Diddy Kong Racing DS

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Diddy Kong Racing DS
The North American front box art for Diddy Kong Racing DS
North American box cover
For alternate art, see the related gallery.
Developer Rare
Publisher Nintendo
Platform Nintendo DS
Release dates USA February 5, 2007[1]
Australia April 19, 2007[2]
Europe April 20, 2007[3]
Languages English
French (Europe)
German
Italian
Spanish (Europe)
Genres Racing, Adventure
Ratings
ESRB:E - Everyone[?]
PEGI:3 - Three years and older[?]
USK:0 - All ages[?]
ACB:G - General[?]
Modes Single-player, multiplayer, online multiplayer
Format
Game Card
Input
Serial codes USA NTR-AWDE-USA
Europe NTR-AWDP-EUR
Australia NTR-AWDE-AUS

Diddy Kong Racing DS, referred to as simply Diddy Kong Racing on the Nintendo DS menu, is a racing game for the Nintendo DS. It is a remake of the Nintendo 64 game Diddy Kong Racing. Diddy Kong Racing DS is Rare's first Nintendo DS game. This game adds online multiplayer via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

Due to Rare's acquisition by Microsoft, Banjo and Conker were replaced by Tiny Kong and Dixie Kong respectively, although Tiptup was kept in the game, despite his appearances in several Banjo-Kazooie games. Nintendo owns the copyright to the original Diddy Kong Racing game code and Microsoft had never entered the handheld gaming market, therefore allowing Rare to work on the game with Nintendo for the DS. This is the final game created by Rare to feature a character from a Nintendo franchise.

The game was planned to be localized for all Asian markets (such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Mainland China by iQue), but it ended up being a Western-exclusive title instead.[citation needed]

Story[edit]

Diddy Kong Racing DS intro cutscene screenshot
Timber and the others running away from Wizpig.
Diddy Kong Racing DS intro cutscene screenshot
The Kongs agree to help in their fight with Wizpig.

When his parents go on vacation, Timber is left to care for the family island, Timber's Island. Unfortunately, an evil pig wizard, named Wizpig, invades the island and brainwashes Tricky, Bluey, Bubbler, and Smokey to be his lieutenants. One of the island's fastest racers, Drumstick, challenges Wizpig to a race, only to disappear without a trace after doing so. In desperation, Timber, along with his friends Tiptup, Pipsy, and Bumper, sends a letter to his friend Diddy Kong via Squawks, asking for help. Accepting Timber's plea, Diddy calls Dixie Kong and Tiny Kong to assist him. Krunch, a Kremling Krew spy, sets off to Timber's Island following the Kongs, attempting to figure out what they are up to and to bring that information to King K. Rool.

With help from Taj and T.T., Diddy, Timber, and co. manage to beat Tricky, Bluey, Bubbler, and Smokey in races and snap them out of Wizpig's brainwashing. Drumstick, who had been turned into a frog by Wizpig, is also returned to normal.

After Wizpig's brainwashed minions are defeated, Wizpig is next challenged by Diddy Kong and his friends. After a race, Wizpig is seemingly defeated and a victory celebration is held. Unfortunately, Wizpig crashes the party.

Following Wizpig to his home planet, Future Fun Land, Diddy Kong and his friends manage to get past all of Wizpig's challenges and get a rematch with the rocket-riding Wizpig. After another race, Wizpig is beaten and his rocket malfunctions, causing it to crash into a deserted planet. Wizpig is stranded, but he mentions that he shall return sometime.

Returning to Timber's Island, another celebration is held, with Wizpig having been beaten for good and his hold on the island gone. Diddy Kong flies away as everyone waves goodbye to both him and the player behind a sign that says "The End".

Drivers[edit]

Diddy Kong Racing DS features a total of twelve racers, four of which are unlockable. The racers' stats vary in three major categories: speed, acceleration, and handling. Eight of the racers, Diddy Kong, Tiptup, Pipsy, Bumper, Timber, Krunch, T.T., and Drumstick, are all available as racers in Diddy Kong Racing. Taj and Wizpig are in the original Diddy Kong Racing, but are not playable characters. Banjo and Conker were replaced with Tiny and Dixie Kong respectively. With the exception of Diddy Kong, Krunch, Dixie Kong, and Tiny Kong, every character is property of Rare and Microsoft.

