Donkey Kong Country

Donkey Kong Country is a popular game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System made by Rareware, and was released in 1994. The game is known for being the first game to use pre-rendered sprites, creating a 3D effect throughout the game. This was also the game that made Rare popular and a beginning a legacy for Donkey Kong.

The game stars Donkey Kong a character who had been out of the spotlight since his last starring role in Donkey Kong 3. In this game, Donkey Kong is a hero, as opposed to the antagonist as he was viewed in Donkey Kong. This time, his enemy isn't Mario, but King K. Rool and his Kremling Krew, who have stolen his precious Banana Hoard from his home, Donkey Kong Island. With the help of his friend, Diddy Kong, Donkey must chase K. Rool to his ship, the Gangplank Galleon, and get back his Bananas.

The game also pays tribute to the arcade games in some areas: the concept of DK using Barrels as weapons, Oil Drums which burn and produce enemies, elevator platforms (seen in the level 'Elevator Antics'), and the new character, Cranky Kong, DK's father, is said to be the original DK from the arcade games, while the DK in this game is his son, most likely Donkey Kong Jr.

The game has two direct sequels; Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, and Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble, as well as a pseudo-sequel for Nintendo's Game Boy, Donkey Kong Land.

Two remakes of the game have been released. The first one came out for Game Boy Color in 2000, and sported new features such as mini-games, Game Boy Printer compatibility, and an additional level, Necky's Nutmare. However, this version has been watered down graphically to run on the Game Boy Color. In 2003, a Game Boy Advance remake was released, this one truer to the original version, but with extra features, such as a Diddy-only mode and new mini-games.

Kongs

 * Donkey Kong
 * Diddy Kong
 * Cranky Kong
 * Candy Kong
 * Funky Kong

Animal Buddies

 * Winky the Frog
 * Rambi the Rhinoceros
 * Expresso the Ostrich
 * Squawks the Parrot
 * Enguarde the Swordfish

Enemies

 * Army
 * Bitesize
 * Chomps
 * Chomps Jr.
 * Clambo
 * Croctopus
 * Gnawty
 * Klaptrap
 * Klump
 * Krash
 * Kritter
 * Krusha
 * Manky Kong
 * Mincer
 * Mini-Necky
 * Necky
 * Oil Drum
 * Rockkroc
 * Slippa
 * Squidge
 * Zinger

Bosses

 * Very Gnawty
 * Master Necky
 * Queen B.
 * Really Gnawty
 * Dumb Drum
 * Master Necky Snr.
 * King K. Rool

Kongo Jungle

 * Jungle Hijinxs
 * Ropey Rampage
 * Reptile Rumble
 * Coral Capers
 * Barrel Cannon Canyon

Monkey Mines

 * Winky's Walkway
 * Mine Cart Carnage
 * Bouncy Bonanza
 * Stop & Go Station
 * Millstone Mayhem

Vine Valley

 * Vulture Culture
 * Tree Top Town
 * Forest Frenzy
 * Temple Tempest (6th in GBA Port)
 * Orang-utan Gang (4th in GBA Port)
 * Clam City (5th in GBA Port)

Gorilla Glacier

 * Snow Barrel Blast
 * Slipslide Ride
 * Ice Age Valley (4th in GBA Port)
 * Croctopus Chase (3rd in GBA Port)
 * Torchlight Trouble (6th in GBA Port)
 * Rope Bridge Rumble (5th in GBA Port)

Kremkroc Industries, Inc.

 * Oil Drum Alley
 * Trick Track Trek
 * Elevator Antics (4th in GBA Port)
 * Poison Pond (3rd in GBA Port)
 * Mine Cart Madness (6th in GBA Port)
 * Blackout Basement (5th in GBA Port)

Chimp Caverns

 * Tanked Up Trouble
 * Manic Mincers
 * Misty Mine
 * Necky Nutmare (GBC Port Only)
 * Loopy Lights
 * Platform Perils

Game Boy Color
Another port was released for the Game Boy Color in 2000. The changes are listed below:
 * There are three different title screens.
 * Only one Kong appears at a time.
 * The Game Boy Printer is usable.
 * Winky's Walkway is extended.
 * A new level called Necky Nutmare has been added in Chimp Caverns, the last world in the game.
 * The Kongs don't ride the Animal Buddies, they become them.
 * 2 new minigames have been added, Funky Fishing and Crosshair Cranky.
 * 2 new difficulties have been added with one removing the Star Barrels and the other removing the DK Barrels.
 * Most of the music from Donkey Kong Land has been reused to replace the ones from the SNES version.

Game Boy Advance
Another port was released to the Game Boy Advance in 2003. Notable differences:
 * Saving is possible anywhere rather than save points.
 * A prologue explaining the purpose of DK's quest is played prior to the start of the game, as well as an epilogue.
 * The Nintendo label on the giant bananas has been removed, and Cranky will give commentary after the boss is defeated.
 * The graphics and overall sound quality have been reduced. Some enemies have tweaked, usually higher pitched effects.
 * Candy and Funky now run bonus games, and Cranky's Cabin has been redesigned.
 * A multiplayer mode is possible, but on the GameCube either player can play as Donkey Kong or Diddy Kong.
 * On the overhead map, a menu was added. In it, Funky can be summoned anytime on the map screen, get access to a scrapbook, save the game and view level stats.
 * Enemies come in more colors.
 * The menu is redesigned with DK Attack, and Extras added to the menu.
 * A Time Attack mode has been added to the menu.
 * More sound effects have been added.
 * The boss battles have slightly changed when they are attacked with Queen B. now has 3 Zingers around her, Really Gnawty makes stalactites fall from the ceiling, Dumb Drum must have a few TNT Barrels thrown at him, and Master Necky helps Master Necky Sr. fight the Kongs.
 * The map has been redesigned in worlds and the map is zoomed in more.
 * The barrels the send the Kongs to Bonus Levels are replaced by Bonus Barrels.
 * Starting from Vine Valley, levels have been swapped around.
 * The credits now take place in Gangplank Galleon rather than DK's Treehouse.
 * A Videogame Hero mode has been added where the player plays as a yellow Diddy to complete all levels without Star Barrels and DK Barrels.
 * Candy hosts a dancing game at Candy's Dance Studio.