Dino Domain
| Dino Domain | |
|---|---|
 Conker drives in the Dino Domain hub. | |
| First appearance | Diddy Kong Racing (1997) |
| Latest appearance | Diddy Kong Racing DS (2007) |
| Greater location | Timber's Island |
| Ruler | Tricky the Triceratops |
| Inhabitants | Dinosaurs and Pterodactyls |
The Dino Domain is the first world of Diddy Kong Racing and Diddy Kong Racing DS and an area of Timber's Island. Racers are required to have at least one Golden Balloon to enter. The Dino Domain is set in a dry, prehistoric area with dinosaurs and pterodactyls. Most of the courses are in a canyon landscape, which features small lakes and some plant life, specifically grass and pine trees. One of the stages is set in an entirely volcanic region, along with its Challenge Level. Tricky the Triceratops is the boss of the Dino Domain.
The world's hub is located to the right of Wizpig's rock-carved head on Timber's Island. To enter the Dino Domain, the racer drives up a small bridge leading into a tunnel carved in a hill. A large door to the hub is located at the end. A rainbow is positioned just outside the tunnel, likely resulting from the waterfalls on each side. The Challenge Door is located on the right side, with a small pond just outside it.
Like its subsequent worlds, the Dino Domain has a Trophy Race that the player can enter after they win against Tricky again. Also like in the other worlds, T.T. walks around the center of the Dino Domain's hub, and the player can bump into him to review their game progress. In the Nintendo 64 version of the game, it is the only world to have all its racetracks playing different tunes.
In the DS remake, this world's main lobby has dinosaur skeleton bones, some green grass and trees added and the entrance to its Wish Door has a waterfall added behind the stones in the puddle.
Courses
For courses where two or all three vehicles can be used, vehicles listed in bold print are the mandated vehicle during Adventure Mode and the Trophy Race, and other vehicles can only be used in a Time Trial or after the course is completed.
| Course | Unlock requirement | Vehicles | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 Ancient Lake |
 × 1 (race) × 6 (Silver Coin/Balloon Pop Challenge)
|
Car, Hovercraft, Plane | Ancient Lake is set in a canyon. It has a rocky, gray road with grass patches and trees on the side. The second half of the level features a river and a wandering dinosaur. It occasionally crosses the road and may trample over racers. Ancient Lake has the world's Wish Key, which is needed to unlock the world's Challenge Level, Fire Mountain. |
 Fossil Canyon |
× 2 (race) × 7 (Silver Coin/Balloon Pop Challenge)
|
Car, Hovercraft, Plane | Fossil Canyon is a sandy, dusty, and rugged area. Its race takes place during sunset. Another dinosaur appears in the stage, but it remains in the background and does not interfere with the race. Racers drive through a cave at one point, which can either be entered from the usual curved path or from a Zipper to shortcut across a lake just outside of the cave. |
 Jungle Falls |
× 3 (race) × 8 (Silver Coin/Balloon Pop Challenge)
|
Car, Hovercraft, Plane | Jungle Falls is set in another rocky, rugged area. The course starts out relatively bumpy from large dinosaur footprints in the road. The path leads to a ditch, with two small waterfalls forming a lake into it. Racers can drive across the ditch from a bridge and some empty ruins just ahead. Racers encounter a large dinosaur skull shortly after they exit the ruins. They can use a Zipper below it to quickly reach the finish line. Jungle Falls is considered the shortest race track of the game. |
 Hot Top Volcano |
× 5 (race) × 10 (Silver Coin/Balloon Pop Challenge)
|
Hovercraft, Plane | Hot-Top Volcano takes place inside a volcanic cavern. It is the first course where racers use planes and cannot use cars. They have to pilot through a cave and even past a large dinosaur from the first two courses. Hot Top Volcano is filled with lava, but it does not effect the racers. |
 Boss race: Tricky's Course |
First match: × 6 + every track completed Rematch: × 11 + every track completed
|
Car | The player races against the world boss Tricky on a racetrack that spirals up a mountain and ends on its summit. The race features rolling boulders, and Tricky may knock over stone pillars that block part of the path. The racer must avoid these pillars or being trampled over by Tricky, both of which slow them down. Tricky provides the racer with part of the Wizpig amulet after he loses at the rematch. |
 Challenge Level: Fire Mountain |
N64: Ancient Lake's Wish Key DS: 30 coins |
Plane | The player can access this Challenge Level after they obtain the Wish Key in Ancient Lake. It takes place in a volcanic area like Hot Top Volcano. There are four racers, each of whom compete to hatch three eggs first. Racers must attempt to guard their nest, because their opponents attempt to steal an Egg before it hatches. The player receives part of the T.T. amulet if they win.
In the DS remake, Fire Mountain was replaced with a short Wish Race against T.T. in the Adventure Mode, being playable only in multiplayer. |
Gallery
Diddy Kong Racing
Map overview
Group artwork of the racers in the Dino Domain
The tunnel leading into the Dino Domain
The Wish Door in the Dino Domain's hub
Early screenshot of the Dino Domain, which originally had a longer entrance
Diddy Kong Racing DS
Diddy drives in the Dino Domain hub.
Trophy Race icon in the multiplayer, depicting a theropod tooth
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ザウルスゾーン[?] Zaurusu Zōn |
Zaurus Zone | |
| French | Domaine Dino[?] | Dino Domain | |
| German | Dinoland[?] | Dinoland | |
| Italian | Regno di Dino[?] | Dino Kingdom | |
| Spanish | Reino de Dino[?] | Dino Kingdom |