Many of the stats listed on the menu do not match up up with the character's actual hidden stats within the game. For example, T.T. is listed as having max speed when he is actually slower than Krunch, while Drumstick is listed having 5/5 acceleration when he actually has some of the lowest acceleration.[4]

Default characters[edit]

Character Acceleration Turning Top Speed
Artwork of Pipsy from Diddy Kong Racing DS
Pipsy 		5/5 5/5 1/5
Tiptup's artwork from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Tiptup 		5/5 5/5 1/5
Diddy Kong
Diddy Kong 		3/5 3/5 2/5
Art of Dixie Kong from Diddy Kong Racing DS
Dixie Kong 		3/5 3/5 2/5
Artwork of Tiny Kong in Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Tiny Kong 		3/5 3/5 2/5
Timber flies in a Plane in Diddy Kong Racing DS. This artwork is also used for the flash game, Timber's Balloon Pop.
Timber 		3/5 3/5 3/5
Artwork of Bumper from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Bumper 		2/5 3/5 3/5
Krunch
Krunch 		2/5 2/5 4/5

Unlockable characters[edit]

Character Acceleration Turning Top Speed Unlock method
Drumstick from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Drumstick 		5/5 2/5 4/5 Collect all four Grand Prix trophies, which reveals a frog with a rooster comb in Timber's Island hub. Then, flick the frog onto the cliff with the frog face on it, then run over it to return Drumstick to normal.
Taj
Taj (new) 		1/5 1/5 5/5 Complete Adventure Mode.
Artwork of T.T. from Diddy Kong Racing DS
T.T. 		5/5 4/5 5/5 Complete each course in time trials within a certain time, then race on them again to beat T.T.'s ghost for each.
Art of Wizpig from Diddy Kong Racing DS
Wizpig (new) 		1/5 1/5 5/5 Complete Adventure 2.

Taj's Wishes Menu[edit]

Taj's Wishes Menu in Diddy Kong Racing DS
Taj's Wishes Menu main screen

Taj is the caretaker of the island and provides assistance to Diddy and his friends. Taj appears every time the player gains ten Golden Balloons and challenges them. He also takes care of rewards and unlockables. Taj allows the player to paint their vehicle for free, but he has a few items in his tent on the center courtyard. He calls it his "Wishes Menu":

Wishes Menu costs
Vehicle upgrades
# Item Coin cost Effect
1 Basic Downforce 50 Minor help in handling and corning of one's vehicle of choice
2 Downforce A & Downforce B Both are 100 Major improvement in handling and cornering of one's vehicle of choice
3 Basic Sprint 50 Minor help in acceleration of one's vehicle of choice
4 Sprint A & Sprint B Both are 100 Major improvement in acceleration of one's vehicle of choice
5 Basic Air 50 Minor help in speed of one's vehicle of choice
6 Air A & Air B Both are 100 Major improvement in speed of one's vehicle of choice
7 Standard Custom 50 Minor handling sacrifice for top speed and a custom look
8 Custom A & Custom B Both are 100 Major speed improvement and a great custom look. Handling is sacrificed and is shrunk down to poor stats.
Unlockables
# Item Coin cost Effect
1 Thunder Cove 80 A new track
2 Meandering Mount 80 A new track
3 Splashdown Pass 80 A new track
4 Strangled Shrine 80 A new track
5 Coin Challenge & Coin Challenge Mirror 20 Major part of the Nintendo 64 version, racers race through all the tracks, having to collect eight Silver Coins, and it is required to come in first place to win the challenge.
6 SP Wish Race (single player) & Multi Wish Race (multiplayer) 50 Race on the player's custom tracks with T.T. as the guide.
7 Battle Track 1 (Fire Mountain) 30 One of the original Battle areas in the Nintendo 64 classic, the racer tries to gather three eggs and hatch them from atop a volcano first. (Multiplayer only)
8 Battle Track 2 (Icicle Pyramid) 30 One of the original Battle areas in the Nintendo 64 version, racers tries to strike down their rivals in a huge ice temple. If the racer loses all their bananas they lose.
9 Battle Track 3 (Darkwater Beach) 30

One of the original Battle areas in the Nintendo 64 version, racers try to strike down their rivals in a big dark water lake with small sand island-like platforms. The objective to win is similar to Icicle Pyramid. If the racer loses all their bananas, they lose.

