I remember this old game as a kid. It was one of THE most fun N64 games I have ever played besides the Mario games, funny enough. So, the question remains, does it still hold up to this day? Has it aged poorly or well? Let's find out.

Difficulty: 6
The difficulty in the game is pretty laid back, since it is a kids game after all, but it is a challenge to get from one point of the game to the next, due to the requirements for you to beat the game. But that will go to the depth part. Overall, the bosses aren't that hard, getting Golden Bananas are comfortably easy, and everything else is a very fun challenge.

Depth: 9
The game can be a LONG LONG experience and a chore at times, but 99% of it is the requirement to get to the final boss, and that is to collect every single Banana in each area of the game, which can get a little tiresome, but the fun factor is still there collecting it, but the total bananas are 201. Ooooooooh, Banana... Anywho, the game can take a long time to compete, especially if you're a first comer to the game. Yeah, you might lose some interest to it after a while, but the reward is still pretty good, which is the end of the game.

Story: 7
It's what you would be familiar to if you were a big fan of the Donkey Kong Country series, this is the story. The Evil King K Rool is about to blow DK Island off the face of the earth with his giant laser, known as the "Blast O-Matic", since after COUNTLESS times he tried to capture the DK Islands, he wants to destroy it, which is the "if I can't have it, nobody can" and it comically enough, malfunctions, which puts his fortress face to face with the Island, which he cannot move from. Since he has time to kill, he captures DK's Crew, Diddy, Tiny, Lanky, and Chunky Kong, to keep DK from storming towards him so quickly, so he can repair his laser, and to get rid of the dastardly Kongs once and for all. Now DK has to save his friends, with the help of Cranky, Funky, and Candy Kong, with an unknown kremling in a cage along the way, he must collect his Banana Hoard once again, save his friends, and stop K. Rool before it's too late.

Addictiveness: 9
This game has a LOT of fun in every level. The themes are fun to listen to, the Kongs are easy to control, and some mini games along the way to Bananas are really fun. It keeps me very entertained, and if I lose a life, I can easily go back and attempt it again with the same fun. It's pretty addicting from beginning to end, for me.

Sound: 10!
The music in this game, besides the DK Rap of course, is amazing. It's very atmospheric, and the music in each level is very catchy. Especially just the overworld in DK Island. It's a real treat to just kick back and just listen to. If I could, I would just turn it on when I'm on vacation, it's so amazing. There's little to no voice acting, besides the first cutscene in the game, and it is never spoken of again. Text and sounds/grunts for the rest.

Graphics: 9
The game's graphics can be summed up to that they have aged pretty well. I have no specific complaints besides that you can exploit a LOT of graphic glitches and sometimes skip 99% of the game with exploits like these. But besides that, it's all pretty good.

Overall: 9
Overall, now that I break it all down, I must say that the game has aged pretty well, and it's definitely a joy to play to this very day. Would I recommend it to a regular gamer? If they have the patience to have to have it done 100% to beat the game, yeah. It's fun for the whole family, and it definitely shows.

DK 64 is probably my most-played N64 game (it was my first), and I still have it today, although it's been a while since I've played. I can hear "Oooooooooooooooooh Banana" in my mind. So much nostalgia in that game. So many good memories, although I never got all 200 (and 1) golden bananas. Maybe this warrants another playthrough of the game.

I loved playing Donkey Kong 64 in my younger days. I haven't played it in a really long time though, but I remember it was a lot of fun. My top 3 games in my N64 days were Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, and this one. I only had 3 games, I only needed 3 games.

Anyways, about your review, it was pretty solid, in my opinion. It was absolutely addictive, the graphics and sound were awesome, and I agree with the game pretty laid back. I tried to make it a little bit of a challenge by getting all the golden bananas (which I don't think I ever got all of them before). That made it considerably harder.

But I think you pretty much nailed this review. Good job Pacman!

pacman1755 : Why are your reviews so good ?

Even when they are short !

Another review I didn't have to skim through. I laughed so hard hearing the Ooooooooooh Banana part, that alone has brought back memories. This game was a family game for me, I use to play the multiplayer with my dad and brothers. I use to always win of course I would chose Diddy and kick some monkey butt !

Oh and my favorite theme from the game is this one:
http://youtu.be/W_yMXmY7uH4
I use to move between Donkey Kong and Diddy to make my own remix.

I never beat the game cause I thought it was kind of difficult as I got further in it. That's when I was younger though I'm pretty sure I could beat it now if I wanted to

Anyways enough with my chitter chatter, this is a review well done. Excellent job !

- claps-

pacman1755 : Awesome review! I remember all the wonderful memories I have playing this game as a kid. This review does this game justice.