Donkey Kong Country 2 is one of those rare sequels that actually tops the original—which is saying something. You play as Diddy and Dixie (no DK this time, because, well, he got kidnapped by that crocodile jerk King K. Rool). The levels are packed with secrets, from hidden bonus rooms to those sneaky Kremcoin collectibles tucked behind fake walls. And Dixie’s helicopter hair spin? Absolute game-changer for tricky jumps.

The art still holds up, too—lush jungles, pirate ships, even a creepy beehive level that somehow manages to be both beautiful and terrifying. And that soundtrack? David Wise outdid himself. You’ll catch yourself humming the Bramble Blast tune days later.

It’s tough, but not unfair. You’ll die a lot, but you’ll also learn the patterns, master the animal buddies (Squawks the parrot is my MVP), and feel like a platforming god by the end. Still one of the best SNES games ever made.