Donkey Kong Country

This article needs Donkey Kong Country improvement. Specifically:

• Super Famicom Box release date

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This article is about the Super Nintendo Entertainment System game. For other uses, see Donkey Kong Country (disambiguation).

"DKC" redirects here. For other uses, see DKC (disambiguation).

"Super Donkey Kong" redirects here. For Donkey Kong under the effect of a Super Mushroom, see Giant Donkey Kong or Super Mario (form).

Donkey Kong Country
For alternate box art, see the related gallery.
Developer	Rare
Publisher	Nintendo
Platforms	Super Nintendo Entertainment System/Super Famicom, LodgeNet, Super Famicom Box, Virtual Console (Wii, Wii U, New Nintendo 3DS), Super NES Classic Edition, Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Famicom, Super Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics
Release dates	Super Nintendo Entertainment System: November 18, 1994 November 21, 1994 November 24, 1994 1994 Super Famicom: November 26, 1994 Nintendo Power: September 30, 1997 Virtual Console (Wii): December 7, 2006 December 8, 2006 December 12, 2006 February 19, 2007 May 26, 2008 Virtual Console (Wii U): October 16, 2014 October 16, 2014 November 26, 2014 February 26, 2015 Virtual Console (New 3DS): March 4, 2016 March 24, 2016 March 24, 2016 March 24, 2016 Super NES Classic Edition: September 29, 2017 September 29, 2017 September 30, 2017 October 5, 2017 Super Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Classics: July 15, 2020 July 15, 2020 July 15, 2020 July 15, 2020 July 15, 2020 July 15, 2020
Languages	English Japanese French (Europe) German
Genre	Platformer
Ratings	Original release: ESRB: - Kids to Adults ACB: - General[?] Virtual Console: ESRB: - Everyone[?] CERO: - All ages[?] PEGI: - Three years and older[?] USK: - All ages[?] Super NES Classic Edition: ClassInd: - General audience[?]
Mode	1–2 players
Format	Super Famicom: Cartridge SF Memory Cassette: Cartridge SNES: Game Pak Wii: Digital download Wii U: Digital download Nintendo Switch: Digital download Nintendo 3DS: Digital download Super NES Classic Edition: Built-in
Input	SNES: Super NES Controller Wii: Classic Controller Nintendo GameCube Controller Wii U: Wii U GamePad Classic Controller Wii U Pro Controller Nintendo Switch: Joy-Con Joy-Con (horizontal) Nintendo Switch Pro Controller NES Controller (NSO) Super NES Controller (NSO) Nintendo 3DS: Gamepad Super NES Classic Edition: Super NES Classic Controller Classic Controller
Serial code	SNS-8X-USA

“An incredible 3-D Adventure in The Kingdom of Kong!”

—Tagline

Donkey Kong Country is a side-scrolling platform game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Famicom released in November 1994. It was developed by Rare and published by Nintendo. The game stars Donkey Kong and his sidekick Diddy Kong, as the two travel across Donkey Kong Island to recover their banana hoard, which has been stolen by the Kremlings and their leader, King K. Rool. Donkey Kong Country introduced a new design for Donkey Kong, which would remain in use until Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, as well as many supporting characters and enemies, settings, musical motifs, and gameplay mechanics that would make recurring appearances in other games starring him and spin-off games of the Super Mario franchise in general. The game is the first in the Donkey Kong Country series; a year later, it received a sequel: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest. And another year, that game received a sequel: Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!.

Donkey Kong Country was a commercial success. Besides receiving sequels, Donkey Kong Country had manga adaptations in both Kodansha's Super Mario manga and Super Mario-kun, a chapter book adaptation, a 40-episode 3D animated series, a 13-minute-long promotional VHS tape titled Donkey Kong Country: Exposed, and various merchandise. Donkey Kong Country was noted for using pre-rendered sprites that were converted from 3D CGI models on Silicon Graphics workstations, inspiring future video games to do the same.

The game was remade for the Game Boy Color in 2000 and was also remade again for the Game Boy Advance in 2003. Both remakes each have added minigames and the ability to save in the overworld. Donkey Kong Country was ported to the Wii's Virtual Console in 2006-2008. On November 25, 2012, Donkey Kong Country and its sequels were delisted from the Wii Virtual Console, supposedly because of Microsoft renegotiating licensing agreements with Nintendo before re-releasing it, but on October 30, 2014, the games were relisted in Europe and Australia. Around that time, the games were released on the Wii U's Virtual Console in Europe and Australia (namely on October 16 and 17, 2014, respectively), in Japan on November 26, 2014, and in the United States and Canada on February 26, 2015. For handhelds, Donkey Kong Country was ported exclusively to the New Nintendo 3DS's Virtual Console in March 2016. It is one of the 21 games included on the Super NES Classic Edition and was made available on Super Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics for the Nintendo Switch on July 15, 2020.

In 1995, a specialized competition variant named Donkey Kong Country Competition Cartridge was manufactured for use in various video game tournaments held throughout 1995. After that, the few existing cartridges were sold in a Nintendo Power subscriber catalogue.

This game's soundtrack was released on Nintendo Music on October 30, 2024.

Story

“I'll hunt them down through every part of my island, until I have every banana from my hoard back!!”

—Donkey Kong

During a stormy night on Donkey Kong Island, Donkey Kong orders Diddy Kong to guard his banana hoard for his "hero training" until midnight. While watching for predators beneath the darkness, Diddy hears noises outside. He nervously asks, "W-w-who goes there?!" An ominous voice tells the other to seal Diddy in a barrel, kick it into the bushes, and steal the bananas. Diddy gets ambushed by Kremlings, some of which he manages to defeat with his Cartwheel Attack until being overpowered by Klump. He seals Diddy in a DK Barrel and kicks it across the jungle. The Kremlings load the entire banana hoard onto their vehicles and carry them through the jungle, dropping behind trails of bananas.

The next morning, Donkey Kong wakes up by a loud calling of his name. Realizing that he slept through his watch, Donkey Kong quickly exits his tree house, only to find Cranky Kong outside. Cranky prompts Donkey Kong to check the banana cave for a "big surprise". Inside the cave, Donkey Kong finds out that all of his bananas were stolen, with only a few discarded peels lying around. Cranky mocks Donkey Kong for shirking his responsibility, noting that Diddy is also gone. Meanwhile, Donkey Kong is in disbelief over his stolen bananas and rages that the Kremlings stole all of them. Donkey Kong vows to bring payback upon the Kremlings and recover his banana hoard.

Cranky breaks the fourth wall by questioning why the "game idea" involves finding Diddy and rescuing bananas instead of a damsel in distress. Donkey Kong tells how Diddy wishes to be a video game hero like Donkey Kong. Cranky believes neither of them is suitable for being a video game hero, and he goes on to brag about his popularity during the arcade era. Deeming the adventure "ridiculous", Cranky believes Donkey Kong would be lucky to even sell ten copies of the game. Donkey Kong gets mad at Cranky and insists on going on an adventure to save Diddy and recover the stolen bananas. Donkey Kong leaves and follows a trail of bananas along his way. Cranky briefly hesitates, but then follows after Donkey Kong. Cranky mumbles that Donkey Kong may need his help and further mentions that children do not have respect for their elders anymore.

In the first level, Donkey Kong releases Diddy, who tags along during the adventure. Together, the Kongs travel through various areas, including jungles, mines, forests, temples, snowy mountains, caves, and factories. With assistance from Cranky, Funky, and Candy Kong, the two Kongs eventually make it to the Gangplank Galleon, where they are confronted by the Kremling Krew's leader, King K. Rool. After Donkey Kong and Diddy defeat King K. Rool, Cranky congratulates them and tells them to check the banana hoard. They do so, finding that the bananas have been returned.

