Diddy Kong Racing (series)
Template:Series-infobox Donkey Kong Racing games have been produced since 1997 with Diddy Kong Racing for the Nintendo 64. In the vein of other Donkey Kong/Diddy Kong sport games, it features Donkey Kong/Diddy Kong and his all-star cast competing in a racing game. It is very similar to the Mario Kart series but features only Donkey Kong characters.
Since its first generation on the Nintendo 64, a long hiatus was caused by Rare's buy-out by Microsoft, and two DKR games that had been in production had to be cancelled. In 2007, two games of the series were eventually released and brought the series back to life.
Games
Diddy Kong Racing
- Year Released – 1997
- System – Nintendo 64
Diddy Kong Racing is the first DK racing game to be released. The game has a total of ten playable characters and 25 different racecourses, Diddy Kong Racing was a success receiving the Player's Choice title. The game has a story mode, multiplayer modes, and a variety of characters (many from Rare series), such as Diddy Kong, Banjo, Krunch, and Conker, but not Donkey Kong. The game was a success that earned it a Player's Choice title and a remake for the Nintendo DS. The game is not set in Donkey Kong Island, but in Timber's Island. It introduces the spin-off series Banjop-Kazooie and Conker, the Squirrel.
Diddy Kong Pilot
- Year slated to be released – 2002 (canceled)
- System – Game Boy Advance
Diddy Kong Pilot was the planned sequel to Diddy Kong Racing, but instead focusing only on flying and nothing else. Due to Rare being acquired by Microsoft, Rare was already far at work into the game and instead of scrapping it altogether, the game was removed of all Donkey Kong references and was turned into Banjo-Pilot. The game was first shown at Spaceworld 2001, where its cast consisted of both Donkey Kong Country and Mario characters - a first for a Donkey Kong Country spin-off. This version allowed players to take control of Diddy Kong, Princess Peach, Mario, Cranky Kong, Donkey Kong, King K. Rool, Yoshi, Wario, Bowser, Funky Kong, Dixie Kong, Candy Kong and Toad.
Diddy Kong Racing
- Year slated to be released – 2004 (canceled)
- System – Game Boy Advance
Donkey Kong Racing is another cancelled game, this one focusing on Donkey Kong instead of Diddy Kong. It would feature new Animal Buddies such as a gigantic Rambi and a purple Enguarde. After the buy out of Rare, the game was seen as vaporware. Confirmed characters in the game included Donkey Kong, Tiny Kong, Diddy Kong, Taj the Genie and Kiddy Kong. Rideable creatures seen were Rambi, a gigantic sized Rambi, a small red Rambi, a small Rambi, Enguarde the Swordfish, a purple Enguarde, Ellie the Elephant and some Zingers. Creatures rumored to be ridable include Expresso the Ostrich, a Chomps shark, a Necky and an Army.
Diddy Kong Racing DS
- Year Released – 2007
- System – Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi
Diddy Kong Racing DS is the Nintendo DS remake of the Nintendo 64 game, Diddy Kong Racing. Diddy Kong Racing DS is Rare's first Nintendo DS game. This game uses Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, unlike the original. Due to Rare's move to Microsoft, Banjo and Conker were replaced by Dixie Kong and Tiny Kong. New additional playable characters are the unlockable elephant Taj and enemy Wizpig. New items are the Rare coins, who replaced the Bananas.
Donkey Kong Barrel Blast
- Year Released – 2007
- System – Wii
Donkey Kong Barrel Blast (known as Donkey Kong Jet Race in Europe) is the third released Donkey Kong racing game, but the first for the Wii. Instead of vehicles, the characters ride on rocket-powered Bongos. The game was originally intended for release on the Gamecube, but was moved to the Wii. The game includes Miis.
Playable Characters
With six Donkey Kong Racing titles, the list of characters that can be found from within these games is quite large. Below is a list of all the characters found in each game.
