Crash Guard

"Crash into too many things, and even this stuff can't save you."

- Cranky Kong

The Crash Guard is an item that appears in the New Mode of Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D and later reappears in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. In the former game, the Crash Guard is a potion similar to the Banana Juice except that the potion liquid is a light blue color. In the latter game, the Crash Guard was redesigned to a blue shield, lined with silver and with three small, metal circles positioned near the top.

Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D
In Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, the Crash Guard can be purchased from Cranky Kong's Shop for ten Banana Coins. It can only be used in levels that feature either a Minecart or Rocket Barrel section. Before starting one of either stage, the player must equip it in their inventory. When used, the Crash Guard protects Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong from up to two hits if they crash into an enemy or obstacle while they ride in the vehicle. If the player adds a second or third Crash Guard to their inventory before a stage, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong can survive four or six hits respectively.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
In Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, the Crash Guard can be purchased at Funky's Fly 'n' Buy, still retaining its price of ten Banana Coins. Unlike Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, the Crash Guard only protects the Kongs from taking damage once, partly because the Mine Cart and Rocket Barrel can withstand two hits before the Kongs lose a life. The Crash Guard does not respawn if the Kongs lose a life.

In the Nintendo Switch version, the Crash Guard is recolored green, but it still operates the same way as in the original Wii U version.

Trivia

 * When highlighting the Crash Guard in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Funky Kong will say "Vehicle troubles? It's dangerous to go alone--take one of these!", referencing the quote "It's dangerous to go alone. Take this!" from the first The Legend of Zelda game.

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