Roll Attack
- “Here's a tip from my days as a beloved hero: Try rolling off a ledge and jumping in midair. That'll get your blood movin'!”
- —Cranky Kong, Donkey Kong Country Returns manual, pg. 14
The Roll Attack,[1] previously known as the Barrel Roll,[2][3][4] is Donkey Kong's signature move in the Donkey Kong Country series and Donkey Kong Land series. Donkey Kong curls up and performs a roll, defeating enemies in the way. Other characters have counterparts to this move, like Diddy Kong's Cartwheel Attack and Dixie Kong's Helicopter Spin.
History[edit]
Donkey Kong franchise[edit]
The Barrel Roll was introduced in Donkey Kong Country, where Donkey Kong can perform the move when 
is pressed while on the ground. Donkey Kong can use this move on land to attack most enemies, except for Krushas and Zingers. If the Barrel Roll hits an enemy, the attack lasts longer. This enables a single Barrel Roll to defeat a row of enemies, as the duration is extended for each enemy. If the player jumps during a Barrel Roll, they perform a Roll Jump, which uses the increased speed from a roll to jump farther. Roll Jumps can be performed in the air, unlike a normal jump. Donkey Kong can also perform the move in Donkey Kong Land if the player presses 
.
In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, Kiddy Kong in can use the move. It is referred to as a roll.[5] When performing a roll near an edge with water, Kiddy can hop across water by rolling off an edge and bouncing on it; it is sometimes required to reach a Bonus Area, such as in Tidal Trouble and Riverside Race. If Dixie carries Kiddy via teaming up, she can throw Kiddy, who automatically performs a roll. When thrown onto a wall, Kiddy bounces off and rolls back to Dixie. Dixie can jump onto Kiddy while he is rolling, like a Steel Keg. By doing so, Dixie can perpetuate the roll by running onto Kiddy. This way, they can eliminate various enemies with ease throughout their path. In Donkey Kong Land III, since only one Kong appears onscreen at a time, Kiddy can perform rolls only by himself.
In Donkey Kong 64, the Roll Attack is one of Donkey Kong's basic moves. To use the move, the player must press 
and 
while he is moving.
The Barrel Roll is Donkey Kong's signature move in Donkey Kong Country Returns, its Nintendo 3DS port, its Nintendo Switch port, and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (and its Nintendo Switch port). It can be utilized by shaking 
or 
or by pressing 
/
or 
/
/
/
(depending on the game and/or control setup) while moving on the ground. While standing, the same inputs perform a Ground Pound. Unlike in previous games, the Roll Attack is faster but its distance is fixed; It does not gain or retain momentum upon defeating an enemy. This makes it less suited for attacking many enemies in a row. Donkey Kong flinches when Barrel Rolling into walls. Certain walls are damaged when hit by a Barrel Roll, and then can be broken through with a second roll without interrupting the second roll. Donkey Kong cannot grab objects when he is Barrel Rolling, and if he is carrying something he drops it as he starts. Clinging takes priority over Barrel Rolls if Donkey Kong is on a green surface and the player is holding the button for grabbing. A Barrel Roll prevents Donkey Kong from sliding down or struggling to climb slopes. As water has been changed to defeat Donkey Kong on contact, he cannot bounce off the water.
If Diddy Kong is on Donkey Kong's back, the Barrel Roll is upgraded to the Kong Roll. Diddy runs backward on Donkey Kong, allowing a Barrel Roll to continue until the player stops it.. Its animation is similar to the team up exclusive technique from Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!.
In Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Cranky Kong can Roll Attack. Cranky Kong and Dixie Kong are buddy characters, so they also. allow Donkey Kong to Kong Roll. Water no longer defeats the player instantly, so the Roll Attack can skip on the water again. In its Nintendo Switch port, Funky Kong can Roll Attack, and can do so indefinitely like a Kong Roll.
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games[edit]
Donkey Kong does a rolling move similar to the Roll Attack from the Donkey Kong Country series whenever he uses his Special Dash in Athletics events of Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
The Roll Attack is used as Donkey Kong's dash attack in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Gallery[edit]
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! artwork of Kiddy rolling
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! artwork of Kiddy rolling
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italian | Attacco "a barile rotolante" (Donkey Kong Country)[6] | "Rolling barrel" attack | |
| Capriola[7][8][9][10][11] | Somersault | ||
| Ruota (Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!)[12] | Roll | ||
| Fare capriole (Donkey Kong Land III)[13] | Doing somersaults | ||
| Rotolamento (Donkey Kong Country 3)[14] | Rolling | ||
| Attacco rotante (Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze)[15] | Rolling attack |
References[edit]
- ^ Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze quick guide, which comes packed with the game
- ^ 2010. Donkey Kong Country Returns instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 13.
- ^ 2013. Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D digital instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (English). Page 5.
- ^ "Or slam bad guys into submission with DK’s Ground Pound and Barrel Roll." – 2025. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is out now for the Nintendo Switch system!. Nintendo of America (American English). Retrieved January 27th, 2025.
- ^ 1996. Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 14.
- ^ Donkey Kong Country Italian manual. Page 13.
- ^ Donkey Kong Land Italian manual. Page 6.
- ^ 2000. Donkey Kong Country European manual. Nintendo of Europe (Italian). Page 108.
- ^ 2003. Donkey Kong Country European manual. Nintendo of Europe (Italian). Page 104.
- ^ 2010. Donkey Kong Country Returns Italian manual. Nintendo (Italian). Page 18.
- ^ Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D Italian e-manual. Page 5.
- ^ Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! Spanish-Italian manual. Page 42.
- ^ Donkey Kong Land III Spanish-Italian manual. Page 40.
- ^ 2005. Donkey Kong Country 3 European manual. Nintendo of Europe (Italian). Page 110.
- ^ Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Italian e-manual. Page 12.
