There's something so ironic about the fact that this game was made to prove that the original Donkey Kong Country wasn't just acclaimed for its visuals, but also for its gameplay, so they stripped down the visuals and let the gameplay shine. Because, like, the gameplay of Donkey Kong Land sucks while Country is still great.

It's impressive that they managed to at least somewhat replicate the style and feel of DKC, and there's a ton of variety with the level themes, enemies, and objects. But the momentum is off, the hitboxes are even worse, and the limited camera view makes the game practically unplayable. But the level design might be the worst offender.

The second level in the entire game is a freaking ice level. There's a level in world 3 that focuses on a type of platform that only moves up, down, left, or right, and it only changes direction whenever you jump on it, or whenever it hits a wall. You have to dodge enemies (usually by jumping on them) and navigate labyrinths while staying on this platform. It's just as horrible as it sounds. Who even thought of that? Two levels after that, a barrel cannon launched me directly into an off-camera enemy and I took damage. You can't make this shit up lmfao

To end this on a positive, this game has a shockingly great soundtrack. It's mostly completely original, and fits right next to any other DKC soundtrack despite being 8-bit. It's so underrated and I just thought I'd share some of the best songs for those of you DKC fans who want more music to enjoy.

Ruins - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqyyFV9XF2g
Kremlantis - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFU2fxy35t8
Cave - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QSNUsLDhls
Airship - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDCbX4xdWjQ
Construction Site - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9HMIWB8aes
Boss - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDoDZxoQvfM