This was another port from Rare’s N64 glory days. I’m not sure whether the original artwork had been lost or just misplaced, but I was tasked with conceptualising and managing the new version.
It came in as a last minute job, landing in my department after a few missteps elsewhere. Time was tight, and in truth we could have used a little longer to refine everything. I was never completely happy with Diddy Kong’s appearance. I remember a fair bit of back and forth with Nintendo too, showing his gums was apparently a big no no. Maybe a Japanese cultural thing, who knows.
The Nintendo DS version was well received, introducing the game to a new generation of players and extending its legacy beyond the original N64 release. It sold well for a handheld release and helped keep Rare’s classic characters in the spotlight during the DS era.
It came in as a last minute job, landing in my department after a few missteps elsewhere. Time was tight, and in truth we could have used a little longer to refine everything. I was never completely happy with Diddy Kong’s appearance. I remember a fair bit of back and forth with Nintendo too, showing his gums was apparently a big no no. Maybe a Japanese cultural thing, who knows.
The Nintendo DS version was well received, introducing the game to a new generation of players and extending its legacy beyond the original N64 release. It sold well for a handheld release and helped keep Rare’s classic characters in the spotlight during the DS era.
