Donkey Kong Country (series)
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Template:Series-infobox The Donkey Kong Country series is a video game sub-series of the Donkey Kong series. Although it usually stars Donkey Kong and his pal, Diddy Kong, Donkey Kong also ends up as a damsel in distress in some games. The series is a platformer-type; levels are shown in a sidescrolling perspective and the heroes must jump and avoid obstacles in order to clear levels. The series was started by Rare, Ltd., until they were bought by Microsoft. Remakes are included in the Game Boy Color and the Game Boy Advance. The series were later revived by Retro Studios and their game, Donkey Kong Country Returns. The Donkey Kong Country series also has well-received reviews and has greatly impacted future titles.
The Donkey Kong Country series is also the inspiration for a very similar sub-series created for the Game Boy systems, known as the Donkey Kong Land series.
List of Games in the Series
Original Titles
Donkey Kong Country
- Year Released – 1994
- System – Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The first installment in the Donkey Kong Country series was Donkey Kong Country. Here, Donkey Kong is portrayed differently as he was in the past games and it was mentioned that it was Cranky Kong who had caused trouble for Mario in the past Donkey Kong games. This time, Donkey Kong is a carefree monkey who spends his time in the jungle, until a villain named King K. Rool steals his Banana Hoard. Donkey Kong takes his nephew and dependable buddy, Diddy Kong along to stop King K. Rool and get his bananas back.
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
- Year Released – 1995
- System – Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest is the second installment of the Donkey Kong Country series. As Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong were the primary heroes of Donkey Kong Country, Donkey Kong gets kidnapped by King K. Rool (under the alias Kaptain K. Rool). Diddy Kong takes his partner, Dixie Kong, along to save Donkey Kong from Kaptain K. Rool. This game plays similarly to Donkey Kong Country, but also has new gameplay elements and new enemies added.
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble
- Year Released – 1996
- System – Super Nintendo Entertainment System
In the third installment of the Donkey Kong Country series, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong both end up getting kidnapped by KAOS, a new leader from the Kremling Krew. Dixie Kong, taking her little cousin Kiddy Kong with her, sets out to save Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong from KAOS, who turns out to be King K. Krool, under the alias Baron K. Roolenstein. Like Donkey Kong Country 2, this game plays similarly to Donkey Kong Country, but has a lot of new elements not seen before in the series.
Donkey Kong Country Returns
- Release Date – 2010
- System – Wii
After Microsoft bought out Rare, the Donkey Kong Country series had a drought of new games, with several remakes for the Game Boy and Game Boy Advance being made. Retro Studios revived the Donkey Kong Country series by developing Donkey Kong Country Returns. New villains, called the Tikis, raid Donkey Kong's banana stash. As a reaction, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong set out to retrieve the lost bananas. The game is the first in its series that does not feature Kremlings or underwater levels. There are also some mechanics from the past Donkey Kong Country games that return in this game, such as Animal Buddies.
Remakes/Ports
Donkey Kong Country
- Year Released – 2000
- System – Game Boy Color
Donkey Kong Country was ported to the Game Boy Color in the year 2000. Although it was a port, there were several significant differences such as having only one Kong appearing at a time, extended levels, a new level, new minigames, and more. However, it still has the same gameplay mechanics and the same story as the original.
Donkey Kong Country
- Year Released – 2003
- System – Game Boy Advance
Donkey Kong Country was ported again to the Game Boy Advance in 2003. This particular port features new changes not seen in the Game Boy Color port. Changes include bosses becoming harder, redesigned graphics, replaced order of levels, new modes, a scrapbook, and much more.
Donkey Kong Country 2
- Year Released – 2004
- System – Game Boy Advance
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest also receives a port for the Game Boy Advance, however, no port for the Game Boy Color. Like most ports, Donkey Kong Country 2 features significant changes such as a new boss, graphical makeovers, more DK Coins to collect, altered levels, replaced levels, and much more.
Donkey Kong Country 3
- Year Released – 2005
- System – Game Boy Advance
The Game Boy Advance also received a port of Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!. Like the preceding ports, major changes has been added, but not so major that it changes the game itself. Such changes include graphical makeovers, exclusive boss fights, a new soundtrack, new and different methods of trading items, new areas, including the new world, Pacifica, and much more.
Major Characters
Protagonists
Donkey Kong
- Main article: Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong is the main star of the Donkey Kong Country series. Though he does get kidnapped by the Kremling Krew from time to time, he plays a major role in all Donkey Kong Country games. He is the more powerful and the slower of the two apes that the player control in the Donkey Kong Country games. He often thwarts King K. Rool's raid of his Banana Hoard, but he also gets kidnapped by King K. Rool, where his other friends must save him from King K. Rool. He is playable once again in Donkey Kong Country Returns.
Diddy Kong
- Main article: Diddy Kong
Although usually a sidekick, Diddy Kong can also be a main hero of the series if the player wishes to use him as the primary Kong. He is Donkey Kong's most reliable buddy and always tags up with Donkey Kong on his adventures to stop King K. Rool. While Donkey Kong mainly boasts strength, Diddy Kong trades power for agility and nimbleness. In Donkey Kong Country 2, Diddy Kong is the main star who, along with Dixie Kong, saves Donkey Kong from the Kremling Crew. Eventually, he, along with Donkey Kong, get captured by King K. Rool in Donkey Kong Country 3, where Dixie Kong and her cousin, Kiddy Kong, must save them. He reppears in Donkey Kong Country Returns as a playable character.
Dixie Kong
- Main article: Dixie Kong
Dixie Kong is Diddy Kong's partner in her debut game, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest. Dixie Kong is slower in terms of mobility, nor can she defend herself properly through the aid of a barrel, but she can glide through the air via Helicopter Twirl. She stars in the game, Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! where she takes her little cousin, Kiddy Kong to aid her on her journey.
