The Center Network

    Kaptain K. Rool and his pirate krew of Kremlings are out for revenge, and they start by kidnapping Donkey Kong. Diddy Kong sets out with newcomer Dixie Kong to rescue their friend and take down K. Rool.

    Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest builds on the elements that made the first game a success. Diddy is back with all his old moves intact. His new partner is Dixie Kong, who moves much like Diddy but with the additions of a ponytail that allows her to hover and glide through the air. The two also have the ability to throw each other to reach higher areas.

    In the animal buddy department Rambi the Rhino and Engarde the Swordfish return with new charging abilities. Squawks the Parrot also returns, but this time Squawks can carry the Kongs and spit coconuts to damage the Kremlings. A purple version of Squawks named Flapper also exists, but Flapper cannot fly upwards or spit coconuts. Glimmer takes up Squawks’ old position of providing a light in a dark area, this time in an underwater level. Clapper is a seal who alters dangerous liquid when jumped on, which is necessary for the completion of some stages. New rides include Squitter, a spider who can shoot damaging webs and create web platforms in mid-air, and Rattly the Snake, who can jump higher than Winky from the previous game. A new barrel type allows you to play as the animal friend itself in some levels.

    A new collectable added to this sequel is the Banana Coin, which the Kongs can use as currency to buy services from the Kong Family. Cranky Kong and Funky Kong both return with their old services, but now at a price. Wrinkly Kong is a school teacher and the wife of Cranky Kong, and she sells tips and allows you to save your game. Swanky Kong is a game show host who will allow you to play a trivia game for extra lives.

    New to each stage is the inclusion of a bonus roulette at the end of a level. Bonus areas are now included in water levels and hand out Kremkoins, while each stage now contains a one DK Coin to find. The Kremkoins are used to pay Klubba’s toll to explore the Lost World, while the DK Coins are included in the completion percentage and also used to rank your standing among other gaming icons.

- Old Annoyances: Rolling hit detection will still cause you some damage from time to time, and there are still bonus barrels that will make you say “How was I supposed to find that?
- Dixie Kong: Why is a new character with a sweet ability a negative? She makes Diddy obsolete. There is not much reason to use Diddy when Dixie can do anything he can do and more.
- Difficulty: The first game was heavy in the extra life department, but in this game, you need all the extra lives you can get. Diddy’s Kong Quest sports some of the hardest levels in the series, including Bramble Blast, a level necessary to beat the game and so frustratingly difficult that you will be tempted to stop playing.

- Graphics: Donkey Kong Country 2 continues the 3D trend started by the first game, and manages to inject more colour into the scenery while making the Kremlings much more intimidating.
- Music: Another great SNES soundtrack, including the intoxicating Stickerbrush Symphony.
- Sequel: Diddy’s Kong Quest does what all sequels should, and that is take what worked from the original and expand and extrapolate on it. There is a large variety of levels, challenges and collectables

    Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest took what its predecessor started and improved on it. Nearly everything about this game is better than the original, though it loses a mark because of how difficult it can be.