Editing Donkey Kong 64

|developer=[[Rare Ltd.|Rareware]]

|release='''Nintendo 64:'''<br>{{release|USA|November 22, 1999<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/19991115121547/http://www.nintendo.com/n64/gamelist.html Nintendo.com Release Dates] (Wayback Machine)</ref>|Europe|December 6, 1999<ref>[https://archive.fo/MPVCi Nintendo UK page] (archived)</ref>|Australia|December 6, 1999|Japan|December 12, 1999<ref>[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_ndoj/index.html Nintendo JP page]</ref>}}'''Virtual Console (Wii U):'''<br>{{release|Japan|April 2, 2015<ref>[http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wiiu/software/vc/naaj/index.html?_ga=1.117249158.1818326145.1407870473 Donkey Kong 64 for Wii U Virtual Console on the official Nintendo of Japan website]. Retrieved April 2, 2015.</ref>|Europe|April 2, 2015<ref>[http://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-64/Donkey-Kong-64-269459.html Donkey Kong 64 for Wii U Virtual Console on the Nintendo of Europe website]. Retrieved April 2, 2015.</ref>|Australia|April 2, 2015|USA|April 16, 2015<ref>[https://youtu.be/IMedqo8mLaQ?t=16m34s Nintendo Direct 4.1.2015]. Posted to YouTube by Nintendo of America on April 1, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2015.</ref>}}

|ratings={{ratings|esrb=E|acb=G|pegi=7|cero=a}}

|media={{media|n64=1|wiiudl=1}}

{{quote2|And you thought insanity was crazy.|Tagline<ref>adonaldumich (January 9, 2008). [https://youtu.be/S-HE9Dp2Ym8 Donkey Kong 64 (N64) - Commercial]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved November 19, 2022.</ref>}}

'''''Donkey Kong 64''''' is a 3D action-adventure platform game developed by [[Rare Ltd.|Rareware]] and released for the [[Nintendo 64]] in [[List of games by date#1999|1999]]. It is a follow-up to the original ''[[Donkey Kong Country (series)|Donkey Kong]]'' trilogy for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]; it is the first and so far the only 3D platform game in the [[Donkey Kong (franchise)|''Donkey Kong'' franchise]]. In the game, [[Donkey Kong]] and his friends go on an adventure to stop [[King K. Rool]] from using his doomsday device, the [[Blast-o-Matic]], to destroy [[DK Isles|Kong Isle]].

The story begins with a view of [[DK Isles]], which is the homeland of the [[Kong]]s. Meanwhile, the [[Kremling]]s and [[King K. Rool]] are sailing inside a fortified, technological version of [[Crocodile Isle (Donkey Kong 64)|Crocodile Isle]], which hosts the doomsday device, the Blast-o-Matic. The device was designed by a weasel engineer named [[Snide]], whom K. Rool later fired out of paranoia. K. Rool puts the [[Kritter]]s in charge of operating the Blast-o-Matic and manuevering Crocodile Isle, but due to the Kritters' incompetence and laziness, Crocodile Isle crashes into a rock. The Blast-o-Matic becomes heavily damaged as a result. Crocodile Isle docks directly in front of Kong Isle, and K. Rool orders three of his minions, a [[Klump]], a Kritter and a [[Kasplat]], to distract [[Donkey Kong]] by stealing his [[banana hoard]] and imprisoning the other Kongs, to buy them time as they repair the Blast-o-Matic. Klump assures K. Rool that they have already fulfilled his orders.  

The Kongs manage to enter inside of Crocodile Isle and manage to shut down the Blast-o-Matic before its power gets fully restored. After the Kongs obtain the final [[Boss Key]], K. Rool retreats into his [[K. Rool's airship (Donkey Kong 64)|airship]]. With the final Boss Key, the Kongs free K. Lumsy from his cage. He then chases after K. Rool, who is flying his airship around Kong Isle. As he chases K. Rool, K. Lumsy accidentally trips over a rock and hits the cruiser, causing it to crash into the water. The Kongs enter the airship and engage in a five-round boxing match against King Krusha K. Rool. After the match, [[Funky Kong]] appears and launches a boot at K. Rool while [[Candy Kong]] distracts him. This results in K. Rool being defeated, and the Kongs and rest of DK Isles celebrate over their victory.

 

“Well, what are you waiting for? Get the Blast-o-Matic working. I’ve got an island to destroy!”<ref>Backstory, as it is presented in the [https://cdn02.nintendo-europe.com/media/downloads/games_8/emanuals/nintendo_8/Manual_Nintendo64_DonkeyKong64_EN.pdf ''Donkey Kong 64'' instruction booklet], page 5 and 6.</ref></blockquote>

Every level has a boss whose arena is accessible from the [[Troff 'N' Scoff]] location, Here the Kongs feed [[Scoff]] with a certain number of [[banana]]s, and as Scoff eats them, he progressively becomes larger. Eventually Scoff becomes large enough for [[Troff]]'s platform to be raised up to the key for Troff to unlock the door leading to the level boss. Each boss can only be fought by a certain Kong, whose face appears on the door just before the battle. The boss battles are constructed around the designated Kong's abilities. After that Kong defeats the boss, the Kongs obtain a Boss Key.

{| class="dktable-brown"

! Kong !! Information !! Manual description

| [[File:Donkey3.jpg|120px]]<br>[[Donkey Kong]]

| Donkey Kong is the main and starting character. He is a balanced character with average speed and agility, slightly slower than Lanky. Donkey Kong can kick forward if the player presses the {{button|n64|B}} button, and can use a double-handed punch while in the air by pressing the {{button|n64|B}} button as he jumps. Donkey Kong uses the [[Coconut Shooter]] as his personal weapon, which can shoot [[coconut]]s, and his musical instrument is the [[bongo]]s. Donkey Kong is the only character who can access [[Baboon Blast]] challenges via his Kong Pad, and can use [[Gorilla Grab]] to pull levers. Donkey Kong can collect yellow [[banana]]s, [[Banana Coin|Banana Bunch Coin]]s, and [[Blueprint]]s.

| <blockquote>"He's the only ape who still cares enough to wear a tie. DK may not be the most powerful Kong - or the quickest - but he applies a strong blue-collar work ethic to the business of [[Kremling]] Crushing. That may be why he's the leader of the Kong Clan."</blockquote>

| [[File:Diddy8.jpg|120px]]<br>[[Diddy Kong]]

| Diddy Kong is the first Kong to be rescued and the second one overall. He is found imprisoned in a cell in a mountainside of [[Jungle Japes]]. When Donkey Kong frees him, Diddy becomes a playable character. Diddy has weaker attacks than the other Kongs, which is compensated by his quick speed and agility. Diddy's main attack is his trademark [[Cartwheel Attack|cartwheel]]. While Diddy is in midair, the player can press the {{button|n64|B}} button for him to spin his tail. From his Kong Pad, Diddy can perform the [[Simian Spring]] to reach heights by bouncing on his tail, and he can use [[Chimpy Charge]] to charge into switches and fragile walls. Diddy Kong uses the [[Peanut Popgun]]s as his personal weapon, which can shoot [[peanut]]s, and can use them in conjunction with his [[Rocketbarrel Boost]]. Diddy's musical instrument is an electric guitar. Diddy can collect red bananas, Banana Bunch Coins, and Blueprints.

