<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
is	O
a	O
1994	O
platform	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
Rare	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Nintendo	O
for	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Nintendo	I-Application
Entertainment	I-Application
System	I-Application
(	O
SNES	B-Application
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
a	O
reboot	O
of	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
franchise	O
and	O
follows	O
the	O
gorilla	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
and	O
his	O
nephew	O
Diddy	O
Kong	O
as	O
they	O
set	O
out	O
to	O
recover	O
their	O
stolen	O
banana	O
hoard	O
from	O
the	O
crocodile	O
King	O
K	O
.	O
Rool	O
and	O
his	O
army	O
,	O
the	O
Kremlings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
sought	O
a	O
game	O
to	O
compete	O
with	O
Sega	O
's	O
Aladdin	B-Application
(	O
1993	O
)	O
and	O
commissioned	O
Rare	O
to	O
revive	O
the	O
dormant	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
franchise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rare	O
assembled	O
12	O
developers	O
to	O
work	O
on	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
over	O
18	O
months	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
was	O
inspired	O
by	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
series	O
and	O
was	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
home	B-Device
console	I-Device
games	O
to	O
feature	O
pre-rendered	O
graphics	O
,	O
achieved	O
through	O
a	O
compression	B-General_Concept
technique	O
that	O
converted	O
3D	O
models	O
into	O
SNES	B-Application
sprites	O
with	O
little	O
loss	O
of	O
detail	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
the	O
first	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
game	O
neither	O
produced	O
nor	O
directed	O
by	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
creator	O
Shigeru	O
Miyamoto	O
,	O
though	O
he	O
contributed	O
design	O
ideas	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
its	O
announcement	O
at	O
the	O
Consumer	O
Electronics	O
Show	O
in	O
June1994	O
,	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
was	O
highly	O
anticipated	O
and	O
backed	O
by	O
a	O
major	O
marketing	O
campaign	O
that	O
cost	O
in	O
America	O
alone	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
quality	O
and	O
design	O
were	O
favourably	O
compared	O
to	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
received	O
several	O
year-end	O
accolades	O
and	O
set	O
the	O
record	O
for	O
the	O
fastest-selling	O
video	O
game	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
9.3million	O
copies	O
sold	O
worldwide	O
,	O
it	O
is	O
the	O
third-bestselling	B-Device
SNES	I-Device
game	I-Device
and	O
the	O
bestselling	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
re-established	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
as	O
a	O
popular	O
Nintendo	O
franchise	O
and	O
is	O
credited	O
for	O
helping	O
Nintendo	O
win	O
the	O
console	B-Device
war	O
of	O
the	O
1990s	O
and	O
maintaining	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
's	O
popularity	O
into	O
the	O
fifth	B-Application
generation	I-Application
of	I-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
consoles	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
considered	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
greatest	O
video	O
games	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
and	O
has	O
been	O
ported	O
to	O
platforms	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Color	I-Device
,	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
,	O
and	O
digital	O
distribution	O
services	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rare	O
followed	O
it	O
with	O
two	O
sequels	O
for	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
,	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
2	I-Application
:	I-Application
Diddy	I-Application
's	I-Application
Kong	I-Application
Quest	I-Application
(	O
1995	O
)	O
and	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
3	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dixie	I-Application
Kong	I-Application
's	I-Application
Double	I-Application
Trouble	I-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
(	O
1996	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
game	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
64	I-Application
(	O
1999	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
a	O
hiatus	O
,	O
during	O
which	O
Rare	O
was	O
acquired	O
by	O
the	O
Nintendo	O
competitor	O
Microsoft	O
,	O
Retro	O
Studios	O
revived	O
the	O
series	O
with	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
Returns	I-Application
(	O
2010	O
)	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
and	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
:	I-Application
Tropical	I-Application
Freeze	I-Application
(	O
2014	O
)	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
U	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
is	O
a	O
side-scrolling	O
platform	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
reboot	O
of	O
the	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
franchise	O
,	O
its	O
story	O
begins	O
when	O
King	O
K	O
.	O
Rool	O
and	O
his	O
army	O
of	O
crocodiles	O
,	O
the	O
Kremlings	O
,	O
steal	O
the	O
Kongs	O
 '	O
banana	O
hoard	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
gorilla	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
and	O
his	O
nephew	O
Diddy	O
Kong	O
set	O
out	O
to	O
reclaim	O
the	O
hoard	O
and	O
defeat	O
the	O
Kremlings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
certain	O
levels	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
can	O
free	O
an	O
animal	O
that	O
provides	O
the	O
Kongs	O
with	O
special	O
abilities	O
,	O
similar	O
to	O
Yoshi	B-Application
from	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Buddies	O
include	O
Rambi	O
,	O
a	O
rhino	O
that	O
can	O
charge	O
into	O
enemies	O
and	O
find	O
hidden	O
entrances	O
;	O
Enguarde	O
,	O
a	O
swordfish	O
that	O
can	O
defeat	O
enemies	O
with	O
its	O
bill	O
;	O
Squawks	O
,	O
a	O
parrot	O
that	O
carries	O
a	O
lantern	O
;	O
Expresso	O
,	O
an	O
ostrich	O
that	O
flies	O
;	O
and	O
Winky	B-Application
,	O
a	O
frog	O
that	O
can	O
jump	O
high	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Funky	O
Kong	O
operates	O
a	O
flight	O
service	O
allowing	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
travel	O
across	O
different	O
areas	O
of	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Island	O
;	O
Cranky	O
Kong	O
,	O
the	O
aged	O
incarnation	O
of	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
from	O
the	O
original	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
(	O
1981	O
)	O
,	O
provides	O
tips	O
and	O
fourth	O
wall-breaking	O
humour	O
;	O
and	O
Candy	O
Kong	O
saves	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
progress	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
brothers	O
previously	O
founded	O
the	O
British	O
computer	O
game	O
studio	O
Ultimate	O
Play	O
the	O
Game	O
and	O
founded	O
Rare	O
to	O
focus	O
on	O
the	O
burgeoning	O
Japanese	O
console	B-Device
market	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rare	O
developed	O
more	O
than	O
60	O
NES	O
games	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
Battletoads	B-Application
series	O
and	O
ports	O
of	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Marble	B-Device
Madness	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
Nintendo	O
released	O
their	O
next	O
console	B-Device
,	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Nintendo	I-Application
Entertainment	I-Application
System	I-Application
(	O
SNES	B-Application
)	O
,	O
in	O
1991	O
,	O
Rare	O
decided	O
to	O
limit	O
their	O
output	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Around	O
1992	O
,	O
Rare	O
invested	O
their	O
NES	O
profit	O
in	O
Silicon	O
Graphics	O
,	O
Inc	O
.	O
(	O
SGI	O
)	O
Challenge	B-Application
workstations	O
with	O
Alias	B-Device
rendering	O
software	O
to	O
render	O
3D	O
models	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Though	O
they	O
had	O
purchased	O
the	O
workstations	O
to	O
produce	O
games	O
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
,	O
which	O
was	O
in	O
development	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
,	O
Rare	O
discovered	O
it	O
was	O
possible	O
to	O
use	O
them	O
with	O
the	O
16-bit	B-Device
SNES	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rare	O
tested	O
the	O
SGI	O
technology	O
with	O
Battletoads	B-Device
Arcade	I-Device
(	O
1994	O
)	O
and	O
began	O
developing	O
a	O
boxing	O
game	O
,	O
Brute	O
Force	O
,	O
using	O
PowerAnimator	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Around	O
this	O
time	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
was	O
embroiled	O
in	O
a	O
console	B-Device
war	O
with	O
Sega	O
,	O
whose	O
Mega	B-Operating_System
Drive	I-Operating_System
competed	O
with	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
wanted	O
a	O
game	O
to	O
compete	O
with	O
Sega	O
's	O
Aladdin	B-Application
(	O
1993	O
)	O
,	O
which	O
featured	O
graphics	O
by	O
Disney	O
animators	O
,	O
when	O
Nintendo	O
of	O
America	O
chairman	O
Howard	O
Lincoln	O
learned	O
of	O
Rare	O
's	O
SGI	O
experiments	O
during	O
a	O
trip	O
to	O
Europe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
impressing	O
Nintendo	O
with	O
a	O
demonstration	O
of	O
Brute	O
Force	O
,	O
Tim	O
Stamper	O
—	O
inspired	O
by	O
Mortal	B-Application
Kombat	I-Application
use	O
of	O
digitised	O
footage	O
in	O
place	O
of	O
hand-drawn	O
art	O
—	O
suggested	O
developing	O
a	O
platform	O
game	O
that	O
used	O
pre-rendered	O
graphics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
granted	O
the	O
Stampers	O
permission	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
intellectual	O
property	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
franchise	O
had	O
been	O
largely	O
dormant	O
since	O
the	O
unsuccessful	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
3	I-Application
(	O
1983	O
)	O
,	O
so	O
Nintendo	O
figured	O
that	O
licensing	O
it	O
posed	O
minimal	O
risk	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
sources	O
indicate	O
that	O
the	O
Stampers	O
obtained	O
the	O
licence	O
after	O
Nintendo	O
offered	O
them	O
their	O
catalogue	O
of	O
characters	O
and	O
they	O
chose	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Conversely	O
,	O
the	O
lead	O
designer	O
Gregg	O
Mayles	O
recalled	O
that	O
it	O
was	O
Nintendo	O
that	O
requested	O
a	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Mayles	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
codenamed	O
the	O
project	O
"	O
Country	O
"	O
(	O
based	O
on	O
Rare	O
's	O
location	O
in	O
Twycross	O
)	O
,	O
leading	O
to	O
the	O
title	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
in	O
attendance	O
,	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
creator	O
Gunpei	O
Yokoi	O
,	O
felt	O
the	O
game	O
"	O
looked	O
too	O
3D	O
"	O
,	O
but	O
Mayles	O
said	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
creator	O
,	O
Shigeru	O
Miyamoto	O
,	O
was	O
supportive	O
and	O
gave	O
Rare	O
his	O
approval	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
was	O
the	O
first	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
game	O
that	O
was	O
neither	O
directed	O
nor	O
produced	O
by	O
Miyamoto	O
,	O
who	O
was	O
working	O
on	O
Super	B-Device
Mario	I-Device
World	I-Device
2	I-Device
:	I-Device
Yoshi	I-Device
's	I-Device
Island	I-Device
(	O
1995	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
is	O
usually	O
highly	O
protective	O
of	O
their	O
intellectual	O
properties	O
,	O
but	O
was	O
relatively	O
uninvolved	O
with	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
,	O
leaving	O
most	O
of	O
the	O
work	O
to	O
Rare	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rare	O
spent	O
18	O
months	O
developing	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
from	O
an	O
initial	O
concept	O
to	O
a	O
finished	O
game	O
,	O
and	O
according	O
to	O
product	O
manager	O
Dan	O
Owsen	O
,	O
20	O
people	O
worked	O
on	O
it	O
in	O
total	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rare	O
drew	O
inspiration	O
from	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
series	O
,	O
Mayles	O
citing	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
3	I-Application
(	O
1988	O
)	O
as	O
the	O
primary	O
influence	O
on	O
the	O
level	O
design	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Diddy	O
Kong	O
originated	O
from	O
Rare	O
's	O
search	O
for	O
a	O
game	O
mechanic	O
akin	O
to	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
power-up	O
system	O
in	O
that	O
he	O
would	O
serve	O
as	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
health	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
did	O
not	O
have	O
much	O
scrapped	O
content	O
;	O
Gunn	O
said	O
he	O
only	O
regretted	O
that	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
walks	O
across	O
dotted	O
lines	O
instead	O
of	O
paths	O
on	O
the	O
world	O
map	O
,	O
which	O
could	O
not	O
be	O
implemented	O
due	O
to	O
time	O
constraints	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
scrapped	O
idea	O
,	O
a	O
collectible	O
that	O
would	O
evade	O
the	O
player	O
by	O
running	O
or	O
hiding	O
,	O
served	O
as	O
the	O
basis	O
for	O
the	O
Jinjos	O
in	O
Rare	O
's	O
subsequent	O
game	O
Banjo-Kazooie	B-Application
(	O
1998	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reviewing	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
for	O
release	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
directed	O
Rare	O
to	O
reduce	O
the	O
difficulty	O
to	O
appeal	O
to	O
a	O
broad	O
audience	O
,	O
reasoning	O
that	O
the	O
secrets	O
would	O
provide	O
sufficient	O
challenge	B-Application
for	O
hardcore	O
gamers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
this	O
point	O
,	O
Miyamoto	O
made	O
some	O
last-minute	O
suggestions	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
's	O
terrain	O
slap	O
,	O
that	O
were	O
incorporated	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kevin	O
