DONKEY KONG COUNTRY

RARE'S DONKEY KONG COUNTRY WAS A GROUND-BREAKING GAME IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE, WITH GAMERS GOING BANANAS OVER DAVID WISE'S STANDOUT SOUNDTRACK. INCORPORATING ENVIRONMENTAL SOUNDS AND MUSIC INSPIRED BY A BUNCH OF ICONIC ARTISTS, IT GOT THE MOST OUT OF THE SNES' IMPRESSIVE SPC700 SOUND CHIP

- WORDS BY DAVID CROOKES

Rare's Donkey Kong Country was a smash-hit platformer that proved the SNES wasn't about to roll over and surrender to the flashy new 32-bit consoles.

Aside from posing a satisfying challenge and boasting masterly crafted levels, the game was praised for its pre-rendered 3D visuals created on Silicon Graphics workstations. It was also notable for its superb soundtrack.

Composed by David Wise, Eveline Novakovic and Robin Beanland, it hit the spot immediately with Theme, a tune blessed with a pulsing bass line and ambient jungle noises. The soundtrack continued to please ears with the jaunty Simian Segue, the jungle beat of the DK Island Swing and the old-time rhythm of Cranky's Theme. The more gamers played, the more these undoubted classics would enthral. They just kept coming, elevating the game's overall experience.

Interestingly, David was influenced by artists from the Eighties. "I used to love all things Trevor Horn: Yes' studio album 90125, Seal and Adamski," he says, referring to the English award-winning record producer and musician. "I also loved pioneering synth legends such as Vangelis, Jean-Michel Jarre and Gary Numan. I thought Phil Collins was very creative too, both as a song writer and with the technical side of things."

As such, David wanted