I give credit for that first man to the fact that the Grateful Dead's "American Beauty" played in the background throughout the game.
An excellent choice, Jason.
The Dead continue to inspire both tie-dyed music fans and gamers alike, nearly 50 years after their inception.
Phil, Jerry, and Bobby each sing about the journey to Level 22-1, more than a decade before DK was introduced:
Box of Rain (Phil)Walk into splintered sunlight
Inch your way through dead dreams to another land
Maybe you're tired and broken
Your tongue is twisted with words half spoken and thoughts unclear
Ripple (Jerry)There is a road, no simple highway
Between the dawn and the dark of night
And if you go no one may follow
That path is for your steps alone
Truckin' (Bobby)Sometimes the light's all shining on me
Other times I can barely see
Lately it occurs to me
What a long, strange trip it's been