| Platform | OVERALL |
|---|---|
| Virtual Console | 8.30 |
| Overall | 8.30 |
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This is a game I have a sort of love hate relationship with. I cannot deny that it is a great platformer that offers a ton of levels, classic precision based platforming that is challenging, and loads of secrets to uncover. That said it is also the most basic of platformers, the game revolves around the simple mechanics of run, jump and throw. The Kong's have no unique powers, there is no unique hook to the game like Sonic's speed, all you do is avoid obstacles. In that regard its platforming in the purest sense, thankfully it does it very well. Levels are for the most part simple in design. They are normally of the move from left to right variety. Some go vertical, some have water, some are mine cart levels, some have unique little touches like wind blowing. There are plenty of secrets to find in every level so for the completionists out there, it will take plenty of skill to find all coins. In some levels you take control of an animal friend, this is sort of your suits if it were a Mario game. These help with the gameplay variety though many times they just make navigating an area more easy. There are a few levels that have inspired uses for these animals like one where you need to create your own platforms with a spider, or a parrot chase through a spiky vine track. It has everything a good platformer should have but for some reason for me it never feels as good or as interesting as the very best platformers. Everything in the game is about avoiding an enemy that simply moves up and down or in a circular pattern, or timing jumps correct, or avoiding projectiles as you climb something. There are no puzzles, there aren't many moments that stand out and make you say "wow that was different". Some of you maybe don't want any of that in your platformers and that is fine. I want more, I know platformers are supposed to be about running and jumping over obstacles, I want to see what else can you do. I also feel that DKC2 can be more frustrating at times than enjoyable. There is only one checkpoint per level and each level is a decent length. You will be dying and replaying sections over and over. I love a challenge but in this case it feels more like pattern recognition. There is a difference when I die in a Mario game because I had to do this skilled jump or maneuver, it feels like a failed. Here you die cause you didn't see that enemy coming at you and next time you will remember to jump after the next jump, it's more trial and error. It wouldn't be so bad if the game had a lenient damage system but it doesn't, two hits max and your are dead. Oh and then there is the save system which is a disaster. If you beat a boss and enter a new area you are locked into that area with no new save points or the ability to go to a previous world until you pass however many levels it takes to find the kong kollege which is where you save. If you die, you go all the way back to before you beat the boss. Despite pissing me off plenty the game is such a solid well made platformer that I did enjoy it more than I was annoyed by it. As you learn the levels you can start flying through them, chaining enemies perfectly which can result in the player finishing some levels without ever stopping and that is a rush. There is a lot of care that went into the game, you can see the production values as the game was state of the art when it came out. As I mentioned before its huge it puts most platformers not named Mario to shame in terms of content. The music is memorable like all the best platfromers soundtracks. I can see why some love the game. I can see why some dismiss it. I am sort of in the middle. |
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Posted by Dvader Fri, 06 Aug 2010 23:47:11
I do remember the good music and visuals though, and it had a fairly good sense of humor.
Great co-op game, that is how I'll best remember it -- and for completely re-invigorating the SNES when it needed it most.