Bayliss	O
was	O
in	O
charge	O
of	O
redesigning	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
His	O
initial	O
design	O
was	O
blocky	O
and	O
muscular	O
to	O
make	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
easy	O
to	O
animate	O
,	O
but	O
it	O
became	O
more	O
cartoonish	O
when	O
Nintendo	O
faxed	O
reference	O
material	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
of	O
Bayliss	O
 '	O
designs	O
were	O
in	O
the	O
style	O
of	O
his	O
Battletoads	B-Application
work	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
final	O
design	O
's	O
eyes	O
came	O
from	O
those	O
of	O
the	O
Battletoads	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Because	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
did	O
not	O
have	O
much	O
of	O
an	O
established	O
universe	O
,	O
Rare	O
was	O
free	O
to	O
expand	O
it	O
with	O
new	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mayles	O
conceived	O
Diddy	O
as	O
a	O
redesign	O
of	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Jr.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
the	O
original	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Jr.	O
,	O
Rare	O
did	O
not	O
want	O
Diddy	O
to	O
share	O
his	O
build	O
with	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
,	O
so	O
they	O
based	O
him	O
on	O
a	O
spider	O
monkey	O
and	O
made	O
him	O
agile	O
to	O
give	O
him	O
distinct	O
moves	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mayles	O
felt	O
the	O
redesign	O
suited	O
the	O
updated	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
universe	O
,	O
so	O
he	O
chose	O
to	O
make	O
it	O
a	O
new	O
character	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Naming	O
the	O
character	O
was	O
a	O
challenge	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Rare	O
dropped	O
their	O
preferred	O
"	O
Dinky	O
Kong	O
"	O
due	O
to	O
legal	O
problems	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
found	O
their	O
movements	O
unsuitable	O
for	O
a	O
fast	O
game	O
and	O
their	O
noises	O
too	O
quiet	O
to	O
be	O
captured	O
by	O
a	O
microphone	O
,	O
so	O
they	O
based	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
's	O
running	O
animation	O
on	O
a	O
horse	O
's	O
gallop	O
and	O
had	O
programmer	O
Mark	O
Betteridge	O
provide	O
Donkey	O
and	O
Diddy	O
's	O
voice	O
clips	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rare	O
positioned	O
Cranky	O
Kong	O
as	O
the	O
original	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
character	O
from	O
the	O
arcade	O
games	O
but	O
avoided	O
mentioning	O
this	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
marketing	O
materials	O
out	O
of	O
fear	O
that	O
Nintendo	O
would	O
disapprove	O
of	O
the	O
idea	O
,	O
though	O
it	O
was	O
mentioned	O
in	O
the	O
instruction	O
manual	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
was	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
games	O
for	O
a	O
mainstream	O
home	B-Device
video	I-Device
game	I-Device
console	I-Device
to	O
use	O
pre-rendered	O
3D	O
graphics	O
,	O
a	O
technique	O
used	O
in	O
the	O
earlier	O
1993	O
Finnish	O
game	O
Stardust	B-Application
for	O
the	O
Amiga	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rare	O
developed	O
a	O
compression	B-General_Concept
technique	O
that	O
allowed	O
the	O
team	O
to	O
incorporate	O
more	O
detail	O
and	O
animation	O
for	O
each	O
sprite	O
for	O
a	O
given	O
memory	O
footprint	O
,	O
which	O
better	O
preserved	O
the	O
pre-rendered	O
graphics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rare	O
briefly	O
feared	O
competition	O
from	O
DMA	O
Design	O
's	O
Uniracers	B-Application
(	O
1994	O
)	O
,	O
which	O
also	O
featured	O
pre-rendered	O
graphics	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
staff	O
was	O
relieved	O
upon	O
learning	O
that	O
the	O
player	O
character	O
was	O
Uniracer	O
only	O
element	O
that	O
was	O
pre-rendered	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
artists	O
began	O
by	O
modelling	O
the	O
characters	O
in	O
NURBS	B-Algorithm
using	O
PowerAnimator	B-Device
and	O
adding	O
textures	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
ACM	O
process	O
was	O
handled	O
by	O
a	O
designated	O
computer	O
that	O
had	O
a	O
proprietary	O
utility	O
similar	O
to	O
Deluxe	B-Application
Paint	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
ACM	O
process	O
pushed	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
hardware	O
to	O
its	O
limits	O
;	O
Betteridge	O
said	O
Rare	O
wanted	O
to	O
do	O
everything	O
they	O
could	O
with	O
the	O
hardware	O
similar	O
to	O
what	O
they	O
had	O
done	O
with	O
the	O
NES	O
game	O
Battletoads	B-Application
(	O
1991	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
single	O
SGI	O
screen	O
took	O
up	O
more	O
memory	O
than	O
an	O
entire	O
SNES	B-Application
cartridge	O
,	O
and	O
Gregg	O
Mayles	O
described	O
transferring	O
the	O
backgrounds	O
into	O
the	O
game	O
by	O
splitting	O
them	O
into	O
tiles	O
as	O
"	O
the	O
bane	O
of	O
the	O
project	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Wise	O
initially	O
worked	O
as	O
a	O
freelancer	B-Language
and	O
assumed	O
his	O
music	O
would	O
be	O
replaced	O
by	O
a	O
Japanese	O
composer	O
because	O
of	O
the	O
importance	O
of	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
to	O
Nintendo	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
then	O
chose	O
samples	O
and	O
optimised	O
the	O
music	O
to	O
work	O
on	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
's	O
SPC700	O
sound	O
chip	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
features	O
atmospheric	O
music	O
that	O
mixes	O
natural	O
environmental	O
sounds	O
with	O
prominent	O
melodic	O
and	O
percussive	O
accompaniments	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Wise	O
cited	O
Koji	O
Kondo	O
's	O
music	O
for	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
and	O
Legend	B-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
games	O
,	O
Tim	O
and	O
Geoff	O
Follin	O
's	O
music	O
for	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Since	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
featured	O
advanced	O
pre-rendered	O
graphics	O
,	O
Wise	O
wanted	O
to	O
push	O
the	O
limits	O
in	O
terms	O
of	O
audio	O
to	O
create	O
"	O
equally	O
impressive	O
"	O
music	O
and	O
make	O
the	O
most	O
of	O
the	O
small	O
space	O
he	O
was	O
working	O
with	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
K	O
.	O
Rool	O
's	O
theme	O
was	O
influenced	O
by	O
the	O
work	O
of	O
Iron	B-Application
Maiden	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
the	O
title	O
screen	O
theme	O
,	O
Wise	O
remixed	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
original	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
theme	O
to	O
demonstrate	O
how	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
had	O
evolved	O
since	O
his	O
debut	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eveline	O
Novakovic	O
contributed	O
seven	O
tracks	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
world	O
map	O
theme	O
,	O
as	O
her	O
first	O
SNES	B-Application
