Crocodile Isle
| Crocodile Isle | |
|---|---|
 The original Crocodile Isle in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest | |
| First appearance | Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (1995) |
| Latest appearance | Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018) |
| Ruler | Kaptain K. Rool |
| Inhabitants | Kremlings |
Crocodile Isle (also known as the Kremling island and Krem Island)[1][2][3] is a large, mountainous island and the main setting of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Donkey Kong Land 2. It is also the originating location of the Kremlings, the Kremling Krew's capital base of operations, and the neighboring island to Donkey Kong Island. After being destroyed, it was replaced by a artificial island built by Snide in Donkey Kong 64.[4]
History
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
- “Have you been to see my husband Cranky? He complains a little, but he does know everything about this island.”
- —Wrinkly Kong, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
During the events of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong travel to Crocodile Isle in search for Donkey Kong. If they manage to defeat Kaptain K. Rool a second time, in Krocodile Kore, he falls into Krocodile Kore's volcano, which creates an explosion resulting in the entire Crocodile Isle sinking into the sea. However, K. Rool manages to escape on a raft, laughing. Donkey Kong, Diddy, and Dixie witness all of these events from Donkey Kong Island.
Crocodile Isle directly contrasts with Donkey Kong Island, which features a thriving ecosystem and plentiful wildlife. Crocodile Isle has a dark and murky environment with lots of pollution and barrenness, as evidenced by the dead trees, mining, toxic waste, and garbage. This was caused by K. Rool's pollution and waste of natural resources.[5] However, Crocodile Isle is seemingly in close proximity to Donkey Kong Island to the southeast, as said island is visible from two locations on the isle. A hidden location also appears somewhere in Crocodile Isle, and it does not appear on the main world map, the Lost World. A large volcano-shaped altar, Krocodile Kore, appears in the center of the Lost World, and it serves as the island's core.
Shipwrecks surround Crocodile Isle. A large sculpted crocodile head follows after it, at the very bottom of the isle. An isolated volcanic region and a few mine shafts are hosted within the sculpted head. Most of the lower region consists of swamps: one of them features a massive shipwreck and another has an abandoned, derelict amusement park built upon it. Zinger hives and bramble infestations are also common areas.
The higher altitudes of Crocodile Isle are colder and very windy. This shift occurs in a spooky forest following after the swamps and amusement park. Lastly, K. Rool's Keep appears at the peak, atop a cluster of carved K. Rool heads known as Mount Kremore.[6] The castle is the highest altitude of Crocodile Isle, and due to its high elevation, there are a few frozen caverns in the tower's foundation.
Cranky Kong is knowledgeable about Crocodile Isle, even knowing about the secret Lost World.[7][8]
Crocodile Isle features the following worlds:
- Gangplank Galleon: The scuttled remains of K. Rool's ship from the previous game, now depicted as being much larger. Krow is fought here.
- Crocodile Cauldron: A magma-filled cave fairly close to sea level. Kleever is fought here.
- Krem Quay: A polluted marshland that was the island's former main port. Kudgel is fought here.
- Krazy Kremland: The island's amusement park, currently in disrepair and with a massive Zinger infestation. King Zing is fought here.
- Gloomy Gulch: A haunted forest of dead trees, some of which have sinister faces. Kreepy Krow is fought here.
- K. Rool's Keep: Kaptain K. Rool's fortress atop the icy summit. No boss is fought here, though Kerozene is in the Game Boy Advance remake.
- The Flying Krock: A massive flying battleship connected to K. Rool's Keep via a long ladder that goes through the bramble thickets. Kaptain K. Rool is fought here.
- Lost World: A mysterious underground jungle whose many entrances are guarded by Klubba. Kaptain K. Rool is fought a second time here.
Donkey Kong Land 2
In Donkey Kong Land 2, the story behind Crocodile Isle is a retelling of that from Donkey Kong Country 2, where Diddy and Dixie go to rescue Donkey Kong. As a result of defeating Kaptain K. Rool in the Lost World, the entire Crocodile Isle explodes and simultaneously sinks into the ocean. This time, K. Rool is not seen escaping the isle. There are only a few differences with Crocodile Isle: the map layout is reversed, two of the worlds were merged into a volcanic-swamp hybrid, Krem Cauldron, and a single Klubba's Kiosk appears on the main world map, left of Gloomy Gulch.
