At times, Donkey Kong Country is so good. But other times, it's so frustrating.

User Rating: 7.5 | Super Donkey Kong SNES
Pros: Constantly inventive and challenging levels; Catchy soundtrack

Cons: Camera is zoomed in way too close; Restrictive save and life systems; Not much in the way of fun secret or bonus content

Why would anyone ever implement a system where you reset to 5 lives every time you load a save? Seriously, why would anyone do that? I know that's not the most significant thing about Donkey Kong Country, but I really need to get that annoyance off of my chest. In this game you can work up a nice life count, but if you shut off the game, you know, because of LIFE, then you lose all but 5 lives.

And it matters. Donkey Kong Country is what we would like to call a hard game. The levels are pretty brilliantly designed to provide a variety of experiences, ranging from your standard above-ground and underwater levels to mine carts, dark levels that need to be lit, and exercises in working with sliding rope. The levels are also really tough. You will die a lot and you will curse the fact that you load the game without all of your hard-earned lives. You'll also curse the fact that save points themselves are few and far between. In between the cursing you'll have a blast, because again, the level variety is excellent, but you will curse a lot.

Sometimes you will curse because the game is being cheap. Some levels, like the one late in the game that turns lights on and off periodically (thus making visibility beyond your control), or the entire ice world, are just annoying. But in other cases, you will curse because just can't see enough. I understand that Rare wanted to show off what were once impressive graphics, but they could've at least zoomed the camera out a little bit so that the player can actually see what's ahead of them. Leaps of faith are far too common in this game, and as a result you can expect many unwarranted deaths.

And when you finish the game you will curse the lack of replay incentive. Sure there are a few hidden rooms and not-so-well hidden collectible letters, but very few secrets have any significance. Granted, I suppose you can't fault the game too much for a standard padding practice that is common even nowadays, but Donkey Kong Country has no filler and is thus short. Thus, it's noticeable when you suddenly and anticlimactically run out of things to do.

You'll curse because everything else in the game is really good. The controls are tight, the level design (again) is excellent, and the music is catchy (not to mention frequently jazzy). Donkey Kong Country is worth your time if you can get through the aforementioned issues, but the fun will be interlaced with plenty of frustration. And cursing.