Donkey kong Country 2

[NightDragon83]

Chadius said:
DKC 2 was the best one.

DKC 1's bonus stages were a lot more trial and error than anything. DKC 2 gave subtle hints so if you had a good eye, you could find most secrets. ('cept for that one secret in Galleon's Galley, ARGH) David Sirlin describes it better than I can: http://www.sirlin.net/archive/hiding-secrets-in-platform-games/

In DKC1, Donkey Kong was useless. In DKC2, Diddy's roll jump gave him a speed advantage Dixie couldn't afford. On the flip side, Dixie's glide was excellent.

DKC2's boss fights were a lot better. The final boss (the regular and the secret one) tested platforming skill. DKC1's tested...when to jump.

DKC2's Lost World was pure awesome. And it was first!

After DKC2, Rare was infected with collectivitis and forced you to go on a billion scavenger hunts. Drove me nuts.

 

I couldn't have said it better myself... the original was a huge hit and a landmark title in its own right and I love it dearly, but the sequel took everthing great about it and multiplied it times 10 with even better graphics and some of the best music to ever come out of that little Sony chip inside the SNES.  And you're right on about Rare's "collectivitis" syndrome... Donkey Kong 64, Jet Force Gemini, and Starfox Adventures are the worst of the bunch.  Banjo-Tooie was almost ruined by it but luckily the level design was some of the best of any platformer.