Donkey Kong Country for the Game Boy Color | Neander Meander

[@TynologyGaming]

I always find these "demakes" fascinating because it really is creating an entirely new game that is supposed to look and feel like the original, which is probably way harder than it sounds. Awesome video, DKC is still one of the more difficult games I've ever played ha

[@NeanderMeander]

Couldn't agree more!

[@LocrianDorian]

I felt the exact same way playing the Donkey Kong Land games, they are very very similar to the Donkey Kong Country games, but they have their own charm. Of course they do have their own levels unlike this. This version of DKC for GBC is the only one I haven't played. I own both the SNES originals and the GBA versions and have finished all of them. I do need to get this for completeness :)

[@NeanderMeander]

The DK Land games are really fun! I've only played through them once. But they were great!

[@jessea9744]

The dark souls of Donkey Kong

[@NeanderMeander]

Yes! I had such a tough time with this game

[@gameboysinthewild]

My man! Awesome work as always! Love how clean everything you put out is!

[@NeanderMeander]

Thanks for watching it!

[@PixelCodex]

Awesome video! DKC was such an awesome series. I used to play a ton of Donkey Kong Land as a kid. Or I should say suffered through lol. The only time I could actually see what I was doing was in direct sunlight. The various shades of green all blended together. Even back then it was a pale imitation of the snes version. Super impressive with what they were working with though.

[@NeanderMeander]

Donkey Kong Land was so hard to play on an actual Game Boy! HD captures through newer devices don't show how bad the characters blend into the background. Thanks for watching! I'm glad to see you back!

[@Skrillerwolf]

Donkey Kong Country GBA crushed me as a kid. Hard as absolute nails!!! Fantastic video, didnt know there was that many DK Country handheld games!

[@NeanderMeander]

It destroyed me too! It really is surprising how much Nintendo supported the DKC franchise.

[@teddybrow]

I never get tried of watching videos about the DKC series, but your camera and editing work is really something else. Thanks for the effort you put into this! Sidenote: I found this video just after completing a replay of DKC GBC on my Analogue Pocket. Definitely a bit of jank in the controls as compared to the SNES version, but it still holds up! So many good memories playing this port with my brother back in the early '00s. Still have my original game cart :)

[@NeanderMeander]

Thank you so much for watching this video! I love the DKC games. I’ve been playing the original since it came out on the SNES. Have tot played Returns and Tropical Freeze? I just got an Analogue Pocket. I still haven’t opened it up. What do you think about it? I’m glad this video got recommended to you. It was a fun play through, even if it was frustrating in some parts.

[@teddybrow]

@@NeanderMeander I've played a little bit of Returns on 3DS and a good portion of Tropical Freeze on Switch. I still mean to return to the latter at some point, but for whatever reason it's never quite clicked. I suppose I was expecting the controls/mechanics to remain closer to the SNES roots. Not necessarily a bad thing that they went for a new feel, but I've struggled to get to a point where it feels natural to me. I've been pretty impressed with the Pocket! Love the screen quality and the attention to detail put into the sub-pixel emulation of real GB displays. Being able to play in any lighting conditions without needing to put wear on my AGS-101 is a big plus. And the modern niceties like save states and being able to sleep/wake the system mid play session lowers my barrier for revisiting old GB titles. Btw, I binged through a number of your other videos after commenting here the other day. Great stuff! Hope you keep it coming :D

[@NeanderMeander]

@@teddybrow The controls are definitely different in Returns and Tropical Freeze. I ended up switching them on the 3DS to use the D-pad and going to the alternative control setup on Tropical freeze. It's closer to the SNES controls that way. I actually really liked both games once I jumped into them. I can't wait to open my pocket now. I've been meaning to play a bunch of my older GB games on it. I need to set some time aside for it. Sound liked it's a great console. Thank you so much for watching more of my videos. I'm glad you like them! I have a video ready to go. I intended on releasing it over the past weekend, but the music I licensed didn't get approved until today. I'll upload it on Saturday.