Gameplay

The game introduces the "tag-team" system, where Diddy and Donkey Kong follow each other throughout each level. However, the member in the front of the group is the Kong in play, so the other Kong simply follows behind the other. If the hero in play is injured, he quickly runs off the screen, and the Kong behind him takes his place as the character in play. In cases like this, only one Kong is on the screen at the time, as the other is defeated. If the lone Kong is injured by an enemy, the player loses an extra life, forcing them to either restart altogether or from the Star Barrel. There is a DK Barrel from which a Kong can be freed. When a hero is freed from a DK Barrel, he heads to the back of the group behind the Kong in play and is not able to be controlled until the Kong in the lead is injured or if the player hits to switch characters. Then Donkey Kong hi-fives with Diddy and switches places, or vice versa.

Abilities

Donkey Kong swings on a rope in the level, Ice Age Alley.

While both Kongs have different abilities, they have the same basic moves. Both Donkey and Diddy are able to jump, cartwheel (or roll), climb, and swim to pass through levels. The most commonly used basic abilities are the jump and cartwheel moves, which help the Kongs cross gaps and defeat enemies. While cartwheeling is often used to pummel weaker foes, it can also be used as part of the super-jump technique. Both characters can use this move by simply cartwheeling off a cliff and jumping in mid-air. This gives them both a longer jump to cross wider abysses. The Kongs can also use their climbing and swimming abilities to traverse levels. Climbing can only be done on ropes, which can swing the Kongs over gaps if they cling onto them. Some ropes are stationary, which means that the Kongs can take advantage of their climbing abilities on them to head up the rope to a higher area. Another move both Kongs can perform is their swimming ability which can only be done inside of the water in the underwater levels.

Both Kongs also have some different abilities, as well as different stats. Diddy is faster and more agile than Donkey Kong, but he lacks the same strength struggles to defeat stronger enemies such as Krushas and Klumps. Donkey Kong is stronger and slower than him, and he also has his own unique move called Hand Slap. The Hand Slap move allows him to defeat enemies and find hidden objects in the ground or on treetops.

The Kongs pick up and throw barrels differently than one another. When Diddy Kong picks up barrels, he holds them in front of his body, protecting him from any enemies in his way. However, Donkey Kong holds barrels above his head, leaving his whole body vulnerable to enemy attacks. Additionally, Donkey Kong throws his barrels slightly further than Diddy, making Donkey Kong more likely to hit enemies from another distance. If the primates throw a Steel Keg against a wall, they are able to jump on the barrel as it rolls back and balance on it.

Controls

Basic controls
Action(s)	Controls
Walk
Climb
Jump
Swim
Run	Hold +
Roll Attack (Donkey Kong)
Cartwheel Attack (Diddy Kong)
Pick up
Throw	Release
Hand Slap (Donkey Kong)	+
Midair jump	Roll/cartwheel off a ledge then
Tag (with both Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong)	/
Switch players (only in Two player team)
Dismount (while riding Animal Friend)
Pause game
Animal Friends
Action(s)	Controls
Run (Rambi)	Hold +
Horn attack (Rambi)	Run into an enemy
Flap (Expresso)	in midair
Swim (Enguarde)
Stab (Enguarde)	/
Dash (Enguarde)
Jump (Winky)
Menus & world map
Action(s)	Controls
Select item
Move (world map)
Confirm	/
Enter level
Exit previously cleared level	while paused

Modes

When selecting a new file, the player can choose either single player or multiplayer; once the player selects a mode, they cannot change it unless they delete it and start a new one. In multiplayer, the first player controls Donkey Kong while the second player controls Diddy Kong. In multiplayer, if either Kong is hit, the other player must press a button to take over with their Kong. The game keeps a score for both players, to keep track of how many levels they have completed.

Icon	Title	Description
	One player	A single player controls both Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong.
	Two player contest	Two players compete to finish the most levels. The first player's Kong duo are normal, while the second player's Kongs are both yellow.
	Two player team	Two players cooperatively take turns playing through the levels. The first player controls Donkey Kong, while the second player controls Diddy. Players can change turns by switching the Kongs or by losing their Kong.

Characters

The Kongs

There are a few Kongs who help Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong along their journey, and they each appear in one of the supporting locations.

