Blubbo
The title of this article is from an official source, but is based on development data such as an internal filename.
If an acceptable public name is found, then the article should be moved to the new title.
| Blubbo | |
|---|---|
 Blubbo in Donkey Kong Country Returns | |
| Species | Whale |
| First appearance | Donkey Kong Country Returns (2010) |
| Latest appearance | Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (2025) |
Blubbo is a friendly cachalot from Donkey Kong Country Returns. In that game, it helps the Kongs cross the waters of the Beach.
History[edit]
Donkey Kong Country Returns[edit]
Blubbo first appears in Donkey Kong Country Returns, reappearing in the game's two ports. It debuts in the level Poppin' Planks with a minor background role; the Kongs can summon it by pounding a DK Plate next to a wavy bridge, whereupon it will blow off a large quantity of collectable bananas above this bridge.
The character gains a more prominent role in Blowhole Bound. Encountered early in the level, Blubbo is initially stuck to a large anchor that is lodged into its blowhole; the Kongs must mount the whale and pound the surface next to the anchor to force a strong burst of water, pushing the anchor away. Freed, Blubbo proceeds to swim ahead with the Kongs on its back. This provides the player characters with a relatively limited area of movement, where they must avoid Snippys climbing from the water and Squidlys flying in from the opposite direction. Blubbo often swims under clusters of collectibles, such as bananas and Banana Coins. The Kongs can once again pound near the blowhole to release a stream of water that can lift them to higher items; this can be employed to easily obtain the N and G Letters as well as one Puzzle Piece. Blubbo can swim erratically, often tilting backward or forward, rendering its back more difficult to walk on. The camera locks on Blubbo around the level as the Kongs ride on it, but the Kongs can jump forward to platforms that are momentarily off-screen to advance faster through the stage, with the camera following them as usual upon landing.
In the first half of the level, Blubbo travels straight to an island that houses the level's checkpoint. Upon reaching the island, it submerges itself completely and moves onward, prompting the Kongs to jump off. The whale awaits them at the other side of the island and continues swimming when mounted, rampaging through a series of shipwreck fragments which the Kongs must quickly traverse before Blubbo sinks them completely. Finally, the whale raises the Kongs to the Slot Machine Barrel and continues swimming off-screen.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze[edit]
In Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and its its port, Blubbo makes a cameo appearance in the stage Amiss Abyss, where its silhouette can be seen in the distance, just before entering the area with Don Zunāna.[1]
Naming[edit]
The character's name originates from the internal name of Blowhole Bound in Donkey Kong Country Returns: L06_Beach_Blubbo.[2] It derives from "blubber", which describes the fat tissue under the skin of a number of marine mammals, including whales. Perhaps incidentally, the word "blubbo" already exists in the English vocabulary and is a derogatory term for an overweight person.
References[edit]
- ^ Zephiel805. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze - 100% Walkthrough - 4-3 Amiss Abyss (Puzzle Pieces and KONG) (00:25). YouTube (English). Retrieved July 13, 2017.
- ^ Supper Mario Broth (September 5, 2026). Post. Tumblr. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
