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| It saddens me to think that Donkey Kong Country 3 will be one of the last Super Nintendo (and 16-bit) games made. The Donkey Kong Country series remains one of the most impressive and enjoyable to date. When the first DKC was released, it took the market by storm and sold over eight million copies worldwide. DKC2: Diddy's Kong Quest was released a year later and enjoyed success, albeit on a lower scale. The 16-bit trilogy ends with a bang, and as one of the last 16-bit games to be released, it remains one of the finest ever created. The graphics in this title are predictable...and beautiful. As expected, everything in DKC3 is pre-rendered with painstaking detail. Although the graphics are not much clearer than some other Super NES games, the pure artwork and brilliant use of color give DKC3 an unparalleled graphic quality. The animation, save for a few characters who still seem a bit stiff, breathes life into the inhabitants of Kong's Country unlike ever before. The graphics found in different levels vary nicely, which makes each level seem fresh and new. In all, this is one of the best graphical accomplishments that the Super NES has ever seen. The DKC series, besides having some of the best graphics ever envisioned, sport sounds that rival those of CD-based systems. The third installment proves that it is not about to break the tradition. While the soundtrack from DKC2 remains my favorite of the series, DKC3's soundtrack is still far above average, and is comprised of the characteristic upbeat jazz tunes and other such sonic delights. The sound effects are very much like those of the past games in the series, with "bonks" and other similar noises. Although the audio in this game is very predictable, it remains excellent, though in an unsurprising way. Those who believe that platform games are exhausted are proven right --- and wrong --- by this title. While the gameplay itself offers little more than other classic platformers, DKC3 seems, for the most part, a refreshing playing experience. The level design is (surprise again!) fantastic, and the new graphics and situations go a long way to distract you from the fact that you are simply engaging in an extension of a well-established series. That is not to say that this game is completely void of any innovation though. Some levels require some new tactics (such as traveling on platforms which exist on different planes), and some of the bosses require new and interesting ways to get around them. In addition it must be said that none of the levels give you the feeling that things are simply in a different place. Each level gives you new challenges and rewards, and keeps up the desire to play. The control of Dixie and Kiddie has been tweaked and now remains (notice how utterly rarely I use this word) flawless. When you jump, you know how high you'll reach and where you can land, which was occasionally a problem in the past DKCs. Such precise control is required in several of the levels because the difficulty level in this game is medium/high, and you'll need your jumping abilities in order to complete the levels. As were its predecessors, Donkey Kong Country 3 is a lengthy quest, in which there are many bonus levels and several hidden areas. The sheer size and difficulty of DKC3 should keep any player occupied for quite some time. Games like these make my Super NES all the more difficult to let go of. While 3-D games are becoming the norm, they don't automatically ensure an enjoyable playing experience and a vast world. DKC3 represents one of the best 2-D platform games ever made, which is quite an accomplishment when you consider that the genre is over 12 years old. If you're looking for innovative gameplay, your quest continues on; If you're looking for an all-around great platform game, you may relish in the treasure which is Donkey Kong Country 3. |
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