[@johneygd]

I remember once i saw those donkeykong land games on gameboy back in 1999,i was mind blows away by it’s visuals,so i was imagining donkeykong country on the gbc ,and i 1 year later my wish become true and once i saw those articles about a gbc version of it back in april of 2000, i was really shocked, i was like “whoooaaah omg a snes limit pusher game on a 8bit portible,is the gbc nearly as powerful as a snes” so i couldn’t wait to got my hands on it BUT i had to wait 7 month’s,but that moment once i got it i rushed like crazy athome,pop it into my gbc and men i was mind blown away by it’s graphics and renditions of the music now I clearly remember when i went trough that elevator antic level, i firt tout that those programmers did made a mistake sothat i couldn’t get past that level but after sooo many tries i eventually beated that level,but also those water levels were damn difficuilt as those enemies could cammoflage them selfes well in the background, FINAL NOTE; on the gbc the graphics do look great but on the gba sp with frontlight or on the big screen with gameboy player,the graphics do look waaay too pixelated with too overbrighted colors,but on the gbc the graphics resambles more closer to the snes version, TIP,to always make a high jump from those tires,just hold A and then time your jumps,that’s it,it makes it much easier to jump over it.

[@NeanderMeander]

Thanks for the tip! I'll have to replay it and see if I can manage better than before. I agree with you that this game looks way better on an actual Game Boy Color. Thanks for watching

[@SparkyMK3]

Nice review! I love this game and how well they managed to translate it to GBC, but man, Elevator Antics drove me up a wall--especially the insanely unforgiving last stretch of it. I lost so many lives at that part! Even brutal levels like Tanked Up Trouble and Platform Perils were cakewalks in comparison! I dont think the Minecart levels are 'that' much harder than the SNES game, but the screen crunch means you have a LOT less time to react to whats up ahead (plus the wacky hitboxes make it harder to land a clean jump, especially in the second minecart level). Also, if you think this game is harder to play on a GBC, try playing it on a Game Boy Player with its input lag! It makes the game even more finicky and unforgiving!

[@NeanderMeander]

You're not alone on Elevator Antics. My goodness that level was tough! I'll give it a go on the Game Boy Player. Admittedly, I'm not excited to do it.

[@19Szabolcs91]

Just played the game, and... well yeah, Elevator Antics is simply broken. It's RNG whether the platforms spawn correctly or not. The minecart levels are not THAT hard if you got everything memorized (which is probably the case if you played the original dozens of times), but it's a miserable trial and error experience otherwise. Buuut at least it's not based on luck or weird timing :P Trick Track Trek also sucks, the platform's hitbox is so small and weird, sometimes even the enemies fall next to it instead of onto it... Frankly, as technically impressive as this game is, it feels unpolished and untested. They should have just removed the more broken levels or replaced them with stuff from DKL1... or just adjust the level designs. I also find it strange they got the physics wrong (similarly to Land 1) after they nailed it in Donkey Kong Land 2 and 3.

[@dekusylveon]

Was stuck on elevator antics for years on the gbc version. good to know it wasnt just me thinking i was bad at the one jump near the end. the rng there screwed me for a very long time and i think one day i just finally got lucky

[@hitchhikerwithtowel2721]

So having just played last night, I'm PRETTY sure you can hold the A button while bouncing on objects to keep the higher jump height. It felt pretty natural for me to do on a handheld, but I can understand why a player going from the original to this wouldn't think of it. Makes high jumps on top of tires a bit more manageable and could explain why the seemingly pinpoint accuracy is so troublesome.

[@NeanderMeander]

Really!? I’ll give it a try! I had the hardest time trying to time the high jump. Thanks for the tip!

[@hitchhikerwithtowel2721]

@@NeanderMeander No problem! Happy to help!

[@teddybrow]

I eventually came to this realization as well on my just-completed replay. Definitely trips you up if you're used to the SNES version!

[@vitreousphantasm]

This helped me

[@Feyudin]

​@@teddybrowa bit blockier yes, but if you're a true dkc player you can jam the gba remakes ez

[@EMDA91]

I beat this game like 10x as a kid I was so addicted to it 😂

[@NeanderMeander]

Wow! That’s amazing! It’s a fun game, but extremely challenging in some spots. I love hearing from people who had it as a kid.

[@EMDA91]

@@NeanderMeander I remember it being really hard but the satisfaction of beating the game over and over never got old 😂

[@NeanderMeander]

@@EMDA91 I thought it was really hard too! Crazy hard compared to the SNES game. It was fun though.

