@@k-leb4671 Possibly. It could've also been scrapped for that very reason though. Maybe they first cut it because it didn't sound watery enough and they didn't need another water level theme
@@k-leb4671 It was intended to be a semi-sequel track to “aquatic ambience,” but DKC2’s water levels used either the ship deck or arctic themes already.
DKC2 is my answer to how completionist goals in a game can be done right. You can beat DKC2 without ever beating a bonus room or collecting a DK coin and have a fun time. Yet the choice is always out there for someone who wants more challenge and content. It is that feeling of digging into a deeper layer to the game and discovery something new.
what's even better is that you can quickly get all 75 kremkoins so you can play the lost world without doing bonus rooms... makes subsequent play through way more fun and you get the best of both worlds, speed and flow but still get to 'beat' the game
Also, it's worth it. Getting a whole new world (and real ending) as bonus is a great reward for collecting all the stuff. It's not just there for "getting it all", you really get rewarded for it.
What I love about Donkey Kong Country 2 is how much... more it is. Every Animal Buddy is significantly expanded upon to be far more than the 'Yoshi's of the game, with their own handling and prowess. Enemies are lined up not just for bursts of speed, but perfectly for Diddy to jump out of them and handle the next obstacle with almost seamless momentum. Every enemy has more character, every bit of dialogue is layered with more personality, the "bragging rights reward" from Cranky Kong becomes an integral part of each level instead of just a throwaway line at the end. It's a rare game of the era that doesn't feel like it's trying to hold itself to Mario or Sonic's standard (which, while I love DKC1, it definitely is). This is a game constantly elevating itself, on the shoulders of Donkey Kong Country and Killer Instinct that came before it, but also on the idea of it seeing its potential limits and going past them. It's just one idea after another that never loses sight of the core that makes it fun, and it's so GOOD at that. Glad it didn't end up overhyped! Kinda like this one a little I guess! Also will admit, some of the stuff (Web platforms, etc.) is explained in-game through Cranky and Wrinkly hints. Not the most intuitive, but it's there, potentially for looking at it later and going "oh you can do THAT?", opening up more possibilities. A bit antiquated in today's day and age, but neat! Still trying to master hitting L and R with Squitter simultaneously to create an instant platform years later to really break Web Woods open!
What makes you think DKC1 is holding itself to Mario or Sonic's standard but not this game? I can't see either of them being different from each other in that regard - in that I don't think either of them try to be like Mario or Sonic or be as good as Mario or Sonic.
I’ve always loved Cranky’s personality in the series. Which is why Tropical Freeze was such a shame to me. The whole point of Cranky is that he talks smack, but doesn’t actually DO anything. TF got rid of his sass and just made him another hero.
Donkey Kong Country 2 is the greatest 2D platformer ever made. In my personal opinion. The game never ran out of ideas, which is the trademark of the truly best games. But what really pushes the game over the edge is the soundtrack, which is just magical. Truly a masterpiece.
Ignoring the amazing level design, immersive atmosphere, and charming creatures i just want to appreciate how much of a genius David wise is. When I listen to tracks like forest interlude or stickerbrush sympathy, I legitimately am left in awe the emotion it manages to invoke in me. It’s a game that makes me feel like I’m at home and I can just share all my problems with, it makes life feel much more simple and adventurous. I... really can’t fully describe this feeling because it’s only a feeling that can be invoked once you listen to the soundtrack of dkc2. The first dkc game I played was returns but going back to the original trilogy, it felt like an entirely different experience then returns or tropical freeze which is a good thing because I wouldn’t want a series to start stagnating. My point is that dkc2 is honestly an experience and a game I will cherish forever and despite it’s difficultly, I suggest everyone should be playing this timeless masterpiece because I doubt I will ever find a game that can invoke such an amazing feeling while playing.
Thanks to all of you and your positivity, also, wasn’t expecting KingK to even see this, but I wanna take this opportunity to say that your content makes my days better, keep doing what your doing, your a real MVP. You’ve all made my birthday even better, thanks!
"I'm not gonna let the fact that I don't have a particularly original set of takes stop me from doing what I wanna do with this channel" Honestly found this weirdly inspiring, I often end up giving on videos or a variety of creative projects because they're "Not original enough" as if that means anything! haha Nice vid mate, will have to give this one a play at some point
hey man if you have the same things to say but a unique way to say it then it doesn't matter - if 100% originality was required, we wouldn't have very many people in any various avenue of entertainment. Just look at music, everyone just takes things they're inspired by & puts their own flavor on it. Flavor is everything friend.
Right, but requiring a secondary piece of information outside of the original piece means that the original piece did not convey the information properly. This is a downside, not a perk.
@@Morneisia as a 4-6 year old kid I never had the manual(bought it second hand) and figured it out easily. You guys are griping about single input features here lmao
One of my absolute favorite games from childhood. Can't wait to hear what you have to say, mate. Typing at the beginning, so I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did when I first played it. Good day, and good health. ^_^
That bit about not being able to shut up about this game if you'd played it as a kid? Absolutely me. This is one of the games that defined my early childhood, and I get giddy every time it gets brought up. Glad you enjoyed it so much.
Bramble Scramble has single-handedly become one of the best and most emotional and inspiring video game tracks of all time. Pushing the SNES sound chip to the edge and making something that was worth pausing and vibing out to.
There are still amazing experiences coming out nowadays. They are more rare, but they are still there. RE Village, Returnal are pretty good examples in my book.
@@Thirteen13551355 Re2 remake and Re8 are pretty open overall, theres obvs an objective to do but you can sort of just wander around and willingly get lost looking for items and deciding whether to clear rooms of enemies or to save ammo for later
@@linkthepig4219 tropical freeze is the donkey Kong country 2 of the return series. And I'm not just saying that because it's the sequel. They expand on donkey kong. Not just dong, but everything. The music, the return of characters even a brand new antagonist that we can all love. Yeah, I absolutely love the snowmads. I think them alongside the kremlings are some of the best enemies in gaming. They're all so wacky and interesting to look at, each one with a personality of its own. Well I think the kremlings did it a little better, the snowmads will never be forgotten. I genuinely hope that they are brought back.
