The world was first introduced to Donkey Kong in 1981, where he was Mario's rival in the arcade game Donkey Kong. Shortly after, Universal Studios sued Nintendo over Donkey Kong's similarity to Universal's King Kong. The courts sided with Nintendo and Universal was forced to pay almost $2 million in legal fees.
From there, Donkey Kong grew in popularity and has since been in games like Mario Kart and Super Smash Brothers, and even had his own TV show and comic book. But Donkey Kong's true claim to fame is the 1994 SNES game, Donkey Kong Country. The game went on to sell millions of copies and was praised for its gameplay, soundtrack, and graphics. In '95 and '96 the series received its two sequels. Here are the 10 best levels from the original Donkey Kong Country trilogy.
10 Swoopy Salvo - Donkey Kong Country 3
In Donkey Kong Country 3, you play as Trixie Kong and her enormous baby cousin, Kiddy Kong. The two are trying to rescue Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong from the evil King K. Rool. Swoopy Salvo is one of the final levels of the game, and in it, you're making your way up a giant tree in the forest. Part of the level is played at Trixie and Kiddy, and the other part is played as Squawks the Parrot. The level is challenging, fun, and easily of the most unique of all three games.
9 Web Woods - Donkey Kong Country 2
In Web Woods, you become a giant spider who has to navigate through the dark, misty forest. The soundtrack combines a dreamlike synth with woodwind instruments, making the entire level feel both calm, yet eerie. Web Woods required a lot of precise timing, making it a real challenge, plus, in Donkey Kong, the levels where you get to ride (or become) an animal were always a highlight, making this level one that remains in the memory of many DKC gamers.
8 Stop & Go Station - Donkey Kong Country
Stop and Go Station was truly one of the first genuinely stressful and scary levels in video game history. The soundtrack seems straight out of the Alien franchise, and throughout the level, which is an abandoned mine deep below a mountain, there are glowing barrels.
When the barrels are red, everything seems fine. But once they turn green, giant mounds of mud rise up and become unstoppable golems.
7 Jungle Hijinx - Donkey Kong Country
Jungle Hijinx is the very first level of the original game. At the start, you blast out of DK's treehouse, landing in a jungle surrounded by colorful palm trees and cliffs. It's a short level but it tells you exactly what to be expecting for the rest of the game - there's bonus levels, secret 1UP balloons, and you even get to ride on Rambi the rhino for the first time, all while getting your first hint of David Wises' now-famous soundtrack.
6 Red-Hot Ride - Donkey Kong Country 2
The Donkey Kong Country series is no stranger to moving platform levels, each game in the series has multiple. But Red-Hot Ride stands out because of how challenging it is. In the level, you're floating through the inside of a volcano on a hot air balloon.
However, the balloon is slowly lowering towards the lava, and you have to find gaseous air vents to reinflate the balloon. On top of keeping the balloon airborne, you also have to dodge bad guys.
5 Slip Slide Ride - Donkey Kong Country
In the Gorilla Glacier region, you have to make your way out of an ice cave in Slip Slide Ride. The entire level glows and shines in blues, teals, and purples. Throughout the level, you have to escape by climbing ropes - some which make you shoot up, while others make you slip down. As an added bit of difficulty, the icy ground causes you to slide around when walking, making it one of the most challenging, but fun levels in the entire series.
4 Tree Top Town - Donkey Kong Country
If you've ever wanted to run around the Ewok village from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, this is probably your best chance. Tree Top Town sees Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong running and jumping through a village built high above the floor of the forest. Throughout the level, you have to swing across ropes, blast out barrels, and if you know the secret, enter the bonus level.
3 Bramble Blast - Donkey Kong Country 2
The Donkey Kong Country series has always been hailed for its soundtrack, and Bramble Blast has one of the most beloved themes in the franchises' history. The song to the level is called Stickerbrush Symphony.
Online, you'll find the song has millions of views, remixes galore, and even a symphony performing a rendition. In the level itself, you're trying to escape a patch of thornbushes by blasting your way out using barrels, but with a soundtrack this great... take your time.
2 Mine Cart Madness - Donkey Kong Country
Mine Cart Madness is the level everyone plays over and over again. In the level, you're speeding through an abandoned mine on a runway Minecart. You have to jump over gaps in the track, dodge Kremlings, and make it to the finish line in one piece. There is no slowing down or stopping, which is part of what makes the level so exciting. It's nonstop, fast-paced fun. The level was so popular that is was famously revived in Donkey Kong 64.
1 Coral Capers - Donkey Kong Country
Coral Capers is the quintessential Donkey Kong experience. The level's soundtrack, titled Aquatic Ambiance, is known by gamers around the world, and cover versions and remixes are all over the internet and iTunes. The song was even brought back for Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. In the level, you're underwater swimming through a coral reef. You're chased by sharks, octopi, and even encounter giant clams. Best of all, you can ride Engaurde, DK's swordfish, which allows you to fight off the sharks.