| <blockquote>"You'll probably recognize his familiar furry mug from past adventures. A mere bantamweight in bulk, this courageous chimp is the heavyweight champion of hard-core attitude. Whether he's rocking out on a six-stringed, amplified guitar or rocketing through the sky, he's always giving it 100 percent - Diddy Style."</blockquote>

| [[File:Lanky.png|120px]]<br>[[Lanky Kong]]

| [[Lanky Kong]] is one of the imprisoned characters. He is rescued in the second level, [[Angry Aztec]]. Lanky is the most balanced in speed, strength and agility, and his long arms give him longer range in his basic attacks than other Kongs. By pressing the {{button|n64|B}} button, the player can have Lanky stretch out his arms either to attack enemies or to reach switches. By standing on his Kong Pad, Lanky can perform [[Baboon Balloon]] to briefly inflate himself and float up like a balloon. With his [[OrangStand]] ability, Lanky can walk on his hands, which allows him to move up steep slopes. A related ability, the [[OrangStand Sprint]], allows Lanky to perform OrangStand, but at a much faster speed. Lanky's personal weapon is the [[Grape Shooter]], a blowgun that he can spit [[grape]]s from, and his musical instrument is the trombone. Lanky Kong can collect blue bananas, Banana Bunch Coins, and Blueprints.

| <blockquote>"This knuckle-dragging Kong looks like a clown, and it's more than just a coincidence. Think of him as a twisted twig on a distant branch of the family tree. Kremlings and [[Klaptrap]]s may snicker at his goofy gait as he ambles in their direction, but there's nothing funny about a hyper extended sucker punch."</blockquote>

| [[File:Tiny.jpg|120px]]<br>[[Tiny Kong]]

| [[Tiny Kong]] is the fourth Kong and the only playable female Kong. Like Lanky, she is also rescued at Angry Aztec, and the player can either rescue her before or after Lanky and Chunky. Tiny has the highest speed and agility of the Kongs, though her attacks are comparatively the weakest. Tiny's main attack is using her ponytails to whip other enemies, done by pressing the {{button|n64|B}} button. While Tiny is in midair, she can use her [[Pony Tail Twirl]] to spin around her ponytails and slowly glide through the air. With the [[Mini-Monkey]] ability, Tiny can shrink herself to a very small size, allowing her to access small entrances. Tiny uses the [[Feather Bow]] as her personal weapon, which can shoot feathers, and her musical instrument is the saxophone. Tiny can collect purple bananas, Banana Bunch Coins, and Blueprints.

| <blockquote>"[[Dixie Kong|Dixie]]'s VERY little sister brings a big dose of flower power to the Kong's campaign. You'll find her pigtails perfect for pugilism and not too bad for a helicopter ride from the treetops. Tiny never shrinks from her responsibilities - even when she shrinks herself physically for a mouse's eye view of the action. "</blockquote>

| [[File:SSBU Chunky Kong Spirit.png|120px]]<br>[[Chunky Kong]]

| [[Chunky Kong]] is the fifth and final Kong, who is rescued from a hanging cage in [[Frantic Factory]]. Chunky is the strongest of the Kongs, as he can lift [[boulder]]s and other heavy objects, as well as attack enemies with powerful punches. However, he is the slowest, least agile, and has the lowest jump height of the Kongs. By pressing {{button|n64|B}}, the player can have Chunky perform his main attack, where he rapidly spins to attack an enemy. By standing on his associated Kong Pad, Chunky can perform [[Gorilla Gone]] to become invisible. By jumping into his Kong Barrel, Chunky can perform [[Hunky Chunky]], which turns him to a giant size. Chunky uses the [[Pineapple Launcher]] as his personal weapon, which can shoot [[pineapple]]s, and his musical instrument is the triangle. Chunky can collect green bananas, Banana Bunch Coins, and Blueprints.

{|class="dktable-brown"

!Animal Friend !! Information

===Kremlings===

{| class="dktable-brown"

! Kremling !! Information

| [[File:KrushaScreen.png|120px]]<br>[[Krusha]]

| [[Krusha]] is a [[Kremling]] originating from ''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'', and is a character playable only in the game's multiplayer mode. He is unlocked once the player collects fifteen Banana Fairies. He has similar attributes to Chunky Kong, as he is one of the strongest characters physically, but lacks in speed and agility, although he has a few unique attacks, such as a fast sliding punch. His weapon of choice is the [[orange grenade launcher]], which is used to launch [[orange]]s.

| [[File:KlaptapScreen.png|120px]]<br>[[Klaptrap]]

| [[Klaptrap]] is a regular enemy that appears in various locations throughout the game and acts like a dog, but he is playable in a minigame, "[[Beaver Bother]]". He must snap at the beavers to scare away the numerous [[Gnawty|Gnawties]] into the hole in the middle of the arena before the time runs out.

{| class="dktable-brown"

! Character !! Information

| [[File:Banana Fairy1.png|120px]]<br>[[Banana Fairy Princess]]

| The [[Banana Fairy Princess]] is the princess of the Banana Fairies and lives in a fairy shaped structure on an island surrounding DK Isles. Only Tiny Kong can visit her, and when she does, the Banana Fairy Princess will request that the Kongs search for and return her Banana Fairies to her. The Banana Fairy Princess will then give away the [[Banana Camera Film]] and also gives the Kongs the ability to perform a [[Super Slam]], which can defeat almost any enemy in one hit.  

| [[File:K. Lumsy - Donkey Kong 64.png|120px]]<br>[[K. Lumsy]]

| [[K. Lumsy]] is a large Kremling who is first seen locked up in a large cage on an island beside Crocodile Isles. Unlike the other members of the Kremling Krew, K. Lumsy is a kind-hearted Kremling who refuses to destroy DK Isles, which resulted in King K. Rool locking him up. The Kongs agree to collect the keys to K. Lumsy's prison and set him free, which is one of the game's main tasks.

| [[File:DK64 Wrinkly Kong Artwork.png|120px]]<br>[[Wrinkly Kong]]

| [[Wrinkly Kong]] appears in the lobbies to each world (save for [[Hideout Helm]]) where she appears as a ghost, having died prior to the start of the game. Here, she gives the Kongs hints towards one of their Golden Bananas in each level. The Wrinkly Doors are color coded to match each of the Kong's main colors.

| [[File:Troff.jpg|120px]]<br>[[Troff]]

| [[File:Scoff.jpg|120px]]<br>[[Scoff]]

| [[File:Snidet.jpg|120px]]<br>[[Snide]]

| [[Snide]] is a weasel character who was once the chief technician for King K. Rool. However, King K. Rool threw him out because he found him untrusting. Snide set out for revenge against him by asking the Kongs to locate the blueprints to the Blast-O-Matic and helping them with destroying it. Snide's HQ can be found in every level (excluding Hideout Helm) as well as DK Isles where the Kongs can exchange blueprints for Golden Bananas, as well as play bonus games after returning all the blueprints.

{| class="dktable-brown" width=75%

| [[File:B Locker.PNG|150px]]<br>[[B. Locker]]

| B. Locker is a character who appears at the entrance to each world in the world's lobby. He appears to block the world's entrance and will only let the Kongs enter if they have a certain number of Golden Bananas. If they do, he will disappear and allow access to the world.

| [[File:DK64 Beanstalk.png|150px]]<br>[[Beanstalk (character)|Beanstalk]]

| A character appearing in Fungi Forest. The Beanstalk sprouted from a small pink seed found by Tiny Kong and holds a Golden Banana at its top.

| [[File:Racing Beetle.png|150px]]<br>[[Beetle (character)|Beetle]]

| The Beetle is a character appearing in the worlds Angry Aztec and Crystal Caves. She is a racing beetle who challenges Tiny Kong in Angry Aztec and Lanky Kong in Crystal Caves, both with the same conditions of collecting 50 DK Coins and beating her in the race.

| [[File:DK64 Necky Character.png|150px]]<br>[[Buzzard (character)|Buzzard]]

| A buzzard character sporting a pilot helmet and goggles appears in the Angry Aztec area. It can only be met as Diddy Kong after freeing him from his caged prison. Upon doing so, he will challenge Diddy Kong to race through the rings he leaves behind; if beaten, he will reward Diddy with a Golden Banana.

