N +

Welcome to the third Retro Review! Beeks and I have decided that we will update every tuesday to keep up with the Virtual Console releases (US). Hopefully these provide you with enough information to help you pick your next VC download. This week I bring to you Donkey Kong Country for the SNES! This weeks Nintendo Power snippet comes from the official guide, and not the monthly magazine.

Donkey Kong Country starts off with DK comming out of his house only to find his empty hoard. You immediatly begin your adventure to recover them all. You can ride animals, find tons of secret rooms, and listen to intense SNES music! There are three different modes of play: 1P, 2P contest, 2P team.

THE STARS!
Donkey Kong: He's the big guy. The dude with the massive muscle. DK has to boogie through the jungle and other areas to recover his massive stockpile of bannanas that the evil kremlings have stolen!
Swinging: The Ultimate swinger, DK grabs on to any vine that's available. Just jump when you want to get off
Jumping: DK can reach his hands up higher than Diddy can when he jumps, but Diddy gets his feet higher.
Rolling: From a standstill or on the run, the Y button makes DK do a forward barrel roll.
Swimming: DK's a good swimmer. Press the B button to pick up the underwater pace.
Chucking: Donkey Kong lifts and throws all of the barrels he finds in a two-fisted, overhand manner.

Diddy Kong: Diddy is a wanna-be. An understudy, if you will. He plays a second fiddle to DK. He accepts the role, but in actuality, Diddy can do some things better than his gorilla counterpart.
Swinging: Diddy takes a cue from DK when it comes to vine riding. They swing alike.
Jumping: With a rolling Super Jump, Diddy gets great distance. Press the Y button to make Diddy cartwheel off of a ledge or a tree and then press the B button to make him jump while he's in midair!
Rolling: Press the Y button and Diddy takes off running with a power cartwheel.
Swimming: Diddy excels underwater because he is small. He's less likely to get hit.
Barrel Carryin': Diddy carries barrels in front of him. It's actually an advantage in most cases.

The Goodies: Donkey Kong and Diddy can ride on all the goodies, except Squaks. The Goodies are stashedaway in crates that appear in many of the stages. If you want to locate 101% of the areas in te game you will have to rely on the abilities of the goodies.
Rambi [The Rhino]: Rambi's strength allows him to break through walls, enemies and other obstacles. Try bashing into any wall that you can while riding him. If you want to dismount, just press the A Button. If Rambi happens to take a hit, he will buck you off and run away, but there are some times where you can catch him and remount.
Enguarde [The Swordfish]: For reasons that are obvious, Enguard only shows up in the underwater stages. He's a fish. A swordfish, to be exact. When you're riding on his back, you can press the B button to make him swish his tail and jet forward, thereby impailing any enemy creature with his sword-like bill.
Expresso: Expresso is an ostrich that has impressive wheels! He's a sprinter. You can cover territory quickly while you're riding him. However, the best service that Expresso provides to you is his ability to fly. His wings are small (ostriches don't really fly at all), so he can't stay aloft for too long. If you press the B button rapidly, he'll flap his wings for all he's worth. There are a couple of Bonus Areas that you'll have to be riding Expresso in order to get.
Winky [The Frog]: Like Squawks, Winky keeps mainly to damp surroundings of the caves. Winky's biggest advantage is his jumping power. He can sky! Not only that, but he can land on top of the Zingers and won't take a hit. He takes them out!
Squawks: Squaks isn't called into action very much. And that's too bad because he's a great help in the dark caves and caverns of the island. Squawks holds an illuminating light as he flies above your head. If you turn around, he will turn around also to point the light in the right direction.
- Nintendo Power Strategy Guide, 1994.

The game really takes some time to complete, and I still have never gotten in 100% after all these years. The music is great, and the visuals are breathtaking for it's time. The level effects offer some of the best ever found on the system, most noticably the snow in the winter levels, how it progresses from light to moderate to heavy, and then progression.

Also, this OFFICIAL guide clears up any rumors, or mis-conceptions about DK, and Cranky Kong relations...

The star of the original Donkey Kong games, Cranky Kong, gives out tidbits of advice to DK and DIddy as the progress through the stages.

I KNEW DK JR grew up into the tie wearing DK, he's always had an affinity for clothes.

N+: No snes or VC list will ever be complete without DKC. 9/10

Cost: 800 Wii Points