Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Recompilation

About

A community static recompilation of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest for SNES into native desktop applications, built with the snesrecomp framework. Windows and Apple-silicon macOS builds are available. The game program is translated to native C where analysis can prove an exact entry state, with a shared interpreter kept as a fallback. It needs your own North American v1.0 ROM, and no ROM or game art is distributed.

How it differs from the original

Two-player team mode is simultaneous by default instead of alternating control, and the port offers CRT television display, experimental widescreen aspect ratios, and optional MSU-1 replacement music.

Getting started

On Windows, download the release zip, run the launcher, select your own North American v1.0 ROM and choose Play. On macOS, open the app and select the ROM, which stays outside the application bundle. Escape opens an in-game overlay with settings, controls and assist tools.

History

The recompilation is described as a byproduct of developing the snesrecomp framework, with the games serving as the proving ground.

Known issues & limitations

• The Mac release does not include the new simultaneous co-op or MSU-1 support.
• Full-game co-op death/respawn, other animal types, and special throwables remain unverified.
• The Mac release is ad-hoc signed and not notarized.
• A captured first-level route currently encounters an unresolved dispatch, so that route remains an open correctness target.
• Widescreen is not yet certified for the whole game, and some stages, bosses and special screens still need route testing.

What you need to run it

Features

• The in-game overlay provides settings, controls, Assist Tools / Cheats, and quit options.

How to install

1. Download and extract the Windows release archive, run DKC2Recomp.exe, select your own North American v1.0 ROM, then choose Play.
2. Download and extract the macOS release, open DKC2Recomp.app, and select your own North American v1.0 ROM.

Controls

• Q/W are L/R; Enter is Start; right Shift is Select.
• Hold 1 to rewind and 2 to fast-forward; controllers use the left and right triggers.
• Alt+Enter toggles fullscreen.

Licensing & legal

• Project-owned source is MIT licensed, while the PSXRecomp-derived screen-color component is PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0.

Additional notes

Save tool

A Python script can mark every level of a save file as cleared, open the Lost World and grant coins.

FAQ

What is Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Recompilation?

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Recompilation is an open-source recompilation of Donkey Kong Country 2. The original game's compiled code translated into a native program for a new platform, usually a PC port. The original game ran on SNES.

Do I need the original game files to run Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Recompilation?

Yes. The project does not include the original game's assets, so you need your own copy.

How is Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Recompilation licensed?

project: MIT (project-owned source); project: PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 (PSXRecomp-derived screen-color component). The repository itself is the authoritative source.