Popgun
The popgun is a pistol weapon used by the Kongs in the Donkey Kong franchise. They are small, ranged weapons which shoot various types of projectiles. Since Donkey Kong 64, a pair of popguns have been Diddy Kong's signature weapon, more specifically the Peanut Popguns, which shoot out peanuts. The Peanut Popguns are two wooden pistols which appear to be hollowed out logs.
History
Donkey Kong franchise
Donkey Kong 64
In Donkey Kong 64, Diddy can buy the Peanut Popguns from Funky's Store as early as Jungle Japes for three Banana Bunch Coins. Like the other Kongs' weapons, Diddy uses the Peanut Popguns for various reasons, such as shooting enemies, Peanut Switches, and red Banana Balloons. In Jungle Japes, Diddy must use the Peanut Popguns to shoot three Peanut Switches, each one opening a gate in a different part of the level.
When Diddy is using the Rocketbarrel Boost move, he is always holding out his Peanut Popguns. When Diddy is on land, the player must simultaneously press 
and 
for him to take out the Peanut Popguns, or another time for Diddy to put them away.
Starting with Fungi Forest, the Kongs can go to Funky's Store to buy an upgrade for five Banana Bunch Coins that enables every Kong's personal weapon, including the Peanut Popguns, to use homing ammo that they pick up from red Supply Crates.
Donkey Kong Country Returns / Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D
The Peanut Popguns make their Donkey Kong Country series debut in Donkey Kong Country Returns and its Nintendo 3DS port, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D. They have a stubbier appearance and are each held together by two iron rings. Diddy can use them by default, although they are less effective than in Donkey Kong 64 and can only be used in 2-player mode, where Diddy is independently controlled by the second player. With the Peanut Popguns, Diddy can perform the Popgun Pound ability, where he shoots peanuts while ground pounding. Alternatively, Diddy can shoot peanuts if the second player shakes the Wii Remote while Diddy is in mid-air or if he is on Donkey Kong. Launched peanuts bounce on the ground quickly and break upon hitting a wall or an enemy; while Diddy can kill a select few enemies by shooting peanuts at them, most will only be temporarily stunned by this, causing them to become dizzy or confused.
Although bosses and certain enemies such as Tikis are not affected by the Peanut Popguns's projectiles, a couple of exceptions are found in the respective boss fights for Mugly and Thugly: when the boss opens its mouth, Diddy can optionally shoot peanuts into it. By shooting enough peanuts, the boss temporarily stops to chew on the peanuts, and its vulnerable spot is exposed. This is indicated by hearts surrounding their head. After taking a hit, the boss stops being distracted and continues with trying to attack Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
The Peanut Popgun returns as Diddy Kong's weapon in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, appearing alongside the Gumball Popgun[1] and the Denture Popgun,[1] used by Dixie Kong and Cranky Kong respectively. The new popguns have the same usage as the Peanut Popguns, and can all be used as in Donkey Kong Country Returns. However, they have all been nerfed from the previous game, as now there are no enemies that can be outright killed by their ammo.
The player can use popguns whenever Diddy, Dixie, or Cranky are controlled independently, which is possible in multiplayer sessions and in Hard Mode. In order to shoot the weapon, the players that control these characters have to press the ground pound button while in mid-air or mounted on the character the first player in multiplayer controls (Donkey Kong or, exclusively in the Nintendo Switch version, Funky Kong). Like the previous game, Diddy can feed some bosses by shooting peanuts into their mouth.
Dixie Kong's popgun shoots bubblegum instead of peanuts, which is a reference to Dixie's idle animation in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, where she would blow bubblegum. Cranky Kong shoots chattering dentures, alluding to his old age, although his alleged popgun is never shown and instead he appears to fire his dentures with his cane.
Super Smash Bros. series
Diddy Kong's standard special move in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate involves using a Peanut Popgun, and can be charged up. The popguns are fully charged when Diddy reaches up and grabs his hat. When charged up, the peanuts fired are much faster, and will have a better chance at hitting the opponents. If Diddy charges it for too long, the popgun explodes in his hands, briefly stunning him but otherwise not dealing any damage. Diddy Kong uses his Peanut Popguns during his Final Smash, the Rocketbarrel Barrage.