project	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Novakovic	O
was	O
inexperienced	O
with	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
hardware	O
and	O
Wise	O
helped	O
teach	O
her	O
as	O
they	O
worked	O
together	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Beanland	O
,	O
the	O
track	O
was	O
intended	O
for	O
an	O
internal	O
progress	O
video	O
about	O
another	O
Rare	O
game	O
,	O
Killer	B-Application
Instinct	I-Application
(	O
1994	O
)	O
,	O
before	O
Nintendo	O
decided	O
to	O
use	O
it	O
in	O
a	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
promotional	O
trailer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lincoln	O
unveiled	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
at	O
the	O
Consumer	O
Electronics	O
Show	O
in	O
Chicago	O
,	O
which	O
took	O
place	O
from	O
23	O
to	O
25	O
June	O
1994	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
unveiling	O
was	O
the	O
finale	O
of	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
conference	O
and	O
did	O
not	O
reveal	O
that	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
was	O
a	O
SNES	B-Application
game	O
until	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
presentation	O
,	O
fooling	O
the	O
audience	O
into	O
believing	O
that	O
it	O
was	O
for	O
the	O
upcoming	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
promotion	O
,	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
was	O
backed	O
by	O
an	O
exceptionally	O
large	O
marketing	O
campaign	O
—	O
"	O
marketing	O
blitzkrieg	B-Language
"	O
,	O
as	O
Hardcore	O
Gaming	O
101	O
put	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
the	O
Los	O
Angeles	O
Times	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
spent	O
16	O
million	O
on	O
marketing	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
in	O
America	O
alone	O
;	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
,	O
major	O
games	O
typically	O
had	O
an	O
average	O
marketing	O
budget	O
of	O
5	O
million	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Marketing	O
materials	O
emphasised	O
the	O
revolutionary	O
graphics	O
—	O
often	O
noting	O
that	O
Rare	O
's	O
SGI	O
workstations	O
had	O
been	O
used	O
to	O
create	O
the	O
Jurassic	O
Park	O
(	O
1993	O
)	O
film	O
's	O
dinosaurs	O
—	O
and	O
positioned	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
as	O
a	O
direct	O
competitor	O
to	O
Sega	O
's	O
Mega-CD	B-Device
and	O
32X	B-Device
platforms	O
to	O
remind	O
players	O
it	O
was	O
not	O
for	O
next-generation	B-Application
hardware	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
sent	O
a	O
promotional	O
VHS	O
tape	O
,	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
:	O
Exposed	O
,	O
to	O
subscribers	O
of	O
the	O
magazine	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Power	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
campaign	O
included	O
downloadable	O
video	O
samples	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
a	O
trivia	O
contest	O
in	O
which	O
800	O
people	O
participated	O
,	O
and	O
an	O
hour-long	O
online	B-Protocol
chat	I-Protocol
conference	O
attended	O
by	O
80	O
people	O
,	O
in	O
which	O
Lincoln	O
,	O
Arakawa	O
,	O
and	O
vice-president	O
of	O
marketing	O
Peter	O
Main	O
answered	O
questions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
gave	O
away	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
T-shirts	O
as	O
a	O
pre-order	O
bonus	O
,	O
and	O
partnered	O
with	O
Kellogg	O
's	O
for	O
a	O
promotional	O
campaign	O
in	O
which	O
the	O
packaging	O
for	O
Kellogg	O
's	O
breakfast	O
cereals	O
featured	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
character	O
art	O
and	O
announced	O
a	O
prize	O
giveaway	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
promotional	O
,	O
competition-oriented	O
version	O
of	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
was	O
sold	O
through	O
Blockbuster	O
Video	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
later	O
distributed	O
in	O
limited	O
quantities	O
through	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Power	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
competition	O
version	O
of	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
is	O
the	O
rarest	O
licensed	O
SNES	B-Application
game	O
;	O
only	O
2,500	O
cartridges	O
are	O
known	O
to	O
exist	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
October	O
1994	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
was	O
still	O
in	O
fierce	O
competition	O
with	O
Sega	O
and	O
its	O
popular	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
franchise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
was	O
released	O
a	O
month	O
after	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
for	O
the	O
Mega	B-Operating_System
Drive	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Los	O
Angeles	O
Times	O
characterised	O
the	O
coinciding	O
releases	O
as	O
a	O
battle	O
;	O
both	O
featured	O
company	O
mascots	O
,	O
boasted	O
"	O
Hollywood-sized	O
"	O
marketing	O
budgets	O
,	O
and	O
advertised	O
revolutionary	O
technological	O
advances	O
(	O
lock-on	O
technology	O
for	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
and	O
3D-rendered	O
graphics	O
for	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
was	O
highly	O
anticipated	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
was	O
expected	O
to	O
gross	O
at	O
least	O
140	O
million	O
in	O
the	O
US	O
if	O
it	O
matched	O
sales	O
projections	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
USGamer	O
noted	O
that	O
Nintendo	O
,	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
of	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
release	O
,	O
faced	O
difficulty	O
to	O
keep	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
profitable	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
fifth	B-Application
generation	I-Application
of	I-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
consoles	I-Application
was	O
on	O
the	O
horizon	O
,	O
the	O
32-bit	O
prowess	O
of	O
Sony	O
's	O
PlayStation	B-Device
and	O
the	O
Sega	B-Device
Saturn	I-Device
far	O
exceeding	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
's	O
capabilities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
was	O
not	O
due	O
for	O
release	O
until	O
1996	O
,	O
so	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
,	O
wrote	O
USGamer	O
,	O
served	O
as	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
"	O
bluff	O
"	O
to	O
make	O
it	O
seem	O
that	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
could	O
hold	O
its	O
ground	O
against	O
next-generation	B-Application
hardware	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
was	O
released	O
worldwide	O
in	O
November	O
1994	O
,	O
two	O
weeks	O
ahead	O
of	O
schedule	O
and	O
around	O
the	O
Black	O
Friday	O
shopping	O
season	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Japan	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
under	O
the	O
title	O
Super	B-Application
Donkey	I-Application
Kong	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
