Differences to Donkey Kong Country 2 * Overworld map has been flipped, as have most of the individual world maps. * Crocodile Cauldron and Krem Quay have been joined together to create Krem Cauldron; some of their levels have been transfered to Krazy Kremland. As a result the boss of Krem Quay in DKC2, Kudgel, does not make an appearance in this game. * Lost World is accessed as an entire world from the overworld map, instead of having individual levels accessed from each of the worlds via Klubba's Kiosk. * Removal of Swanky and Cranky, Wrinkly no longer gives out hints * No team-up mechanic present * Characters always transform into Animal buddies and cannot ride them * Dixie's ponytail whirl now allows the player to hit B in the air at any time before hitting the peak of their jump * While stages may have the same name as their SNES console counterparts, the level layout (and sometimes mechanics) are completely different * End of a level is marked by a stand-alone target with no prizes for good timing * Stages with water in them do not have dynamic water which raises and falls anymore * Not all music has been ported over, as such many of the different level archtypes share the same music * Music has been remixed by Grant Kirkhope (composer for Banjo-Kazooie and Viva Pinata) rather than by original composer David Wise * No bonus stages are accessed via cannons with cannon balls, or by breaking through secret walls. All are found in bonus barrels. * Only 47 Bonus or Krem Coins to collect instead of 75 * Cat O' Nine Tails enemy has been removed * Glimmer's Galleon no longer features the angler fish Glimmer; instead you must touch various barrels to light up the stage for you * It's possible to complete the Rattle Battle stage without using Rattly the snake at all * Slime Climb features toxic slime which hurts you upon touching it instead of containing a dangerous piranha (Snapjaw in Donkey Kong Country 2) * Kleaver's Kiln fight utilises Krockheads that the player must use to cross to the other side of the battlefield instead of hooks * Haunted Hall in Gloomy Gulch has been replaced by a regular rollercoaster level called Krazy Koaster * Only need to scale one set of rigging ropes in Kreepy Krow fight * In King Zing Sting fight, King Zing never shoots barbs at you. It doesn't matter where you hit him with Squawks the Parrot's nuts, and he won't make a barricade of Zingers around himself, only leave a trail of them behind him later in the fight instead. * Animal Antics is now entirely a jungle level. * K. Rool Duel is now set in a castle level, whereas Krocodile Kore fight is now set in a lava level

Different level layouts is what I would consider a rather significant difference as that results in different gameplay considerations

[long list of differences including] * While stages may have the same name as their SNES console counterparts, the level layout (and sometimes mechanics) are completely different