This game came out when I was 10 and I immediately felt like it was a rare, perfect game. 25+ years and over a hundred playthroughs later and I still feel that way.
This is such a surprise. I just got done watching both your Chrono Trigger and DKC retrospectives for the first time yesterday. Now I can chill out and enjoy this one
My favorite thing about Stickerbrush Symphony is that there is a 15 minute extension of it on TH-cam, and the comments section is just everyone posting about their life experiences.
Yet sadly, many of the people who post in that comment thread have NO idea that the music is even from a video game, much less arguably the greatest video game of all time.
@@PC2000 Music is universal. The fact that so many people are drawn to it and feel with it despite not knowing anything about it speaks volumes. But you're right that it is unfortunate more people don't play Donkey Kong Country 2.
@King Slayer Yeah, it's definitely annoying, and I think most people are aware at this point that they aren't a great product, but if it helps keep good content creators able to do what they do for a living, I'd say it's worth sitting through an ad.
@@huntercrunch94 they're not the greatest but for some earbuds that I can use for commuting or running they work perfectly. All I could ask for as a non audiophile with modest needs
It's just easier that way I guess. When you think about it, DKC2 should be called Diddy Kong Country and DKC3 should be called Dixie Kong Country, or they should just be called by their subtitles.
it made sense, because each new game introduced new characters and movesets, which was really unique at the time. Plus there's the whole debate about the "original" DK. But I get what you mean.
Toxic Tower is a contender for hardest level in the game, IMO-right in the top three somewhere with Animal Antics and Screech's Sprint. And I still love playing every second of it.
On my last playthrough, I had waaaaay more trouble with Toxic Tower than Screech's sprint. Died a huge number of times just on that first bit with Rattly.
My favorite TH-cam channel right now. I listen to your videos over and over and over again. Going through a rough patch in life right now with my health among other things and every night I put your videos on to listen to and to fall asleep to. Appreciate your content more than you know. Thank you.
12:43 You gotta love how a fanmade name for a track still makes it's way into videos as if it's the real name. Where did "Mining Melancholy" originate anyway?
I was just questioning minutes ago “Huh, odd he only discussed the first one. I wonder if he’ll take a looksie at DKC2 since that’s the fan favorite”. Your timing is downright eerie!
I very much appreciate that pretty much every bonus and secret is marked in the game in some way. Either by bananas, or "make sure to save the animal companion as long as you can". And there is one example that I think is brilliant: there is ONE DK Coin in the game that's hidden in a Bonus Level. One single secret within a secret, and the fact they kept it to a single one highlights how special that one instance is.
A lot of disagreement with critiquing these nostalgic/older games comes from these TWO contrasting beliefs.. 1) Older games should be held to today's standard when valuing them. **AKA, say it's good if it's fun in 2021.** 2) The game's influence on the industry during the time period it was released in should influence how valuable we think it is. **AKA, say it's good if it was fun when it came out** These two beliefs are opposite sides of a spectrum, and everyone lies somewhere in the spectrum. Personally, I value the history of the game a little - and I value it's appeal to a modern audience much more. I will tell people a game is well made if I have fun playing it today.
One of my favorite games of all time, full stop. As a kid, the music became a part of my life from how much I played it. And the levels are just so damn fun.
The music is something I still listen to to this very day. From the original tracks, to remixes, even the uncompressed versions are something that I absolutely love to listen to. I'll even go so far as to say that I even blast this music in my car. My freaking car! David Wise is a godsend to video games of yesteryear, and I genuinely hope that more people start appreciating him way more, and even get inspired.
I’m enjoying your videos a lot, but I noticed one small mistake. Squawks is not a new buddy for DKC2. He’s in the original DKC also, though just for one level. Similarly, you seem to have left Squawks out of your DKC review.
Perfect time to upload this for me. I just finished this game for the first time today and got the secret ending. I don't know if I can say that it's better than DKC1 yet, but I certainly enjoyed my time. The main things holding me back from liking DKC2 more is that I felt I got a few more unfair deaths thanks to the camera, and I've got massive nostalgia for the first game whereas I never played the second one until the online subscription. I will say however that the bonuses were handled much better this time around. They're less obtuse to find and more varied in design.
Honestly this game and Banjo Kazooie (I'm actually doing a LP rn lol) are a couple of Rare's best games. No question. They're both practically perfect.
I can rightfully say i brought this video into existence by making a long comment on the video on the first game, so you can all thank me for helping this be made, even though he probably already had it planned, but my only complaint is that this video isn’t as long as the one on the first game, just because it’s the one i like to hear gushed about the most, but despite that i am glad to hear you ended up loving Donkey Kong Country 2, it definitely lives up to all the hype let’s not even mention the music because it’s godly Stickerbush Symphony, and Forest Interlude, all the way, but yeah i am obsessed with this game, and it puts me at ease seeing you agree with everyone else about it being the best in the series. Though i will admit Donkey Kong Country 3, is a step down, but Tropical Freeze, is a very good successor to DKC2.
I was SO excited for this game to come out as a kid. I remember one of the promos for game coverage in a magazine, it was an interview with Dixie Kong, from game related stuff to silly things like if she’s a natural blonde.
DKC2 was my first real introduction to Console gaming. And as a kid I never got past the first few levels of Krem Quay. I had reaaal trouble with Kleever and even though I did manage to beat him every now and then, I had next to no lives by the time I did, and didn't realise there was a way I could go back to an earlier world to get to a Save point. Felt Bad. Didn't have that problem with DKC3. I still didn't finish it until replaying it as an adult, but at least I always knew how to get to all the save points . So that's probably why DKC3 is my favourite even though I acknowledge DKC2 has the edge over it in a few places.