| [[File:Frozen Tomato.png|150px]]<br>[[Ice Creature]]

| The Ice Creature is a frozen tomato looking character appearing only in Crystal Caves. It appears in the igloo where only Lanky can visit it. He will challenge Lanky to a game and reward him with a Golden Banana should he win.

| [[File:Dahli 01.png|100px]]<br>[[Llama]]

| The Llama is a character who appears in Angry Aztec. He is first seen locked in a cage before being freed by Donkey Kong. After being freed, he rewards Donkey Kong with a Golden Banana and can later be found in [[Llama's Temple|his temple]].

| [[File:DK64 Mermaid.png|150px]]<br>[[Mermaid]]

| The Mermaid is a character only appearing in Gloomy Galleon. She lives in a shell like structure deep underwater and can only be visited by Tiny Kong with her Mini-Monkey ability. When Tiny visits the Mermaid, she will ask her to retrieve her lost pearls. Once Tiny retrieves the pearls, she will be given a Golden Banana.

| [[File:DK64 Racecar.png|150px]]<br>[[Mini-Car]]

| The Mini-Car is a character appearing in Frantic Factory and Creepy Castle. Both times he can only be encountered by Tiny Kong and both times he will challenge her to a race. The first time appears on a set track while the second time in the block tower area of Frantic Factory. If Tiny beats him in both races, she will receive a Golden Banana for each time.

| [[File:Racing Owl.png|150px]]<br>[[Owl (character)|Owl]]

| The Owl is a character appearing in Fungi Forest. Similarly to the Buzzard from Angry Aztec, the Owl will only talk to Diddy Kong at night, though Diddy must be using his Rocketbarrel Pack in order to do so. After talking with him, the Owl will start a similar, ring based challenge the Buzzard gave Diddy, with the difference being a Bonus Barrel reward rather than a direct Golden Banana.

| [[File:Fast Rabbit.png|125px]]<br>[[Rabbit (character)|Rabbit]]

| The Rabbit is a character that appears in Fungi Forest and Crystal Caves. He can only be talked to by Lanky in Fungi Forest and encountered only by Chunky in Crystal Caves. In Fungi Forest, he will challenge Lanky to a race for a Golden Banana. While Lanky beats him a first time, he refuses to give him the banana and declares for a rematch where is much faster and the OrangStand Sprint is required to beat him. When the Rabbit loses the second race, he gives Lanky a Golden Banana. In Crystal Caves, he is found tied to a TNT Barrel surrounded by flames. Chunky must defeat the flames for a set time to free the Rabbit and obtain a Golden Banana.

| [[File:DK64 ring announcer.png]]<br>[[Ring announcer]]

| The ring announcer is a character only appearing for the final fight against King K. Rool. He is a living microphone with a handle resembling a tuxedo. During the final fight, he appears as the announcer of the battle, giving off dramatic introductions to the Kongs.

| [[File:DK64 Seal.png|100px]]<br>[[Seal]]

| The Seal appears in Gloomy Galleon and can only be spoken to by Donkey Kong. After Donkey Kong frees him from his cage prison, the Seal will thank him with a Golden Banana as well as a racing minigame for a second Golden Banana.

| [[File:Worm DK64 screenshot.png|150px]]<br>[[Worm]]

| The Worm is a character appearing only in Fungi Forest and can only truly be interacted with by Chunky Kong. The Worm resides in an apple surrounded by monstrous tomatoes and requests Chunky to help him by defeating the tomatoes and moving his apple home. By doing so, he rewards Chunky with a Golden Banana.

[[Cranky's Lab]] is a location that [[Cranky Kong|Professor Cranky Kong]] resides in, and it appears in every area of the game, with the exception of Hideout Helm. Cranky has seemingly taken up science as a hobby, and in his lab, the player can buy different potions in exchange for Banana Bunch Coins to learn new techniques and abilities needed to progress throughout the game. Also, if the Kongs visit Cranky at his lab with at least fifteen [[Banana Medal]]s, Cranky allows them to play a game called ''[[Jetpac]]'' (an early Rare game). The Kongs must get 5000 points in the game in order to obtain the [[Rareware Coin]].

{| class="dktable-brown"

! colspan=5 | Potions

! Kong !! |Pad Move !! | Barrel Move !! | Special Move

|Donkey Kong || '''''[[Baboon Blast]]''''', ''3 coins''<br>A Donkey Pad will blast him up into the sky into a [[Barrel Cannon]] course || '''''[[Strong Kong]]''''', ''5 coins''<br>A Donkey Barrel will allow him to become invincible||'''''[[Gorilla Grab]]''''', ''7 coins''<br>Allows him to pull levers

|Diddy Kong || '''''[[Simian Spring]]''''', ''7 coins''<br>Diddy Pad allows him to jump great heights off his tail || '''''[[Rocketbarrel Boost]]''''', ''5 coins''<br>A Diddy Barrel allows him to fly||'''''[[Chimpy Charge]]''''', ''3 coins''<br>Allows him to charge head first into gongs or certain switches

|Lanky Kong || '''''[[Baboon Balloon]]''''', ''5 coins''<br>A Lanky Pad allows him to fill up with hot air and float to unreachable places || '''''[[OrangStand Sprint]]''''', ''7 coins''<br>A Lanky Barrel allows him to run on his hands very fast||'''''[[OrangStand]]''''', ''3 coins''<br>Allows him to walk up steep hills or platforms on his hands

|Tiny Kong || '''''[[Monkeyport]]''''', ''7 coins''<br>A Tiny Pad allows her to transport to another Tiny pad || '''''[[Mini-Monkey]]''''', ''3 coins''<br>A Tiny Barrel allows her to shrink to get into small places or passageways||'''''[[Pony Tail Twirl]]''''', ''5 coins''<br>Allows her to fly through the air with her ponytails

|Chunky Kong || '''''[[Gorilla Gone]]''''', ''7 coins''<br>A Chunky Pad allows him to become invisible || '''''[[Hunky Chunky]]''''', ''3 coins''<br>A Chunky Barrel allows him to increase in size to lift bigger objects, climb bigger trees or pound bigger pressure pads||'''''[[Primate Punch]]''''', ''5 coins''<br>Allows him to use a roundhouse punch that would KO most enemies or break certain obstacles

 

{| class="dktable-brown" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;" width=50%

! colspan=4 | Shared potions

!Potion !! |Price !! | World

[[Funky's Store]] is a shop owned by [[Funky Kong]] where the Kongs can buy and reload their weapons. Each Kong has his or her own personalized weapon. They can use these weapons to shoot a variety of fruit-based projectiles to attack enemies, hit certain switches that have a certain fruit emblem on them, and hit [[Banana Balloon]]s. Initially, the Kongs can have 50 rounds of ammunition, but this amount increases when the Kongs buy Funky's upgrades. The prices of his upgrades are as follows:

 

{| class="dktable-brown" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align:center; border: none;" width=30%

|Donkey Kong || '''[[Coconut Shooter]]'''

|Diddy Kong || '''[[Popgun|Peanut Popguns]]'''

|Lanky Kong || '''[[Grape Shooter]]'''

|Tiny Kong || '''[[Feather Bow]]'''

|Chunky Kong || '''[[Pineapple Launcher]]'''

[[Candy Kong]] owns a [[Candy's Music Shop|music shop]] where she provides the Kongs with powerful instruments that they can use to make a variety of things happen. At certain points of the game, Candy also gives the Kongs an extra [[melon]], increasing their [[Health Meter|health]]. Usually, when the Kongs play their instruments on certain locations, doors open or areas that were previously impossible to reach become accessible. The power of the instrument can also defeat all the enemies on the screen, but playing it reduces its energy. The Kongs can touch [[Candy's Headphones]] to replenish their instruments' energy, or visit Candy to reload the energy. The instrument, however, does not lose any energy if the Kongs play it when they are standing on a [[Music Pad]].

