One of the few games to actually make use of the N64's Expansion Pak, Donkey Kong 64 is one of the console's best platform games, as you play as Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Lanky Kong, Tiny Kong and Chunky Kong through a variety of weird and wonderfully-themed worlds, collecting Golden Bananas before facing off against each world's boss. The fact that you have to unlock the other Kongs and can then play as them adds a significant amount of choice to a game that's already overflowing with exploration options and promotes an emphasis on freedom. Compared to say, something like Yoshi's Story, DK64 is a surprisingly challenging game, one that does occasionally descend into laboriousness as collecting Golden Bananas basically becomes busy-work, but these moments are brief nadirs in what is mostly a superbly-designed platforming classic. Even without the so-so 4-player multiplayer mode, Donkey Kong 64 was easily one of the most brilliantly time-consuming titles ever released for the console, and if you had an N64, you simply had to own this game.
Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes).
General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.
