Zinger

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Zinger
Artwork of a Zinger from DK: Jungle Climber
First appearance	Donkey Kong Country (1994)
Latest appearance	Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (spirit cameo) (2018)
Variants Mechanical Zinger
Derived subjects Buzz Mincer Tiki Zing
Comparable Bumbler
Notable members King Zing Queen B.

Zingers, also shortened Zings, are large wasps (erroneously identified as bees) with protective spikes on their back. Zingers are usually colored yellow with black stripes. Zingers first appear in Donkey Kong Country. Zingers were designed by Steve Mayles, who dislikes wasps in real life, and was scared while designing the Zingers.

There are some entities similar to Zingers. In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! and Donkey Kong Land III, they were replaced with the robotic Buzzes. In Donkey Kong Country Returns's Tiki Zings have some similarities to Zingers in that they are usually used as indestructible obstacles against the Kongs; however, Flaming Tiki Buzzes are functionally closer in that they can be defeated in special ways, with Blue Hootzes continuing that role in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.

History

Donkey Kong Country series

Donkey Kong Country

A Zinger's original design in Donkey Kong Country

Zingers are one of the most common enemies in Donkey Kong Country. Because Zingers have spikes on their back and a pointed stinger, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong cannot defeat them directly, but only from either throwing a barrel at them. Two Animal Friends can defeat a Zinger: Rambi can instantly defeat Zingers on contact, and Winky can jump onto Zingers to defeat them. In most cases, the Kongs must avoid the Zingers, such as in Forest Frenzy, where most of the level involves them moving around Zingers as they move across abysses on a vertical rope. Zingers have four color variations: yellow, orange, pink, and green. Their flight pattern is determined by their color; yellow Zingers fly vertically, orange Zingers fly horizontally, pink Zingers fly in a circular path, and green Zingers fly in a U-shape formation. There is a large Zinger boss named Queen B. who is fought in Vine Valley, in Bumble B. Rumble.

The game data features unused silver and blue palettes of Zingers.

In the Game Boy Color version, due to technical limitations, there are only yellow Zingers for every behavior. In the Game Boy Advance version, the pink ones now use the previously unused silver coloration, with one of every color including pink and purple appearing during the ending cast roll. Compared to the original unused palettes, the silver and purple ones have swapped wing colors. Furthermore, in the latter remake, Queen B. can summon Zingers during her battle.

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

A Zinger's updated design for Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

In Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, Zingers have two color variants: regular yellow ones and the invincible, red ones, which are invincible. Zingers behave similarly as in Donkey Kong Country, once again having varying flight patterns, and Zingers can now be defeated from more Animal Friends than in Donkey Kong Country, including from Squawks' nuts, Squitter's web projectiles, or being bounced onto by Rattly. In addition, Diddy and Dixie can defeat them directly if under the effect of an Invincibility Barrel. Zingers appear in most levels, some of which take place inside of a Zinger hive, with larval and pupal Zingers visible in the background. Most Zinger hives appear in Krazy Kremland, reflected by how Zingers fly around the world on the Crocodile Isle map. A Zinger boss named King Zing is even fought at the end of Krazy Kremland, and late into his battle, King Zing shrinks to the size of a Zinger and summons several other small ones to guard him (just as Queen B. does in Donkey Kong Country's Game Boy Advance remake). Although Zingers are often described as wasps, a lot of honey appears in their hives. In the ending, Zingers are categorized within the Lazy Landlubbers enemy class.

Donkey Kong Country novel

A single Zinger appears as an antagonist in the Donkey Kong Country novel. Upon entering the Kremling's factory, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong and Cranky Kong eavesdrop on Zinger complaining to his co-worker Klap Trap about King K. Rool's absence. Klap Trap then notices the group and Zinger lunges at Donkey Kong, only to be defeated by being hand slapped (which is not possible in the games).

Club Nintendo

A Zinger appears in the Club Nintendo comic "Donkey Kong Country" as an enemy of Donkey and Diddy Kong. However, it does not attack the pair until Donkey Kong swears at the wasp. Ultimately, DK defeats the Zinger (which, like every enemy in the comic, is able to speak) by doing a special rolling move and then kicking the enemy. When defeated, the Zinger claims that its stinger is deformed.

Donkey Kong Land series

A comparison between a Zinger's design in Donkey Kong Land and Donkey Kong Land 2

Zingers appear in the first two games of the Donkey Kong Land series, Donkey Kong Land and Donkey Kong Land 2. In both games, they are aerial enemies appearing in most levels. Unlike in the Donkey Kong Country series, Zingers do not have distinguishable colors due to the Game Boy's monochrome screen, but they behave exactly like the yellow types.

Uniquely to Donkey Kong Land, Zingers had their sprite changed to vertically oriented instead of horizontal, and their stinger more outwardly faces the Kongs. Expresso can now jump on them without taking damage.

In Donkey Kong Land 2, Zingers are classified under "The Baddies" during the ending cast roll.

Donkey Kong 64

Zingers are enemies in Donkey Kong 64. They have one of two ways of attacking: In DK Isles and some of the earlier levels, Zingers dive-bomb at the active Kong on sight, while other Zingers instead drop unripe green Oranges upon noticing them. Zingers can be defeated from either being hit with ammo from a Kong's weapon, from the effects of a musical instrument move, or by throwing an Orange at it. Aside from DK Isles, Zingers also appear in Jungle Japes, Angry Aztec, Fungi Forest during the daytime (being replaced by Bats at night), and Crystal Caves. Gloomy Galleon has only one Zinger, located inside of a mechanical fish. In Angry Aztec, if the player defeats a Zinger and its body falls into the sand, the body disappears in a burst of flames without releasing any Watermelon slice. Unlike the dive-bombing Zingers, the orange-dropping ones will generally respawn after defeating them.