 

 

{| class="dktable-brown" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align:center; border: none;" width=30%

|Donkey Kong || '''[[Bongo Blast]]'''

|Diddy Kong || '''[[Guitar Gazump]]'''

|Lanky Kong || '''[[Trombone Tremor]]'''

|Tiny Kong || '''[[Saxophone Slam]]'''

|Chunky Kong || '''[[Triangle Trample]]'''

Over the course of the game, the player may find [[Kasplat]]s holding pieces of blueprint. If the player takes them to [[Snide's H.Q.]], [[Snide]] will trade the blueprints for Golden Bananas. There are a total of 40 blueprints in the game, 5 per world along with 5 in DK Isles. If the player delivers all of Snide's Blueprints, he will then allow the Kongs to play the various Bonus Stage games. In addition, collecting blueprints increases the amount of time that the Kongs have to complete the final world, [[Hideout Helm]], by one minute per blueprint collected.

[[Wrinkly Door]]s are found in the lobby of each level (excluding Hideout Helm). As the name suggests, [[Wrinkly Kong]] will come out of each door if a Kong approaches it and give the Kong advice on one of their Golden Bananas hidden in each level. The doors are color coded for each Kong; yellow for Donkey Kong, red for Diddy Kong, purple for Tiny Kong, blue for Lanky Kong and green for Chunky Kong.

{| class="dktable-brown"

|align=left|Jungle Japes is the first level of the game. It takes place in a tropical jungle. [[Diddy Kong]] is imprisoned in this level, and is held in a cage in the cliffs. The jungle is home to many kinds of enemies, including [[Gnawty|Gnawties]], [[Zinger]]s, and [[Kritter]]s. This is a basic level where the player can learn basic gameplay elements. The jungle has several trees and vines that can be climbed, allowing the Kongs to reach new heights. There is a river going through the jungle, and the area is surrounded by many rocky cliffs, most of which can be climbed. One of these cliffs has a mine located inside the mountain itself, where several crates and conveyor belts are found. There are also several dark tunnels in the jungle, connecting the various areas. There is a stormy area of the jungle that can only be accessed by one of the tunnels, and it contains Cranky's Lab. Rambi the Rhino is found in this area. The boss of this level is [[Army Dillo]], and he is fought by Donkey Kong.

|align=left|Angry Aztec is the second level visited by the Kongs. It is located in a group of ancient temples in the middle of the desert. Lanky Kong and Tiny Kong are both imprisoned in this area, in different temples. In the outside area, there is a constant sandstorm, but it does not affect gameplay. There are several palm trees that can be climbed, and most of them give access to higher parts of the ruins. There are also several quicksand swamps, both inside and outside the temples, located throughout the level that damage the Kongs should they touch the quicksand. Notable points in this area include the [[Llama's Temple]], home to a [[Llama]] that is originally found imprisoned in a cage, and the [[Temple|five-door temple]], which has areas accessible by each Kong. Once Donkey Kong saves the llama, he later helps him by cooling a pool of lava, allowing Donkey Kong to swim in the pool and free Lanky Kong from his jail cell. In this level, Diddy also gets to free a vulture once he flies with his [[Rocketbarrel Boost]] through a golden gate on top of a spinning statue three times. The boss of this level is [[Dogadon]], and he is fought by Diddy Kong.

|align=left|Gloomy Galleon is the fourth level, and it seems to be based off of the [[Gangplank Galleon]] level in the game ''[[Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest]]''. This level takes place in a water area surrounded by huge cliffs, where several sunken ships from earlier ''Donkey Kong Country'' games are found. There are several dark and humid caves that connect the various lakes found in the level. Many of the sunken ships are locations to treasures and Golden Bananas. However, the inside of these shipwrecks are extremely dark, and as such, the Kongs receive help from the [[Lightfish]], who illuminates the area for them. This is also the only level where [[Enguarde the Swordfish]] makes an appearance, although only Lanky Kong can transform into him. Tiny Kong also discovers a secret underwater palace where she meets the [[Mermaid]], who has lost all of her pearls and asks Tiny to find them. Another race takes place in this area, this time against the Seal. The boss of this level is [[Puftoss]], and he is battled by Lanky Kong.

|align=left|Fungi Forest is the fifth level, and it is set in a vast forest area with many [[mushroom]]s and several wooden barns. The main gimmick in this level is the giant Cuckoo Clock located in the center of the forest. The Kongs can hit certain switches located on the Cuckoo Clock to make it change the day into night, and vice versa. Certain areas, such as Snide's HQ can only be accessed during the day, while other areas like some of the wooden barns can only be accessed during the night. The enemies present in this level are also affected by the time of the day. Enemies like [[Zinger]]s only appear in the day, while [[Bones (enemy)|Bones]] and [[Kosha]]s only appear during the night. The giant mushrooms found throughout the forest appear to glow during the night, providing the only source of light when the sun goes down in this level. A mini-boss, the [[Giant Spider]], is fought in one of the barns by a shrunken Tiny Kong. The main boss of this level is a rematch with Dogadon, and he is fought by Chunky Kong.

|align=left|Crystal Caves is the sixth level of the game. It is located exclusively inside a huge, humid cavern with several icy crystals. There are several water rivers and ponds throughout the cavern, as well as a few cabins that contain collectibles inside them. There is an icy igloo near the beginning of the stage with five doors. Each door can only be opened by playing the instruments of certain Kongs on pads near them, and these doors lead to different rooms of the igloo with challenges for each Kong. There is also a [[Giant Viking Kremling]] at the highest part of the cavern that constantly smashes the floor, raining down stalactites on the Kongs. Once this Kosha is defeated, the stalactites stop falling down from the ceiling. Additionally, there are some see-through icy walls that can only be broken by Chunky Kong's Primate Punch ability. These walls often block passages to hidden areas of the cavern. The boss fight of this level is a rematch against Army Dillo, and he is fought by Donkey Kong.

|align=left|Creepy Castle is the seventh and penultimate level in the game. It consists of a huge, medieval castle floating above the clouds in the sky. The castle has a constant spooky atmosphere, and its many rooms are haunted. The Kongs must explore both the outside and the inside of the castle. The outside consists of several grassy and wooden platforms with enemies such as [[Bones (enemy)|Bones]] and Koshas. There is a constant thunderstorm outside, and a pond near the beginning of the stage. There is also a giant tree near the pond that can be entered for one of the Golden Bananas, and a small greenhouse with a labyrinth where a [[Kroc]] resides. The castle itself consists of several haunted rooms, some of them with a medieval style. The largest room in the castle is the Ballroom, a huge room with images of K. Rool and three giant candles. Next to this room is the Museum, which contains several ancient statues. The library is haunted by several [[book]]s that attack the Kongs. The castle also has several underground catacombs, where a torture room and a creepy minecart track with a [[resident demon]] that attacks the Kongs are found. The boss of this level is [[King Kut Out]], and he can be fought by all the Kongs, although only Lanky is mandatory for the battle.

|align=left|Hideout Helm is the eighth and final level of the game. It is located inside King K. Rool's fortress, and is where the Blast-o-Matic is located. As soon as the Kongs enter this stage, a timer appears on the bottom of the screen, indicating how much time the Kongs have to shut down the machine before it destroys Donkey Kong Island. Depending on how many Blueprints the Kongs collected, the amount of time increases. The default time is ten minutes, and each blueprint given to [[Snide]] adds one minute to the timer for a maximum of fifty minutes. The machine must be disabled by completing [[minigame]]s with each Kong, thus disabling the machine by sections. Once the Blast-o-Matic is disabled, the Kongs can access the final Boss Key if they have at least four [[Battle Crown]]s and have completed ''Jetpac'' and ''Donkey Kong''. There are no collectibles in this level aside from five Banana Bunch Coins found in the minigames and a Battle Crown. When the Kongs reach the highest area in the fortress, K. Rool flees in his airship, only to crash when K. Lumsy is freed, allowing the Kongs to battle him in the final showdown.

