I too have a personal connection to the first Donkey Kong Country. The first game I learned how to play as a child.

Yep, DKC1 was my introduction to the franchise as well back in the day; it's not quite as varied or clever as 2 in terms of level design, but it's still a tightly made platformer with incredible atmosphere, soundtrack, and game feel.

Also, you kinda had to be there, but seeing it for the first time back in the 90s was mind-blowing, on a CRT its pre-rendered graphics were like seeing a playable CG movie come to life.

One thing I love about the original DKC trilogy is how "dark" they are, even if still family-friendly. Specially DKC2.

In DKC1 we have the haunting soundtrack, and the dark environments. There's nothing "happy" going on, other than the celebrations after you win a bonus or beat a boss. The music in the snow levels has that "scary" vibe to it. The cave and misty levels also have that feeling due to the music and the lack of light.

DKC2 is probably the best example: You are in enemy territory, and the soundtrack is quite serious most of time. Bosses are scary, and just like DKC1, there's no "silly" stuff going on. Geez, when you reach the final boss level, K.Rool is literally TORTURING Donkey Kong. The true ending don't give you the feeling that you won the war, it's more like "the enemy will be back, enjoy for now,,,"

DKC3 doesn't actually have a lot of those moments compared to DKC2, but still, the bosses are unsetting and the boss theme is by far the scariest. K.Rool screaming while being electrocuted at the end of the game is also something, but I feel like this game got more "balanced" other than it's predecessor.

Now that I think about it, that's probably the reason most people like DKC2 better.

Scariest level in each of the original trilogy.

DKC: Stop & Go Station, where you meet the Rockkrocs, invincible red eyed Kremlings who chase you in a creepy mine.

DKC2: Haunted Hall, the level where you're chased by Kackle, a ghost Kremling who laughs creepily if he catches you.

DKC3: Ripsaw Rage, a treetop level where you have to climb as fast as you can to avoid a giant saw cutting through the trees.

Scariest boss in each of the original trilogy.

DKC: Dumb Drum, not because he's hard, but because he's a giant toxic waste barrel with a skull and crossbones on him.

DKC2: Kleever, a giant evil pirate sword who rises out of lava, and halfway through the fight breaks free from the hand holding him and chases you.

DKC3: Barbos, a giant sea urchin, mostly scary because she's covered in spikes, in an underwater cave where much of the background is red.

Yeah this is a big part of the appeal of the SNES trilogy for me too, compared to something like Mario or Kirby or Sonic or whatever, it just has a darker, moodier, more atmospheric feel, with worlds that felt dangerous and wild and enemies that felt intimidating and even sometimes scary.

It gave them a unique vibe compared to most other platformers.