I still struggle with Krem Quay every time I play the game. I recall one playthrough where I couldn't survive long enough to get to Kong College and I had to beat Kleever over and over and over again. I had few lives, and I didn't have any coins, so I couldn't get any extra lives at Swanky's. It was hard to enjoy the game when every time I tried to play I couldn't make it past the first few levels of the world, and had to do the previous world boss over and over. The save system is my biggest gripe with the game. The fact you have to pay coins to save after your first save in an area is ridiculous and punishes players who aren't very good at the game. And it's a shame because it's one big problem on an otherwise amazing game.
@@DaNintendude Just a tip, when you beat Kleever, go to the 1st world and farm some lives and coins, and then go to the swamp world. You can do this after beating any world. Remember that you need 2 coins to save and 2 coins to fly.
Dude I've been rewatching Boy Meets World on Disney+ and now watching this review I'm just floating in an ocean of 90s nostalgia. Thank you for dropping this video.
I memorized this game front to back pretty much before I can remember. I remember it being really hard as a 5 year old but now I can fly through it without thinking. I would pay a lot of money to have that first experience again now as an adult and see how hard and satisfying this incredible game is
Top 10 SNES game, almost top 5. The only 2D platformers better are Yoshi's Island and maybe Super Mario World. That being said, the atmosphere in this game is incredible. Its simply one of the greatest games of all time. P.S. Don't sleep on DKC3 though...its a banger in its own right.
The more people talk about donkey kong, the happier I get. First it was snowman gaming, then it was geek critique, the lonely goomba, and now you. Yes, you all had videos before, but it doesn't matter who posted first, it doesn't matter how long they are, what I know is that the love for donkey Kong in all of its forms are bright and vibrant. Thank you so much for posting these. I love all of the donkey Kong country games, but this game has a very special place in my heart. It's more than just a game, it's an experience. It's everything that I've Loved about donkey Kong country, but more. Honestly, it's amazing that the donkey Kong family didn't outright replace Mario as gaming's mascot. Because this game in particular blows every platformer out of the water for me. Donkey Kong as a franchise, as a world, just feels so interesting. I love all the characters, I love how they intertwine and make this wonderful world of characters that I can't even find a single one to be dislikable. I even love the TV show and bluster Kong, probably the weakest link in the entirety of donkey Kong. Everything about this series, this is my Mario. Speed running and all, this is also my sonic. Donkey Kong to me does better than both.
Donkey Kong Country 2, at this time, may be my favorite game I haven't beaten. When I was a kid, Donkey Kong was a series I loved to death, but I only had the first on SNES and I had Donkey Kong 64, which I played so much, my parents took away my N64 tons of times. With DKC2, I never really got to play it until I was in high school and even then, I was borrowing it so I only got so far. When I was finally able to get a job, and by extension, money, it was one of the first games I got. Loved the hell out of it, but there has always been one thing which has prevented me from beating it and that was the snake section on the second to last world. Sadly, one day I got a bit too enraged and yanked the game out of the SNES and it deleted my progress and I had to start over again. I mention this because of your mentioning of forgetting to save the game and not being bothered by having to start over again. I had a similar feeling as I was able to get through levels which, for the longest time, I figured I could only beat through luck; though sadly, I still have trouble with the snake levels and can still only beat them through luck. I have been meaning to finish the game, but other interests, lack of energy for games, and time have prevented that. Watching this review has made me want to play the game again and finally beat it. If I do manage to finally beat it, consider this comment a pre made thank you.
If you don't have any insights or observations totally unique to a game, if you at least express your feelings authentically, it does add something to the conversation. Some people think it's just this binary thing, where you either validate someone's feelings or you don't - but some of us want to know every little emotional blip and bump you experience when playing our childhood favorites, even if you ultimately disagree.
It's why KingK and Fudj are some of my favorite creators on TH-cam. They really bring their own flavor into their videos and talk a lot more about their own experiences than other people would. Fudj especially.
I can only really think of a couple things in this game that bother me: Bigger ones: 1. Rambi's normal running speed is slower. 2. Banana coins don't save for some reason. Nitpicks: 3. They got rid of the sparkles when you break save barrels. 4. Kongs no longer have a trying not to fall animation when standing on edges. 5. There are grey pixels on the edge of Diddy's sprite for some reason. 6. The KONG letters look like dull plastic instead of gold chrome like the 1st game. 7. No boss at the end of K. Rool's keep (yes, I know that they fixed this in the GBA remake). 8. The backgrounds of some of the locations don't match the world map. The sky in Kong Kollege will be blue when you're in a volcano as will a bramble level that's in a night carnival.
you have such an amazing way with words making every video of you a pleasure to listen to. I hope to hear what you have to say about DKC3 at some point in the future.
I love your videos so much, you are by far the best video game retrospective/video essay channel on youtube. I don’t comment on youtube a lot but I wanted to put that out there, this is by far one of my favorite yt channels
This is probably my favorite game of all time. Glad to know that the game holds up, even for someone who didn’t have it as a kid. It’s always nice to confirm that it isn’t just nostalgia playing tricks on you. Here’s hoping this series continues! Would be interested to see your thoughts on the much more divisive third game.
Pretty amazing review! As a DKC veteran I know this game in and out so it was cool to see a newcomers perspective. The only flaw I have with it is that Wrinkly’s school (which is also the save point) has explanations on some of the moves and mechanics if you pay some coins, same goes for Cranky and giving out hints for the bonus stages.
There are only 2 minor things I would change in this game: 1. The music track should pick up where it left off once you exit a bonus room (rather than restarting). A good player will rarely hear more than 20-30 seconds of a track because of frequently interrupting it with bonus rooms, which is a shame for such amazing music. 2. The Lost World levels should have been one world instead of individual levels scattered across the game. The GB version (DKL2) did this and I feel like it works better. These are minor nitpicks of an incredibly flawless game.
