Donkey Kong Country

Donkey Kong Country
The boxart for Donkey Kong Country
Developer	Rare
Publisher	Nintendo
Platforms	Super Nintendo Game Boy Color Game Boy Advance Virtual Console
Release Dates	SNES Europe: November 24, 1994 North America: November 25, 1994 Japan: November 26, 1994 Game Boy Color Europe: November 17, 2000 North America: November 23, 2000 Japan: January 21, 2001 Game Boy Advance Europe: June 6, 2003 North America: June 9, 2003 Japan: December 12, 2003 Virtual Console Europe: December 8, 2006 Japan: December 12, 2006 North America: February 19, 2007 South Korea: May 26, 2008
Ratings	K-A, E, G
Players	1-2

Donkey Kong Country, originally released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1994, was a 2D platformer video game developed by Rareware. This game starred Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, in their attempt to regain Donkey Kong's stolen banana hoard. It was the very first sidescroller of it's time to feature 3D-generated sprites.

It would later be remade on the Game Boy Color in 2000, and again in 2003 on the Game Boy Advance. Both remakes would feature new Bonus mini-games, new features and the ability to save on the overworld. The original Super Nintendo version would be later released on the Wii's Virtual Console in 2007.

Donkey Kong Country is the first of the Donkey Kong Country Series and there would later be three sequels Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, and Donkey Kong Country Returns. There would also be a semi-sequel released on the Game Boy in 1995 titled, Donkey Kong Land.

[edit] Story

On a dark and stormy night on Donkey Kong Island, Diddy Kong is guarding Donkey Kong's precious Banana Hoard for a night, as a part of his training. He is entrusted to protect the hoard until midnight, while Donkey Kong catches some sleep.

Everything appears to be going fine until Diddy hears some noises outside and gets scared, King K. Rool commands his Kremlings to stick Diddy inside a barrel and hide him in the bushes. Two ropes drop from above, and two Kritters appear. Diddy takes them both out with ease but is overpowered and defeated by a Krusha. In the manual's prologue, it is a Klump that overpowers Diddy Kong instead.

Cranky Kong rushes to the treehouse to wake up Donkey Kong and tell him what has happened. He tells Donkey Kong to check his Banana Cave. Once visiting the Banana Cave, Donkey Kong sets off to retrieve his bananas back and Diddy Kong.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Playable Characters

Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, main protagonists of the game.

The main characters of Donkey Kong Country are Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong.

[edit] Donkey Kong

Main Article: Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong is the hero of the Donkey Kong Country series. He has a banana hoard located underneath his treehouse. He is much stronger and heavier than his nephew Diddy Kong, and is able to defeat some enemies that Diddy cannot. He has his own move, the Hand Slap.

[edit] Diddy Kong

Main Article: Diddy Kong

Diddy Kong, is Donkey Kong's nephew and a hero in training. He sets out to help Donkey Kong recover the Banana Hoard that was stolen by King K. Rool. Diddy is not as strong as Donkey but he is able to run a little bit faster and able to reach some Bonus Games that DK cannot.

[edit] Other Characters

[edit] Cranky Kong

Main Article: Cranky Kong

Cranky Kong resides in Cranky's Cabin, where he can give Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong random hints on how to beat the game at the cost of Banana Coins. He considers himself to be the best video game hero, and doesn't believe that DK and Diddy can finish the adventure without his help.

[edit] Candy Kong

Main Article: Candy Kong

Candy Kong is known as the girlfriend of Donkey Kong. She runs Candy's Save Point (or Candy's Dance Studio in the Game Boy Advance version). She will allow the Kongs to save their progress and take part in a dance contest with them.

[edit] Funky Kong

Main Article: Funky Kong

Funky Kong takes care of Funky's Flights in the Super Nintendo version and Funky's Fishing in the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance versions. He will be holding a green surf board, while wearing a bandanna and sunglasses. He will allow the Kongs to go to another world that they have completed.

[edit] Animal Buddies

Enguarde, as seen in Donkey Kong Country.

In Donkey Kong Country, there are 5 Animal Buddies that help the Kongs on their quest to recover the lost bananas. Each Animal Buddy is imprisoned in an Animal Crate with their symbol on it and needs rescue from the Kongs.

• Rambi the Rhinoceros can be found in the very first level of the game. He is able to run through Kremlings and open bonus rooms by using his horn.

• Enguarde the Swordfish can be found in only underwater levels such as Coral Capers. He uses his large bill to defeat most enemies.

• Winky the Frog has a high jumping ability, which is almost three times higher than the normal Kong's jump. He can reach bonus rooms that the Kongs cannot and avoid foes. He will be able to defeat most enemies by jumping on them.

• Squawks the Parrot is the only non-playable animal buddy in the game. He appears only in Torchlight Trouble. He will carry a lamp to light up the way in the dark level.