Donkey Kong 64
- “SQUAWK! He's back, DK! King K. Rool's island is just over there!”
- —Squawks, Donkey Kong 64
A new version of Crocodile Isle[9] (also referred to as Crocodile Rock,[10] K. Rool's Mobile Island Fortress,[11] and K. Rool Island[12]) returns in Donkey Kong 64, where it has been converted into a massive naval fortress by Snide.[13] The ship is gray and green and features several metal pieces over the original stone island. It has iron patches, a bronze head, red eyes, a golden crown, a wooden bridge, gray floors, pipes, five doors and red propellers. Crocodile Isle has an engine allowing it to move through the sea by using the ships' two screws. K. Lumsy's Prison is connected to Crocodile Isle through a cable. The base of Crocodile Isle is mainly operated and serviced by Kritters, although in some cutscenes, they are shown to have little knowledge about the machinery and rely mostly on force to keep its base operational. A large laser cannon named the Blast-o-Matic is installed in the center of the ship, and the machine is also maintained by Kritters. King K. Rool resides in a chamber resembling a throne room. The final level, Hideout Helm, takes place inside Crocodile Isle, and the Kongs can explore areas such as the ship control room and the throne room.
During the game's opening, King K. Rool orders his servants to move Crocodile Isle to the DK Isles, where he attempts to use the Blast-o-Matic to destroy Kong Isle to take revenge on Donkey Kong and his friends. Though later, an argument starts between the two Kritters in charge of the steering wheel, as they cannot decide whether to move the ship to the right or to the left. The purple Klaptrap who controls the steering wheel gets distracted by the argument, and the ship crashes against a rock, breaking the Blast-o-Matic. After this, the Kremlings fix the Blast-o-Matic while Donkey Kong is distracted by King K. Rool's guards. During the game, a few levels are accessed from different parts of Crocodile Isle, including K. Lumsy's Prison. The last level, Hideout Helm, is located at the top of the Kremling base. The Kongs come here to shut down the Blast-o-Matic and battle K. Rool, though the latter flees in his airship before being defeated. In the Game Over sequence, King K. Rool aims the Blast-o-Matic out from Crocodile Isle directly at Kong Isle.
The following places can be accessed from Crocodile Isle:
- K. Lumsy's Prison: A floating nearby island that is attached to the main island, where K. Lumsy is being held captive.
- Frantic Factory: A hazardous toy factory filled with various mechanical foes, roughly corresponding to Kremkroc Industries, Inc. from Donkey Kong Country. Mad Jack is fought here.
- Gloomy Galleon: A shipwreck-filled lagoon which appears to be naturally made from stone, roughly corresponding to Gangplank Galleon (which itself makes a cameo) and Krem Quay. Puftoss is fought here.
- Creepy Castle: A haunted castle high above the island, filled with ghosts and illusions, roughly corresponding to Gloomy Gulch and K. Rool's Keep. King Kut Out is fought here.
- Hideout Helm: A battle station where both King K. Rool and the Blast-o-Matic are located.
- Sub-areas accessible from the hub
Frantic Factory entryway
Gloomy Galleon entryway
Creepy Castle entryway
Hideout Helm entryway
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Other appearances
Donkey Kong Country television series
Though Crocodile Isle never directly appeared on the Donkey Kong Country television series, several Kremling characters such as King K. Rool and Kaptain Skurvy would sometimes mention the "swamps back home".[14][15]
Bumm-Badabumm im Urwald
In the obscure Donkey Kong comic Bumm-Badabumm im Urwald, Crocodile Isle never made a direct appearance, though several locations ventured through in the comic, such as a Krochead and a crashed ship-filled swamp, along with the "Lost Land", are obviously based off areas of Crocodile Isle.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Crocodile Isle reappears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as part of King K. Rool's Final Smash, in which he fires the Blast-o-Matic at Donkey Kong Island. While primarily based on the iteration from Donkey Kong 64, the island has been redesigned, now being a natural island like the original instead of a naval fortress. The top is now shiny and golden, while the body of it has been simplified.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Crocodile Isle is mentioned in Animal Crossing: New Horizons by Captain Gullivarrr, in dialogue added to the July 3, 2020 update. If the player finds Gullivarrr, he may say, "Folks be fearin' me buccaneerin' from Crocodile Isle to Keelhaul Key..."