{| class="dktable-brown" width=75%

| Kritters are King K. Rool's main henchmen. They are common throughout the game in levels and mini games. They spawn off some unique sub species as well such as Robokremlings or Ghosts.

|align=center| [[File:Zinger DK64.png|150px]]<br>[[Zinger]]

| Zingers are wasp enemies that are commonly seen throughout each level. They mainly attack by dropping green oranges or by swooping down to sting the Kongs.

|align=center| [[File:DK64 Kasplat.png|150px]]<br>[[Kasplat]]

| Kasplats are enemies that hold Snide's blueprints. Five appear in each world (excluding Hideout Helm) and Kong Isle, each one holding a blueprint colored after a Kong's main color. The color of their hair tells which Kong's blueprint they hold. Their main attacks are creating shockwaves and using various punches. While they are resilient to most attacks, Kasplats are easily defeated by the shock wave attack or a musical instrument.

|align=center| [[File:DK64 Klump.png|150px]]<br>[[Klump]]

| Klumps are large Kremlings who mainly attack by throwing green oranges. At close range, they can also push back the Kongs with their bellies. Although the Kongs can attack them directly, Klumps can only truly be defeated by oranges, the shock wave attack, and a musical instrument. Likewise, Chunky Kong can defeat Klumps by touching them while in his Hunky Chunky state. Klumps drop three oranges when defeated.

|align=center| [[File:Klobber DK64.png|100px]]<br>[[Klobber]]

| Klobbers are green Kremlings hiding in barrels. If a Kong gets close enough, they will pop their heads and feet out and follow the Kong in an attempt to hit them. Klobbers can't be harmed with direct attacks at all; the Kongs will hurt themselves if they even touch a Klobber directly. Klobbers can only be defeated with oranges, the shock wave attack, or a Kong's musical instrument.

|align=center| [[File:DK64 Kaboom.png|100px]]<br>[[Kaboom|TNT Bomber]]

| TNT Bombers are red Klobbers hiding in TNT Barrels. Like Klobbers, they follow the Kongs when they get too close, but if they don't catch them, they will explode shortly after. They can't be attacked with normal direct attacks, but they are easily defeated by oranges, a musical instrument, and even shots fired from the Kongs' shooters. The shock wave attack also defeats them, but it'll hurt the Kongs in the process.

|align=center| [[File:KrashDK64.png|150px]]<br>[[Krash]]

| Krashes are Kremling riding in [[Mine Cart]]s who appear in Bonus Stages relating to Mine Carts. Here, they will swing clubs as they pass by the Kong. Sometimes their minecarts will be positioned beside the Kong for a short period of time. They can't be defeated and can only be avoided by jumping or leaning away from them when they swing their clubs.

|align=center| [[File:Klap Trap DK64.png|150px]]<br>[[Klaptrap]]

| Klaptraps are small, alligator like enemies that appear in various levels in the game. They will chase the Kongs around attempting to bite them. They can be defeated by any attack method, though once they are defeated, their jaws will remain and continue chasing the Kong. The jaw can also be defeated in any way. Of course, defeating a Klaptrap with an orange or a musical instrument will prevent the jaws from appearing. Purple Klaptraps are immune to all direct attacks, along with the shock wave attack; the Kongs will only get bit if they use that attack, or touch the Purple Klaptrap in any way. As such, they can only be defeated by the use of an orange, or a musical instrument. Instead of dropping a watermelon slice, they drop three oranges when defeated.

|align=center| [[File:Kosha DK64.png|150px]]<br>[[Kosha]]

| Koshas are small Kremlings who wield large, spiked clubs. They use the club as their main source of attack, swinging or slamming it to harm the Kongs. Koshas can take away two watermelon slices from a Kong, making them dangerous enemies to face. Koshas can also shake off any direct attacks that they take, making it so that only the shock wave attack, a musical instrument or Chunky touching them while using his Hunky Chunky ability can defeat them. Oranges can also defeat a Kosha, but only while its club is stuck in the ground.  

|align=center| [[File:Ghost enemy DK64.png|150px]]<br>[[Ghost (Donkey Kong 64)|Ghost]]

| Ghosts are Kritters wearing bedsheet ghost costumes. They only appear in Creepy Castle and also aid in the battle against King Kut Out. They only attack by running into the player.

|align=center| [[File:Mushroom Kremling.png|150px]]<br>[[Shroom (enemy)|Shroom]]

| Shrooms are blue Kremlings wearing mushroom costumes. They appear in Fungi Forest where they disguise themselves as normal mushrooms until the Kongs get too close. Once they do, a Shroom will pop out and chase the Kong.

|align=center| [[File:Skeleton Kremling.png|150px]]<br>[[Bones (enemy)|Bones]]

| Bones are skeletal Kritters who appear mainly in night time areas (such as Fungi Forest). They attack with clubs, and can be defeated by any attack, though weaker attacks will only break the skull and left arm. Stronger attacks will defeat it instantly. Additionally, oranges can easily take out a Bones, and remove the skull and left arm at the same time.

|align=center| [[File:Kop.png|150px]]<br>[[Kop]]

| Kops are large, burly security guard Kremlings that appear in the minigame [[Stealthy Snoop]], where they patrol the maze while the Kongs navigate through it. If they are caught by one, they lose the minigame.

|align=center| [[File:Ruler.PNG|50px]]<br>[[Block (enemy)|Block]]

| Blocks are enemies only found in Frantic Factory. They resemble stick blocks with colorful shape holes in them. They appear in the toy fight area in Frantic Factory and are only fought by Chunky. Their only attack is running into him.

|align=center| [[File:DK64 Mr. Dice.png|150px]]<br>[[Mr. Dice]]

| Mr. Dice is an enemy found only in Frantic Factory. They are dice with arms and legs. The 2 side is facing forward, making the dots look like eyes. They are found in the toy block tower area as well as the Toy Monster fight. They only attack by running into the Kong.

|align=center| [[File:DK64 Sir Domino.png|150px]]<br>[[Sir Domino]]

| Sir Domino is an enemy only found in Frantic Factory. They are domino enemies with arms and legs. Two appear in the Toy Monster battle while a few can be found in the toy block tower area. They can be defeated by any attack.

|align=center| [[File:DK64 Super Block.png|150px]]<br>[[Super Block (enemy)|Super Block]]

| A Super Block is an enemy found only in Frantic Factory. Only three appear during the Toy Monster fight where they act as the body of the monster. Due to the nature of the fight, they can only be fought as Chunky using his Hunky Chunky move.

|align=center| [[File:Mecha Zinger.PNG|150px]]<br>[[Mechanical Zinger]]

| Mechanical Zingers are robotic versions of Zingers only appearing in Frantic Factory. They act just like normal Zingers, only with robot designs, such as landing wheels for legs and a propeller instead of wings. They attack in the same way by dropping green oranges, but they never swoop down at the Kongs.

|align=center| [[File:Puftup DK64 render.png|150px]]<br>[[Puftup]]

| Puftups are puffer fish enemies found mostly in water areas, such as Gloomy Galleon. They are mostly stationary until a Kong approaches them, to which they will explode. Puftups aid Puftoss in his battle.