• Expresso the Ostrich is the fastest animal buddy and tallest. He can avoid smaller foes, such as Klaptraps. He has no type of attack but is able to glide a short distance to find secret bonus rooms or avoid enemies.

[edit] Worlds

Donkey Kong Island, as seen in Donkey Kong Country.

• Kongo Jungle: A diverse area with sea, jungle and cave environments. The area is often sunny, with the occasional rain. Very Gnawty guards the big banana.
• Monkey Mines: An ancient area with old ruins and abandoned mines scattered across the area. Master Necky guards the big banana.
• Vine Valley: An area with many holes and trees around the area. This area has many jungle areas and a temple area. Holes are common place here, as are climbing the treetops to avoid them. Queen B. guards the big banana.
• Gorilla Glacier: The highest points of DK Island. This area obviously has a lot of ice and hills. Dying here is very easy because of the speed you can slide down a hill to your doom. Flying enemies are common place here, such as Neckys and Zingers. Really Gnawty guards the big banana here.
• Kremkroc Industries, Inc.: An abandoned toxic area with lots of machinery, and also a polluted pond. The machinery here is old, and as such, often needs to be fixed before the Kongs can continue. Dumb Drum guards the big banana.
• Chimp Caverns: A large valley with many holes and machinery, similar to Kremkroc Industries, Inc. This area is among the most dangerous of them all, with the small and sometimes temporary platforms. Master Necky Sr. guards the big banana.
• Gangplank Galleon: The final area of the game. There is only one level, and that is the final boss fight against King K. Rool. He guards DK's final big banana. The only things to be wary of here are King K. Rool's crown, which he throws like a boomerang, the falling cannon balls, and his dashing and hopping, which are similar to Very and Really Gnawty. Also be aware of his 'fake credits', which can trick an ignorant player.

[edit] Enemies/Bosses

Throughout the game, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong will face a variety of enemies from the Kremling Krew.

A Kritter, as seen in Donkey Kong Country.

• Army
• Bitesize
• Chomps
• Chomps Jr.
• Clambo
• Croctopus
• Gnawty
• Klaptrap
• Klump
• Krash
• Kritter
• Krusha
• Manky Kong
• Mincer
• Mini-Necky
• Necky
• Oil Drum
• Rockkroc
• Slippa
• Squidge
• Zinger

[edit] Bosses

Each boss can be found at the end of each world. They can be found in their own unique stage and a few bosses are larger versions of regular enemies.

• Very Gnawty
• Master Necky
• Queen B.
• Really Gnawty
• Dumb Drum
• Master Necky Snr.
• King K. Rool

[edit] Ports

[edit] Game Boy Color

Another port was released for the Game Boy Color in 2000. Here are the changes:

• There are three different title screens.
• Only one Kong appears at a time.
• The Game Boy Printer is usable.
• Winky's Walkway is extended.
• A new level called Necky Nutmare has been added in Chimp Caverns, the last world in the game.
• The Kongs don't ride the Animal Buddies, they become them.
• 2 new minigames have been added, Funky Fishing and Cranky Crosshairs.
• 2 new difficulties have been added with one removing the Star Barrels and the other removing the DK Barrels.
• Most of the music from Donkey Kong Land has been reused to replace the ones from the SNES version.

[edit] Game Boy Advance

Another port was released to the Game Boy Advance in 2003. Notable differences:

• Saving is possible anywhere rather than save points.
• A prologue explaining the purpose of DK's quest is played prior to the start of the game, as well as an epilogue.
• The Nintendo label on the giant bananas has been removed, and Cranky will give commentary after the boss is defeated.
• The graphics and overall sound quality have been reduced. Some enemies have tweaked, usually higher pitched effects.
• Candy and Funky now run bonus games, and Cranky's Cabin has been redesigned.
• A multiplayer mode is possible, but on the GameCube either player can play as Donkey Kong or Diddy Kong.
• On the overhead map, a menu was added. In it, Funky can be summoned anytime on the map screen, get access to a scrapbook, save the game and view level stats.
• Enemies come in more colors.
• The menu is redesigned with DK Attack, and Extras added to the menu.
• A Time Attack mode has been added to the menu.
• More sound effects have been added.
• The boss battles have slightly changed when they are attacked with Queen B. now has 3 Zingers around her, Really Gnawty makes stalactites fall from the ceiling, Dumb Drum must have a few TNT Barrels thrown at him, and Master Necky helps Master Necky Sr. fight the Kongs.
• The map has been redesigned in worlds and the map is zoomed in more.
• The barrels the send the Kongs to Bonus Levels are replaced by Bonus Barrels.
• Starting from Vine Valley, levels have been swapped around.
• The credits now take place in Gangplank Galleon rather than DK's Treehouse.
• A Videogame Hero mode has been added where the player plays as a yellow Diddy to complete all levels without Star Barrels and DK Barrels.
• Candy hosts a dancing game at Candy's Dance Studio.