Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

"Donkey Kong Country 2" redirects here. For other uses, see Donkey Kong Country 2 (disambiguation).

"DKQ" redirects here. For the Adobe Flash quiz, see Donkey Konga Quiz.

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
For alternate box art, see the related gallery.
Developer	Rareware
Publisher	Nintendo
Platforms	Super Famicom/Super Nintendo Entertainment System, LodgeNet, Virtual Console (Wii, Wii U, New Nintendo 3DS), Super Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics
Release dates	Super Famicom: November 21, 1995 Super Nintendo Entertainment System: December 4, 1995 December 14, 1995 1995 Nintendo Power: September 30, 1997 Virtual Console (Wii): May 16, 2007[?] May 18, 2007 May 21, 2007 October 23, 2007 November 25, 2008 Virtual Console (Wii U): October 23, 2014 October 24, 2014[?] November 26, 2014 February 26, 2015 Virtual Console (New 3DS): March 24, 2016 March 25, 2016 April 6, 2016 April 14, 2016 Super Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Classics: September 23, 2020 September 23, 2020 September 23, 2020 September 23, 2020 September 23, 2020 September 23, 2020
Languages	English Japanese French (Europe) German
Genres	Platformer, adventure
Ratings	Original release: ESRB: - Kids to Adults[?] ELSPA: - Three years and older[?] ACB: - General[?] Virtual Console: ESRB: - Everyone[?] CERO: - All ages[?] PEGI: - Three years and older[?] USK: - All ages[?]
Modes	Single player, multiplayer
Format	Super Famicom: Cartridge SF Memory Cassette: Cartridge SNES: Game Pak Wii: Digital download Wii U: Digital download Nintendo Switch: Digital download Nintendo 3DS: Digital download
Input	SNES: Super NES Controller Wii: Classic Controller Nintendo GameCube Controller Wii U: Wii U GamePad Classic Controller Wii U Pro Controller Nintendo Switch: Joy-Con Joy-Con (horizontal) Nintendo Switch Pro Controller NES Controller (NSO) Super NES Controller (NSO) Nintendo 3DS: Gamepad
Serial code	SHVC-ADNJ-JPN

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (also referred to as simply Donkey Kong Country 2 and Diddy's Kong Quest) is a 1995 platform game that was developed by Rare and published by Nintendo for the Super Famicom and Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the second installment in the Donkey Kong Country series. It is a sequel and direct follow-up to Donkey Kong Country. The game stars Diddy Kong as he and his girlfriend, Dixie Kong, make their way through Crocodile Isle to save Donkey Kong from the clutches of the Kremling Krew. A sequel and direct follow-up to Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, was released in 1996.

In 2004, a remake of the game was made for the Game Boy Advance. It omits the Diddy's Kong Quest subtitle, making it simply known as Donkey Kong Country 2, and has more minigames, some photographs, and other differences.

In 2007, the original version was rereleased on the Wii's Virtual Console. On November 25, 2012, Donkey Kong Country 2 and the other two original Donkey Kong Country games were delisted from the Wii Virtual Console, but on October 30, 2014, the games were relisted in Europe and Australia. Around the same time, the games were released for the Wii U's Virtual Console in Europe and Australia; in Japan on November 26, 2014; and in the United States and Canada on February 26, 2015. For handhelds, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest was ported exclusively to the New Nintendo 3DS's Virtual Console in March/April 2016. It was made available on Super Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics for the Nintendo Switch on September 23, 2020.

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest is the sixth-best-selling Super Nintendo Entertainment System game, with its predecessor being the third. A similar Game Boy title was released a year later, in 1996, Donkey Kong Land 2.

This game's soundtrack was released on Nintendo Music on November 4, 2024.

Story

“Arrrrgh! This story's even worse than DKC! They're really scraping the bottom of the barrel this time!”

—Cranky Kong

Some time after the events of Donkey Kong Country, Donkey Kong is relaxing at a beach, sitting on a chair while drinking a banana milkshake. Funky Kong is busy surfing waves among the seagulls. Cranky Kong walks up to Donkey Kong and hits him on the head with his cane. He asks Donkey Kong why he is sitting around if he is a "big star". Donkey Kong replies that even stars need time off. Cranky says that he never took breaks, "whisking off maidens and throwing barrels seven days a week". Donkey Kong tells him to leave him alone and stop pestering him, so Cranky leaves. Donkey Kong then goes to sleep in his chair.