set	O
the	O
record	O
for	O
the	O
fastest-selling	O
video	O
game	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
:	O
it	O
sold	O
over	O
500,000	O
copies	O
within	O
a	O
week	O
,	O
and	O
sales	O
reached	O
one	O
million	O
copies	O
in	O
the	O
US	O
alone	O
in	O
two	O
weeks	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
UK	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
the	O
top-selling	O
SNES	B-Application
game	O
in	O
November	O
1994	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
sold	O
six	O
million	O
copies	O
worldwide	O
in	O
its	O
first	O
holiday	O
season	O
,	O
grossing	O
in	O
worldwide	O
sales	O
revenue	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Based	O
on	O
available	O
sales	O
figures	O
,	O
it	O
is	O
the	O
third-bestselling	B-Device
SNES	I-Device
game	I-Device
and	O
the	O
bestselling	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
received	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
and	O
was	O
lauded	O
as	O
a	O
paradigm	O
shift	O
that	O
set	O
new	O
standards	O
for	O
video	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
said	O
it	O
changed	O
expectations	O
for	O
16-bit	B-Device
and	O
platform	O
games	O
,	O
and	O
Entertainment	O
Weekly	O
wrote	O
it	O
"	O
is	O
to	O
most	O
16-bit	B-Device
games	O
what	O
most	O
16-bit	B-Device
games	O
are	O
to	O
their	O
Atari	B-General_Concept
forebears	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Electronic	O
Gaming	O
Monthly	O
(	O
EGM	O
)	O
called	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
"	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
few	O
games	O
that	O
is	O
actually	O
as	O
good	O
as	O
the	O
hype	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
Total	O
!	O
</s>
<s>
GameFan	O
said	O
that	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
set	O
a	O
new	O
quality	O
standard	O
that	O
many	O
developers	O
would	O
attempt	O
to	O
imitate	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reviewers	O
considered	O
them	O
a	O
major	O
technological	O
achievement	O
,	O
their	O
detail	O
unprecedented	O
for	O
a	O
16-bit	B-Device
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
EGM	O
said	O
that	O
the	O
graphical	O
quality	O
prompted	O
questions	O
about	O
the	O
purpose	O
of	O
32	O
-	O
and	O
64-bit	B-Device
hardware	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
said	O
the	O
music	O
built	O
atmosphere	O
,	O
Top	O
Secret	O
wrote	O
the	O
"	O
captivating	O
"	O
soundtrack	O
asserted	O
itself	O
as	O
a	O
masterpiece	O
in	O
its	O
own	O
right	O
,	O
and	O
EGM	O
and	O
Entertainment	O
Weekly	O
said	O
the	O
audio	O
quality	O
was	O
unprecedented	O
for	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
and	O
on	O
par	O
with	O
a	O
CD	O
's	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
described	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
as	O
addictive	O
,	O
accessible	O
and	O
exciting	O
,	O
with	O
humour	O
,	O
imagination	O
,	O
puzzles	O
and	O
secrets	O
,	O
that	O
proved	O
there	O
was	O
still	O
potential	O
in	O
the	O
platform	O
game	O
genre	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Critics	O
frequently	O
compared	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
to	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
series	O
,	O
particularly	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
World	I-Application
(	O
1990	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
considered	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
an	O
improvement	O
upon	O
the	O
Mario	O
formula	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameFan	O
said	O
it	O
would	O
be	O
a	O
worthy	O
successor	O
to	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
World	I-Application
even	O
without	O
the	O
graphics	O
and	O
Total	O
!	O
</s>
<s>
Next	O
Generation	O
felt	O
the	O
gameplay	O
,	O
though	O
good	O
,	O
did	O
not	O
meet	O
the	O
standards	O
of	O
previous	O
SNES	B-Application
games	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
Mario	O
and	O
Legend	B-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
series	O
and	O
prevented	O
it	O
from	O
being	O
a	O
"	O
typical	O
Nintendo	O
blockbuster	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
CVG	O
wrote	O
that	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
was	O
the	O
only	O
SNES	B-Application
game	O
that	O
matched	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
World	I-Application
,	O
but	O
that	O
it	O
would	O
be	O
a	O
conventional	O
platformer	O
without	O
its	O
graphics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
received	O
many	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
EGM	O
Best	O
and	O
Worst	O
of	O
1994	O
,	O
it	O
won	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
,	O
Best	O
SNES	B-Application
Game	O
,	O
and	O
Best	O
Animation	O
;	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
and	O
Diddy	O
Kong	O
won	O
Best	O
Game	O
Duo	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
also	O
received	O
Video	O
Games	O
:	O
The	O
Ultimate	O
Gaming	O
Magazine	O
awards	O
for	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
,	O
Best	O
SNES	B-Application
Game	O
,	O
Best	O
Action	O
Game	O
,	O
and	O
Best	O
Graphics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
was	O
the	O
only	O
video	O
game	O
included	O
in	O
Time	O
Best	O
Products	O
of	O
1994	O
list	O
,	O
coming	O
in	O
second	O
behind	O
the	O
Chrysler	O
Neon	O
,	O
and	O
it	O
became	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
to	O
win	O
the	O
Favourite	O
Video	O
Game	O
Kids	O
 '	O
Choice	O
Award	O
at	O
the	O
1995	O
Kids	O
 '	O
Choice	O
Awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
April	O
1995	O
,	O
following	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
success	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
purchased	O
a	O
25	O
per	O
cent	O
minority	O
stake	O
in	O
Rare	O
,	O
which	O
increased	O
to	O
49	O
per	O
cent	O
over	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rare	O
was	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
developers	O
to	O
receive	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
software	B-Application
development	I-Application
kits	I-Application
and	O
decided	O
to	O
start	O
spending	O
more	O
time	O
developing	O
fewer	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
and	O
Rare	O
's	O
partnership	O
produced	O
acclaimed	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
games	O
such	O
as	O
GoldenEye	B-Application
007	I-Application
(	O
1997	O
)	O
,	O
Banjo-Kazooie	B-Application
(	O
1998	O
)	O
,	O
Perfect	B-Application
Dark	I-Application
(	O
2000	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
Conker	B-Application
's	I-Application
Bad	I-Application
Fur	I-Application
Day	I-Application
(	O
2001	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
proposed	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
port	O
of	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
was	O
repurposed	O
as	O
a	O
separate	O
game	O
,	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Land	I-Application
