Donkey Kong Country (series)

The Donkey Kong Country series is a video game sub-series of the Donkey Kong series. It usually stars Donkey Kong and his pal, Diddy Kong, but Donkey Kong also ends up as a damsel in distress. The series are a platformer-type; levels are shown in a sidescrolling perspective and the heroes must jump and avoid obstacles in order to clear levels. The series was started by Rare, Ltd., until they were bought by Microsoft. Remakes are included in the Game Boy and the Game Boy Advance. The series were later revived by Retro Studios and their upcoming game, Donkey Kong Country Returns. The Donkey Kong Country series also has well-received reviews and has greatly impacted future titles.

Donkey Kong Country
The first installment in the Donkey Kong Country series was Donkey Kong Country. Here, Donkey Kong is portrayed differently as he did in the past games and it was mentioned that it was Cranky Kong who caused trouble for Mario. This time, Donkey Kong was a carefree monkey who spends his time in the jungle, until a villain named King K. Rool steals his bananas. Donkey Kong takes his nephew and dependable buddy, Diddy Kong along to stop King K. Rool and get his bananas back.
 * Year Released – 1994
 * System – Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Donkey Kong Country 2 is the second installment of the Donkey Kong Country series. As Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong were the primary heroes of Donkey Kong Country, Donkey Kong gets kidnapped by King K. Rool (under the alias Kaptain K. Rool). Diddy Kong takes his partner, Dixie Kong along to save Donkey Kong from Kaptain K. Rool. This game plays similarly to Donkey Kong Country, but also has a ton of new gameplay elements and new enemies added.
 * Year Released – 1995
 * System – Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble
In the third installment of the Donkey Kong Country series, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong both end up getting kidnapped by KAOS, a new leader from the Kremling Krew. Dixie Kong, taking her little cousin Kiddy Kong with her, sets out to save Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong from KAOS, who turns out to be King K. Krool, under the alias Baron K. Roolenstein. Like Donkey Kong Country 2, this game plays similarly to Donkey Kong Country, but has a lot of new elements added not seen before in the series.
 * Year Released – 1996
 * System – Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Donkey Kong Country Returns
After Microsoft bought out Rare, the Donkey Kong Country a drought of new games followed, with several remakes for the Game Boy and Game Boy Advance. Retro Studios revived the Donkey Kong Country series by developing Donkey Kong Country Returns. A new villain, called the Tikis, raid Donkey Kong's banana stash. As a reaction, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong sets out to retrieve the lost bananas. Not much else is known about the game regarding gameplay elements, though it has been confirmed that no Kremlings or underwater levels will be present in this game. There will also be some mechanics from the past Donkey Kong Country games that will return in this game, such as Animal Buddies.
 * Release Date – 2010
 * System – Nintendo Wii