Popgun
The popgun is a type of weapon commonly used in the Donkey Kong franchise. Originally appearing in Donkey Kong 64, popguns are small ranged weapons that shoot various types of projectiles, such as peanuts or bubble gum.
History
Donkey Kong franchise
Donkey Kong 64
A pair of Peanut Popguns is Diddy Kong's personal weapon in Donkey Kong 64. It can be bought from Funky's Store for 3 Banana Coins. Its appearance is that of two small pistols made of wood, appearing to be hollowed out logs. They are used, among other things, to shoot enemies, Peanut Switches, and Banana Balloons. Diddy Kong can equip or put away the popguns at the player's command, but only when he is on the ground; when using his jetpack, Diddy Kong always has the popguns equipped.
As with all the other guns in the game, the Peanut Popguns can be upgraded in Fungi Forest to use homing ammo, in exchange for 5 Banana Coins.
Donkey Kong Country Returns / Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D
Diddy Kong can use the Peanut Popguns by default in Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, although they are less effective than in previous appearances and can only be used during multiplayer. Here, they appear to be stubbier and each is held together by two iron rings. When Diddy is controlled independently, he can perform the Popgun Pound, an ability which involves shooting peanuts along with ground pounding. He can also shoot peanuts without performing this move, if the player that is controlling him shakes the Wii Remote while Diddy is in mid-air or if he is mounted on Donkey Kong. Launched peanuts will bounce on the ground quickly and will break when they hit a wall or an enemy; shooting an enemy will stun it for a moment, usually making it briefly dizzy or confused. However, certain enemies, like bosses, are not affected whatsoever by the Popgun's projectiles.
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. 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).
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. His alleged popgun is not seen, however.
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. When charged up, the peanuts fired are much faster, and will have a better chance at hitting the opponents. Charging it for too long, however, leads to the popgun exploding in Diddy Kong's hands, stunning him; in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, the explosion can also damage opponents. The attack 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 doesn't 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 also uses two Peanut Popguns when using his Final Smash, the Rocketbarrel Barrage.
Diddy Kong pointing his Peanut Popgun in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The Peanut Popgun exploding in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
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 the Spanish words "cacahuete" ("peanut") and "pistola" ("gun") |
Gumball Popgun
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| French (NOA) | Pisto-gomme[1] | Pisto-gum | |
| Spanish (NOA) | Gomatola[1] | Portmanteau of the Spanish words "goma" ("gum") and "pistola" ("gun") |
Denture Popgun
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| French (NOA) | Lancer de dentier[1] | This is the name of the action of launching dentures, rather than the name of the popgun itself | |
| Spanish (NOA) | Lanzamuelas[1] | Pun using the Spanish verb "lanzar" ("to launch") and "muelas" ("teeth") |
Trivia
- In pre-release screenshots of Donkey Kong 64, the Peanut Popguns looked like real guns.
- 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."[4]
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
- ^ Super Mario Party official website, Characters section. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