Profiles
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
- Instruction booklet: As the home port of Kaptain K. Rool's cutthroat pirates. Crocodile Isle is teeming with all types of Kremlings. There's even more variety of terrain on this than there was in Donkey Kong Country. And K. Rool definitely has the home turf advantage here.[16]
- Nintendo Power vol. 76: The home island of K. Rool holds creatures that bite and sting and crush and claw - rats on the shipwrecks, bees in the hives, porcupines in the woods, pufferfish in the sea.[17]
- Nintendo Power vol. 79: King K. Rool now fancies himself a pirate, taking on the title of "Kaptain" and ordering his Kremlings to dress up as peg-legged buccaneers. In the best (worst?) pirate tradition, they've kidnapped Donkey Kong and are holding him for ransom in their lair on Crocodile Isle. Now it's Diddy and Dixie's turn to play hero, swinging, jumping and bopping their way across six massive worlds (each with multiple stages) in search of their hapless comrade![18]
- Nintendo Magazine System (UK): K. Rool's island is host to all manner of biting things, stinging things and crawling things![19]
- Instruction booklet (Game Boy Advance version): As the hideout of Kaptain K. Rool's cutthroat pirates, Crocodile Isle is teeming with Kremlings of all kinds, and there's an even greater variety of terrain on this island than in Donkey Kong Country. Going sightseeing? Here's what to look for![20]
Donkey Kong 64
- Player's Guide
- After Diddy delivers his key to K. Lumsy, the Kremling's tremors of joy will shake open a door on Crocodile Isle and raise a platform on its lower deck. Swim to the isle and hop onto the raised platform to reach the catwalk. Follow the path to the door at the top, then venture inside to meet up with Chunky, and a box of toys more dangerous than darts.[21]
- Hop in and hold onto your hide for an express ride to the haunted apex of K. Rool's great warship.[22]
Gallery
A map depicting Donkey Kong Island and Crocodile Isle, used as a backdrop in the file select screen of Donkey Kong Country 2
Crocodile Isle sinking underwater in Donkey Kong Land 2's ending
Cockpit in Donkey Kong 64
Game Boy Advance sinking sprite
Crocodile Isle sinking underwater in the Game Boy Advance remake
Concept artwork of Crocodile Isle
Crocodile Isle being designed
Theme
 Welcome to Crocodile Isle - The main map from Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest | File info |
| Boss Bossanova - Boss battle theme in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest which is an arrangement of "Welcome to Crocodile Isle" | File info |
| Crocodile Cacophony - K. Rool's battle theme in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest which is an arrangement of "Welcome to Crocodile Isle" | File info |
| Crocodile Cacophony - An excerpt of the arrangement from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, featuring "Welcome to Crocodile Isle" | File info |
Names in other languages
- Crocodile Isle
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | クレムリン島[23] Kuremurin-tō |
Kremling Isle | |
| French | Île Croco[?] | Croco Isle | |
| German | Krokodil Insel[?] | Crocodile Isle | |
| K. Rools Schwimmende Festung[24] | K. Rool's Floating Fortress | Donkey Kong 64 | |
| Italian | Isola dei Coccodrilli[25][26][27] | Crocodile Isle | Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, Donkey Kong 64 |
| Crocodile Island[28][29] | - | Donkey Kong Land 2 | |
| Isola Krodilla[?] | Krodile Isle; probably meant to be a portmanteau of coccodrillo ("crocodile") and "gorilla" | Donkey Kong Country 2 | |
| Spanish | Isla Cocodrilo[?] | Crocodile Isle |
- Kremling island
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| French | Île Kremling[?] | Kremling island | |
| German | Kremlinginsel[?] | Kremling island | |
| Italian | Isola dei Kremling[?] | Kremlings' island | |
| Spanish | Isla Kremling[?] | Kremling island |
References
- ^ "On the Kremling island map, how many small wasps hover around the wasp hives?" – Swanky Kong. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.
