Donkey Kong 64 was a divisive game among platformer fans, but its enduring popularity is a testament to its unique and challenging gameplay. Developed by Rare, the game takes players on a sprawling adventure through Donkey Kong Island, where they must use their platforming skills and various abilities to navigate through different themed areas and collect golden bananas, coins, and other items. The game features five playable characters, each with their own set of moves and weapons, and a staggering amount of collectibles and secrets to discover. Despite its flaws, Donkey Kong 64 still has a dedicated fanbase over 20 years after its release.

Donkey Kong 64 – A Massive and Challenging Platformer for Collectors and Explorers Alike

The Game That Expanded Donkey Kong Beyond Its Arcade Roots

When Donkey Kong made his debut in the arcade scene in 1981, nobody anticipated that the game would spawn a franchise that would still be going strong 20 years later. Yet here we are, talking about Donkey Kong 64, a game that took the gorilla out of the 2D world and dropped him into a sprawling 3D platformer filled with colorful characters and hidden collectibles.

An Adventure Full of Controversies

Donkey Kong 64 was developed by Rare, a studio that had already earned a reputation for creating some of the best platformers of the time, such as Banjo-Kazooie and Conker’s Bad Fur Day. However, Donkey Kong 64 has always been a divisive game among fans of the genre. Some praised the game for its ambitious scope and challenging gameplay, while others criticized it for its excessive focus on backtracking, tedious item fetch quests, and repetitive boss battles.

A Majestic World to Explore

One of the strengths of Donkey Kong 64 is its extensive world-building. The game takes place on Donkey Kong Island, which is divided into several themed areas, each with its own distinct flavor and challenges. For example, Jungle Japes is a dense jungle with swinging vines, waterfalls, and hidden caves, while Crystal Caves is an icy cavern full of slippery slopes, frozen platforms, and dangerous enemies. Players must use their platforming skills and various abilities to navigate these environments, unravel their secrets, and collect golden bananas, coins, and other items.

A Cast of Memorable Characters

Donkey Kong 64 lets players control five playable characters, each with their own set of moves and weapons. Donkey Kong is the burly protagonist, armed with his trusty coconut gun and strong enough to lift large boulders. Diddy Kong can fly with his jetpack, shoot peanut guns, and shrink in size to access tight spaces. Lanky Kong stretches his arms to reach distant platforms, spins like a helicopter to glide, and inflates to float. Tiny Kong uses her ponytail to glide, shrink to pass through tiny holes, and call on her animal friends for assistance. Finally, Chunky Kong can pound the ground to reveal hidden secrets, shrink to become invisible, and shoot pineapples with his gun.

A Treasure Trove of Collectibles and Secrets

If you thought that getting all 120 stars in Super Mario 64 was hard, then wait until you try to get all the collectibles in Donkey Kong 64. The game features a staggering amount of items to find, including golden bananas, banana medals, blueprint pieces, regular bananas, and mini-games. Some of these items are hidden in plain sight, while others require clever puzzles, tricky platforming, or even some detective work. The game also features a multiplayer mode where up to four players can compete in various mini-games and battle arenas.

A Legacy That Continues to Thrive

Even though Donkey Kong 64 is now over 20 years old, it still has a dedicated fanbase that praises its depth, challenge, and replayability. The game’s inclusion in the Nintendo 64 Classic Edition in small, but indomitable, proof of its enduring popularity. Some may argue that the game hasn’t aged well and that its flaws are more apparent today than they were in 1999. However, for those who are willing to embark on this epic adventure, Donkey Kong 64 offers a unique and engaging experience that few platformers can match.