[@ElBlocko]

Finally, I feel vindicated in my struggles with Elevator Antics on this port when I was a kid with my GBC. I genuinely gave up and stopped playing it because I just couldn't pass that level, and, as you said, it's something I can easily deal with on the SNES original. At least the bizarre minigames were still fun for a while.

[@NeanderMeander]

You had problems with that level you!? I had people telling me that it was easy, I thought I was going crazy! I had to really keep it together while playing it. My nerves were shot afterward. Thank you for sharing that you had problems with it too. It makes me feel a lot better.

[@poncho828]

I played DKC religiously on my GBC growing up i always wanted a gameboy printer to print some of those pictures included. Later I was excited to get a GBA with DKC and played it just as much.

[@NeanderMeander]

Awesome! I wish I could have grown up with DKC on the GBC. I would have played it to death if I did. I did play the GBA version quite a bit though. The SNES version is my all time favorite game. Having it on the go was dream come true.

[@fredrick8691]

Great vid buddy! Always a treat seeing new stuff from you. 😎

[@NeanderMeander]

Thanks for always coming back to watch my videos! I’m glad you liked it!

[@fredrick8691]

@@NeanderMeander no problem! Keep up the great work.

[@gergerger5888]

As a 1992 kid, I grew up with this version, so when I played SNES version as an adult, it felt like a remake to me. I think I was 8 years old when I beated the game. I remember it was superhard, and my childhood best friend, Mario, beated some levels for me (although I later beated them too). He was so good at games. Game Boy Color was my first console and this game and Pokémon Blue and Silver are certainly the soul of my generation. Pure late 90s, as soon as I saw the translucid cartidge in your video I have unlocked lost memories of these days.

[@SebastianGMSFB]

This is the closest thing Nintendo ever made to an NES-version of Donkey Kong Country.

[@NeanderMeander]

That's a really cool perspective!

[@SebastianGMSFB]

Thanks!

[@Feyudin]

​@@SebastianGMSFBdkc2 is accurate with the stages as well as 3

[@MasterCheeksUNSC]

no way! donker konger! (good videos man keep it up)

[@NeanderMeander]

Thanks!

[@SnipeMD]

DKC on the GBC on a technical level is one if the most impressive games ever made. It's a truer experience to the original DKC than even the GBA Version, and while it doesn't play as well it's hard to deny the technical miracle the developers created and the whole game overall is very reminiscent of the Megaman Xtreme games in terms of translating the console experience to a handheld.

[@NeanderMeander]

Well said! The whole time I was playing I was blown away at what I was playing through.

[@insertusersname8277]

how is it better than the gba one?

[@InnerButter]

This is very good, IDK if I find this very interesting just because I like this stuff but I think alot more people should watch this video. Good Job!

[@NeanderMeander]

Thank you! I'm so glad you like it! It took quite a while to make. This game was extremely difficult to play and capture footage. But it was a really good experience.

[@demonicar]

When DKC was new it was unreal. I can’t explain the feeling I got from this game. Only FF6, Chrono Trigger, and maybe Mario 64 had a similar effect on me.

[@NeanderMeander]

I remember it vividly. I almost couldn't comprehend it. Nothing looked like it! It's still my all-time favorite game.

[@unclegrandpagaming165]

It’s a shame no one talks about this version of the game because it is very fun despite it being downgraded for the gbc hardware

[@NeanderMeander]

It is really fun! Very difficult, but fun

[@leabriana1223]

Playing the GBC version of this for the first time and I'm really enjoying it! I have noticed it seems much harder than what I remember the SNES version to be! Hope I can finish it over the next couple of days. I might play through DK Land next! We'll see!

[@NeanderMeander]

It's a fun game! Though, I had a hard time getting the hang of the controls. Have you beaten it yet?

[@leabriana1223]

@@NeanderMeander Controls are definitely a little jank! If it wouldn't eat my inputs for jumping sometimes it wouldn't be so bad! I'm about 1/3 of the way through! Perhaps tonight I'll try to power through the rest!

[@SappyJupiter37]

fantasic quality video, as always! keep it up!

[@NeanderMeander]

Thanks for watching!

