One of my favorite games ever
Graphics: 10
I'm going to say that the graphics are a 10 for the time period. I remember when I first put this game into my SNES and thought "These graphics are phenomenal!" because they were realistic for the time. The graphics were clear, and did not effect the gameplay, which is all that matters. The lustrous environments made the game even more special, because basically every level was different. There were different views of the levels too. Each level has art in the front of the screen, where the actual game occurs, and the background of course. All of these views were greatly done with a lot of detail. Enemy designs were also excellent and detailed. Each enemy looked different and looked almost real. The characters and enemies were also in 3-D, not 2-D like in other games for the SNES. It's obvious that the artists put a lot of time and effort into the environments and enemies. The effects were great for the SNES also. The explosions were great for the time, and the movements were smooth even though the framerate was not that great.
Sound: 10
The sound was so great that there isn't a word which can describe it. The music was very moving, and fit the environments perfectly. I still listen to some of the songs today, because I've downloaded them onto my computer. The music is so great that it even sounds good even outside of the game. The different instruments used and different voices (A musical term for different pitches and lines) really made the music complicated, but great for the ear. The music actually sounded as if it used real instruments too, not like other games which have obvious synthesized sounds and rhythms. The sound effects for enemies and characters were also accurate, and there weren't many delays, unless if there was too much going on at one time. The sound really is one of the best aspects of the game.
Gameplay: 10
Excellent is the best way to describe the gameplay. Every level offers something different whether it is swimming through a sunken ship, shooting through barrels in a thorn bush, which is weird but imaginative, or dodging enemies while trying to make your way up a tower before toxic liquids drown you. There are so many things to do in this game regarding gameplay. There are at least one bonus in each level, which provides a challenge to complete and some are even hard to find. These are left for those skilled players who are excited for something extra that comes with finding and beating all of these bonuses. Some levels have you riding a cart while avoiding certain obstacles which will get in your way. The bee hive levels are great with the sticky honey walls which you are able to cling onto and climb your way up the hive. All levels have great obstacles which have the potential to prevent you from going from the beginning to the end. The animal buddies which you can get in the game are also a fun aspect. You can either ride on an animal, or sometimes you change into the actual animal, depending on the level. The addition of a lost world also is excellent, because when you think that the game is over, there is still more.
Control: 9
The control is great, but lacks in some areas. Diddy and Dixie are easy to control, but there are some parts of the game where you don't have complete control of their actions. I'll admit that the water levels are a little harder to control in. Even though the controls are somewhat realistic with the drifting in the water, it's still annoying when you don't have total control of where they swim. Some of the barrels can also become a hassle especially when they turn. It gets hard sometimes to know where the barrel will shoot, because there's a delay from when you press the button to when the barrel actually releases the character. Another minor problem is that sometimes when you land, the character drifts slightly and can fall off the cliff quite easily. The great part about the controls is that both characters have different abilities. Diddy is faster, more agile, and jumps higher. Dixie is able to fly and picks up barrels and enemies differently from Diddy Kong.
Overall: 10
This game is truly an amazing masterpiece. The sound, graphics, controls, and gameplay are all great. Graphics were amazing for the time, the sound is excellent, the controls fit the game, and the gameplay is imaginative. The only thing which can be improved is the gameplay, and the game can be a little short, but that doesn't affect the fun factor. Even though the game is somewhat old, it still has a lasting effect on video games nowadays and will forever.