Cling
Clinging[1] is a move in Donkey Kong Country Returns, its Nintendo 3DS port, and its Nintendo Switch port. It is used by Donkey Kong (and Diddy Kong. When the player is adjacent to green surfaces and holds 
or 
(or 
with the Wii Remote alone), Donkey Kong uses his arms to grip the surface while Diddy Kong holds on with his arms and legs. While clinging, the player can climb up walls and across ceilings of contiguous green surfaces, which can further serve to avoid obstacles below them. When Donkey Kong clings to ceilings his legs are left dangling, while Diddy Kong stays flush with the surface.
The angles of green surfaces are ignored while clinging, so the player can move up slopes by clinging to them faster than they can run up. It also prevents the player from sliding down. If the player takes damage while clinging, they do not flinch for as long as they do otherwise. Most actions cannot be performed while clinging, but the player can still jump and Ground Pound. Ground Pounds are aimed into the surface being clung to. The player can jump from green surfaces that have gentle slopes and are not upside down. Jumping from green surfaces that are walls has the player use a special jumping state where instead of gaining height they maintain their current height for a short time. This is often used to switch to a parallel green surface. Otherwise, jumping only has the player pop off the green surface. Clinging and ground-pounding while clinging are prominently used to battle Mangoruby in Mangoruby Run, as the arena consists mostly of green grass on circles Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong would walk off from.
Clinging is sometimes grouped with the characters' ability to grab vines, chains, and barrels, as both moves use the same button and involve grabbing hold of things. The digital instruction manual for Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D lists both moves under the name "Grab."[2] The official website for Donkey Kong Country Returns HD considers both moves as one skill, written as "Grab and Cling."[3] A post about tips for Donkey Kong Country Returns HD says that Donkey Kong uses Grab to hold onto green surfaces.[4]
Clinging returns in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, where it has the same role. Dixie Kong and Cranky Kong are newly playable characters and so can also cling.
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| French | S'agripper[5] | Cling | |
| Spanish | Trepar[6] | Climb |
References[edit]
- ^ 2010. Donkey Kong Country Returns instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 14.
- ^ "Hold down
/
to pick up barrels and other objects or to grab on to grass, ropes, vines, etc." – May 24, 2013. Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D digital instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 14.
- ^ "Execute moves like Ground Pound, Roll, Blow, and Grab and Cling." – 2024. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD product page. Nintendo of America (American English). Retrieved January 4th, 2025.
- ^ "Look for grass on the ceiling or hanging vines. Use Grab on these fibrous friends to get past those pesky spikes." – Feb 6, 2025. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is out now for the Nintendo Switch system!. Nintendo of America (American English). Retrieved February 2nd, 2025.
- ^ 2010. Donkey Kong Country Returns instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (French). Page 36.
- ^ 2010. Donkey Kong Country Returns instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (European Spanish). Page 58.