At night, Diddy Kong and his girlfriend, Dixie Kong, are worried because Donkey Kong has not returned. They go to the beach to investigate, and the Kongs find many footprints surrounding Donkey Kong's broken chair. They find a note in the chair which reads:

Hah-arrrrh! We have got the big monkey! If you want him back, you scurvy dogs, you'll have to hand over the banana hoard! Kaptain K. Rool

Cranky suggests handing over the banana hoard to K. Rool. Diddy refuses because of how much effort he and Donkey Kong went through to retrieve the bananas, and that he would be very upset if his bananas were stolen again. Cranky asks if they have any better suggestions, and Diddy and Dixie both say that they want to rescue Donkey Kong themselves. The two get in a brief argument with Cranky, who does not believe Diddy qualifies as a video game hero. After Dixie insists that she will accompany Diddy, the two begin their journey.

The two Kongs go to Crocodile Isle and explore it while defeating various Kremlings and other enemies along the way. The pair eventually board The Flying Krock, where Donkey Kong is held, and battle Kaptain K. Rool, the leader of the Kremlings. K. Rool is defeated and Donkey Kong manages to free himself, and then punches Kaptain K. Rool through the roof of the Flying Krock. K. Rool falls from Crocodile Isle and lands in the water surrounding it, where he is seemingly eaten by sharks. Diddy and Dixie are then congratulated by Cranky Kong for their success and are integrated in the Video Game Heroes Hall of Fame.

During their adventures, the pair can also reach Crocodile Isle's Lost World by paying its guard, Klubba, with Kremkoins scattered all over the island. After giving Klubba all of the Kremkoins and exploring the Lost World, the Kongs finds Crocodile Isle's power source, Krocodile Kore, and Kaptain K. Rool, who is hiding there. A battle ensues and the pair eventually defeats K. Rool again, causing his blunderbuss to explode. This propels the crocodile into the energy geyser powering Crocodile Isle, blocking it until it explodes. The game then cuts to Donkey, Dixie and Diddy watching Crocodile Isle from a cliff, as it explodes and sinks into the ocean.

Gameplay

Abilities

The team up move, a move that had not originally appeared in Donkey Kong Country

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest is a 2D platformer like its predecessor, Donkey Kong Country. The playable characters are Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong. In order to travel through each level of the game and complete each of the game's many Bonus Levels, the Kongs have to use their basic and special abilities. Both Kongs have different abilities. The basic abilities include jumping, climbing, and swimming. Jumping is often used in the game to cross gaps and grab things in the air. A super-jump can also be performed if Diddy cartwheels or Dixie spins off of a ledge and jump while in mid-air. Diddy's cartwheel move and Dixie's Helicopter Spin can defeat several enemies, but not all. Dixie can use her Helicopter Spin ability in mid-air as well, allowing her to float for a short amount of time to avoid falling into gaps. Both characters can climb up ropes quickly to access high areas, with Diddy having the ability to climb slightly faster than Dixie, let alone on land and underwater in general. The swimming mechanic is similar to earlier platforming games of the Super Mario series: The player must hit , the jump button, to advance upwards into the water, as not pressing the button causes the Kongs slowly sink to the bottom. Pressing enables them to swim quicker, and and controls their ascent and descent.

Though Diddy does not have as many abilities as Dixie, he is able to defend himself while holding a barrel. While Diddy holds an object in front of his body to block himself, Dixie holds objects over her head, allowing enemies to easily attack her. When both Kongs are in play, and none are stuck in a DK Barrel, the two Kongs are able to use the new Team-up move, in which one Kong holds the other one on their shoulders and can throw them upward. The Kong riding the other one's shoulders can be thrown at enemies to defeat them or upward to reach items and access certain areas.

Modes

The mode selection and its two hidden modes: "Sound Test" and "Cheats"

Icon	Title	Information
	One Player	The self-explanatory single player mode where both Diddy and Dixie are controlled.
	TWO Player Team	Two players cooperatively take turns playing through the levels. The first player controls Diddy while the second player does Dixie. Players can change turns by switching the Kongs or by losing their Kong.
	TWO Player Contest	Two players compete to finish the most levels. Like "TWO Player Team", the first player controls Diddy while the second player is Dixie.
	Music Test	A hidden mode where the player can listen to the game's background themes. The player can reveal and access the mode by pressing five times from "TWO Player Contest".
	Cheat Mode	A hidden mode where the player can hit specific combination of buttons to enter a cheat to start off the new game. The player can access this mode by pressing another five times from "Music Test".

