mentholcase humbly presents: DKC2: Hard As Kongcrete

[mentholcase]

I would like to first thank kingizor for anglicising the SDK2 Editor. I may have thanked him already, but I cannot do this enough times.

I would like to thank everyone who has made DKC-Atlas.com possible.

Latest release v2.0.1, checksum A7B7BCBC

2 minute trailer

The goal of this project was to create a new, much more difficult game, all while still feeling professionally polished, as if it could have been an official release all along. No Kaizo gameplay here (except maybe in the 1st world), folks, but still lots of new puzzles. Also, any and all tile hacking is done as smoothly and seamlessly as possible.

DKC2:HAK is geared towards players who often find themselves blazing through DKC2:DKQ. If you cannot achieve 102% in under two and a half hours, then this patch might not be for you.
- There are no DK Barrels (use BARRALAX!) and only one Star Barrel in the whole game (and it’s semi-hidden).
- Collectibles are fewer and farther between (each single banana should be taken to heart as something deadly serious, whether it be showing you the way to safety or to a secret).
- There are no Bonus Levels. The Lost World can be accessed after retrieving the 75x Kremkoin from Screech, with a technique every bit as intricate as the original techinique to release the 75x Kremkoin. (by the way, Screech now knows of your shortcut, so now he’s got a little shortcut of his own this time around.)
- Most DK Coins are now end-of-level targets, and those that aren’t have been stashed in all new areas (most of them). Since some of these areas can be so hard to find, an extra DK Coin has been hidden in Stronghold Showdown, making it possible to collect 41 DK Coins.
- Note that since there are no Bonus Levels, and the game includes those in the percentage completion calculation, fully completing DKC2:HAK should garnish a percentage of less than 100. Just use your DK Coin count as your "measure of completion."

I was watching someone's Let's Play with my hack, when I realized I forgot to mention:

Before fighting a boss, go to a regular level to get both Kongs, then do Start Select and go back to fighting the boss. The 2nd Kong does not auto-regenerate on boss levels, even with BARRALAX.

My favorite subtle change is the fact that ice is no longer the only surface that is slippery. Doesn’t it make sense that a wet bog and rigging under rain would be too?

My favorite overt change is the change in pathways taken in some levels, such as in Gangplank Galley, Kannon’s Klaim, and Bramble Scramble.

I have uploaded gameplay videos of every level, all without spoiling any hidden DK Coins
http://www.youtube.com/user/mentholcase ... =da&view=u

The ZIP contains four files:
- DKC2 – Hard As Kongcrete.ups
- DKC2 – Hard As Kongcrete.srm
- DKC2 – Hard As Kongcrete readme.txt
- DK Coin hints.txt

This project was made with the (U)(V1.0) version of DKC2:DKQ and patched with NUPS (http://www.romhacking.net/utilities/606/)

I sincerely hope you find the changes of DKC2:HAK challengingly fun and creatively inspiring.

Thank you and enjoy.

File History:
1.0.1 01/29/12 6:00PM PST - fixed level start coordinates in Arctic Abyss (thank you Cody/ArichDKC!)
1.0.2 01/29/12 7:40PM PST - fixed level start coordinates in Haunted Hall
1.0.3 01/30/12 7:00PM PST - modified a camera border in Arctic Abyss. also, in Jungle Jinx, the first pair of Zingers could simply be walked under
1.0.4 02/01/12 12:40PM PST - minor revision to Rambi Rumble
2.0 02/03/12 7:10PM PST -minor revisions to sixteen levels

Spoiler!

Lava Lagoon, Glimmer's Galleon, Rattle Battle, Bramble Blast, Target Terror, Bramble Blast, Mudhole Marsh, Ghostly Grove, Haunted Hall, Gusty Glade, Web Woods, Windy Well, Toxic Tower, Screech's Sprint, Black Ice Battle, and Animal Antics

2.0.1 02/08/12 1:30AM PST - addressed an issue in Caliginous Cargo (Lockjaw's Locker) (thank you ansujitsu!)

[Cody]

Awesome man! Looking forward to trying this out.

Also, I have the ability to modify level names if you wanted me to help you come up with brand new names for every level. Lemme know if this interests you!

[mentholcase]

Thanks !

Oh, and I've actually already figured out how to change level names, haha. I've done it with a handful of levels so it would make sense of some of the changes that were done.

For example, since Hot-Head Hop has no Krocheads, and you must use Dixie's slow descent to get from area to area, it has been renamed Hot-Hair Hover.

[Cody]

Arctic Abyss for some odd reason has no water, enemies or objects. What do?

[mentholcase]

I will double-check the uploaded patch when I get back to my computer at home.

EDIT: Same thing just happened to me. I will try re-uploading right now. Thank you Cody.

[Thriceroy]

This hack makes me realize how stupidly difficult mine was. I should probably start working on mine again.

[Cody]

Hey mentholcase, how's this for a complete WTF?

*drumroll* ...