[@ETK696]

I got DKC GBC when it was new and it blew my mind. I still love this port

[@NeanderMeander]

That is awesome! I wish I would have had it back in the day. I think I would have liked it more

[@dekusylveon]

Elevator atnics on the gbc version of this game was the bane of my existance as a kid. It is good to know I wasnt just horrible at the game. Was stuck on one specific jump for years in that game and only made it through by sheer luck if i remember correctly.

[@NeanderMeander]

That level is impossible. I also got lucky somehow. I replayed it so many times! I took a leap of faith and made it. I don't know how anybody made it past it.

[@vitreousphantasm]

Great video. Ending was poetry

[@NeanderMeander]

Thank you so much! I’m glad you liked the editing

[@EvanNixonType4]

Wonderful video-- awesome production value~

[@NeanderMeander]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@agarza915]

Great video. Excellent work, man.

[@NeanderMeander]

Thanks! It’s good to see that this video is still being watched. Have you played this version of DKC?

[@agarza915]

@@NeanderMeander I have not, but intend to on your recommendation.

[@RobiticDuck]

Now that I've updated my GBC, new aftermarket shell, buttons, back lit screen. I'm going back and collecting games for it. Recently I've bid on the Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six port to the system.

[@NeanderMeander]

Awesome! I need to do that for a few of my GBC consoles. There's so many good games for it

[@vitreousphantasm]

Rainbow six was the first game I got with my new gbc Christmas 99. I didn't take to it and my gbc sat around for 20 years before I got some more games and a backlit screen. Loving the retro platformers and still have my rainbow six

[@OPterro9002nintendofan]

There’s a warp barrel in the mine cart level in the snes version of dkc but in the gbc version of dkc they patch the warp barrel in the mine cart level

[@NeanderMeander]

As a kids, I never knew that warp barrel was there. That level used to give me such a hard time.

[@OPterro9002nintendofan]

@@NeanderMeander oh when I meant the mine cart level I meant the first mine cart level mine cart carnage has a warp barrel but the second one doesn’t

[@NeanderMeander]

@@OPterro9002nintendofan Oh, gotcha

[@neptunemacaw3354]

I’m bad at video games... I’m really bad at this one... but I still love them!

[@NeanderMeander]

I’m bad at this one too!

[@robertanderson9447]

The really annoying thing about this GBC version is the method for getting full completion. When you beat the game you unlock two new difficulty modes, Star Barrels Only and DK Barrels Only. All three difficulties have their own Sticker locations, the new collectible added to the GBC version. When playing on another mode your found secrets are kept, but you must replay the entire game from Jungle Hijinxs. This effectively means you have to beat DKC for the GBC three times and find these stickers to conquer it. Not worth it unless you really want to use that Game Boy Printer functionality.

[@Brad-cb2dt]

It’s actually easier to jump on the tires than you think it is. If you just hold down the jump button while landing on a tire, you’ll always reach the highest a apex of the jump. You can quite literally just position yourself on a tire and hold down the A button, and you will keep bouncing super high without having to let go or time button presses. Took me a while to figure that out, but it has made things a heck of a lot easier. I have to say, the way the game boy color version handles this is not super intuitive.

[@InfopeAlese]

Well, the "A" button problem was took and in _advanced_ series. The ones for GBA. And it's very difficult to manage the jumps, like in GBC series. Gotta try the game in a SNES emulator...

[@NeanderMeander]

I have played the GBA games. I think they are better than the GBC games, but not as good as the SNES games. Having to hold your hand awkwardly to run and jump is difficult for long play sessions.

[@InfopeAlese]

@@NeanderMeander Yeah, SNES are really good. (If not the best ones, which uses the the old map. Sad that the "Returns" forgot about some features) And their graphics, and their control buttons. They really started good.

[@magicjohnson3121]

You forgot to mention the the extra shooting gallery mode and fishing mini game. The shooting gallery is actually alright. Never could into the fishing game.

[@NeanderMeander]

Yeah, I normally don't delve into the side stuff too often. I'll have to try it someday.

[@rotted_internet]

Impossibly good port. I might actually prefer it on a real original gbc screen over the snes even today, which is probably insane to some people (grew up with it) but there is something about the downgraded graphics style that i really loved plus the gb music and feel of the controls is what i was used to. It's one of the most rewarding games to finish i can think of to this day. In my top 5 gb/gbc games for sure

[@InsertNameHere644]

I found that you can just hold down the jump button to auto jump on the tires so you dont have to time them.