Kiddy Kong
- Main article: Kiddy Kong
Kiddy Kong is Dixie Kong's little cousin, who debuts and stars in the game Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!. Despite his young age, Kiddy Kong shows remarkable strength that even his older cousin Dixie Kong couldn't perform, such as lifting objects with ease and defeating enemies more quickly. However, he is very heavy, unlike Dixie Kong, who boasts superior air mobility and her ability to use her Helicopter Twirl.
Cranky Kong
- Main article: Cranky Kong
Cranky Kong appears in most Donkey Kong Country games, and in most of them, he played some roles. He is Donkey Kong's father and was stated that he is actually the original Donkey Kong that attacked Mario. He usually gives advice to the monkeys and helps them on their quest. However, he plays a very minor role in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!;in the Game Boy remake, he plays a slightly larger role by owning Cranky's Dojo.
Wrinkly Kong
- Main article: Wrinkly Kong
Wrinkly Kong is Donkey Kong's mother and the wife of Cranky Kong who first appeared in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest. She manages the Kong Kollege in Donkey Kong Country 2 and Wrinkly's Save Cave in Donkey Kong Country 3, so the Kongs can always save there when they needed to. Like her husband, she tends to give advice and tasks for the Kongs to complete. She also helps the Kongs by saving Banana Birds they might have obtained during their quest.
Funky Kong
- Main article: Funky Kong
Funky Kong appears in all Donkey Kong Country games that were released so far except for Donkey Kong Country Returns. He helps the apes by giving them mechanical service, such as lending them the Jumbo Barrel, which enables the monkeys to travel in islands where they already cleared; later games where the vehicles he lends has a similar function. He also hosts minigames that has certain rewards if cleared, such as Funky's Fishing.
Antagonists
King K. Rool
- Main article: King K. Rool
King K. Rool is the primary antagonist of the Donkey Kong Country series. He usually steals something in the games, such as Donkey Kong's Banana Hoard or even Donkey Kong himself, but usually gets thwarted by the Kongs. In each game of the Donkey Kong Country series where he appears in, he goes by a different alias, such as Kaptain K. Rool in Donkey Kong Country 2 and Baron K. Roolenstein in Donkey Kong Country 3. Although he is the primary antagonist of the Donkey Kong Country series, he and his Kremling Krew will not appear in the latest installment of the series, Donkey Kong Country Returns.
KAOS
- Main article: KAOS
KAOS is the main foe that Dixie Kong and Kiddy Kong must deal with in Donkey Kong Country 3. It is powered by Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, whom are captured by King K. Rool to power his machine. KAOS is a mechanically powered foe that uses several attacks such as spinning blades and exhaust flames to damage its foes. It is eventually destroyed by Dixe Kong and Kiddy Kong twice, which releases Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong.
Tiki Tong
- Main article: Tiki Tong
Is the main villain of Donkey Kong Country Returns. He is the leader of the Tikis.
He made the Tikis hypnotize the animals to help them steal the Banana Hoard, which keeps them alive.
Supporting Characters
Candy Kong
- Main article: Candy Kong
Candy Kong first appears in Donkey Kong Country, where she helps the apes save by managing Candy's Save Point. In the remakes of Donkey Kong Country, she runs several minigames, such as Candy's Dance Studio. She does not have any other major role later in the series, partly because her role of saving the game progress is taken by Wrinky Kong, although she does make cameos in several minigames in the remakes.
Swanky Kong
- Main article: Swanky Kong
Swanky Kong's role in the Donkey Kong Country series is for Kongs to play minigames and win them to earn rewards. In his debut appearance, Donkey Kong Country 2, he hosts Swanky's Bonus Bonanza where he gives extra lives to the Kongs if they answered the questions correctly. In Donkey Kong Country 3, he hosts Swanky's Sideshow, where, at a certain amount of Bear Coins, compete against Cranky Kong to win rewards.
Banana Bird Queen
- Main article: Banana Bird Queen
The Banana Bird Queen first appeared in Donkey Kong Country 3, where she is sealed away by Baron K. Roolenstein. Banana Birds, the birds of the queen, are also sealed away to prevent an escape that the Banana Bird Queen could make, which turned her into a stone contraption. After collecting all possible Banana Birds, the Kongs are then taken by the Banana Birds to their mother, the queen. She would then chase after King K. Rool which makes him flee the Northern Kremisphere.
Brothers Bear
- Main article: Brothers Bear
The Brothers Bear help Dixie Kong and Kiddy Kong in Donkey Kong Country 3. They are a group of bears where they own homes and businesses, scattered across the Northern Kremisphere. The Kongs need them to trade their Bear Coins for the items they have. These items help the player make a 100% complete progress in the game, especially the Banana Birds.
Enemies
Kremling Krew
- Main article: Kremling Krew
The Kremling Krew is the main, antagonist organization of the Kong Family led by King K. Rool. They are mostly Kremlings with different colors, sizes, shape, etc., but there are also some other creatures that are also part of the Kremling Krew. They also are the main reason some members of the Kong Family, including Donkey Kong, gets kidnapped. However, Donkey Kong and his allies defeat the Kremling Krew. The Kremling Krew will not appear in Donkey Kong Country Returns, however.
Zingers
- Main article: Zinger
Zingers are common, wasp-like enemies that appear in most released Donkey Kong Country games. They hover in the air, damaging any Kong who happens to go in their way. Since they have spikes on top of their body, they cannot be defeated by stomping them on their bodies. Instead, a barrel or an Animal Buddy must defeat it. Red Zingers cannot be defeated at all. In Donkey Kong Country 3, Zingers are replaced with Buzzes, which are also wasp-like enemies.