|align=center| [[File:ShuriBQ.jpg|150px]]<br>[[Shuri]]

| Shuries are starfish enemies that only appear underwater. They attack by charging into the Kongs as they swim. They cannot be defeated due to the Kongs not having proper attacks underwater and being immune to Enguarde's stab attack.

|align=center| [[File:Whip Shuri.png|150px]]<br>[[Scubi]]

| Scubis are scuba diving starfish enemies only appearing in underwater areas. They are similar to Shuries though they attack with whips rather than charging. Like Shuries, they cannot be defeated.

|align=center| [[File:Ghost Book.png|150px]]<br>[[Book]]

| Books are haunted, flying ghost books that only appear in Creepy Castle library areas. They are invincible enemies that only Donkey Kong encounters. He must use his Strong Kong ability to pass through them.

|align=center| [[File:DK64 Flame.png|150px]]<br>[[Flame (Donkey Kong 64)|Flame]]

| Flames are fireball enemies appearing only in one of Chunky Kong's missions in Crystal Caves. They try to light a TNT Barrel with the Rabbit Lanky raced tied to it. Flames can be defeated with any attack.

|align=center| [[File:DK64 Fly Render.png|150px]]<br>[[Fly (Donkey Kong 64)|Fly]]

| Flies are enemies that appear in one of Tiny Kong's missions in Creepy Castle. They also appear in the [[Big Bug Bash]] minigame.

|align=center| [[File:DK64 Bat.jpg|150px]]<br>[[Flipflap|Bat]]

| Bats are enemies commonly found in dark areas, mainly Fungi Forest during the night and Creepy Castle. They often replace Zingers during these times, though they do not drop green oranges. They do, however, swoop down at the Kongs.

|align=center| [[File:KillerTomato.png|150px]]<br>[[Tomato]]

| Tomatoes are enemies found only in Fungi Forest where they surround the Worm's apple in one of the forest's areas. Chunky Kong must use his Hunky Chunky ability to defeat them. The only attack Tomatoes have is ramming into the Kongs.

|align=center| [[File:DK64 Robokremling.png|150px]]<br>[[Robokremling]]

| Robokremlings are robotic, wind-up Kremlings, appearing only in Frantic Factory. They attack mainly by trying to run into the Kongs. Although the Kongs can stun them with their direct attacks, Robokremlings can only truly be defeated by oranges, the shock wave attack, a musical instrument, and Chunky Kong's Primate Punch.

|align=center| [[File:Klam.png|150px]]<br>[[Oyster]]

| Oysters are clam-like enemies that appear in Gloomy Galleon. They are present in the treasure chest area within treasure cove where they hold the pearls from the Mermaid. Tiny is the only one who encounters them, though they can't be defeated. They open and close their mouths at regular intervals, which causes damage if touched.

|align=center| [[File:Resident Demon.jpg|150px]]<br>[[Resident demon]]

| The resident demon is a large, skeletal Kremling only appearing in the Minecart Ride game in Creepy Castle. It attacks by swiping its disembodied claws at Donkey Kong or by sending Skull Carts holding TNT down the tracks.

 

{| class="dktable-brown"

! width=10% |Boss

! width=10% | World

! width=10% | Banana requirement

! width=12% | Kong used

! width=58% | Description

There are only three mini-bosses in the game:

 

{| class="dktable-brown" width=75%

! Mini-Boss

! width=10% | World

! Description

|- align="center"

|- align="center"

|- align="center"

{| class="dktable-brown"

!width=10% | Item

| [[File:Bananastub.jpg|70px]]<br>[[Golden Banana]]

|align=left|Golden Bananas are the main collectible item, and they have a pivotal role in the storyline. They make up Donkey Kong's banana hoard supply, which were stolen by the Kremlings at the start of the game. Golden Bananas allow the Kongs to bypass [[B. Locker]] and enter new levels if they meet the minimum Golden Banana requirement. Each level has five Golden Bananas for each Kong to find, and they must complete certain challenges, often designed around each Kong's abilities, to earn the Golden Banana. There is a total of 201 Golden Bananas in the entire game. While not all Golden Bananas are required for finishing the game, they are required for 101% [[completion]]. After capturing every [[Banana Fairy]], Tiny can visit the Banana Fairy Princess and receive the 201st Golden Banana. This specific Golden Banana has the [[Rare Ltd.|Rareware]] logo on it instead of the usual [[Nintendo]] logo.

| [[File:Banana2.png|70px]]<br>[[Banana]]

| [[File:DK64BananaCoins.png|100px]]<br>[[Banana Coin|Banana Bunch Coin]]

| [[File:DK64FiveBananaCoin.png|70px]]<br>[[5-Banana Coin]]

| [[File:DK64BananaMedal.png|70px]]<br>[[Banana Medal]]

|align=left|The Kongs can obtain a Banana Medal in a level by obtaining 75 bananas of their color. There are 40 Banana Medals in the game and five in each level, one for each Kong to collect. If the Kongs have at least 15 Banana Medals, [[Cranky Kong|Cranky]] allows them to play a classic [[Rare Ltd.|Rareware]] title, ''[[Jetpac]]''. In Hideout Helm, which does not feature any bananas, the Banana Medals are obtained differently: a Kong is rewarded a Banana Medal for completing one of their Bonus Stages. The other 25 Banana Medals do not have any other role other than to contribute to 101% completion.

| [[File:Boss Key.png|70px]]<br>[[Boss Key]]

| [[File:Watermelon DK64.png|70px]]<br>[[Watermelon|Melon]]

| [[File:Melon Crate - Donkey Kong 64.png|75px]]<br>[[Melon Crate]]

| [[File:Orange.png|70px]]<br>[[Orange]]

| [[File:Candy's Headphones DK64.png|75px]]<br>[[Candy's Headphones]]

| [[File:DK64SupplyCrate.png|75px]]<br>[[Supply Crate]]

| [[File:DK64CrystalCoconut.png|70px]]<br>[[Crystal Coconut]]

| [[File:DK64 Banana Camera Film Artwork.png|70px]]<br>[[Banana Camera Film]]

| [[File:Rareware Coin art.png|70px]]<br>[[Rareware Coin]]

| [[File:Nintendo Coin art.png|70px]]<br>[[Nintendo Coin]]

| [[File:Blueprint.png|70px]]<br>[[Blueprint]]

| [[File:Battle Crown.png|70px]]<br>[[Battle Crown]]

{| class="dktable-brown"

!width=10% | Barrel

| [[File:Bonus Barrel DK64 art.png|80px]]<br>[[Bonus Barrel]]

| [[File:Barrel donkey.jpg|68px]]<br>[[Cranky's Kong Barrel]]

| [[File:DK64 Steel Keg.png|80px]]<br>[[Steel Keg]]

|align=left|Steel Kegs are heavy, metallic barrels that only appear in a wooden barn of [[Fungi Forest]]. Due to their weight, Steel Kegs can only be lifted by Chunky Kong. Chunky must put three Steel Kegs on a conveyor belt at a nearby grinder to obtain a Golden Banana.

| [[File:Tag Barrel.png|80px]]<br>[[Tag Barrel]]

| [[File:TNT Barrel DK64.png|80px]]<br>[[TNT Barrel]]

 

{| class="dktable-brown" width=75%

! Switch

! Description

| [[File:Kong Switch - Donkey Kong 64.png|100px]]<br>[[Kong Switch]]

| [[File:DK64 Target Switch.png|100px]]<br>[[Target Switch]]

| [[File:Chunkyswitch.png|100px]]<br>[[Wall switch]]

