Golden Balloon

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Revision as of 14:58, March 31, 2023 by LinkTheLefty (talk | contribs) (DS manual also has it as "Golden Balloons" on page 8.)
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Golden Balloon
GoldballoonDKRDS.png
A Golden Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing DS
First appearance Diddy Kong Racing (1997)
Latest appearance Diddy Kong Racing DS (2007)

Golden Balloons, also referred to as Gold Balloons,[1][2] are shiny balloons that appear in Diddy Kong Racing and its Nintendo DS remake, Diddy Kong Racing DS. These items are the game's equivalent to Power Stars from Super Mario 64. Golden Balloons are required to access all five worlds and their race courses. Each of them is designed with a blue zigzag lining pattern of triangles and has its own minimum requirement for entry, which increases for the later courses and worlds.

The game features 47 Golden Balloons, 43 of which are awarded by Taj for either winning at a race, its Silver Coin Challenge (or Balloon Touch Challenge in the DS version), and the three vehicle races against him, either involving a car, hovercraft, or plane.

Timber's Island locations

The remaining four Golden Balloons are scattered in specific locations of Timber's Island. They can be collected in no specific order, and usually require a specific vehicle to reach. The Plane can reach every Golden Balloon.

Image Location Vehicle(s)
Tiptup drives to the Golden Balloon lying outside of Dino Domain's entrance. Located on the bridge that leads to the Dino Domain hub. Car, Hovercraft, Plane
Tiptup flies to the Golden Balloon on a grassy ledge to the left of Wizpig's stone head in Diddy Kong Racing. On a grassy ledge to the left of the stone Wizpig's head. Plane
Tiptup flies to a Golden Balloon at the far end of the Timber's Island coast in Diddy Kong Racing. Hidden in the far left end of the ocean surrounding Sherbet Island's entrance. Car, Hovercraft, Plane
Tiptup finds a Golden Balloon behind the log path on Timber's Island in Diddy Kong Racing. Located between two pine trees behind the log bridge. It is reachable from the river connecting Snowflake Mountain and Sherbet Island. Hovercraft, Plane

As seen in the DS remake, one Golden Balloon is found in a frozen cube on the top of the entrance to Snowflake Mountain. The stylus must be used to slide the cube down the slopes into the water stream so it melts and releases the balloon onto the shore of the main beach. Another Golden Balloon can be found unburied if the player uses the stylus to draw the balloon to match the carving on the stone wall by the smaller beach.

Gallery

  • Diddy Kong Racing sprite

    Diddy Kong Racing sprite

  • Diddy Kong Racing sprite (small)

    Diddy Kong Racing sprite (small)

  • Diddy driving his car while holding a Golden Balloon

    Diddy driving his car while holding a Golden Balloon

  • Diddy Kong Racing artwork of Conker reaching for a Golden Balloon

    Diddy Kong Racing artwork of Conker reaching for a Golden Balloon

  • Taj gives a Golden Balloon to Conker in Ancient Lake

    Taj gives a Golden Balloon to Conker in Ancient Lake

  • Golden Balloons in the background of a Japanese Diddy Kong Racing commercial

    Golden Balloons in the background of a Japanese Diddy Kong Racing commercial

References

  1. ^ Leung, Jason, Pelland, Scott and Shinoda, Paul. Diddy Kong Racing Player's Guide. Page 18.
  2. ^ Diddy Kong Racing DS instruction booklet, page 11.
[Edit]
Diddy Kong Racing / Diddy Kong Racing DS
Playable characters Diddy Kong • Krunch • Drumstick • Bumper • Tiptup • T.T. • Pipsy • Timber • Banjoa • Conkera • Tiny Kongb • Dixie Kongb • Tajb • Wizpigb
Vehicles Car • Plane • Hovercraft
Bosses Tricky • Bluey • Bubbler • Smokey • Wizpig
Worlds Dino Domain • Snowflake Mountain • Sherbet Island • Dragon Forest • Future Fun Land • DK Islandb
Tracks Ancient Lake • Fossil Canyon • Jungle Falls • Hot Top Volcano • Everfrost Peak • Walrus Cove • Snowball Valley • Frosty Village • Whale Bay • Crescent Island • Pirate Lagoon • Treasure Caves • Windmill Plains • Greenwood Village • Boulder Canyon • Haunted Woods • Spacedust Alley • Darkmoon Caverns • Spaceport Alpha • Star City • Thunder Coveb • Meandering Mountb • Splashdown Passb • Strangled Shrineb
Boss tracks Tricky Challenge • Bluey Challenge • Bubbler Challenge • Smokey Challenge • Wizpig's First Strike • Wizpig Strikes Back
Challenge levels Fire Mountain • Icicle Pyramid • Darkwater Beach • Smokey Castle
Items & objects Bananaa • Coinb • Discovery Cardb • Golden Balloon • Power-Up Tokenb • Silver Coin • Taj Tokenb • Tree • T.T. amulet • Weapon Balloon • Wish Key • Wizpig amulet • Zipper
Other Gallery (N64 · DS) • Glitches • Media • Quotes • Timber's Balloon Pop • Trophy Race • Wish Race
a Exclusive to Diddy Kong Racing
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