Playable
Sprite	Character	Summary
Playable
	Donkey Kong	The main hero of the game, who has a hoard of bananas under his tree house. Donkey Kong is much stronger and heavier than his partner, Diddy Kong, and can therefore defeat more powerful enemies. He also has his own move, the Hand Slap which can defeat certain enemies and reveal hidden objects.
	Diddy Kong	This young ape is the best friend of Donkey Kong and a hero in training who sets out with Donkey Kong to recover the Banana Hoard during the events of the game. For what Diddy lacks in strength is compensated by being faster than Donkey Kong. However, his light weight keeps him from being able to defeat more powerful enemies in a single jump.
Supporting
	Cranky Kong	Cranky Kong was the original Donkey Kong from the Donkey Kong arcade game. This old ape resides in Cranky's Cabin, where he gives the heroes random hints on how to complete the game. He is convinced that he is the best video game hero, and does not believe the apes can complete their adventure without his assistance.
	Candy Kong	The love interest of Donkey Kong, Candy runs a shack, where the player can save their game progress.
	Funky Kong	Funky Kong operates a flight service, where he allows Donkey Kong and Diddy to use his Jumbo Barrel to travel throughout areas of Donkey Kong Island.

Animal Buddies

The supporting Kongs are not the only ones to aid Donkey Kong and Diddy in their quest; the wildlife also help. Each Animal Friend is imprisoned within an animal crate depicting their likeness. The Kongs can only use the Animal Friends in certain levels, meaning that they do not go over with the Kongs into the next level. Each buddy has different abilities, as shown below.

Sprite	Character	Summary	Stages
			First	Last
	Rambi	Rambi is able to ram into most enemies to defeat them, and he can also break entrances to hidden Bonus Levels along with sensitive walls.	Jungle Hijinxs	Manic Mincers
	Enguarde	Exclusive to underwater stages, Enguarde's sharp bill can defeat most enemies along the way, which the Kongs cannot do alone.	Coral Capers	Poison Pond
	Winky	Winky can defeat most enemies by jumping on them, including Zingers, which damage the Kongs from this method. Winky also jumps very high, providing access to certain Bonus Levels and hidden areas. His high jumping function would be inherited by Rattly in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.	Winky's Walkway	Rope Bridge Rumble
	Expresso	Expresso has the ability to dash through areas and glide downward.	Temple Tempest	Misty Mine
	Squawks	Squawks is the only non-rideable Animal Friend as well as the only without an Animal Token. He assists the Kongs by carrying a lamp through the level, Torchlight Trouble, which helps them see in the dark cave. He cannot be hurt by enemies.	Torchlight Trouble

Enemies

Donkey Kong Country has a variety of enemies that try to defeat the Kongs throughout every level. Below shows the enemies' names, descriptions, and first and last level appearances.