I find myself quite frequently coming back to your retrospectives, particularly the DKC and Pokemon videos, perhaps because they are arguably the best of their kind. And as I'm back here for the umpteenth time, I wonder, do you intend to do the rest of the DKC series?
Yup. DK Country 2 is just a masterpiece. It's just stunning from beginning to end and improves on the already great DK Country 1 in so many ways. I disagree though that the bonus room music gets to be too much. It's just so good. It starts off by building up...and then it blasts into the main theme in the awesome bonus rooms and it's just such a fantastic feeling. It probably also doesn't hurt that Jirard The Completionist uses the DKC2 bonus music for the "Completion Bonus" sections of the episodes (if you're a fan, then you know the connection between Jirard and DKC2) and it works great there too. (By the way, I think you meant "Screech's Sprint" and not "Screech's Spirit")
Im surprised this only now being recommended to me. I have watched every other video on this channel. It wasn't until yesterday that more recent videos were recommended to me.
The King's feelings towards DKC2 almost perfectly mirror the feelings I had for Dark Souls one on my first playthrough. Especially in the section where he talks about the satisfaction of clearing an especially arduous portion of the game. I'm not a huge fan of platformers, but I very much can understand what he means when he mentions that "dopamine rush" after clearing a challenging section.
This title is pretty based, honestly.
Hopefully it boosts your views.
@KingK, how many times do I have to hear you say that?
*I will remember this...*
But is based on what?
THIS IS A JOKE, BOTH GAMES ARE BASED, THE PLAYLIST IS BASED, THE TITLE IS BASED, THIS COMMENT IS BASED
Fun fact: the iconic "Stickerbrush Symphony" theme was actually a scrapped underwater theme that was tossed in last minute.
It doesn't sound like underwater music to me at all. It must've been modified to some extent before the game was released.
@@k-leb4671 Possibly. It could've also been scrapped for that very reason though. Maybe they first cut it because it didn't sound watery enough and they didn't need another water level theme
@@k-leb4671 It was intended to be a semi-sequel track to “aquatic ambience,” but DKC2’s water levels used either the ship deck or arctic themes already.
@@k-leb4671
It does sound pretty marine... the calming melody and slow pace.
*Stickerbush Symphony. There is no R in Stickerbush, that was a typo from the GBA version.
It's so sweet of you to have so much enjoyment for this incredible game even though the main antagonist did steal your name
more reason to sympathize with DK & friends' journey
Wdym KingK is clearly a crocodile irl, that's why his voice is so deep.
@@linkthepig4219 oh yeah, he'd never have a problem with another crocodile then, everyone knows you can't fight with another of the same species
@@dmas7749
Oh he's not just another crocodile, he's a Kremling. I can't think of any other canon crocodiles in DK.
@@linkthepig4219 I thought he was a Koopa Troopa with a yellow shell and bitchin' shades.
DKC2 is my answer to how completionist goals in a game can be done right. You can beat DKC2 without ever beating a bonus room or collecting a DK coin and have a fun time. Yet the choice is always out there for someone who wants more challenge and content. It is that feeling of digging into a deeper layer to the game and discovery something new.
what's even better is that you can quickly get all 75 kremkoins so you can play the lost world without doing bonus rooms... makes subsequent play through way more fun and you get the best of both worlds, speed and flow but still get to 'beat' the game
Also, it's worth it. Getting a whole new world (and real ending) as bonus is a great reward for collecting all the stuff. It's not just there for "getting it all", you really get rewarded for it.
What I love about Donkey Kong Country 2 is how much... more it is. Every Animal Buddy is significantly expanded upon to be far more than the 'Yoshi's of the game, with their own handling and prowess. Enemies are lined up not just for bursts of speed, but perfectly for Diddy to jump out of them and handle the next obstacle with almost seamless momentum. Every enemy has more character, every bit of dialogue is layered with more personality, the "bragging rights reward" from Cranky Kong becomes an integral part of each level instead of just a throwaway line at the end. It's a rare game of the era that doesn't feel like it's trying to hold itself to Mario or Sonic's standard (which, while I love DKC1, it definitely is). This is a game constantly elevating itself, on the shoulders of Donkey Kong Country and Killer Instinct that came before it, but also on the idea of it seeing its potential limits and going past them. It's just one idea after another that never loses sight of the core that makes it fun, and it's so GOOD at that.
Glad it didn't end up overhyped! Kinda like this one a little I guess!
Also will admit, some of the stuff (Web platforms, etc.) is explained in-game through Cranky and Wrinkly hints. Not the most intuitive, but it's there, potentially for looking at it later and going "oh you can do THAT?", opening up more possibilities. A bit antiquated in today's day and age, but neat! Still trying to master hitting L and R with Squitter simultaneously to create an instant platform years later to really break Web Woods open!
What makes you think DKC1 is holding itself to Mario or Sonic's standard but not this game? I can't see either of them being different from each other in that regard - in that I don't think either of them try to be like Mario or Sonic or be as good as Mario or Sonic.
I’ve always loved Cranky’s personality in the series. Which is why Tropical Freeze was such a shame to me. The whole point of Cranky is that he talks smack, but doesn’t actually DO anything. TF got rid of his sass and just made him another hero.
@@IfOUGHTpIRANHAz He still sas in few animations.
Everything about is so good.
It always felt too much to me. Dkc1 will always feel amazing to play. Dkc2 feels like being gut punched every few minutes.
Donkey Kong Country 2 is the greatest 2D platformer ever made. In my personal opinion. The game never ran out of ideas, which is the trademark of the truly best games. But what really pushes the game over the edge is the soundtrack, which is just magical. Truly a masterpiece.