10 Battle Track 4 (Smokey Castle) 30 One of the original Battle areas in the Nintendo 64 version. The objective to win is similar to Fire Mountain. The racer has to fill their chest with Taj Tokens. First gaining ten tokens wins.
11 Billboard Editor 50 The player can fill the racetracks and courses with their own artwork.
12 Sound Recorder 50 The player can record their own sound effects through the touch screen.

Balloons[edit]

Colored balloons await the racers in normal racing levels. They consist of weapons. Once a player gets up to three, they increase in strength.

Power-Up Tokens are also scattered in every single race track. The player must collect one and can upgrade their balloon strength with just one balloon and set it to maximum power.

Type of balloon Number of balloons + Power-Up Token
1 2 3
Red Balloon
Artwork of a red Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing DS 		Missile 5 Semi-Homing Missiles Homing Missile Three Circling Rocket Missiles
Blue Balloon
Artwork of a blue Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing DS 		Standard Turbo Boost (Orange Engine Blast) Powerful Turbo Boost (Light Green Engine Blast) Extremely Powerful Turbo Blast (Purple Engine Blast) Autopilot that allows the player three engine boosts and a long lasting shield
Green Balloon
Artwork of a green Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing DS 		Slippery Black Sludge Spike Bomb Bubble 5 Fake Explosive Rareware Coins
Yellow Balloon
Artwork of a yellow Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing DS 		Standard Energy Shield Better Lasting Energy Shield Longest Lasting Energy Shield Makes the racer invisible with a long lasting shield
Rainbow Balloon
Artwork of a rainbow Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing DS 		Standard Red Magnet Strong Yellow Magnet Strong Green Magnet that pulls the racer towards their rival A missile that the player can hit anyone the player chooses via the touch screen

Vehicles[edit]

Car[edit]

The car is the most basic vehicle with four wheels and a driver's seat. It has simplest handling, but it can only stay on the ground, being slowed down slightly when driving off road, and goes extremely slow when used in the water. It is limited to only use zippers on the ground. The car is a beginners vehicle. It can be used in eighteen out of twenty four race tracks. In Adventure Mode, it is used the most, being used on twelve of the tracks. It is used against Tricky and Wizpig, during their first matches.

Plane[edit]

The plane is slightly trickier to control than the car. However, the plane is not restricted to having to use the road, which enables it to cut corners inaccessible to cars such as the pathway to Snowflake Mountain. There are also many tracks which have paths only usable by the plane, many of which are slightly harder to access with some sort of reward, such as a balloon or a Power-up Token. The plane is not restricted to any zipper, being the only vehicle able to use all three types, and the only vehicle which can use airborne zippers. It can be used in fifteen out of twenty four race tracks. In Adventure Mode, it is used in five races, and against Smokey and Wizpig in his second race.

Hovercraft[edit]

The hovercraft is possibly the trickiest to control. However, it is not hindered by driving off road or in water, although it can skid on roads. Its ability to drive over water enables it to use shortcuts on some tracks. The boat can use zippers on the ground, or in the water, making it more versatile than the car, but less versatile than the plane. It can be used in all twenty-four race tracks. Despite this, in Adventure Mode it is only used on the three tracks being Whale Bay, Pirate Lagoon, and Boulder Canyon. It is used against Bluey and Bubbler when raced against.

  • Car
    Car
  • Plane
    Plane
  • Hovercraft
    Hovercraft

Zippers[edit]

Main section: Dash Panel § Diddy Kong Racing
A Zipper used by Cars in Diddy Kong Racing.A Zipper used by Hovercrafts in Diddy Kong Racing.A Zipper used by Planes in Diddy Kong Racing.
The three Zippers variants, for Car, Plane, and Hovercraft.

Zippers help vehicles Turbo Boost around corners on race tracks. They have red and yellow stripes and stand out from whatever track the racer is playing. By letting go of the gas while driving over/through a zipper, the racer can get an even larger boost.

Types of Zippers[edit]

  • The Car Zipper is flat on the ground and is fairly simple to get a good boost from and is chevron-shaped.
  • The Plane Zipper is found in the air and is a circle shape. The plane is the only vehicle that can access it. If racers attempts to get the boost at an angle, the boost lags and becomes a big time consumer.
  • The Hovercraft Zipper is found in water and is a triangle shape vertex that allows easy boosting and weapon advantage strategy making. Planes can also use it.

