Developed by Rare, Donkey Kong 64 is a 3D platformer for the Nintendo 64. The story follows Donkey Kong as he races to save his kidnapped friends and his hoard of Golden Bananas from the villainous King K. Rool, who plans to destroy DK Isle with his “Blast-O-Matic” weapon. The game is known for its “collectathon” gameplay, where players must explore eight massive, themed worlds to find a huge number of items. What sets it apart is the use of five playable characters—Donkey Kong, Diddy, Tiny, Lanky, and Chunky—each with unique abilities necessary to progress. This requires frequent character-swapping and backtracking to access different areas and complete various puzzles and minigames. The game was well-received upon its release in 1999, praised for its massive scope, vibrant graphics, and clever level design. However, in later years, some criticism emerged regarding the sheer volume of collectibles and the character-specific item placement, which can lead to a sense of tedium and forced backtracking.