I disagree I think wario land 2 is better in terms of fair difficulty
@@darwinspain4831 wario is based
Idk about GOAT but it's definitely 10/10
false, it's the greatest video game of all time and nothing can ever convince me otherwise
Your videos help me learn English and be entertained at the same time because you speak clearly at a nice pace
This is super wholesome. It makes me really happy to hear.
Ur English is great
Ignoring the amazing level design, immersive atmosphere, and charming creatures i just want to appreciate how much of a genius David wise is. When I listen to tracks like forest interlude or stickerbrush sympathy, I legitimately am left in awe the emotion it manages to invoke in me. It’s a game that makes me feel like I’m at home and I can just share all my problems with, it makes life feel much more simple and adventurous. I... really can’t fully describe this feeling because it’s only a feeling that can be invoked once you listen to the soundtrack of dkc2. The first dkc game I played was returns but going back to the original trilogy, it felt like an entirely different experience then returns or tropical freeze which is a good thing because I wouldn’t want a series to start stagnating. My point is that dkc2 is honestly an experience and a game I will cherish forever and despite it’s difficultly, I suggest everyone should be playing this timeless masterpiece because I doubt I will ever find a game that can invoke such an amazing feeling while playing.
*Stickerbush
*Symphony :P
Bruh, my favourite TH-camr uploaded a 20 minute video on my favourite game on my birthday.....my life is complete
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday
Happy birthday.I hope you have a wonderfull time.
Happy birthday
Thanks to all of you and your positivity, also, wasn’t expecting KingK to even see this, but I wanna take this opportunity to say that your content makes my days better, keep doing what your doing, your a real MVP. You’ve all made my birthday even better, thanks!
"I'm not gonna let the fact that I don't have a particularly original set of takes stop me from doing what I wanna do with this channel"
Honestly found this weirdly inspiring, I often end up giving on videos or a variety of creative projects because they're "Not original enough" as if that means anything! haha
Nice vid mate, will have to give this one a play at some point
hey man if you have the same things to say but a unique way to say it then it doesn't matter - if 100% originality was required, we wouldn't have very many people in any various avenue of entertainment. Just look at music, everyone just takes things they're inspired by & puts their own flavor on it. Flavor is everything friend.
The Shrek 2 of video games
Masterpiece
Couldn't put it better myself.
@Hexproof Project
Perhaps. Shrek 3 isn't real. Although what would Tropical Freeze be?
@Hexproof Project
Maybe...
@Hexproof Project wouldn’t returns be that hypothetical reboot.
Games had handbooks back then, so everybody knew you could grab and throw your partner, or aim Squitter's webs.
Unless you rented the game, which LOTS of people did, myself included.
Right, but requiring a secondary piece of information outside of the original piece means that the original piece did not convey the information properly. This is a downside, not a perk.
@@Bargadiel Wrinkly would also teach you game mechanics, if you didn't have the manual.
@@Morneisia as a 4-6 year old kid I never had the manual(bought it second hand) and figured it out easily. You guys are griping about single input features here lmao
@@dugsbunnyog3544 I beat the entire game and never knew you could throw character upwards lmao people learn and experience differently
One of my absolute favorite games from childhood.
Can't wait to hear what you have to say, mate. Typing at the beginning, so I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did when I first played it.
Good day, and good health. ^_^
That bit about not being able to shut up about this game if you'd played it as a kid? Absolutely me. This is one of the games that defined my early childhood, and I get giddy every time it gets brought up. Glad you enjoyed it so much.
Same for me! I grew up with it as a kid and rarely shut up about it 😂. I miss those days.
Bramble Scramble has single-handedly become one of the best and most emotional and inspiring video game tracks of all time. Pushing the SNES sound chip to the edge and making something that was worth pausing and vibing out to.
Donkey Kong Country 2 is just... good. Like, it feels weird to play a game nowadays that is genuinely just a great experience.
It's better than most things you could consider a genuinely great experience.
16 bit platformers are on another level. Super Mario World, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, and Donkey Kong Country 2 are all transcending experiences.
There are still amazing experiences coming out nowadays. They are more rare, but they are still there. RE Village, Returnal are pretty good examples in my book.
@@lajeandom Yeah, there's some. Souls is one of my faves, and I'd really like to try some newer RE games. Are they kinda open?
@@Thirteen13551355 Re2 remake and Re8 are pretty open overall, theres obvs an objective to do but you can sort of just wander around and willingly get lost looking for items and deciding whether to clear rooms of enemies or to save ammo for later
The atmosphere in this game is amazing. Such an immersive and mysterious world. One of Rare's best.
"You need to make it to the end with Squawks, one of the new animal buddies"
**laughs in torchlight trouble**
Had the same response as well tbh
Imo the greatest platformer of all time. Definitely the one I come back to the most over 2 decades after it's release.
I'd rank it equal to Tropical Freeze and Mario 64 DS as the greatest platformers ever.
@@linkthepig4219 tropical freeze is the donkey Kong country 2 of the return series. And I'm not just saying that because it's the sequel.
They expand on donkey kong. Not just dong, but everything. The music, the return of characters even a brand new antagonist that we can all love. Yeah, I absolutely love the snowmads. I think them alongside the kremlings are some of the best enemies in gaming. They're all so wacky and interesting to look at, each one with a personality of its own. Well I think the kremlings did it a little better, the snowmads will never be forgotten. I genuinely hope that they are brought back.
@@ItsRetroPlanet
Ye TF is a masterpiece honestly
It's up there, but I prefer Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island, and Celeste to the DKC games.
@@jimjam7347
I swear I should try Celeste
This game came out when I was 10 and I immediately felt like it was a rare, perfect game. 25+ years and over a hundred playthroughs later and I still feel that way.
As always, your videos are incredibly detailed and entertaining. I really like your content and can't wait for more.
Facts 💯
Donkey Kong Country 2 on the gameboy advance sp was one of my first every video games. Glad to see you cover it!
