Re:Play #11: Donkey Kong Country (1994), and when you're Kong, you're Kong!

© Presse-citron.net

Video-wise, the end of 1994 was marked by several major events. In Japan, on December 3, a certain PlayStation was marketed by Sony, which would arrive in Europe in September 1995, with the success that we know. In France, the end of 1994 was still marked by this “Bit Wars” which saw the Super Nintendo and SEGA Mega Drive clash. And while the 16-bit era seemed doomed to live its last moments, Nintendo would then unleash a title that was unexpected (and incredible) to say the least, namely a certain Donkey Kong Country.

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In the small world of video games, the years go by… but the passion and memories remain! Re:Play looks back at the great classics of video game history. A little trip back to the future past, in search of your child or adolescent soul, the very one that has probably already made you (or will make you) pronounce the magic formula “it was better before”. And if it were true…? So let's blow into the cartridge, here we go for Re:Play!

Donkey Kong Country, the simian slap of Christmas 1994!

Launched in Japan in 1990 (and in Europe in 1992), the Super Famicom/Super Nintendo is a console that will have to fight against very fierce competition, embodied by the SEGA Mega Drive, but also by the PC Engine. One of the great strengths of Nintendo's console was the ability for developers to go beyond the machine's performance by integrating specific chips directly into the game cartridges.

Donkey Kong County in its Japanese version, called Super Donkey Kong © Stéphane Ficca/Presse-citron.net

This is obviously the case with Starwing, which will integrate the famous Super FX chip in 1993, but from the following year, the Super Nintendo continues to impress, this time with Donkey Kong Country. Even though the title is classified as a 2D side-scrolling platform game, Donkey Kong Country will amaze the gallery with its revolutionary graphics.

© Nintendo

And for good reason, the game by Rare is developed using Silicon workstations Graphics “next gen“, and with PowerAnimator software, allowing the creation of three-dimensional model skeletons, which are then integrated into the game.

On the screen, we marvel (still today) at this pure technological marvel, not to mention the incredible work done on the animations or the sound design. It was hard to believe at the time that it was the same console with which we played Super Mario World, which allowed us to run this Donkey Kong Country that seemed to come straight from the future.

© Nintendo

Donkey Kong, an aging license at the beginning of the years 90 ?

At the time, the Donkey Kong license was already popular, of course, but its aura was light years away from a Super Mario, a Metroid, a Zelda. The character is instantly recognizable, but a new game stamped Donkey Kong was in no way synonymous with success at the time, not to mention that the 1981 arcade license was based on a principle far removed from what would become Donkey Kong Country.

Donkey Kong Country was on the cover of all the specialist magazines in November 1994, and notably Nintendo Player of course © Abandonware

For Nintendo, it was therefore necessary to bring Donkey Kong back to the forefront, but by offering an innovative game, which could not afford to rely solely on the license. The Japanese giant then called on the Rare studio, already known for having developed a certain Battletoads. As early as 1992, the company acquired numerous Silicon Graphics stations, while using a compression tool (ACM) which would allow the game elements to fit on a small Super Nintendo cartridge.

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© Nintendo

For the Japanese giant, there is no question of only tickling any nostalgic fiber with this Donkey Kong Country. On the contrary, Rare is asked to develop an innovative game, with a technique never seen before. Although supervised by Nintendo, Donkey Kong Country will benefit from all of Rare's know-how and humor. For its part, Nintendo is responsible for marketing the game, focusing its communication on the graphics and gameplay of the game.

An immediate success and the game of an entire generation

Released worldwide at the end of November 1994, Donkey Kong Country was an immediate success, driven by innovative 3D elements (in a two-dimensional game), at a time when 2D was still king. The Donkey Kong universe was modernized, and Rare invented new characters, starting with Diddy Kong.

@stephaneficca November 21, 1994. It was 30 years ago… Donkey Kong Country on Super Nintendo ❤️❤️❤️ #retrogaming #supernintendo #donkeykongcountry ♬ original sound – stephaneficca

When the game was released, the reviews were rave, and Donkey Kong Country was undoubtedly THE video game of Christmas 1994. In addition to its incredible visuals, the game also stood out for its very successful gameplay and omnipresent humor. In total, Donkey Kong Country would sell nearly 10 million copies. And that's a hell of a bunch of kongs…

© Nintendo

Obviously, the game will completely relaunch the Donkey Kong license, and the latter will quickly become the subject of derivative products and other animated series. Added to this are two sequels also launched on Super Nintendo (Diddy's Kong Quest and Dixie Kong's Double Trouble). And if Donkey Kong is still very popular today, it is in (very) large part, thanks to this Donkey Kong Country from 1994.

© Abandonware

As a side note, Nintendo will launch Donkey Kong Country at the same time as SEGA will market its 32X, an extension of the Mega Drive allowing to increase its power. And even if the Super Nintendo seemed stuck in the past, with Donkey Kong Country, the console finds a second youth, totally eclipsing the new accessory from SEGA…

Donkey Kong Country, still trendy in 2024 !

And while one would not have believed the Donkey Kong Country trilogy doomed to remain exclusive to the Super Nintendo, the latter will ultimately continue over the years. The game will have various adaptations/sequels, notably on Game Boy, but also on Nintendo 64, but to this will be added an excellent Donkey Kong Returns in 2010, without forgetting Tropical Freeze launched in 2014.

Like the original trilogy, these two games will experience a new life on Nintendo's upcoming consoles, including the 3DS but also of course the Nintendo Switch. Furthermore, Nintendo has also allowed itself some madness in the past with its license, with the excellent Donkey Konga on Game Cube, but also the no less successful Donkey Kong Jungle Beat. On Game Boy Advance, some players may also have known the astonishing DK King of Swing.

As for the original trilogy, the latter will cross generations to be constantly at the forefront, in digital version on Wii and Wii U, without forgetting ports on Game Boy Advance. Just recently, Nintendo also confirmed the return of the Donkey Kong Country series on Nintendo Switch, via its Switch Online program.

In addition, there is the release, in January 2025, of a certain Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, a modernized version of the game launched in 2011 on Nintendo Wii (the Tropical Freeze episode is already available).

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