Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest - Reception and Legacy

Reception and Legacy

Released in the year 1995 for the SNES platform Donkey Kong Country 2 has received mostly positive reviews from critics and has been well received by the public, selling 4.37 million copies worldwide on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System platform. The total number of copies sold in Japan have been 2.21 million, and in the US 2.16 million.

It has scored an overall 93% on the GameRankings aggregator website based on seven reviews. The Game Boy Advance version has similarly had much success, scoring an overall 80% on aggregator site Metacritic based on twenty-two critical reviews. Of the entire trilogy this game is the highest rated and praised on the Game Boy Advance platform according to Metacritic. The game has also been highly rated on the Wii, given a rating score of 80% based on one review on GameRankings.

Mark Birnbaum, of IGN, notes that the game "more than delivers in its ambitious aim of equaling and sometimes exceeding the standard set by its predecessor", referring to the original Donkey Kong Country and that "players should notice that the levels quickly increase in difficulty, encouraging a "trial by fire" design". He further adds "DKC2 also looks and sounds a lot like its forerunner The atmospheric orchestrated soundtrack returns, providing catchy and eerie tunes alike. Donkey Kong Country boasted some of the most beautiful graphics ever seen on the SNES, and DKC2 does justice to that reputation". Another positive reviewer at GameSpy mentions "the challenges, environments, and cast of baddies are varied enough to prevent this game from ever seeming tedious".

On the subject of graphics Birnbaum also refers to the color scheme as being "highly detailed" with "multi-layered backgrounds, smooth and unique character animations and designs" which are "mixed with a vibrant and varying color palette that provides a feast for the eyes". Jeff Pearson of Nintendojo also agrees and highly praises Rare's achievement at the "improved graphics for this game". Pearson also believes "the graphics look much smoother and more cartoon like as opposed to the computer generated look in DKC". Birnbaum guarantees that the player will feel "rewarded" after playing each level.

Referring to the Game Boy Advance edition GameSpot stated the game was a "diverse platform game with excellent graphics and sound and an impressive list of bonus features", while IGN feels "the Donkey Kong Country series is better known for its graphics than its gameplay, but even still the game's level designs offer up more than the 'routine'". However, on the other hand, the main criticism Birnbaum draws towards is that the game has a few missing features which its predecessor had. Pearson meanwhile lauds the fact that new features have been installed in the game, applauding Rare, who had added "a whole bunch of new features and whatnot into this game to spice it up a little bit and keep you on your toes," while Yahoo! Games is impressed on "how much variety Rare squeezed into this game, mainly by liberally scattering minigames throughout the world".

UGO listed Diddy's Kong Quest on their list of the "Top 50 Games That Belong On the 3DS", stating "Climbing the mast of a ship with epic music, 3D fog and backgrounds, and funny enemies deserves a chance on the 3DS."

A sequel, Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, was released in 1996 starring Dixie Kong. It was further followed by a succession of more related Donkey Kong video games. The game was released for the Game Boy Advance on November 15, 2004. It was later released on Nintendo's Wii Virtual console on 21 May 2007 for the cost of 800 Wii points.