18:16
Jirard The Completionist wants to know your location
LOL go watch some of those older videos
I was waiting for someone to bring up the completionist when that song came on
This is such a surprise. I just got done watching both your Chrono Trigger and DKC retrospectives for the first time yesterday. Now I can chill out and enjoy this one
My favorite thing about Stickerbrush Symphony is that there is a 15 minute extension of it on TH-cam, and the comments section is just everyone posting about their life experiences.
So, you too have found the Internet checkpoint.
Yet sadly, many of the people who post in that comment thread have NO idea that the music is even from a video game, much less arguably the greatest video game of all time.
@@PC2000 Music is universal. The fact that so many people are drawn to it and feel with it despite not knowing anything about it speaks volumes.
But you're right that it is unfortunate more people don't play Donkey Kong Country 2.
Jeez, every video in my subscription feed today has been sponsored by Raycon. It's starting to feel like a conspiracy.
Well they pay people to advertise their product, because they want viewers to see the ads, so I guess it kind of is a conspiracy in that regard lol
A RayCon-spiracy?
@King Slayer Yeah, it's definitely annoying, and I think most people are aware at this point that they aren't a great product, but if it helps keep good content creators able to do what they do for a living, I'd say it's worth sitting through an ad.
My wife and I each have a pair and they're the best buds I've ever owned.
@@huntercrunch94 they're not the greatest but for some earbuds that I can use for commuting or running they work perfectly. All I could ask for as a non audiophile with modest needs
I always thought it was weird that there are three SNES games titled Donkey Kong Country but you only get to play as DK in one of them.
It's just easier that way I guess. When you think about it, DKC2 should be called Diddy Kong Country and DKC3 should be called Dixie Kong Country, or they should just be called by their subtitles.
it made sense, because each new game introduced new characters and movesets, which was really unique at the time. Plus there's the whole debate about the "original" DK. But I get what you mean.
Toxic Tower is a contender for hardest level in the game, IMO-right in the top three somewhere with Animal Antics and Screech's Sprint. And I still love playing every second of it.
On my last playthrough, I had waaaaay more trouble with Toxic Tower than Screech's sprint. Died a huge number of times just on that first bit with Rattly.
No better way to get me to not skip the raycon sponsorship plug than putting some of that fire dkc2 music under it, you darn genius
This was the first game I ever owned as a kid. I still beat it at least once a year.
This and Yoshi's Island built up my idea of exporative art as a kid. How happy I was to discover another K.Rool battle without the internet's help.
Yoshi's Island is fantastic. It was the first game that made me want to explore everything in each level before moving on to the next one.
Clapper is a seal, not a walrus. I WILL fight you on this, KingK.
This vid was sponsored by Raycon, not National Geographic.
"And the best way to listen to this soundtrack is with Raycon!"......you crafty son of a...
My unpopular opinion is DKC3 is the best in the series
Underrated for sure. Not the best tho
Ok... that part when you let Stickerbush Symphony explain itself by letting the music play legitimately gave me chills. Amazing.
Dogs running around the basement, Stickerbush Symphony starts playing, he stops in his tracks and looks at the tv
That's a good dog
Babe Wake up KingK released a new Retrospective video
You did it! Well done! This needed to happen lol @ 18:16 I always hated how it interrupted the music
My favorite TH-cam channel right now. I listen to your videos over and over and over again. Going through a rough patch in life right now with my health among other things and every night I put your videos on to listen to and to fall asleep to. Appreciate your content more than you know. Thank you.
Auditory caramel and in depth review at the same time. You get me every time KingK! Ty for sharing your art with us!
the fact you didnt mention snakey chantey while listing off the game's tracks is deeply upsetting
12:43
You gotta love how a fanmade name for a track still makes it's way into videos as if it's the real name. Where did "Mining Melancholy" originate anyway?
I was just questioning minutes ago “Huh, odd he only discussed the first one. I wonder if he’ll take a looksie at DKC2 since that’s the fan favorite”. Your timing is downright eerie!
Lockjaws locker ost is a certified banger.
We need a quality Ray-Man 1 retrospective and I think you’re the man for the job
I very much appreciate that pretty much every bonus and secret is marked in the game in some way. Either by bananas, or "make sure to save the animal companion as long as you can".
And there is one example that I think is brilliant: there is ONE DK Coin in the game that's hidden in a Bonus Level. One single secret within a secret, and the fact they kept it to a single one highlights how special that one instance is.
Yeah. When I found that DK Coin I was like "REALLY GAME??? REALLY!?!" but it's great.
18:16 damn is that a shot at The Completionist?? lol 😂
I loved this game! Such nostalgia. Take me back to the 90s please!!
You ever see a video so good in your recommended that you have to save it for a later time where it will be enjoyed more? that's me rn
I think Squawks is the only animal buddy to appear in every DKC game. Even appearing in Returns and Tropical Freeze as a collectable finder.
Lol idk if we should go the "ignore distractions" route with the earphone ad.
A lot of disagreement with critiquing these nostalgic/older games comes from these TWO contrasting beliefs..
1) Older games should be held to today's standard when valuing them. **AKA, say it's good if it's fun in 2021.**
2) The game's influence on the industry during the time period it was released in should influence how valuable we think it is. **AKA, say it's good if it was fun when it came out**
These two beliefs are opposite sides of a spectrum, and everyone lies somewhere in the spectrum. Personally, I value the history of the game a little - and I value it's appeal to a modern audience much more. I will tell people a game is well made if I have fun playing it today.
The music gameplay snd graphics are incredible
One of my favorite games of all time, full stop. As a kid, the music became a part of my life from how much I played it. And the levels are just so damn fun.
The music is something I still listen to to this very day. From the original tracks, to remixes, even the uncompressed versions are something that I absolutely love to listen to. I'll even go so far as to say that I even blast this music in my car. My freaking car! David Wise is a godsend to video games of yesteryear, and I genuinely hope that more people start appreciating him way more, and even get inspired.
