| Plot The DKC2 story is very long. You can find it
at the bottom of this review if you want to read it that
badly.
Flashback, 1995. Nintendo and RARE
have been graciously reward by DKC. This marked RARE's
return to video game stardom, and Donkey Kong's return to
a major role in gaming (last staring in the little-known
DKJr. Math). No sooner had everyone played and beaten
DKC, when a newer, pirate-themed game appeared on the
scene within a year. The game was another smash hit,
helped by it's quickness in entering the market (the
series speedy release of sequels putting the Mario World
games to shame).
Overview
Donkey Kong Country 2 Donkey Kong Country 2 is a very
fun and interesting game. I would have to say that it
didn\rquote t meet up to the first Donkey Kong Country,
but still a good and fun game. Nothing really changed
except for a new character. Her name was Dixie Kong. Her
ability to use her long hair to float in the air longer
than usual becomes very useful in the game. The music was
very colorful and set a good atmosphere for the game. The
graphics were a little bit better than the original, so
of course it looked cool. For the day and time, these
graphics were top of the line. The replay value on the
game though was a bit bad. I only played it a couple of
times, and even though i thought it was good, I lost
interest in it just because it didn't do much to catch
peoples attention. All in all, I would give this game a
point value of 6.5., because nothing really changed and
the replay value was bad.
 
Story
Donkey Kong gulped back the last of his banana
milkshake and sighed happily, the old deckchair creaking
as he wriggled his toes in the sand. This is the life, he
thought to himself. The sun beating down on a clear blue
sea, and no pesky banana-thieving Kremlings to worry
about. Lazily he raised a hand to wave at Funky, who was
showing off his surfing expertise out with the squawking
seagulls. Donkey settled back and closed his eyes,
thinking he'd have a little doze, when there was a sound
of shuffling feet - and before he knew what was happening
Cranky Kong had bopped him sharply on the head with his
stick.
"Yowch!" Donkey exclaimed, glaring at the
snickering old ape standing in front of him
Well!" said Cranky, "what do you think you're
doing sitting around all day? They won't get much of a
game out of this, will they? I thought you were supposed
to be a big star."
"Even stars get time off," muttered Donkey,
rubbing his head.
"I never did," said Cranky proudly. "Whisking
off maidens and throwing barrels around the place seven
days a week, I was. That's how I got where I am today,
you know. Hard work. None of this lazing about on beaches."
"Why don't you go off and pester Diddy or something?"
complained Donkey. "Let me have a bit of peace for
once."
Cranky snorted. "Hah! He's off somewhere with that
girlfriend of his. But, still, I can see when I'm not
wanted..."
Grumbling to himself, Cranky shambled away back down the
beach, leaving Donkey to pull his sun hat over his eyes,
sink down into the deckchair and slowly drift off to
sleep.
When night fell and their big buddy still hadn't
returned, Diddy and Dixie got worried and went to look
for him. There was no sign of him on the beach and at
first they thought they must have just missed him on his
way home, but then Diddy saw the
tracks leading up from the sea to where Donkey's
deckchair lay on its back.
"Kremlings!" they gasped in horror.
There was a note pinned to the back of the chair:
"I thought we'd seen the last of that old rascal
for a while," sighed Wrinkly, Cranky's good-natured
old wife, when the rest of the family had read the ransom
note.
"Well," grunted Cranky, "I suppose we'd
better give him the bananas, hadn't we?"
Diddy stared. "We can't do that! Donkey'd go mad if
he lost his bananas again!"
"Have you got any better ideas?" demanded the
old ape.
"We've got to rescue him, of course!" said
Diddy and Dixie together.
But Cranky just laughed. "Oh yes? And who's going to
do that, then?"
"Not me," said Funky quickly, backing away.
"I hate adventures, man."
"And I think I'm a bit old for that sort of thing,"
said Wrinkly apologetically.
"And I'm not having any part in it," snapped
Cranky. "Not that I'm past my prime, of course - I
could still do a better job than the rest of you
put together - but I wouldn't be seen dead in something
that scrolls, and has bonus levels, and end-of-level
bosses."
"What about me?" said Diddy, stamping his foot.
"I went with Donkey on his last adventure, didn't I?
Why can't I do it?"
"You?" laughed Cranky. "You've only been
in one game, and you didn't even get your name in the
title! You think that makes you a hero?"
Diddy looked disheartened, but Dixie was quick to stand
up for him. "Give him a chance and he could be a
better hero than you ever were," she challenged.
Cranky scowled. "You think so, do you? You think he
can make his way through all those Kremlings and all
those traps, all by himself?"
"He won't be by himself," she retorted. "I'm
going with him."
Diddy stared at her, and she stared defiantly back.
"But it's dangerous!" he protested.
"You're not scared, are you?"
"Of course I'm not!"
"Well, neither am I. Don't try to argue - if you're
going, I'm coming with you."
Diddy sighed. He knew a hopeless argument when he saw one.
But still, he was Donkey's only hope! And, of course, if
he managed to rescue his big buddy, he'd become a real
video game hero too! Could he ask for a better chance to
prove himself?
Cranky was eyeing him shrewdly. "Alright," he
said. "If you somehow get back safely from this and
bring that good-for-nothing Donkey with you, I'll admit
that maybe you have got what it takes after all. But if
you don't" - the old ape waved his stick in the air
- "there'll never be more than cheap cameo roles for
you, my boy!"
The others offered their encouragement. Wrinkly gave him
a warm smile, while Funky offered his hand for a high-five.
"Go for it, little dudes!"
And as soon as the sun rose again, the plucky young
pair set out.
|
|