{| class="dktable-brown" width=75%

! Pad

! Description

| [[File:Donkey Kong Pad DK64.png|100px]]<br>[[Cranky's Kong Pad]]

| [[File:Music Pad art.png|100px]]<br>[[Music Pad]]

| [[File:Battle Arena Pad DK64 artwork.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Battle Arena Pad]]

| [[File:Bananaport.png|110px]]<br>[[Bananaport Pad]]

 

{| class="dktable-brown" width=75%

! Unlockables

! Banana Fairies

! Details

| Cinemas || align=center | 2 || The players can replay any of the cutscenes that they saw during game play. The ending cinema and bonus cinema are not included, however.

| Bonuses || align=center | 6 || The players can play the bonus mini-games, the [[Rambi Arena]] and the [[Enguarde Arena]], each pertaining to a certain Animal Friend. The ''Donkey Kong'' arcade game and the ''Jetpac'' game can also be played.

| Bosses || align=center | 10 || The players can rematch any of the bosses they fought, except King K. Rool.

| Krusha || align=center | 15 || The players can enable the use of Krusha for multiplayer mode.

| Infinite Items || align=center | 20 || The players can set equipment supplies for all items to infinite. However, infinite ammunition only applies to '''Homing Ammo'''; normal ammunition is not infinite, thus the player cannot use this option until the Homing upgrade is bought. Health also is not included in the bonus.

*''Donkey Kong 64'' was part of the incomplete feature called Stop 'n' Swop. It involved six different colored eggs and a key of ice, found in ''Banjo-Kazooie'', and only two eggs and the key were shown in the ending cinematic (after collecting all 100 Jiggies). Their locations were sealed off, and it was told that they would be unlocked in ''Banjo-Tooie''. After hackers found the codes to access their hiding places, the eggs proved useless. Rare intended to use them as a connection between ''Banjo-Kazooie'', ''Banjo-Tooie'', and ''Donkey Kong 64'', unlocking secret features in all of them. After accessing a special pause menu, gamers were supposed to stop their current game and swap the Game Paks for another. Stop 'n' Swop got canned by Nintendo, due to concerns about players damaging their systems and the possibility that it would not be possible in some revisions of the Nintendo 64 hardware.<ref>Rare Ltd, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds22dv3KrPY&t=6m25s Rare Revealed: The Making of Banjo-Kazooie]. ''YouTube.'' Retrieved December 13, 2015.</ref> Due to fact that the necessary chunk of the code for ''Banjo-Kazooie'' was already complete and compiled in the game after its release when Nintendo changed the N64's hardware, Stop 'n' Swop remained a mystery until the Xbox Live Arcade re-release of ''Banjo-Kazooie'' and ''Banjo-Tooie'' where Rare completed the contraption they started, replacing ''Donkey Kong 64'' with ''Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts''. However, the use of the Eggs and Key for Donkey Kong is still unknown.

*The tune that plays when Troff and Scoff unlock a boss door is almost identical to the tune that plays whenever Banjo enters a room containing a Stop 'N' Swop item in ''Banjo-Kazooie''.

*A number of musical tracks, instruments, and snippets of music from ''Donkey Kong 64'' were initially composed for, but unused in, ''Banjo-Kazooie'' and its prototype ''Project Dream''.<ref>[[tcrf:Prerelease:Banjo-Kazooie|Prerelease:''Banjo-Kazooie'']]. ''The Cutting Room Floor''. Retrieved May 22, 2022.</ref>

''Donkey Kong 64'' started development immediately after the conclusion of ''[[Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!|Donkey Kong Country 3]]''{{'}}s.<ref name="DF Retro">Digital Foundry (December 16, 2017). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ7qtqqgTlo DF Retro: Donkey Kong Country + Killer Instinct - A 16-Bit CG Revolution!]. 'YouTube''. Retrieved December 16, 2017</ref> The original incarnation of ''Donkey Kong 64'' was meant to be more similar in design to the ''Donkey Kong Country'' series than the final game, featuring linear levels played through a combination of forward-scrolling and side view sections, similar to ''{{wp|Crash Bandicoot (video game)|Crash Bandicoot}}''.<ref name="DF Retro"></ref> After around 18 months, development was rebooted after Rare took notice of the trend of open 3D games started by ''[[Super Mario 64]]''.<ref name="DF Retro"></ref> Transitioning the series to true 3D proved challenging: graphic artist [[Mark Stevenson]] noted that "''As an artist who was on the DKC games, I used to build and animate the characters from a fixed side-on view. Being able to see this character from any angle, you'd make an animation, put it in the game, and you'd think it looked good side-on, but awful from every other angle! It was challenging from a technical and design perspective.''<ref name="GamesRadar">Tom Power (December 6, 2019). [https://www.gamesradar.com/uk/making-of-donkey-kong-64/ As Donkey Kong 64 turns 20, the devs reflect on its design, the infamous DK Rap, and how a shocked Shigeru Miyamoto created the Coconut Shooter]. ''GamesRadar. Retrieved December 06, 2019</ref> ''Donkey Kong 64'' was among the first Nintendo 64 game to feature dynamic lightning, although its implementation was faked after the first rendering.<ref name="GamesRadar"></ref>

Due to the success of ''{{wp|Banjo-Kazooie}}'', one of the first requests Rare co-president [[Tim Stamper]] made was to include even more collectables. Mechanics such as the 5 playable characters and "thrilling moments" such as mine cart and slide sequences were also deviced to differentiate the game from ''Banjo-Kazooie''.<ref name="GamesRadar"></ref> [[Grant Kirkhope]], who had composed the soundtrack to ''Banjo'', settled on a darker tone due to [[David Wise]]'s work on the original ''Donkey Kong Country'' trilogy.<ref name="GamesRadar"></ref> Although the [[:File:Donkey Kong's Real Weapon Beta.jpg|realistic gun models]] sighted in pre-release material were always intended to be placeholder, the final design of the [[Coconut Gun]] was only conceived after a mortified [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] saw Donkey Kong's shotgun in a demo of the game and immediately drew up a replacement.<ref name="GamesRadar"></ref>

In 2013, a story was published that implied ''Donkey Kong 64'' was not initially meant to require the [[Expansion Pak]]. According to that story, Rare was unable to fix a memory leak bug discovered near the game's release date; the bug would cause the game to crash after 30 minutes of gameplay, but Rare found that the issue did not occur when the Expansion Pak inserted. As a result, the game was bundled with the Expansion Pak, a move that supposedly took a large toll on the game's profits.<ref>Watts, Martin (May 28, 2013). [http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/05/donkey_kong_64_required_expansion_pak_to_prevent_game_breaking_bug Donkey Kong 64 Required Expansion Pak to Prevent Game-Breaking Bug]. ''Nintendo Life''. Retrieved December 1, 2016.</ref> This turned out to be the result of a misconception that confused and melded the decision to use the Expansion Pak into the discovery of the game-breaking bug, as indicated by lead artist Mark Stevenson in a 2019 interview.<ref>[http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/11/feature_donkey_kong_64_devs_on_bugs_boxing_and_20_years_of_the_dk_rap Feature: Donkey Kong 64 Devs On Bugs, Boxing And 20 Years Of The DK Rap]</ref> In 2019, Mark Stevenson said in a Nintendo Life interview that the Expansion Pak was in fact the only way to properly run ''Donkey Kong 64'', as the game-breaking bug was eventually patched out, though the necessary game code required to run the game would be provided via the Expansion Pak, further proving that the game was built around it ever since the beginning of the game's development.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N-IzAYPuJk&t=261s</ref>

''Donkey Kong 64'' was developed by [[Rareware|Rare Ltd.]] and published by Nintendo. The game's core development team was largely formed of people who had no involvement with Rare's previous ''Donkey Kong'' games, although several ''Donkey Kong Country'' veterans such as [[Gregg Mayles]] and [[Chris Sutherland]] are credited as support staff.