@@ItsRetroPlanet Hell yeah man! Totally agreed. He did some of the music for Tropical Freeze as well if I recall, and not surprisingly, it slaps!
I’m enjoying your videos a lot, but I noticed one small mistake. Squawks is not a new buddy for DKC2. He’s in the original DKC also, though just for one level. Similarly, you seem to have left Squawks out of your DKC review.
New video from KingK? Love to see it.
Bro, that's a seal. Great timing, just finished DKC2 myself.
The Holy Grail of the DKC series
this man never makes a bad video does he
Perfect time to upload this for me. I just finished this game for the first time today and got the secret ending. I don't know if I can say that it's better than DKC1 yet, but I certainly enjoyed my time. The main things holding me back from liking DKC2 more is that I felt I got a few more unfair deaths thanks to the camera, and I've got massive nostalgia for the first game whereas I never played the second one until the online subscription. I will say however that the bonuses were handled much better this time around. They're less obtuse to find and more varied in design.
Honestly this game and Banjo Kazooie (I'm actually doing a LP rn lol) are a couple of Rare's best games. No question. They're both practically perfect.
BK is the greatest video game ever made. Periodt.
@@consumeproduce ayy
BK is so tightly designed. Ahhhh. I love it I love it I love it.
@@consumeproduce it’s too dated to be in the conversation imo
@@callinater6133 so's yo momma but boom. there she is in the conversation 🤣
12:10 Was that a subtle nod to the checkpoint?
I hope it was.
I can rightfully say i brought this video into existence by making a long comment on the video on the first game, so you can all thank me for helping this be made, even though he probably already had it planned, but my only complaint is that this video isn’t as long as the one on the first game, just because it’s the one i like to hear gushed about the most, but despite that i am glad to hear you ended up loving Donkey Kong Country 2, it definitely lives up to all the hype let’s not even mention the music because it’s godly Stickerbush Symphony, and Forest Interlude, all the way, but yeah i am obsessed with this game, and it puts me at ease seeing you agree with everyone else about it being the best in the series. Though i will admit Donkey Kong Country 3, is a step down, but Tropical Freeze, is a very good successor to DKC2.
I was SO excited for this game to come out as a kid. I remember one of the promos for game coverage in a magazine, it was an interview with Dixie Kong, from game related stuff to silly things like if she’s a natural blonde.
If you played 2P competitive mode, she was a redhead, so...
DKC2 was my first real introduction to Console gaming.
And as a kid I never got past the first few levels of Krem Quay.
I had reaaal trouble with Kleever and even though I did manage to beat him every now and then, I had next to no lives by the time I did, and didn't realise there was a way I could go back to an earlier world to get to a Save point.
Felt Bad.
Didn't have that problem with DKC3. I still didn't finish it until replaying it as an adult, but at least I always knew how to get to all the save points . So that's probably why DKC3 is my favourite even though I acknowledge DKC2 has the edge over it in a few places.
I still struggle with Krem Quay every time I play the game. I recall one playthrough where I couldn't survive long enough to get to Kong College and I had to beat Kleever over and over and over again.
I had few lives, and I didn't have any coins, so I couldn't get any extra lives at Swanky's. It was hard to enjoy the game when every time I tried to play I couldn't make it past the first few levels of the world, and had to do the previous world boss over and over.
The save system is my biggest gripe with the game. The fact you have to pay coins to save after your first save in an area is ridiculous and punishes players who aren't very good at the game.
And it's a shame because it's one big problem on an otherwise amazing game.
@@DaNintendude Just a tip, when you beat Kleever, go to the 1st world and farm some lives and coins, and then go to the swamp world. You can do this after beating any world. Remember that you need 2 coins to save and 2 coins to fly.
@@sneeze7652
Oh cool thanks!
someone told me that on another comment but they weren't as specific, so this is really helpful!
It's like binging with babish is talking about donkey Kong to me lol
Dude I've been rewatching Boy Meets World on Disney+ and now watching this review I'm just floating in an ocean of 90s nostalgia. Thank you for dropping this video.
Maaan DKC2 will always be in my top 5 fave video games. I'd love to one day see a HD remaster of it
Is there going to be a video on DKC3?
If I was Rare, I would have made DK an unlockable character
I memorized this game front to back pretty much before I can remember. I remember it being really hard as a 5 year old but now I can fly through it without thinking. I would pay a lot of money to have that first experience again now as an adult and see how hard and satisfying this incredible game is
smile on my face seeing you review peak platforming
I love DKC2 so much
Well done, man. The writing somehow continues to get better and masterful use of music throughout the video. Keep it up
Top 10 SNES game, almost top 5. The only 2D platformers better are Yoshi's Island and maybe Super Mario World. That being said, the atmosphere in this game is incredible. Its simply one of the greatest games of all time.
P.S. Don't sleep on DKC3 though...its a banger in its own right.
The more people talk about donkey kong, the happier I get. First it was snowman gaming, then it was geek critique, the lonely goomba, and now you. Yes, you all had videos before, but it doesn't matter who posted first, it doesn't matter how long they are, what I know is that the love for donkey Kong in all of its forms are bright and vibrant.
Thank you so much for posting these. I love all of the donkey Kong country games, but this game has a very special place in my heart. It's more than just a game, it's an experience. It's everything that I've Loved about donkey Kong country, but more. Honestly, it's amazing that the donkey Kong family didn't outright replace Mario as gaming's mascot. Because this game in particular blows every platformer out of the water for me.
Donkey Kong as a franchise, as a world, just feels so interesting. I love all the characters, I love how they intertwine and make this wonderful world of characters that I can't even find a single one to be dislikable. I even love the TV show and bluster Kong, probably the weakest link in the entirety of donkey Kong. Everything about this series, this is my Mario. Speed running and all, this is also my sonic. Donkey Kong to me does better than both.