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl's The Subspace Emissary, Diddy uses the Peanut Popguns in two cutscenes to attack enemies. In one cutscene, when Donkey Kong and fight off the Koopa Troop, Diddy blasts the Bullet Bills with peanuts, posing with Donkey Kong as one of the defeated Bullet Bills explodes behind them. In a later cutscene, when Diddy is dropped out of the Arwing, he propels himself up to the Smash Skiff, blasting the Primids with peanuts.
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, the explosion can also damage opponents. The Peanut Popguns occasionally releases peanuts that can be eaten as food. If Diddy Kong's powers are copied by Kirby, he will also be able to use Peanut Popgun. In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, this move has two custom variants: Exploding Popgun, which does not fire peanuts and can only deal damage by exploding, doing it more quickly; and Jumbo Peanuts, which fires larger peanuts that do not travel as far and deal more damage.
Diddy Kong pointing his Peanut Popgun in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The Peanut Popgun exploding in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Dr. Mario World
In Dr. Mario World, Diddy Kong uses a Peanut Popgun for his special ability, which splits each Megavitamin in two and allows for each part to be placed individually. To indicate the splitting, a peanut breaks in half when the ability is activated.
Profiles and statistics
Super Smash Bros. Brawl trophy
| Name | Image | Game | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peanut Popgun | 
|
N64 Donkey Kong 64 | A unique firearm that only Diddy Kong can use. It's made of a chunk of wood and shoots peanuts. In Donkey Kong 64, he carried two pistols and could fire two shots at a time. In Smash Bros., the peanut ammo bursts out of its shells when fired. The peanuts can be grabbed and eaten to reduce damage. The longer the gun is charged before firing, the faster the peanuts fly. |
| Wii Donkey Kong: Barrel Blast |
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U trophy
| Name | Image | Appears in | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peanut Popgun | 
|
N64 Donkey Kong 64 (11/1999) Wii Donkey Kong Country Returns (11/2010) |
Diddy Kong's special wooden gun, locked and loaded with peanut shots. Power up the peanuts by holding the button, but don't get carried away - an overcharged peanut can explode in the barrel! Charging will improve the range of your shot, so keep an eye on your target as you prepare to fire! |
Names in other languages
Peanut Popgun
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ピーナッツ・ポップガン[?] Pīnattsu Poppugan |
Peanuts Popgun | |
| French | Kawouetto-Flingue Kawouetto-pétard[1][3] |
Peanut Popgun Peanut Petard |
|
| Spanish | Cacahuetola Cacahuatola[1][2] |
Portmanteau of cacahuete ("peanut") and pistola ("gun") |
Gumball Popgun
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| French (NOA) | Pisto-gomme[1] | Pisto-gum | |
| Spanish (NOA) | Gomatola[1] | Portmanteau of goma ("gum") and pistola ("gun") |
Denture Popgun
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| French (NOA) | Lancer de dentier[1] | A phrase describing the action of launching dentures | |
| Spanish (NOA) | Lanzamuelas[1] | Potmanteau of lanzar ("to launch") and muelas ("teeth") |
Trivia
- A pre-release screenshot of Donkey Kong 64 shows that the Peanut Popguns initially used the model of weapons similar to realistic pistols. This was a placeholder and was never intended to be in the final release according to the game's creative director, George Andreas. [4]
- Diddy Kong's association with the Peanut Popguns is referenced in his bio on the Super Mario Party official website, where he is described as a "peanut-popping powerhouse."[5]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze action guide, which comes packed with the game
- ^ Donkey Kong Country Returns instruction booklet (NoA version), page 60
- ^ Donkey Kong Country Returns instruction booklet (NoA version), page 38
- ^ Power, Tom (December 6, 2019). 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 6, 2019
- ^ Super Mario Party official website, Characters section. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