Characters

Kong Klan

Sprite	Kong	Summary	New
Playable
	Diddy Kong	Diddy Kong makes his return to the Donkey Kong Country series, but this time as the game's leading character. He retains his signature cartwheel run and high jumping ability in order to help rescue Donkey Kong from Kaptain K. Rool.
	Dixie Kong	Dixie Kong makes her video game debut as the girlfriend and sidekick of Diddy Kong. She can perform helicopter spins with her long, blonde ponytail, allowing her and Diddy to move across long distances.
Supporting
	Cranky Kong	Cranky Kong is Donkey Kong's grandfather and aids the Kongs with his Monkey Museum, where he gives advice to the two about Bonus Areas.
	Donkey Kong	The grandson of Cranky Kong and best friend of Diddy, DK has been captured by Kaptain K. Rool and the Kremlings. The Kongs encounter him tied up and dangling from the ceiling of Stronghold Showdown, where he ultimately assists them in defeating Kaptain K. Rool.
	Funky Kong	Funky Kong returns from Donkey Kong Country, although this time to run Funky's Flights II, where he rents out Jumbo Barrel to the Kongs, allowing them to travel back to other worlds which they have completed.
	Swanky Kong	One of the allies to the Kong Family, Swanky Kong is a game show host and an aide to Diddy and Dixie. He hosts Swanky's Bonus Bonanza, where he rewards the Kongs with Extra Life Balloons for correctly answering his queries.
	Wrinkly Kong	Wrinkly Kong makes her video game debut as the elderly wife to Cranky Kong and the grandmother of Donkey Kong. She runs Kong Kollege and, like her husband, advises the Kongs, but also can save the game.

Animal Buddies

Animal Buddies are partners who help Diddy and Dixie find Bonus Barrels, DK Coins, Banana Coins, and other items using their special abilities. They appear in many levels, and the Kongs can sometimes turn into the buddy or ride on it. An animal runs away when hit by an enemy, very similar to Yoshi in Super Mario World. Most of the buddies from Donkey Kong Country return in Diddy's Kong Quest, but a few new ones also appear in the game as well, making a total of nine Animal Friends. Below is a list of each Animal Friend, and a brief description on them.

Sprite	Animal Friend	Summary	Stages		New
			First	Last
	Clapper	Clapper is able to cool down water when jumped on. In Lava Lagoon, he cools the very warm liquid, making it safe for the Kongs to swim through without getting burnt. In Clapper's Cavern, he freezes water, allowing the Kongs to cross and avoid the hungry Snapjaws below.	Lava Lagoon	Clapper's Cavern
	Enguarde	Returning from Donkey Kong Country, Enguarde can knock enemies out with his sharp nose, and charge his Superstab to break through walls. Enguarde is mostly usable only underwater, since he cannot move well on land.	Lockjaw's Locker	Animal Antics
	Glimmer	Glimmer has a role very similar to Squawks in the first Donkey Kong Country. He lights the pitch-black water in the level Glimmer's Galleon. Glimmer is one of the only Animal Friends that cannot be affected in levels because enemies do not hurt him at all.	Glimmer's Galleon	Glimmer's Galleon
	Rambi	First appearing in the original Donkey Kong Country, Rambi can ram foes that come in his way. He can also jump on Zingers and other enemies that Diddy and Dixie Kong cannot defeat alone. Rambi can also use his Supercharge which makes him move at high speed, and able to break through walls and crush enemies.	Pirate Panic	Animal Antics
	Rattly	Rattly takes the role of Winky from Donkey Kong Country. He features the same purpose: to jump to higher areas. Rattly can help the Kongs reach bananas and even Bonus Barrels above their heads. The rattlesnake also has a Superjump: an extra high jump.	Topsail Trouble	Animal Antics
	Squawks	Unlike Donkey Kong Country, where Squawks only lit dark areas in Torchlight Trouble, Squawks' role is entirely different, and the Kongs can ride him by grabbing around his body to reach high areas. He can also shoot pellets at enemies to bring them down.	Squawks's Shaft	Animal Antics
	Purple Squawks	A bluish-purple version of Squawks. Unlike the Green Squawks, he cannot fly or spit eggs at enemies, and instead allows the Kongs to have a slower descent.	Parrot Chute Panic	Parrot Chute Panic
	Squitter	The game's new Animal Friend, Squitter, can shoot webs at nearby enemies to defeat them. Sometimes, the Kongs must cross a large abyss that cannot be crossed by jumping. The spider can shoot special webs that form into platforms and allow them to move across. Unlike most Animal Friends, Squitter cannot touch enemies without being harmed: He can only shoot them with his webs.	Hot-Head Hop	Animal Antics

Cranky's Video Game Heroes

The Cranky's Video Game Heroes ceremony features three cameos of other Nintendo game protagonists, each with their own amount of Hero Coins collected.

Sprite	Name	Origin	Information
	Mario	Super Mario	Mario is the default champion, with 39 of the 40 coins.
	Yoshi	Super Mario	Yoshi is the default runner-up, with 29 coins.
	Link	The Legend of Zelda	Link is by default in 3rd place, with 19 coins; if the player manages to get enough coins to reach the podiums, he consequently disappears.

