Cranky Kong's Shop

Cranky Kong's Shop
Wii version Nintendo 3DS version Nintendo Switch version
First appearance	Donkey Kong Country Returns (2010)
Latest appearance	Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (2025)
Greater location	Donkey Kong Island
Owner	Cranky Kong

“Donkey Kong's white bearded, grouchy grandfather Cranky Kong has set up shop in each world to help Donkey Kong in his quest. Cranky Kong can ramble on about anything, but don't ignore anything he has to say, as his ramblings provide useful information to those who pay careful attention.”

—Donkey Kong Country Returns instruction manual

Cranky Kong's Shop is a recurring location in Donkey Kong Country Returns and its Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Switch ports. It serves as the successor to Cranky's Cabin from Donkey Kong Country. Cranky Kong runs the shop because his pension was revoked.

There is a shop in each world, excluding Golden Temple in the original Donkey Kong Country Returns. On the Level Selection Screen, Cranky Kong's Shop is marked with a white space and is always next to the hut it represents. Its level code suffix is "S", so the shop in the Jungle is "1-S", the shop on the Beach is "2-S", and so on. Each shop is identical, though the player has to clear between one to three levels before they can reach the that world's shop, depending on the world's layout.

Cranky Kong's Shop sells items in exchange for Banana Coins. Once purchased, the items can be equipped from the Inventory menu before entering a level. Most of what Cranky sells is optional, in that they only help the player complete levels and more easily collect items. However, the shop sells a unique Map Key in each world except for Cloud. It opens up the locked path on the Level Selection Screen in the world, which leads to an additional level. Completing every level is required for 100% completing the game, indirectly making the Map Key required. In New Mode of Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D and Modern Mode of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, there are three more items the player can buy. In addition, after beating the game the player can purchase the Rare Orb in each world from the corresponding shop. A world's Rare Orb is normally only rewarded for beating the world's Key Temple level.

Cranky refuses to sell items to the player(s) if the purchase would put the player(s) over the maximum of 99 per item. Likewise, if the player(s) buy a key, they cannot purchase it again. This is also true for Rare Orbs the player has, be they purchased or obtained from their level.

As with previous games, Cranky will sometimes complain about his situation such as needing Banana Coins, being stuck in a shack, or how the game is "too hard" for Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong. Hovering over items prompts Cranky to talk about it. He makes one comment each time the player purchases an item, based on the item in question. They are often snide remarks. He has a quip when entering or leaving the shop, some of which are based on the world the shop is in. Some of these are advice, and some others allude to the Golden Temple.

The shop is replaced by Funky's Fly 'n' Buy in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, due to Cranky Kong becoming a playable character.

Inventory

Original and New/Modern Mode items

Merchandise	Price (Original)	Price (New/Modern)	Description
1 Balloon	x3	x2	Grants one extra balloon.
3 Balloons	x7	x5	Grants three extra balloons.
7 Balloons	x15	x10	Grants seven extra balloons.
Heart Boost	x10	x3	Adds one extra heart to your heart count.
Squawks	x15	x5	Squawks helps you find Puzzle Pieces.
Banana Juice	x20	x7	Makes you temporarily invincible!
Map Key	x20	x10	This key opens a locked path in this world.

New/Modern Mode-exclusive items

It has been requested that more images be uploaded for this section. Remove this notice only after the additional images have been added. Specifics: sprites of Rare Orbs

Merchandise	Price	Description
Green Balloon	x3	Saves you once from a fall! (Not all the time.)
Crash Guard	x10	Makes your Mine Cart or Rocket Barrel temporarily invincible!
DK Barrel	x5	Allows you to use a DK Barrel anytime.
Orb	x50	One of the Orbs needed to enter the Golden Temple.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	クランキーコングの店 Kurankī Kongu no Mise	Cranky Kong's Shop
Italian	Bazar Cranky[?]	Cranky bazaar

Notes

The concept artwork

• The Banana Juice potion could be an allusion to Donkey Kong 64, where Cranky was a scientist who crafted potions for the player.
• In the Image Gallery, a concept artwork of Cranky's Shop shows he had only one balloon for each amount of lives, and in different colors.
• If the player does not select an item from the shop for a while, Cranky will get tired and fall asleep.
• Only in the Nintendo 3DS remake, if the player is playing New Mode and waits on the Portable DK Barrel long enough, Cranky will make a Legend of Zelda reference saying, "It's dangerous to go alone! Buy this!", substituting "Take" with "Buy".