(	O
1995	O
)	O
,	O
after	O
the	O
programmer	O
Paul	O
Machacek	O
convinced	O
Rare	O
that	O
it	O
would	O
be	O
a	O
better	O
use	O
of	O
resources	O
and	O
expand	O
the	O
potential	O
audience	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rare	O
began	O
developing	O
concepts	O
for	O
a	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
sequel	O
during	O
production	O
,	O
and	O
Nintendo	O
green-lit	O
the	O
project	O
immediately	O
after	O
the	O
success	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
2	I-Application
:	I-Application
Diddy	I-Application
's	I-Application
Kong	I-Application
Quest	I-Application
,	O
released	O
in	O
1995	O
,	O
features	O
Diddy	O
rescuing	O
a	O
kidnapped	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
from	O
K	O
.	O
Rool	O
and	O
introduces	O
Diddy	O
's	O
girlfriend	O
Dixie	O
Kong	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Diddy	B-Application
's	I-Application
Kong	I-Application
Quest	I-Application
was	O
designed	O
to	O
be	O
less	O
linear	O
and	O
more	O
challenging	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
theme	O
reflecting	O
Gregg	O
Mayles	O
 '	O
fascination	O
with	O
pirates	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
its	O
predecessor	O
,	O
Diddy	B-Application
's	I-Application
Kong	I-Application
Quest	I-Application
was	O
a	O
major	O
critical	O
and	O
commercial	O
success	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
teams	O
at	O
Rare	O
used	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
technology	O
in	O
the	O
fighting	O
game	O
Killer	B-Application
Instinct	I-Application
and	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Land	I-Application
,	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Land	I-Application
2	I-Application
(	O
1996	O
)	O
and	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Land	I-Application
III	I-Application
(	O
1997	O
)	O
,	O
which	O
attempted	O
to	O
replicate	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
visuals	O
and	O
gameplay	O
on	O
the	O
handheld	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
Diddy	B-Application
's	I-Application
Kong	I-Application
Quest	I-Application
,	O
the	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
team	O
split	O
in	O
two	O
:	O
one	O
half	O
began	O
working	O
on	O
Project	B-Application
Dream	I-Application
,	O
a	O
role-playing	O
game	O
that	O
used	O
the	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
technology	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
other	O
on	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
3	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dixie	I-Application
Kong	I-Application
's	I-Application
Double	I-Application
Trouble	I-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Rare	O
followed	O
Dixie	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
's	I-Application
Double	I-Application
Trouble	I-Application
!	O
</s>
<s>
with	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
64	I-Application
(	O
1999	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
first	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
game	O
to	O
feature	O
3D	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2002	O
,	O
Rare	O
was	O
acquired	O
by	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
competitor	O
Microsoft	O
and	O
the	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
rights	O
reverted	O
to	O
Nintendo	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2000	O
,	O
Rare	O
developed	O
a	O
port	O
of	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
for	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Color	I-Device
(	O
GBC	O
)	O
handheld	O
console	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
port	O
was	O
developed	O
alongside	O
the	O
GBC	O
version	O
of	O
Perfect	B-Application
Dark	I-Application
and	O
many	O
assets	O
,	O
including	O
graphics	O
and	O
audio	O
,	O
were	O
re-used	O
from	O
the	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Land	I-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
also	O
adds	O
bonus	O
modes	O
,	O
including	O
two	O
minigames	O
that	O
supplement	O
the	O
main	O
quest	O
and	O
support	O
multiplayer	O
via	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Link	I-Device
Cable	I-Device
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Printer	O
support	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
GBC	O
version	O
was	O
a	O
runner-up	O
for	O
GameSpots	O
annual	O
Best	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Color	I-Device
Game	O
and	O
Best	O
Platform	O
Game	O
awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
its	O
acquisition	O
by	O
Microsoft	O
,	O
Rare	O
continued	O
to	O
produce	O
games	O
for	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
(	O
GBA	B-Device
)	O
since	O
Microsoft	O
did	O
not	O
have	O
a	O
competing	O
handheld	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
ported	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
as	O
part	O
of	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
line	O
of	O
SNES	B-Application
rereleases	O
for	O
the	O
GBA	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
GBA	B-Device
version	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
Europe	O
on	O
6	O
June	O
2003	O
,	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
on	O
9	O
June	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
Japan	O
on	O
12	O
December	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
adds	O
a	O
new	O
animated	O
introductory	O
cutscene	O
,	O
redesigned	O
user	B-Application
interfaces	I-Application
and	O
world	O
maps	O
,	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
save	O
progress	O
anywhere	O
,	O
minigames	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
time	O
trial	O
mode	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
features	O
downgraded	O
graphics	O
and	O
sound	O
,	O
the	O
former	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
GBA	B-Device
's	O
lack	O
of	O
a	O
backlit	O
screen	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
GBA	B-Device
version	O
sold	O
960,000	O
copies	O
and	O
earned	O
$26	O
million	O
in	O
the	O
US	O
by	O
August	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Between	O
January	O
2000	O
and	O
August	O
2006	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
the	O
19th	O
highest-selling	O
game	O
for	O
a	O
Nintendo	O
handheld	O
console	B-Device
in	O
the	O
US	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
SNES	B-Application
version	O
of	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
has	O
been	O
digitally	O
rereleased	O
for	O
later	O
Nintendo	O
consoles	O
via	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
service	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
in	O
Japan	O
and	O
Europe	O
in	O
December	O
2006	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
in	O
February	O
2007	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
September	O
2012	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
delisted	O
from	O
the	O