[@NeanderMeander]

That’s good to know! I’ll give it a try

[@collectingonthecheap56353]

I have not played the GBC version, but did mostly enjoy the GBA version.

[@NeanderMeander]

The GBA versions are great! I've played them quite a bit! I'll most likely do a video on them in the future.

Screen crunch and lack of a backlight totally messed up the minecart levels and Stop and Go Station...

[@evan2902]

I tried this port out recently and I can't say I enjoy playing it at all. For the time, it must have been amazing but as someone who grew up with the GBA version and later got the SNES as a teenager...this just seemed like a sloppy cut-and-paste job based off the first two years. I don't want to rag on it too much as you never know the kind of environment the devs had to work in or what deadlines they faced but...not even the promise of an exclusive level could make me want to power through this version. First minecart level is something I've always been able to do on my first try with literally any other version (and just to be sure I switched over to the SNES game just to make sure I wasn't crazy...still got it)...here it took over 30 attempts. oof

[@NeanderMeander]

It's crazy difficult compared to the other versions. I also prefer the SNES and GBA games. They feel and handle very similarly to each other. This one just feel like a totally different game with the DKC skin slapped on it.

[@johncarr1358]

No mate! Mole mania.

[@satan-kun8974]

Well done video

[@NeanderMeander]

Thanks!

[@magicjohnson3121]

I’ve beat this version so many times i’ve lost count. It’s actually easier because it saves automatically after every level.

[@NeanderMeander]

The automatic saves are really great! My personal experience was that this game was harder than the original. It's definitely due to my lack of experience with it. I'm sure I'd get better with more practice.

[@wariolandgoldpiramid]

6:33 you had problems with the tires? You aren't intended to press the jump button when you land on these springs - you just need to HOLD the A button in the airk and you will automatically bounce when you land on the spring.

[@NeanderMeander]

Yeah, many people have told me of my mistake. I appreciate you letting me know

[@steve5123456789]

1:20 Yeah bro you missed out a lot Lol, I had it as a kid was great.

[@NeanderMeander]

I sure did!

[@kaileyselin8453]

I still have my teal Game Boy Color and DKC. I had no idea DKL existed. 😮

[@NeanderMeander]

That’s awesome! Have you beaten it? I had a tough time getting through it. But I’m glad I did. I’m still playing through DKL.

[@kaileyselin8453]

@@NeanderMeander I did but it’s been years. It still works though but the screen is so bad I can’t see a damn thing. 😂 I was thinking of buying a new mod for it. I also picked up the Anbernic RG351V so I’m hoping to beat all 3 on there.

[@NeanderMeander]

Awesome! The GBC screen is pretty bad. I played it on the Super Game Boy and the Game Boy Player for the GameCube for the video. I’ve also played some of it on a GBA SP 101.

[@doraeguyakaneddie6586]

I thought Donkey Kong Country was ported to the GBA

[@NeanderMeander]

@@doraeguyakaneddie6586 All three Donkey Kong Country games were remade for the GBA. I like those versions. They're very close to the SNES games.

[@adammiranda357]

Do you think the Game Boy Color version of Alone In The Dark The New Nightmare is another prime example of successfully transitioning the gameplay of the home console versions to the Game Boy Color?

[@NeanderMeander]

I have no idea. I've never played it. What do you think?

[@adammiranda357]

@@NeanderMeander I think it is, some levels did get shortened or eliminated entirely, but it's still faithful to the home console versions.

[@indrachaudhari7874]

Which is your favourite GBC Shell?

[@NeanderMeander]

I like the atomic purple shell. I love transparent consoles! What’s yours?

[@MaybeHarvey]

I have been playing this version for the last month and Iam stuck on vulture culture

[@NeanderMeander]

I didn't mention that level in the video, but it was also really difficult! There's a tricky jump you have to make off of a vulture after firing out of a barrel. I died so many times trying to get the timing right. I played through the game twice for the video. I think I got lucky both times on that level!