- ^ "What is the name of the Kremling island that you are on?" – Swanky Kong. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.
- ^ "CAPTURED: Dixie and Diddy won't go it alone when they reach Krem Island on their search for Donkey Kong." – September 1995. Nintendo Power vol. 76. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 23.
- ^ "SNIDE: Once he was K. Rool’s mechanical mastermind, but then the ungrateful monarch stole Snide’s Blueprint of the king’s floating island and gave the hapless henchman the royal boot." – Bihldorff, Nate, Jason Leung, and Drew Williams (1999). Donkey Kong 64 Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 7.
- ^ "JUNGLE JINX: It looks like K. Rool hasn’t heard about preserving the rain forests. Here he’s dumping bunches of giant tires in Diddy and Dixie’s path!" – Miller, Kent and Paul Shinoda (1995). Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 46.
- ^ File:Crocodile Isle Concept.jpg
- ^ "Even old Cranky Kong is getting on the entrepreneurial spirit! He's opened a small outlet where you learn more about the "history" and "culture" of Crocodile Isle." – 2004. Donkey Kong Country 2 instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 26.
- ^ "I reckon I'd found all the Kremkoins and completed the so called 'Lost World'. Oh well, can't expect everything from our first game, can we?" – Cranky Kong. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.
- ^ "The Islands: The once idyllic Kong Isle now has an unpleasant neighbor in the form of K. Rool's massive mechanical Crocodile Isle. This monstrosity towers over our homeland, with the ridiculously named Blast-o-Matic device ready to reduce it to rubble. Between them, these two contrasting islands conceal the entrances to all the levels." – 1999. Donkey Kong 64 instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 29.
- ^ Bihldorff, Nate, Jason Leung, and Drew Williams (1999). Donkey Kong 64 Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 49.
- ^ Barton, Jeff, Mario De Govia, and Donato Tica (December 1, 1999). Donkey Kong 64 Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Prima Games (American English). ISBN 0-7615-2279-4. Page 14.
- ^ Donkey Kong 64 Banana Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Archived March 4, 2000, 17:10:35 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
- ^ "The former chief technician of King K. Rool's is primarily responsible for the design and construction of the floating fortress and the Blast-o-matic." – Snide's bio. Donkey Kong 64 German website.
- ^ "Oh, my favorite part is going back to the swamplands to play gator games with all my slithering siblings." – K. Rool. The Kongo Bongo Festival of Lights, Donkey Kong Country.
- ^ "That's 'cause as a young 'un, ye played with 'em, and set the swamps on fire, burnin' us outta house and home." – Kaptain Skurvy. The Kongo Bongo Festival of Lights, Donkey Kong Country.
- ^ 1995. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 20.
- ^ September 1995. Nintendo Power Volume 76. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 26.
- ^ December 1995. Nintendo Power Volume 79. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 15.
- ^ July 1995. Nintendo Magazine System Volume 34. Page 20.
- ^ 2004. Donkey Kong Country 2 (Game Boy Advance) manual. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 26.
- ^ Bihldorff, Nate, Jason Leung, and Drew Williams (1999). Donkey Kong 64 Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 49.
- ^ Bihldorff, Nate, Jason Leung, and Drew Williams (1999). Donkey Kong 64 Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 97.
- ^ 1995. Super Donkey Kong 2: Dixie & Diddy instruction booklet. Nintendo (Japanese). Page 6.
- ^ Donkey Kong 64 German player's guide. Page 13.
- ^ Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Italian booklet. Page 20.
- ^ Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest back of the Italian boxart
- ^ Donkey Kong 64 English-Italian manual. Page 40.
- ^ Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest. Nintendo of Italy (Italian). Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ Donkey Kong Land 2 Italian manual. Page 24.
