After recently playing through the levels of DK64, I realized something. This game has terrible level design. 
If you aren't wandering around in some cave or tunnel in a level, you are probably wandering around in some open section that the cave lead you to. If I need to get somewhere, I don't exactly know where that place is and getting there isn't the easiest either. Sure, once you memorize the level it's a lot easier, but take a look at a game like Banjo Kazooie where all the parts of a level come together and make sense. DK64 was just random, leading you from one area to the next. The Warp Pads only added to the confusion, forcing you to use one to get to another warp pad to fianlly get you to your destination.
However, I still have a great time playing this game, even years after I first played it. I still love it to death and regard it as one of my favorite N64 games. Maybe nostalgia is to blame.
If you aren't wandering around in some cave or tunnel in a level, you are probably wandering around in some open section that the cave lead you to. If I need to get somewhere, I don't exactly know where that place is and getting there isn't the easiest either. Sure, once you memorize the level it's a lot easier, but take a look at a game like Banjo Kazooie where all the parts of a level come together and make sense. DK64 was just random, leading you from one area to the next. The Warp Pads only added to the confusion, forcing you to use one to get to another warp pad to fianlly get you to your destination. However, I still have a great time playing this game, even years after I first played it. I still love it to death and regard it as one of my favorite N64 games. Maybe nostalgia is to blame.