Enemies

“How many? I reckon they're just put fancy pictures in here to make it look good. There's only three of these in the game, at most!”

—Cranky Kong

The game features many enemies to attack the player, some that are Kremlings and some that are not. All underwater enemies hurt the Kongs if swum into.

Sprite	Enemy	Summary	Stages		New
			First	Last
Lazy Landlubbers
	Cat O' 9 Tails	A bluish-purple cat with nine tails. They attack by spinning out of control and hitting the Kongs. Sometimes, a Cat O' 9 Tails that is spinning out of control can throw the Kongs upwards.	Mudhole Marsh	Fiery Furnace
	Click-Clack	Large beetles that can damage the Kongs. It must be jumped on twice to defeat: The first jump flips the Click-Clack, which can then be thrown at other foes to attack them. Click-Clacks can be defeated instantly by either rolling into them or by throwing an object at it.	Mainbrace Mayhem	Clapper's Cavern
	Flitter	A large dragonfly that can hurt the Kongs if touched on the sides, but the Kongs can bounce on them to cross abysses.	Topsail Trouble	Animal Antics
	Mini-Necky	A small vulture wearing a bandanna. They attack by swooping down at the Kongs, trying to ram into them. They can defeated by being jumped on. It is one of the two enemies returning from Donkey Kong Country.	Kannon's Klaim	Animal Antics
	Neek	Functionally similar to Klomps but smaller in size, Neeks move around trying to hit the Kongs, but they can be defeated with a cartwheel or jump.	Pirate Panic	Animal Antics
	Screech	K. Rool's pet parrot and a mini-boss encountered after beating K. Rool's Keep. He is raced by Squawks during the second half of Screech's Sprint.	Screech's Sprint
	Spiny	Spinies are spiked porcupines who attack with their sharp quills. If the Kongs jump on a Spiny, they get injured; they can defeat a Spiny by a frontal rolling attack.	Glimmer's Galleon	Fiery Furnace
	Zinger	Large wasps that attack the same way as before: standing in place or moving to sting the Kongs when they come near. There are yellow and red varieties: Reds can only be defeated with a TNT Barrel or an Invincibility Barrel, and yellows can be beaten by Rambi, Squawks, Rattly, or a thrown object.	Gangplank Galley	Animal Antics
Submerged Seadogs
	Flotsam	Stingrays that swim around areas, trying to hit the Kongs. They can only be defeated by Enguarde. They come in two colors, green and blue. The blue Flotsams only move in one direction, while the green Flotsams swim either left or right and change direction at times.	Lockjaw's Locker	Animal Antics
	Lockjaw	Very fast moving piranha fish that try to bite the Kongs.	Lockjaw's Locker	Animal Antics
	Puftup	They are spiky puffer fish encountered only underwater. Some of them release spikes while exploding.	Lava Lagoon	Animal Antics
	Shuri	Underwater starfish enemies that only Enguarde can defeat. When the Kongs approach them, they unleash their only attack: spinning at the Kongs, trying to hit them.	Lockjaw's Locker	Animal Antics
	Snapjaw	An invincible purple piranha fish and a variety of Lockjaw appearing in only two levels, Slime Climb and Clapper's Cavern. In both levels, they patrol the water and bite the Kongs if they fall in. They are very similar to Lockjaws in appearance, but are much faster and more deadly.	Slime Climb	Clapper's Cavern
Kremling Kuthroats
	Kaboing	Kremlings that bounce around on their two peg legs. Some of them simply bounce in place, while others jump forward. Jumping on their heads defeats them.	Gangplank Galley	Animal Antics
	Kaboom	Similar to Klobbers except they wear TNT Barrels. Kabooms hide in their barrels and come out when approached. A Kaboom explodes if hit on the side.	Ghostly Grove	Klobber Karnage
	Kackle	Kackles are large, skeletal Kremlings. They appear only in Haunted Hall and chase the Kongs throughout much of the said level. A time limit is given when they chase the Kongs, and when the timer hits zero, they attack. Time can only be added to the timer by hitting Plus Barrels.	Haunted Hall
	Kannon	A Klump dressed as a pirate. Kannons wield cannons in order to shoot kannonballs at the Kongs. Klumps sometimes shoot barrels, which can be bounced on to cross large gaps.	Kannon's Klaim	Animal Antics
	Klampon	Klampons are four-legged crocodiles similar to Klaptraps from Donkey Kong Country. They patrol the area and bite any of the two Kongs that come too close to their mouth. They can sometimes be seen guarding Spinies.	Hot-Head Hop	Animal Antics