are responsive. You may need to find a scheme that works for you if you want to have a enjoyable experience. As far as I could navigate the menus there seems to be no way to adjust analog stick sensitivity so be aware when coming to play this game.

As always it wouldn't be a EA James Bond game if it didn't have Multiplayer. I didn't go to much in depth with it as I mostly was playing Single Player. From what I saw it has a lot of variety in its maps and lots of game modes to choose from, including classic modes like Deathmatch and Capture the Flag.

Overall, Nightfire may show its age graphically but the overall presentation is still impressive. They tried to make it a really authentic James bond which then pays off in future installments (Everything or Nothing, From Russian with Love) The story is engaging, the voice acting is passable considering none of the original cast is here but it doesn't take you out of the experience, and there is a really fun challenge to be had. It got challenging for me about halfway through the story. I would say this is a must-play for fans of James Bond. You will have a enjoyable time!