Squiddicus

Squiddicus
Concept artwork, and an in-game screenshot of Squiddicus from Donkey Kong Country Returns.
Species	Octopus
First appearance	Donkey Kong Country Returns (2010)
Latest appearance	Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Nintendo Switch) (2018)

Squiddicus is an enemy that first appeared in the game Donkey Kong Country Returns and later appeared in its Nintendo 3DS remake, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D. Despite its name, Squiddicus more closely resembles an octopus than a squid. In these games, it only appears in the level Stormy Shore, as one of the main obstacles. Squiddicus later appears in the game Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and its Nintendo Switch port exclusively in the Sea Breeze Cove level Irate Eight.

Physical appearance

Squiddicus is a giant, light orange octopus with spikes and suction cups on its arms. It has large white eyes with black pupils and darker orange wavy patterns on its head. In its appearance in Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze, Squiddicus is larger than in Donkey Kong Country Returns.

Attacks

Donkey Kong Country Returns / Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D

For the majority of Stormy Shore, Squiddicus only appears in the level's background, where it is seen destroying a ship. Near the end of the level, Squiddicus will attack the Kongs by blocking the way with its arms, which will cause them to lose a heart on contact. Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong can avoid the arms by jumping over them, and must jump between sides when in the Climbing Grass segment. Squiddicus will also use its arms to break certain platforms after a length of time. In this game, Squiddicus cannot be defeated by any means. Upon reaching the end of the level, if the Kongs do not launch from the barrel to the Slot Machine Barrel, Squiddicus will raise one of its arms into the air, threatening to crush the Barrel Cannon the Kongs are in. If its arm manages to destroy the Barrel Cannon, it will cause the Kongs to lose a life.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Squiddicus as seen in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

In Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and its Nintendo Switch port, Squiddicus is first and only encountered in the level Irate Eight in the game's fourth world, Sea Breeze Cove. In the early stages of the level, Squiddicus's silhouette briefly appears in the background during several tremors. Squiddicus first appears directly in the area with the Dixie Kong Barrel, where it uses its arms to tear down part of the cave. Its arms still cause the Kongs one heart of damage on contact. The octopus also produces ink which rises from the bottom of the screen and causes the Kongs to lose a life instantly upon contact. Squiddicus cannot take damage during the first part of the level. At the end of the level, the Kongs must detach and drop hanging land mines to damage Squiddicus by launching them at it, before Squiddicus attacks and causes the Kongs to lose a life. Dropping all three mines onto Squiddicus will eventually defeat it, causing the octopus to disappear under the water and allow the Kongs to get to the Slot Machine Barrel.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	キングタコラ (Donkey Kong Country Returns) Kingu Takora エンペラータコラ (Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze) Enperā Takora	King/Emperor "Takora" 「タコラ」is from「章鱼」(tako, octopus) and likely「ゴジラ」(Gojira, Godzilla), referring to its big size.
German	Tentaklaus[?]	From "tentakel" (tentacle)
Italian	Otto[?]	Common name; also means "eight"

Trivia

A fossil in Boulder Roller resembling Squiddicus

• At the end of the level Boulder Roller, a fossil can be seen which resembles Squiddicus, suggesting that it might be part of a species. A large rock also resembling it can be seen at the start of the Stormy Shore level.