[@JoeyJ0J0]

I had this for the GameBoy Color, I had a lot of fun with it, it was hard tho and obviously the Snes and GBA versions are better

[@NeanderMeander]

Yeah, the other two versions are better. Though I think it’s impressive they were able to get that gaming running on the GBC. I wish more SNES had made the jump over to it.

[@detectiveblutomindpretzel6292]

I've always wondered why the GBC version of DKC has so much worse controls than even the DK Land games.

[@NeanderMeander]

I also wonder why they aren't the same. They are way worse than the DK Land games.

[@ewanmonty6227]

I need to buy me a copy of DKC for the GBC now.

[@NeanderMeander]

I've been thinking about playing it again. I know that it will be frustrating, but I like playing DKC in a different way. Let me know if you end up getting a copy.

[@RudyRamone13]

I got this game along with my Jungle Green Gameboy Color. 2nd grade. Shit was life changing, such a hard game. Screen crunch sucks!

[@NeanderMeander]

That’s awesome! This game really is hard. Screen crunch really does suck!

[@craigwilson3532]

Gbc dkc is a great port esp for gameboy

[@kr4t0sg.28]

I may be one of the very few that doesn't like donkey kong, metroid, zelda, and mega man. I just tend to loose interest very quickly after a couple of tries.

[@NeanderMeander]

I grew up with them, so I would say that nostalgia is a factor for me. I can see why people wouldn't like those games.

[@magicjohnson3121]

It’s not hard. You’re just too used to the originals controls. This was the first Donkey King Country game I played and I find the controls perfect.

[@NeanderMeander]

Very cool! I'm glad there's someone out there that is good at this game.

[@dr.toxicgamingmadscientist]

this game, compared to Donkey Kong Country Returns, AINT THAT HARD

[@NeanderMeander]

I would take Donkey Kong Country Returns over this game any day. I actually really like DKCR. It's my favorite Wii game by a long shot. I also really like it on the 3DS. Have you played all the way through it?

[@magicjohnson3121]

Winky sucks in the original too

[@NeanderMeander]

Winky does suck in both games! But I won't hesitate to say he's way worse in the GBC game.

[@stilltippin214]

Well said

[@Robotvike1996]

I just wanted to say that this game has flaws and does not compite with the SNES version (and that's coming from someone who grew up with this version). I prefer the Snes version because it looks better and it controls better overall. The snes version is just better. P.S . This version is actually the very first video game i ever played.

[@sympatheticchimp5949]

This gane was easy

[@NeanderMeander]

You're good at playing games!

[@sympatheticchimp5949]

@@NeanderMeander i played on my gb color back in the day when it came out i beat it many times as a young kid you just are bad at games lol

[@NeanderMeander]

@@sympatheticchimp5949 Haha! Thanks

[@magicjohnson3121]

Hardest game? I beat it when I was like 10 😂😂😂😂. Go play battle toads.

[@NeanderMeander]

I've played Battle Toads and I'm way better at that game than I am at this one.

[@ALLMETAL1970]

Damn i hated playing this version, the jumping mechanics suck because its like your jumping with cement. I have the gba version and its far better than the game boy colour version, screw this game.

[@NeanderMeander]

I share your feelings with this game. The GBA version is far superior

[@giocatore_83]

I actually didn't know the gbc version was supposed to be more challenging. This is the version I grew up with I didn't even know there was a super Nintendo version. @@NeanderMeander

[@NeanderMeander]

Really? That's really interesting. I think most people don't know this version exists, but are aware of the Super Nintendo and Game Boy Advance versions. @@giocatore_83

[@giocatore_83]

I meant I didn't know there was a snes version when I was a kid I found out when I got online years later.@@NeanderMeander

[@neptunemacaw3354]

I’m bad at video games... I’m really bad at this one... but I still love them!

[@NeanderMeander]

Thanks for watching and commenting on so many of my videos! It really means a lot

[@neptunemacaw3354]

@@NeanderMeander I just really love communicating with other people who share the same interests as me.

[@neptunemacaw3354]

@@NeanderMeander I just really love communicating with other people who share the same interests as me.

[@neptunemacaw3354]

@@NeanderMeander I just really love communicating with other people who share the same interests as me. Also you’re videos are very good

[@neptunemacaw3354]

@@NeanderMeander I just really love communicating with other people who share the same interests as me. Also you’re videos are very good