Swanky Kong

“Give them a big hand folks! Good evening, I'm Swanky Kong and you're tonight's contestants on my Bonanza! It's easy to play! Just pick a game and you're away!”

—Swanky Kong, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

Swanky Kong is a member of the Kong Family and a game show host. He is notable for being a flashy entrepreneur; in his first appearance, he wears a blue coat and has an afro hairstyle. In his second appearance, however, he wears a fancy suit with a matching cane, his hair is covered by a bowler hat, and he appears to be much taller. His face resembles that of Donkey Kong's.

History

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

Swanky's original role from Donkey Kong Country 2

In Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, Swanky hosts an optional game show at Swanky's Bonus Bonanza; here, he provides three quizzes to Diddy and Dixie Kong regarding the game's content, and he requires a fee of Banana Coins if the Kongs want to participate. By successfully answering every question from a quiz, the Kongs are rewarded with extra lives from Swanky.

In the Game Boy Advance version, Candy Kong appears as Swanky's assistant on the show. Swanky's role is no longer optional because the Kongs have to complete all three quizzes of a world in exchange for a DK Coin. If Diddy and Dixie complete every quiz, Swanky provides them with a photograph of himself. Also, in the remake, Swanky charges ten Banana Bunch Coins if the Kongs want to rematch a boss. During the battle, a timer appears at the top-center of the screen, to keep track of the Kongs' progress. Swanky rewards the Kongs with prizes, based on how well they performed in the boss battle.

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!

Swanky's new role in Donkey Kong Country 3

In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, Swanky hosts a circus tent called Swanky's Sideshow, where participants can compete in a ball-throwing contest for prizes. Only the upper half of his body is shown, as he is always shown to be inside of a barrel (including in his Dixie Kong's Photo Album photograph). However, Swanky's entire body is shown from his official artwork.

Dixie and Kiddy can pay Swanky with a few Bear Coins to compete in various throwing contests against Cranky Kong. If the Kongs can get a higher score than Cranky, then Swanky awards them with prizes, including Bananas and Bear Coins. Like the prequel, Swanky's role is optional and is unrelated to the main storyline.

For the Game Boy Advance version, Swanky hosts a different location, Swanky's Dash. He allows Dixie to compete in a virtual reality-type minigame which involves her collecting stars on a rotating landscape (Kiddy cannot participate because he is too young). Swanky's outfit also went unchanged from his previous appearance in Donkey Kong Country 2. When the Kongs win at his first challenge, Swanky rewards them with a Banana Bird and a DK Coin—Dixie is not required to participate in subsequent challenges.

Donkey Konga 2

Swanky Kong makes a few cameos in Donkey Konga 2. In Freestyle Zone, both his artwork from Donkey Kong Country 2 and Donkey Kong Country 3 sometimes appear on-screen as the player is freely drumming. He is also one of the selectable badges after finishing a song or in the Match That Badge! challenge. His badge is not featured in the Japanese version, which instead has a badge of a regular human.

Other appearances

Mario Superstar Baseball

Swanky as seen on the billboard

Swanky’s tent from Donkey Kong Country 3 makes a cameo appearance in the Donkey Kong Jungle in Mario Superstar Baseball. Swanky himself appears on a wooden billboard.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Swanky Kong appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a support Spirit, using his original artwork. The battle to unlock him involves battling Donkey Kong, who is easily distracted by items.

Profiles

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate spirit

Name	Image	Game	Type	Class	Effect	How to obtain	Spirit battle
							Opponents	Battle conditions	Stage	Song
Swanky Kong		Donkey Kong Series	Support (1)	Novice	Banana Gun Equipped	Spirit Board	Donkey Kong	Rule: Item: Beastball The enemy is easily distracted by items	Kongo Jungle	Funky's Fugue

List of appearances by date

Title	Description	Release Date	System/Format
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest	Non-Playable Character	1995	SNES
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!	Non-Playable Character	1996	SNES
Donkey Kong Country 2 (remake)	Non-Playable Character	2004	Game Boy Advance
Donkey Konga 2	Cameo	2004	Nintendo GameCube
Mario Superstar Baseball	Cameo	2005	Nintendo GameCube
Donkey Kong Country 3 (remake)	Non-Playable Character	2005	Game Boy Advance
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate	Cameo as a spirit	2018	Nintendo Switch

Gallery

Artwork

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  Artwork from Donkey Kong Country 2:Diddy's Kong Quest

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  Artwork with the Kong Family (Swanky appears on the far right)

Sprites

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  Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

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  Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!

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  Donkey Kong Country 2 and 3 (GBA)

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  Donkey Konga 2 (Freestyle Zone)

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  Donkey Konga 2 (Freestyle Zone)

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  Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (spirit)

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	スワンキーコング[?] Suwankī Kongu	Swanky Kong
Russian	Свэнки Конг[?] Swenki Kong	Swanky Kong