Well, in the sa2 video you DID bring up a huge point that I love to speculate about regarding the radar change
Not only do I love your content - you downright have one of my favourite voices of all time. I love it!
Donkey Kong Country 2, at this time, may be my favorite game I haven't beaten. When I was a kid, Donkey Kong was a series I loved to death, but I only had the first on SNES and I had Donkey Kong 64, which I played so much, my parents took away my N64 tons of times.
With DKC2, I never really got to play it until I was in high school and even then, I was borrowing it so I only got so far. When I was finally able to get a job, and by extension, money, it was one of the first games I got.
Loved the hell out of it, but there has always been one thing which has prevented me from beating it and that was the snake section on the second to last world. Sadly, one day I got a bit too enraged and yanked the game out of the SNES and it deleted my progress and I had to start over again.
I mention this because of your mentioning of forgetting to save the game and not being bothered by having to start over again. I had a similar feeling as I was able to get through levels which, for the longest time, I figured I could only beat through luck; though sadly, I still have trouble with the snake levels and can still only beat them through luck.
I have been meaning to finish the game, but other interests, lack of energy for games, and time have prevented that. Watching this review has made me want to play the game again and finally beat it.
If I do manage to finally beat it, consider this comment a pre made thank you.
When will you talk about DK3? Dixie deserves some love too.
If you don't have any insights or observations totally unique to a game, if you at least express your feelings authentically, it does add something to the conversation. Some people think it's just this binary thing, where you either validate someone's feelings or you don't - but some of us want to know every little emotional blip and bump you experience when playing our childhood favorites, even if you ultimately disagree.
It's why KingK and Fudj are some of my favorite creators on TH-cam. They really bring their own flavor into their videos and talk a lot more about their own experiences than other people would. Fudj especially.
I can only really think of a couple things in this game that bother me:
Bigger ones:
1. Rambi's normal running speed is slower.
2. Banana coins don't save for some reason.
Nitpicks:
3. They got rid of the sparkles when you break save barrels.
4. Kongs no longer have a trying not to fall animation when standing on edges.
5. There are grey pixels on the edge of Diddy's sprite for some reason.
6. The KONG letters look like dull plastic instead of gold chrome like the 1st game.
7. No boss at the end of K. Rool's keep (yes, I know that they fixed this in the GBA remake).
8. The backgrounds of some of the locations don't match the world map. The sky in Kong Kollege will be blue when you're in a volcano as will a bramble level that's in a night carnival.
I am a simple man, I see DK2C, I press like
I see KingK, I press like even more
You're a simple man, you've seen other people post this meme on countless other videos, you copy.
You do know you just unliked the video, yeah?
No DKC3 retrospective??
You ever just come back here and now the title instead of saying “DKC2 Retrospective” it says “DKC2 is pretty based”
Please do donkey Kong country 3 next think that one needs a mention of the gba port as it has a new world
You say you did not grow up with Zelda ALTTP or Super Mario Kart.
I'm curious... How old are you KingK?
23
you have such an amazing way with words making every video of you a pleasure to listen to.
I hope to hear what you have to say about DKC3 at some point in the future.
I love your videos so much, you are by far the best video game retrospective/video essay channel on youtube. I don’t comment on youtube a lot but I wanted to put that out there, this is by far one of my favorite yt channels
I can never get tired to hear you talk about games.
Changing the title of DKC and DKC2 video?
This is probably my favorite game of all time. Glad to know that the game holds up, even for someone who didn’t have it as a kid. It’s always nice to confirm that it isn’t just nostalgia playing tricks on you.
Here’s hoping this series continues! Would be interested to see your thoughts on the much more divisive third game.
My mouth waters at a potential Tropical Freeze episode
Pretty amazing review! As a DKC veteran I know this game in and out so it was cool to see a newcomers perspective. The only flaw I have with it is that Wrinkly’s school (which is also the save point) has explanations on some of the moves and mechanics if you pay some coins, same goes for Cranky and giving out hints for the bonus stages.
There are only 2 minor things I would change in this game:
1. The music track should pick up where it left off once you exit a bonus room (rather than restarting). A good player will rarely hear more than 20-30 seconds of a track because of frequently interrupting it with bonus rooms, which is a shame for such amazing music.
2. The Lost World levels should have been one world instead of individual levels scattered across the game. The GB version (DKL2) did this and I feel like it works better.
These are minor nitpicks of an incredibly flawless game.
I find myself quite frequently coming back to your retrospectives, particularly the DKC and Pokemon videos, perhaps because they are arguably the best of their kind.
And as I'm back here for the umpteenth time, I wonder, do you intend to do the rest of the DKC series?
12:28 Everybody thought of The Completionist, right?
Is the DKC3 based too?
Yup. DK Country 2 is just a masterpiece. It's just stunning from beginning to end and improves on the already great DK Country 1 in so many ways.
I disagree though that the bonus room music gets to be too much. It's just so good. It starts off by building up...and then it blasts into the main theme in the awesome bonus rooms and it's just such a fantastic feeling. It probably also doesn't hurt that Jirard The Completionist uses the DKC2 bonus music for the "Completion Bonus" sections of the episodes (if you're a fan, then you know the connection between Jirard and DKC2) and it works great there too.
(By the way, I think you meant "Screech's Sprint" and not "Screech's Spirit")
Im surprised this only now being recommended to me. I have watched every other video on this channel. It wasn't until yesterday that more recent videos were recommended to me.
The King's feelings towards DKC2 almost perfectly mirror the feelings I had for Dark Souls one on my first playthrough. Especially in the section where he talks about the satisfaction of clearing an especially arduous portion of the game. I'm not a huge fan of platformers, but I very much can understand what he means when he mentions that "dopamine rush" after clearing a challenging section.
The fact you just let the music speak for itself.... Yeah this game is the gold standard