Tracks[edit]

Race tracks[edit]

Diddy Kong Racing DS contains twenty-four race tracks split between six cups. In most races (marked with a check mark), racers are able to choose what type of vehicle to bring into the race, which can effect the paths in the course they are able to take. For some races, there are vehicles that are not able to be taken into it (marked with a red X).

Dino Domain[edit]

Track Car Plane Hovercraft
Ancient Lake course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Ancient Lake 		A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.
Fossil Canyon course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Fossil Canyon 		A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.
Jungle Falls course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Jungle Falls 		A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.
Hot Top Volcano course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Hot Top Volcano 		A red "X" mark, used to indicate when something is false or not applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.

Snowflake Mountain[edit]

Track Car Plane Hovercraft
Everfrost Peak course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Everfrost Peak 		A red "X" mark, used to indicate when something is false or not applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.
Walrus Cove course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Walrus Cove 		A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A red "X" mark, used to indicate when something is false or not applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.
Snowball Valley course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Snowball Valley 		A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A red "X" mark, used to indicate when something is false or not applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.
Frosty Village course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Frosty Village 		A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.

Sherbet Island[edit]

Track Car Plane Hovercraft
Whale Bay course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Whale Bay 		A red "X" mark, used to indicate when something is false or not applicable. A red "X" mark, used to indicate when something is false or not applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.
Crescent Island course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Crescent Island 		A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A red "X" mark, used to indicate when something is false or not applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.
Pirate Lagoon course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Pirate Lagoon 		A red "X" mark, used to indicate when something is false or not applicable. A red "X" mark, used to indicate when something is false or not applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.
Treasure Caves course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Treasure Caves 		A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.

Dragon Forest[edit]

Track Car Plane Hovercraft
Windmill Plains course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Windmill Plains 		A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.
Greenwood Village course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Greenwood Village 		A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A red "X" mark, used to indicate when something is false or not applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.
Boulder Canyon course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Boulder Canyon 		A red "X" mark, used to indicate when something is false or not applicable. A red "X" mark, used to indicate when something is false or not applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.
Haunted Woods course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Haunted Woods 		A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A red "X" mark, used to indicate when something is false or not applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.

Future Fun Land[edit]

Track Car Plane Hovercraft
Spacedust Alley course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Spacedust Alley 		A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.
Darkmoon Caverns course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Darkmoon Caverns 		A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A red "X" mark, used to indicate when something is false or not applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.
Spaceport Alpha course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Spaceport Alpha 		A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.
Star City course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Star City 		A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.

DK Island[edit]

Track Car Plane Hovercraft
Thunder Cove course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Thunder Cove 		A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.
Meandering Mount course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Meandering Mount 		A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.
Splashdown Pass course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Splashdown Pass 		A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.
Strangled Shrine course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Strangled Shrine 		A red "X" mark, used to indicate when something is false or not applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.

Battle tracks[edit]

Track Car Plane Hovercraft
Fire Mountain course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Fire Mountain 		A red "X" mark, used to indicate when something is false or not applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A red "X" mark, used to indicate when something is false or not applicable.
Icicle Pyramid course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Icicle Pyramid 		A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A red "X" mark, used to indicate when something is false or not applicable. A red "X" mark, used to indicate when something is false or not applicable.
Darkwater Beach course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Darkwater Beach 		A red "X" mark, used to indicate when something is false or not applicable. A red "X" mark, used to indicate when something is false or not applicable. A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable.
Smokey Castle course icon from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Smokey Castle 		A green check mark, used to indicate when something is true or applicable. A red "X" mark, used to indicate when something is false or not applicable. A red "X" mark, used to indicate when something is false or not applicable.

Adventure Mode tracks[edit]

Timber's Island areas
Dino Domain
# Track Balloon count Silver Coin Challenge balloon count Types of transportation available
1 Ancient Lake 1 6 Car (required), Plane, Hovercraft
2 Fossil Canyon 2 7 Car (required), Plane, Hovercraft
3 Jungle Falls 3 8 Car (required)