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
for	O
unknown	O
reasons	O
,	O
though	O
Kotaku	O
Jason	O
Schreier	O
suggested	O
it	O
may	O
have	O
been	O
related	O
to	O
licensing	O
problems	O
with	O
Rare	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
returned	O
to	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
U	O
's	O
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
in	O
February	O
2015	O
and	O
was	O
added	O
to	O
the	O
New	B-Device
Nintendo	I-Device
3DS	I-Device
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
in	O
March	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
included	O
in	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
NES	I-Application
Classic	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
,	O
a	O
dedicated	B-Device
console	I-Device
Nintendo	O
released	O
in	O
September	O
2017	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
for	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
Online	I-Application
subscribers	O
in	O
July	O
2020	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Countrys	O
visual	O
appeal	O
helped	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
remain	O
popular	O
in	O
a	O
period	O
of	O
uncertainty	O
for	O
cartridge-based	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Official	O
Nintendo	O
Magazine	O
,	O
by	O
bringing	O
next-generation	O
graphics	O
to	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
just	O
12	O
days	O
before	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
's	O
Japanese	O
launch	O
,	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
persuaded	O
consumers	O
that	O
an	O
immediate	O
upgrade	O
was	O
unnecessary	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
wrote	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
"	O
saved	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
"	O
and	O
revitalised	O
sales	O
by	O
bringing	O
back	O
lapsed	O
fans	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
also	O
helped	O
Nintendo	O
pull	O
ahead	O
of	O
Sega	O
and	O
win	O
the	O
console	B-Device
wars	O
of	O
the	O
1990s	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Whereas	O
Nintendo	O
continued	O
to	O
release	O
AAA	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
,	O
Sega	O
had	O
alienated	O
audiences	O
with	O
add-ons	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
Mega-CD	B-Device
and	O
32X	B-Device
,	O
and	O
its	O
subsequent	O
console	B-Device
,	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
,	O
failed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
series	O
re-established	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
as	O
one	O
of	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
most	O
popular	O
and	O
profitable	O
franchises	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
heralded	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
's	O
transition	O
from	O
villain	O
to	O
hero	O
;	O
Rare	O
's	O
redesign	O
became	O
his	O
standard	O
appearance	O
,	O
and	O
its	O
gameplay	O
format	O
was	O
followed	O
by	O
sequels	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
inspired	O
an	O
animated	O
series	O
that	O
ran	O
for	O
40	O
episodes	O
from	O
1997	O
to	O
2000	O
,	O
and	O
Diddy	O
Kong	O
starred	O
in	O
a	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
racing	O
game	O
spin-off	O
,	O
Diddy	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Racing	I-Application
(	O
1997	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
Dixie	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
's	I-Application
Double	I-Application
Trouble	I-Application
!,	O
the	O
Country	O
series	O
went	O
on	O
a	O
hiatus	O
until	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
Returns	I-Application
,	O
developed	O
by	O
Retro	O
Studios	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
on	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
16th	O
anniversary	O
in	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
sequel	O
,	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
:	I-Application
Tropical	I-Application
Freeze	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
U	O
in	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Wise	O
,	O
who	O
left	O
Rare	O
in	O
2009	O
,	O
returned	O
to	O
compose	O
Tropical	B-Application
Freeze	I-Application
score	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reviewing	O
the	O
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
rerelease	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
Life	O
felt	O
the	O
visuals	O
were	O
still	O
among	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
's	O
best	O
,	O
and	O
Jeuxvideo.com	O
said	O
they	O
had	O
offered	O
a	O
new	O
depth	O
of	O
realism	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
and	O
AllGame	O
said	O
the	O
visuals	O
remained	O
impressive	O
for	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
(	O
though	O
IGN	O
thought	O
they	O
were	O
no	O
longer	O
as	O
significant	O
a	O
draw	O
)	O
,	O
while	O
GameSpot	O
thought	O
the	O
graphics	O
rivalled	O
32-bit	B-Application
consoles	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Critics	O
praised	O
the	O
GBC	O
version	O
for	O
attempting	O
to	O
preserve	O
the	O
visuals	O
in	O
spite	O
of	O
hardware	O
limitations	O
,	O
but	O
criticised	O
the	O
GBA	B-Device
version	O
's	O
downgrades	O
,	O
which	O
IGN	O
considered	O
detrimental	O
to	O
the	O
experience	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
became	O
divisive	O
in	O
the	O
years	O
following	O
its	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
IGN	O
,	O
critics	O
accused	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
of	O
"	O
sacrificing	O
gameplay	O
for	O
the	O
sake	O
of	O
a	O
short-run	O
attention	O
grab	O
and	O
quick	O
impulse	O
sales	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
USGamer	O
attributed	O
to	O
the	O
"	O
flimflammery	O
of	O
its	O
visuals	O
and	O
the	O
relative	O
mundanity	O
of	O
its	O
actual	O
game	O
design	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
USGamer	O
wrote	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
often	O
criticised	O
as	O
an	O
example	O
of	O
style	O
over	O
substance	O
,	O
with	O
gameplay	O
that	O
was	O
arguably	O
inferior	O
to	O
SNES	B-Application
launch	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
World	I-Application
and	O
Super	B-Application
Castlevania	I-Application
IV	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpy	O
complained	O
that	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
overshadowed	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Yoshi	B-Device
's	I-Device
Island	I-Device
,	O
which	O
it	O
considered	O
superior	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nonetheless	O
,	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
is	O
considered	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
greatest	O
video	O
games	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Polygon	O
said	O
that	O
although	O
some	O
aspects	O
had	O
not	O
aged	O
well	O