I'm ArichDKC I wasn't even aware that it was you who mailed me on YouTube about the DKC2 editor back in September, nor did I even remember that happened until I just got your mail saying this hack was finished.

It's a small (internet) world after all

[mentholcase]

Wow, hahahaha, I was just thinking about a real life situation where "it's a small world after all" was applicable to me and here it is again, lol.

[The Banana Bird]

Yeah, I was onecrazyninjamonkey who commented on your video I made a playlist of every level by the way.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL ... re=mh_lolz

[mentholcase]

Uploaded a major update today (a whole lot of minor revisions).

[karahanli]

hi man ive downloaded ur rom also patched and played its awesome thank you very very much for doing this! but theres a problem when i start game its coming just with male monkey its not coming with girl monkey together why ? im from turkey and i love dkc2 thats why i came this forum please help me.. thanks!

[Simion32]

By default DKC2 doesn't start with both Kongs - unless you enable hard mode.

[karahanli]

thanks for ur answer but how i can start with both kongs? im playing with SNES.. Thank you

[Simion32]

To access the cheat mode area you must go to the game select screen, highlight Two Player Contest, and press Down 10 times. This is where you enter the cheat codes. Note: pressing down only 5 times will access the sound test screen.

Hard Mode: There are no barrels in hard mode.
Cheat code: B, A, Right, Right, A, Left, A, X

[karahanli]

Thank you So Much it worked and im playing with both kongs also DKC2: Hard As Kongcrete Thousands Thanks ! !

[Super Luigi!]

Because this hack wasn't hard enough, so now we have to turn on the Hard Mode, right? Apparently, Kongcrete isn't hard enough. Try a Die-mond.

[mentholcase]

Thank you Simion32 for covering for me.

Super Luigi!, what Hard Mode does is remove the DK Barrels and you start with both Kongs. Since the hack already has no DK Barrels, "Hard Mode" makes the hack playable, otherwise you couldn't even beat the first level. So, when DKC2 is played normally, Hard Mode is exactly that, hard, but with my hack, "Hard Mode" just makes the game possible.

[karahanli]

hi again mentholcase i wanna say first this is amazing job and thousands thanks for u but ive watched ur this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCknWBZm9JU i found a hard way to play with dixie also u are so smart i wanna tell u this im recording a video now ill upload here soon

edit: here is the video for play with dixie in this scene i catchh uu mentholcase hehehe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq0AbcoFb3U

[mentholcase]

GOOD JOB FINDING THAT!

Now go find the DK Coin haha. Oh, and by the way, it can be done with either Dixie or Diddy.

[karahanli]

thank u im gonna find a DK coin now like u said lol also i wonder are u working on another dkc2 version mentholcase ? its gonna be perfect if u

[karahanli]

hi again mentholcase im trying to finish kreepy krow but the barrels not coming even i kill all eagles so can u upload saved states for snes? thank u !

[mentholcase]

The barrels will sometimes come offscreen, which means that you will have to endure another round of Mini-Neckies before attempting to get the barrel again.

In the beginning and middle section, there is a 1/3 chance of not getting the barrel. In the final section, there is a 2/3 chance that you won't get the barrel.

Let me know if the barrels won't show if you still keep playing and it never happens for you.

[karahanli]

ive tried too many times but it never show up man im so sad because of this i couldnt play last 3 days

[mentholcase]

When you start the game, does the checksum say "A7B7BCBC" ?

Also, there is a save file that is included in the ZIP.

[Qyzbud]

karahanli - please make an effort to use correct English in your posts. That is our number one rule here.

Use proper grammar and punctuation.

Take a look at the rest our forum rules before posting again, please.

[karahanli]

i can tell u that my english is not perfect and still trying to learn i respect to forum rules but it shouldnt be problem if someone cant talk with good english i think or it became racism

[sonosublime]

Holy geez. I'm pretty good at DKC2. But I'm not THAT good.

[mentholcase]

I was watching someone's Let's Play with my hack, when I realized I forgot to mention:

Before fighting a boss, go to a regular level to get both Kongs, then do Start Select and go back to fighting the boss. The 2nd Kong does not auto-regenerate on boss levels, even with BARRALAX.

[mentholcase]

RANDOM GAMEPLAY TIP:

In Haunted Hall, you MUST choose the low path in the beginning. The high path will kill you immediately and the middle path causes a weird glitch that limits your jump height.

[mentholcase]

Before August, or when I get 700 downloads, whichever comes first, I will describe the areas where all the hidden DK Coins can be found. If I get 1000 downloads, I will make videos showing how to get them.

I will be checking on this threa d about every two weeks.

[mentholcase]

RANDOM GAMEPLAY TIP: (given out about every 50 downloads, starting now)

In the first water level, when you get to the part where you first start swimming, you MUST collect all of the bananas that are grouped in squares. This ensures that the water level rises all the way to the top and you don't get stuck in a random part of the level with the water level stopped.