Zingers have a robotic variety named Mechanical Zingers, which appear in Frantic Factory, although regular Zingers do not.

DK series

Zingers are enemies in both games of the DK series, DK: King of Swing (appearing in three levels: Cactus Woods, Lockjaw Falls, and Booster Barrel Skyway) and DK: Jungle Climber. Zingers behave identically in both games. They move by continuously flying back and forth in a set horizontal or vertical pattern. They have spikes on their back and a stinger, which protect them from Donkey Kong or Diddy Kong's charge attack. If either Kong touches or performs a charge attack into a Zinger's spikes or stinger, they take one heart of damage. A Zinger can be defeated by either a charge attack into the front or from the Going Bananas move.

Donkey Kong Barrel Blast

A Zinger in Donkey Kong Barrel Blast

Zingers in Donkey Kong Barrel Blast are depicted larger than before. They are enemies on the racetracks DK Jungle, DK Jungle Falls, DK Jungle Sunset, Scorching Canyon and Cranky's Temple. They fly around in a set pattern and can be defeated from one hit. They also appear in two of Candy's Challenges, where Donkey Kong needs to beat a set amount of Zingers on the Training Course before time expires.

Super Smash Bros. series

There are a few items of Zingers in the Super Smash Bros. series. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, a Zinger is featured as a sticker that can be equipped by any character in The Subspace Emissary, and doing so raises their resistance to slashing attacks (such as Link's sword) by five points. In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, there is an unlockable Zinger trophy, randomly obtainable in one of the game's modes. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, there is a Novice-class Shield-type primary spirit of Zinger with no support slots, and when used, it simply raises a fighter's power without granting any special effects. In the game's World of Light mode, the spirit can be encountered on the DK Island sub-world of the Light Realm map, on the Reptile Rumble spot. The spirit's puppet fighter, Pikachu, has increased throw power, and he is fought on the omega form of The Great Cave Offensive stage, with Unira being the only items that spawn during the battle. A Zinger's core can be combined with a Princess Shroob core to summon Queen Sectonia's spirit.

The Super Smash Bros. for Wii U trophy description generalizes that yellow Zingers fly up and down while red Zingers fly in circles based on their behavior in Donkey Kong Country, although Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest shows some exceptions.

WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase

In DK Country, one of 18-Volt's microgames from WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase, a red Zinger must be avoided when the player shoots Diddy Kong out of a Bonus Barrel.

Unused appearances

Donkey Kong Racing

Taj and Donkey Kong racing on Zingers in the trailer for the canceled Donkey Kong Racing

In the canceled Donkey Kong Racing, part of the trailer showed Donkey Kong and Taj racing each other on Zingers in a forest area. This suggests that Zingers would have been rideable vehicles. At the end of the trailer, Taj moves past the slogan "Let's Ride" as he rides a Zinger.

Diddy Kong Pilot (2003)

Zingers are defensive items in the 2003 build of Diddy Kong Pilot. If a racer has a Zinger, they can drop it behind to protect them from an incoming Buzz. If a racer flies into the Zinger, their plane briefly crashes onto the ground. A Zinger breaks if a character or object crashes into it. Like Buzzes, it is possible for racers to pick up three Zingers at once. Zingers were replaced by Ice Eggs in the final game, Banjo-Pilot.

Profiles and statistics

Main article: List of Zinger profiles and statistics

Donkey Kong Country

• Level appearances (by color)
  • Ropey Rampage: yellow
  • Reptile Rumble: yellow and orange
  • Barrel Cannon Canyon: yellow and orange
  • Winky's Walkway: pink (silver in the GBA version)
  • Bouncy Bonanza: green and yellow
  • Millstone Mayhem: orange
  • Vulture Culture: orange, yellow, and pink
  • Tree Top Town: orange
  • Forest Frenzy: orange, yellow, and pink
  • Temple Tempest: orange and yellow
  • Orang-utan Gang: pink
  • Snow Barrel Blast: green, yellow, orange, and pink
  • Slipslide Ride: orange
  • Rope Bridge Rumble: pink and orange
  • Trick Track Trek: orange, yellow, and pink
  • Elevator Antics: yellow and orange
  • Mine Cart Madness: orange, pink, and yellow
  • Tanked Up Trouble: orange, pink, and yellow
  • Loopy Lights: orange and yellow
  • Platform Perils: orange, yellow, and pink

DK: Jungle Climber

• Level appearances
  • Little Sun Sun Island
  • Tropical Treetops
  • Road to Ruins
  • Toybox
  • Little Lost Island
  • Toybox 2
  • Panic Factory
  • Little Ghost Island
  • Falling Falls
  • Snowful Slope
  • Space A Go-Go
  • Toybox 3
  • Planet Plantaen

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Spirit #160 Zinger
	Series/game	Donkey Kong Series
Type	Primary
Slots	0
Class	Novice
Strength / effect(s)	Shield
How to obtain	World of Light (DK Island); Spirit Board
Spirit battle	Opponent(s)	Pikachu
	Conditions	Rule: Item: Unira The enemy's throwing-type items have increased power
	Stage	The Great Cave Offensive (Ω)
	Song	Stickerbush Symphony

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Zinger.

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  Donkey Kong Country

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  Club Nintendo

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  Donkey Kong 64

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  DK: King of Swing

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  DK: Jungle Climber

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	ジンガー Jingā	Zinger
French	Zinger	-
German	Zinger	-
Italian	Zinger	-
Russian	Жужа (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate) Zhuzha Зингер Zinger	Derived from жужжание (zhuzhzhanie, Russian onomatopoeia for buzzing) Zinger
Spanish	Zinger	-