,	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
remained	O
among	O
the	O
best	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
games	O
and	O
deserved	O
praise	O
for	O
resurrecting	O
the	O
franchise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hardcore	O
Gaming	O
101	O
said	O
it	O
was	O
the	O
one	O
element	O
that	O
had	O
unquestionably	O
aged	O
well	O
and	O
contained	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
16-bit	B-Application
era	I-Application
's	O
most	O
memorable	O
music	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
years	O
following	O
its	O
release	O
,	O
rumours	O
spread	O
that	O
Miyamoto	O
disliked	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
and	O
found	O
it	O
amateurish	O
,	O
and	O
had	O
created	O
the	O
hand-drawn	O
art	O
style	O
of	O
Yoshi	B-Device
's	I-Device
Island	I-Device
in	O
retaliation	O
for	O
its	O
pre-rendered	O
visuals	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
author	O
Steven	O
L	O
.	O
Kent	O
quoted	O
Miyamoto	O
as	O
saying	O
that	O
"	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
proves	O
gamers	O
will	O
put	O
up	O
with	O
mediocre	O
gameplay	O
if	O
the	O
art	O
is	O
good	O
"	O
in	O
a	O
1995	O
Electronic	O
Games	O
interview	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kent	O
said	O
that	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
marketing	O
department	O
had	O
rejected	O
Yoshi	B-Device
's	I-Device
Island	I-Device
as	O
it	O
lacked	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
pre-rendered	O
graphics	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
this	O
had	O
possibly	O
motivated	O
Miyamoto	O
's	O
remark	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Miyamoto	O
denied	O
this	O
in	O
2010	O
,	O
noting	O
he	O
"	O
was	O
very	O
involved	O
"	O
in	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
and	O
had	O
been	O
in	O
regular	O
correspondence	O
with	O
Stamper	O
until	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
exerted	O
"	O
revolutionary	O
influence	O
"	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
GameSpot	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
commissioned	O
BlueSky	O
Software	O
to	O
develop	O
the	O
Mega	B-Operating_System
Drive	I-Operating_System
game	O
Vectorman	B-Application
(	O
1995	O
)	O
in	O
response	O
to	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
popularity	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
developers	O
imitated	O
the	O
visuals	O
;	O
IGN	O
identified	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
games	O
Clockwork	B-Application
Knight	I-Application
(	O
1994	O
)	O
and	O
Bug	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
USGamer	O
wrote	O
that	O
few	O
games	O
achieved	O
the	O
same	O
quality	O
and	O
that	O
2.5D	O
games	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Crystal	O
Dynamics	O
 '	O
Pandemonium	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Kotaku	O
said	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
was	O
an	O
event	O
that	O
could	O
not	O
be	O
replicated	O
in	O
modern	O
times	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
industry	O
's	O
growth	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Naughty	O
Dog	O
's	O
founders	O
Andy	O
Gavin	O
and	O
Jason	O
Rubin	O
cited	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
as	O
the	O
primary	O
influence	O
on	O
their	O
break-out	O
game	O
Crash	B-Application
Bandicoot	I-Application
(	O
1996	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Crash	O
first	O
functional	O
levels	O
drew	O
upon	O
techniques	O
employed	O
by	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
,	O
such	O
as	O
steam	O
vents	O
,	O
drop	O
platforms	O
,	O
bouncy	O
pads	O
,	O
heated	O
pipes	O
,	O
and	O
enemies	O
that	O
move	O
back	O
and	O
forth	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
pre-rendered	O
visuals	O
inspired	O
other	O
games	O
,	O
including	O
Kirby	B-Application
Super	I-Application
Star	I-Application
(	O
1996	O
)	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
3D	I-Application
:	I-Application
Flickies	I-Application
 '	I-Application
Island	I-Application
(	O
1996	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
critics	O
have	O
identified	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
references	O
or	O
influence	O
in	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
Mega-CD	B-Device
version	O
of	O
Earthworm	B-Application
Jim	I-Application
(	O
1995	O
)	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Blast	I-Application
(	O
1996	O
)	O
,	O
Rayman	B-Application
Origins	I-Application
(	O
2011	O
)	O
,	O
Mekazoo	O
(	O
2016	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
Kaze	O
and	O
the	O
Wild	O
Masks	O
(	O
2021	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Australian	O
Broadcasting	O
Corporation	O
credited	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
for	O
maintaining	O
the	O
popularity	O
of	O
2D	O
games	O
and	O
ensuring	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
new	O
entries	O
in	O
the	O
Mario	O
,	O
Kirby	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Yoshi	B-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rearrangements	O
of	O
the	O
music	O
appear	O
in	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
64	I-Application
,	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
Returns	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
:	I-Application
Tropical	I-Application
Freeze	I-Application
,	O
and	O
in	O
crossover	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
fighting	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
established	O
Rare	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
leading	O
video	O
game	O
developers	O
and	O
set	O
the	O
standard	O
for	O
its	O
work	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
and	O
Rare	O
's	O
partnership	O
continued	O
until	O
Star	B-Application
Fox	I-Application
Adventures	I-Application
(	O
2002	O
)	O
for	O
the	O
GameCube	B-Application
,	O
after	O
which	O
Rare	O
was	O
acquired	O
by	O
Microsoft	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
2019	O
game	O
Yooka-Laylee	B-Application
and	I-Application
the	I-Application
Impossible	I-Application
Lair	I-Application
—	O
developed	O
by	O
Playtonic	O
Games	O
,	O
whose	O
staff	O
includes	O
Rare	O
alumni	O
that	O
worked	O
on	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
—	O
was	O
noted	O
for	O
its	O
gameplay	O
similarities	O
to	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
,	O
though	O
Playtonic	O
's	O
head	O
Gavin	O
Price	O
declined	O
to	O
label	O
it	O
a	O
spiritual	O
successor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
Life	O
also	O
identified	O
similarities	O
between	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
and	O
Kroko	O
Bongo	O
:	O
Tap	O
to	O
the	O
Beat	O
!	O
</s>
<s>
(	O
2017	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
platform	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
the	O
Stampers	O
 '	O
mobile	B-Application
game	I-Application
studio	O
FortuneFish	O
.	O
</s>