 

The game's soundtrack was composed by [[Grant Kirkhope]]. Initially meant to assist [[Eveline Fischer]], Kirkhope ended up composing the entire soundtrack (including the [[DK Rap]]) and also provided the voice of [[Donkey Kong]].

===Wii U Shop Channel===

In a 1999 interview, [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] said of ''Donkey Kong 64'' that Rare "really perfected the art" of making 3D action games and that "I bet you that it turns out to be the absolute best 3D action game available on any hardware - even including {{wp|Dreamcast}}.", although he ultimately judged that ''Donkey Kong 64'' would not be a game that would attract new players to the Nintendo 64.<ref>Danny Bivens (January 25, 2014). "[http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/translation/36382/shigeru-miyamoto-speaks-an-interview-between-itoi-and-miyamoto-from-1999-part-6-shigeru-miyamoto-speaks-about-donkey-kong-64-and-mother-3 Shigeru Miyamoto Speaks: An Interview Between Itoi and Miyamoto from 1999 Part 6: Shigeru Miyamoto speaks about Donkey Kong 64 and Mother 3]". ''Nintendo World Report''. Retrieved June 24, 2017</ref>

In later years, critical reception to ''Donkey Kong 64'' has been more mixed. Modern retrospectives of the ''Donkey Kong'' series and reviews of the game's Wii U rerelease have criticized various aspects of ''Donkey Kong 64''{{'}}s design such as the excessive gating of collectables and switches by characters, the tedium of having to backtrack to switch characters through the [[Tag Barrel]], and the low quality and frustrating nature of many of the [[Bonus Stage]]s.<ref>Conor McHamon (April 12, 2015). [http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/wiiu-eshop/donkey_kong_64_n64 Review: Donkey Kong 64]. ''Nintendo Life''. Retrieved July 20, 2017</ref><ref>Jeremy Parish (May 13, 2015). [http://www.usgamer.net/articles/what-are-the-best-nintendo-wii-u-virtual-console-games/page-4 What are the Best Virtual Console Games for Nintendo Wii U?]. ''USGamer''. Retrieved July 20, 2017</ref> Publications such as ''{{wp|Electronic Gaming Monthly}}'' blamed ''Donkey Kong 64'' as one of the factors in the decreasing fortunes of the 3D platformer genre.<ref>EGM, "Top 10 Overrated Games". April 2005 issue.</ref> Former Rare employee and ''Donkey Kong 64'' composer [[Grant Kirkhope]] was quoted as saying the game and fellow Rare platformer ''{{wp|Banjo-Tooie}}'' were "too much",<ref>Stephen Totilo (June 23, 2015). [http://kotaku.com/thanks-to-73-000-supporters-theyre-making-a-successor-1713481654 Thanks To 73,000 Supporters, They're Making A Successor To Banjo-Kazooie]. ''Kotaku''. Retrieved July 27, 2017</ref> and the game's lead tester Gavin Price mocked its high amount of collectibles in an interview.<ref>Alex Wilthshire (March 22, 2017). [http://www.rollingstone.com/glixel/news/the-hit-making-dna-of-yooka-laylee-and-donkey-kong-64-w473188 The Hit-Making DNA That Links 'Yooka-Laylee', 'Banjo-Kazooie' and 'Donkey Kong 64']. ''Glixel''. Retrieved July 20, 2017</ref>

In a 2016 ''{{wp|Famitsu}}'' poll to determine the "most memorable" games for each console, ''Donkey Kong 64'' ranked 7th for the Nintendo 64 with 129 votes,<ref>Brian Ashcraft (June 02, 2016). [http://kotaku.com/poll-japans-most-memorable-games-on-each-console-1780043369 Poll: Japan's Most Memorable Games on Each Console]. ''Kotaku''. Retrieved July 20, 2017</ref> being the only ''Donkey Kong'' game to make the list.

{| class="wikitable reception"

!colspan="4" style="font-size:120%; text-align: center; background-color:silver"|Reviews

|''"Well, Donkey Kong 64 has finally hit home and I think the wait has definitely been worth it. The game, while not the leap and bound that Donkey Kong Country was for Super NES, is still an excellent platformer all the same. It's an epic, gargantuan, huge, giant-sized platformer. It's a game that is packed full of things to do. There is so much that it's often overwhelming. The game is every great platformer combined into one package. And that, more than anything else, is what separates it from the competition."''

|''"That said, this reviewer feels Donkey Kong 64 offers too much solid gameplay to warrant such criticism, even though it's not the technological marvel that Donkey Kong Country had been in its heyday. Those of you who remotely liked Mario 64 or Banjo-Kazooie will be excited to the point of numbness by this game. However, for those of you averse to the "collect everything" gameplay mentality, this game might come off as a chore to complete. In any case, Donkey Kong 64 has high-quality adventure written all over it - despite its camera flaws - and it gives you many reasons to see the good-guy Kongs thrive in 3D."''

!colspan="4" style="background-color:silver; font-size:120%; text-align: center;"|Aggregators

Several course's themes for ''Donkey Kong 64'' are actually unused themes from ''[[jiggywikki:Banjo-Kazooie|Banjo-Kazooie]]'' that were reused for the game.<ref>[https://tcrf.net/Banjo-Kazooie Banjo-Kazooie] ''The Cutting Room Floor''. Retrieved February 21, 2022.</ref>

*''"I've been waiting a long time for this moment. Soon, [[Donkey Kong]] and his pretty little [[Donkey Kong Island|island]] will be no more!"'' - King K. Rool

*''"Well, if it isn't my good-for-nothin' [[Donkey Kong|son]]..."'' - [[Cranky Kong|Professor Cranky Kong]]

*''"Snide's my name, revenge is my game!"'' - [[Snide]]

*''[[Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!]]'': When the Kongs visit Wrinkly Kong for the first time, she says that she has been deceased since ''Donkey Kong Country 3''. The alarm sound effect from [[Krack Shot Kroc]] is used for the [[Crocodile Isle (Donkey Kong 64)|K. Rool's Mobile Island Fortress]], the conveyor belts in the Jungle Japes mine when they are set to "low," and in the minigame [[Krazy Kong Klamor]].

*''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'': The Game Boy Color remake features several minigames that were included in ''Donkey Kong 64'', while the Game Boy Advance version features voices of DK, Diddy, and King K. Rool that were used in ''Donkey Kong 64''. In addition, the menu selection for the former is taken directly from ''Donkey Kong 64''.

*''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'': The [[DK Rap]] was rearranged for background music on the [[Kongo Falls|Kongo Jungle]] stage. [[Jungle Japes]] appears as a stage, with many elements from its original appearance.

*''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020]]'': Donkey Kong's website description for ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020]]'' references Chunky Kong's verse in the DK Rap, saying ''"He's so strong, it isn't funny."''<ref>https://www.olympicvideogames.com/marioandsonic/us/index.html</ref>

*''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]'': The DK Rap plays when Donkey Kong makes his entrance in the [[Great Ring of Kong]].

|Jap=ドンキーコング{{hover|64|六十四}}

|JapM=''Donkey Kong 64''

|ChiSM=Literally "''Forest Happy Kong 64''"

|ChiTM=Literally "''Forest Happy Kong 64''"

*This game holds the {{wp|Guinness World Records|Guinness World Record}} for "most collectable items in a platform videogame."<ref>[https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/86441-most-collectable-items-in-a-platform-videogame World record page]</ref> However, Guinness is incorrect in claiming there are 3,821 items to collect, as going by what they consider collectable, there are actually 4,841 items.

{{NIWA|SmashWiki=Donkey Kong (universe)#Donkey Kong 64|StrategyWiki=1}}