Nintendo Switch Onlineis far from a perfect service. Since its 2018 launch, Switch Online has struggled to live up to its Xbox and PlayStation counterparts, with the service lacking common features like party chats and direct messaging.Switch Online’s infrastructurehas also been a consistent point of criticism over the last six years, with netcode and server issues often causing extreme lag. But one shining beacon over the years has been Nintendo Switch Online’s ever-growing library of retro video games.
Beginning with just a handful of NES games,Nintendo Switch Onlineis now home to over 300 retro titles, encompassing the SNES, Sega Genesis, Game Boy, GBA, and Nintendo 64. That impressive collection has just grown a little bigger, with a classicDonkey Konggame having been added a few days ago.
Nintendo Switch Online Has Just Added Another Donkey Kong Game
Donkey Kong Land 2 Is Now on Switch Online
In 1995, the Rare-developedDonkey Kong Landreleased for the original Game Boy. An incredibly ambitious project for the time,Donkey Kong Landwas a condensed, reworked version of the belovedSNES gameDonkey Kong Country. While some bosses were changed and levels were added,Donkey Kong Landwas a remarkably successful attempt at capturing the gameplay formula ofDonkey Kong Country, so much so that a sequel released just a year later.
Donkey Kong Land 2launched in September 1996, also forthe original Game Boy. Much like its predecessor,Donkey Kong Land 2attempted to distill a full SNESDonkey Konggame into one tiny Game Pak.Donkey Kong Land 2is essentially a retooled version ofDonkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest, with it borrowing the SNES game’s narrative and many of its stage names, but changing some level designs.
A big change inDonkey Kong Land 2and its more technically impressive SNES counterpart was the ability to play as Dixie Kong, who could spin her hair to glide.Donkey Kong Land 2is now available on Nintendo Switch Online.
Another Donkey Kong Game Could Be Right Around the Corner
But theDonkey Kong Landseries is actually a trilogy, and that means there’s still one entry left to join Nintendo Switch Online’s roster.Donkey Kong Land 3was originally released in 1997, giving fans a portable version ofDonkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble!, albeit with changed level layouts once again. WithDonkey Kong Land 1and2now on Switch Online, it’d be great ifDonkey Kong Land 3was right behind them, especially asDKL2was added just four days after its predecessor.
Nintendo Switch Online’s Game Boy Library Is Full of Heavy Hitters
With bothDonkey Kong Land 1and2now on the service, Nintendo Switch Online’s Game Boy/Game Boy Color library is currently sitting at a solid 33 titles. While that’s not quite as high as NSO’s NES or SNES game count, the vast majority of these Game Boy titles are certified Nintendo classics. FromMega Man 1-5, toThe Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX, toMetroid 2: Return of Samus, toSuper Mario Land 1and2, toKirby’s Dream Land 1and2,Nintendo Switch Online’s Game Boy libraryis packed with games that must be played, even for those who don’t have nostalgia for that particular era of gaming.
Donkey Kong Land 2
Wage battle against Kaptain K. Rool and his vast army of Kremlings! K. Rool kidnapped Donkey Kong and he’s demanding the entire Banana Hoard as ranson. It’s up to Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong to rescue their kidnapped pal. A wild assortment of friendly animals like Rambi the Rhino, Squitter the Spider, Squawks the Parrot, Rattly the Rattlesnake and Enguarde the Swordfish help the two little monkeys in their adventurous mission. Each exciting level is filled with special traps, hidden items and dastardly Kremlings! Prepare yourself for the biggest Game Boy adventure yet!• The smash-hit series continues with this incredible Game Boy sequel!• Play as Diddy Kong or Dixie Kong and take advantage of their unique abilities!• Incredible ACM graphics have been specially optimized for Game Boy!• Fully compatible with Super Game Boy for enhanced colors and special border graphics! Battery-backed memory saves your progress.
