Roadblocks

In every game, there is usually at least one spot where most players get stuck. Now days, it usually just takes a few extra attempts and some intuition to get through. However, in the early 90's games were much more brutal. Some roadblocks loomed so large, that players gave up entirely, never to plug that cartridge back in.

Yesterday, my girlfriend and I hesitantly put that cartridge back in.

Donkey Kong Country for the SNES remains as one of the most difficult platformers from the 16-bit era. Foolishly, I bought it for my girlfriend's birthday thinking we could breeze right through it. I really don't know what I was thinking. Maybe I was just coming off the high of having beaten Rayman Origins a week or so prior. Whatever the case, we forged on with complete disregard for the masochistic level design that lurked ahead.

We got through some difficult spots, reached a few checkpoints, and were generally feeling optimistic about our chances. Then we got to the Mountain world. Specifically the first level, "Snow Barrel Blast". Oh, what little did we know.

This level was designed by a disgruntled developer who hated children. It requires perfect timing, quick reflexes, and the ability to see through pixelized snow on an unacceptably low resolution screen. And just when you think you've put the worst behind you, it gives you a platforming section with diminutive cliffs, covered in slippery ice. Because that's what gaming needs: more slippery ice platforms.

Enraged, and on the verge of tears, we called it quits. Donkey Kong Country laid dormant, collecting dusk on a shelf for months. Until yesterday. After hours of grinding, and making small bits of progress each attempt, we finally conquered DK's hell on ice. And you know what? It was completely worth it. The exhilaration of finally conquering something that you know has sucked the souls out of so many others before you is... indescribable. Seriously, I can't describe it. I don't have good enough diction.

So of course, now I will show you a video of someone beating this level, in one try, and effectively ruin the sense of dread and frustration I attempted to craft in the previous paragraphs. Hooray.