Sprite	Enemy	Summary	Stages
			First	Last
	Kritter	The normal species and grunt soldiers of the Kremling Krew, Kritters are one of the most basic enemies, similarly to Gnawties, so any attack can defeat them. The movement behavior of a Kritter is determined by its color: green simply walks forward; blue jumps while moving forward; brown jumps vertically, but does not move forward; yellow jumps left and right; and gray hops forward a few times before making a long jump.	Jungle Hijinxs	Loopy Lights
	Klump	A strong Kremling that wears some military gear. A Klump's helmet protects it from being jumped on by Diddy, unlike Donkey Kong, though the aforementioned Kong can still defeat a Klump with a cartwheel attack.	Jungle Hijinxs	Platform Perils
	Krash	Kremlings that ride inside of Mine Carts, on the same track as the Kongs, but in the opposite direction. The Kongs are left with no choice but to jump with the carts to avoid Krashes. A few Krashes wait in stationary mine carts, which the Kongs can hijack by defeating the Krash.	Mine Cart Carnage	Mine Cart Madness
	Klaptrap	Small, four-legged Kremlings that walk back and fourth, attempting to bite the Kongs with their sharp teeth; because of this, the Kongs cannot damage Klaptrap from rolling or cartwheeling into them from the front. Purple Klaptraps jump at the same time as the Kongs.	Stop & Go Station	Loopy Lights
	Rock Kroc	A zombie-like Kremling that crouches into a ball shape when exposed to red light. While under a green light, Rock Krocs dash across areas and try to hit the Kongs. Because of their speed, they are considerably difficult to avoid when not under a red light, which can be triggered by hitting a Stop & Go Barrel.	Stop & Go Station
	Krusha	Strong, muscular enemies unaffected by all of Diddy's regular attacks. Donkey Kong can defeat the blue Krushas only by jumping on it. Krusha laughs off any attack it is unaffected by. Gray Krushas are resistant to even Donkey Kong's normal attacks, but they can still be defeated by barrels.	Millstone Mayhem	Platform Perils
Other Enemies
	Gnawty	Regular and weak beaver enemies. Gnawtys simply walk around, trying to hit the Kongs. All attacks can defeat the gray variants. However, the brown Gnawties ride on Millstones, protecting them from any attack.	Jungle Hijinxs	Platform Perils
	Necky	Regular-sized vultures that either throw nuts when perched on high platforms or fly in place over large gaps, where they can be bounced on as platforms. Any attack can defeat a Necky.	Jungle Hijinxs	Platform Perils
	Army	An armadillo enemy who rolls up into a ball and charges at the Kongs to attack. Unlike Donkey, Diddy cannot defeat them in one jump if they are rolled up in a ball, and instead must jump on them once to release them from their attacking state. This leaves them vulnerable to jump attacks.	Ropey Rampage	Platform Perils
	Zinger	Large wasps that fly all around certain areas. Their flight path often depends on the color of the Zinger: yellow moves vertically; orange moves horizontally; pink moves in a circular path; green moves in a u-shaped path. The only way to defeat Zingers is by hitting them with barrels or Animal Friends.	Ropey Rampage	Platform Perils
	Slippa	Red coral snakes that slither along the ground in cave areas. Any attack can defeat one.	Reptile Rumble	Misty Mine
	Mini-Necky	Small vultures that spit nuts at the Kongs to attack. They sometimes fly up and down to shoot nuts to different areas. Any attack can defeat a Mini-Necky.	Vulture Culture	Elevator Antics
	Manky Kong	They were part of the Kong Family before being exiled. Manky Kongs attack by throwing an unlimited supply of barrels. Jumping and cartwheel attacks defeat them.	Orang-utan Gang	Loopy Lights
Aquatic Enemies
	Bitesize	A piranha enemy that swims around in the water. Only Enguarde can defeat them.	Coral Capers	Poison Pond
	Croctopus	An octopus enemy that treads around underwater. The purple type moves in fixed patterns around blocks of coral reef. The blue type follows a set path, actively trying to hurt the Kongs. Croctopuses, like Clambos, cannot be defeated.	Coral Capers	Croctopus Chase
	Chomps Jr.	Small, blue shark creatures that behave like Bitesizes, aside from being slightly larger and faster. Only Enguarde can defeat them.	Coral Capers	Poison Pond
	Chomps	Large, green shark enemies that function the same as Bitesizes and their junior counterparts, but are larger. Only Enguarde can defeat them.	Coral Capers	Croctopus Chase
	Clambo	A clam that spits pearls across the area, usually from outskirts of the level. Clambos can throw multiple pearls at a time. They cannot be defeated.	Coral Capers	Clam City
	Squidge	Jellyfish-like creatures that swim up and down in zigzag lines. They can be defeated by Enguarde.	Croctopus Chase	Poison Pond

Bosses

There is a boss at the end of every world, and it guards a portion of the stolen bananas. Most bosses are a bigger version of a generic enemy. The bosses are listed below.

#	Sprite	Boss	World and stage	Summary
1		Very Gnawty	Kongo Jungle - Very Gnawty's Lair	A giant Gnawty who jumps around, trying to hit the Kongs. It must be jumped on five times to defeat. With each hit, Very Gnawty moves faster.
2		Master Necky	Monkey Mines - Necky's Nuts	A giant Necky who creeps its head out of the four corners of the screen, spitting coconuts. He spits nuts faster when jumped on, but becomes defeated after being jumped on five times.
3		Queen B.	Vine Valley - Bumble B. Rumble	A giant Zinger who flies around the arena. When hit by a barrel, she turns red and invincible temporarily, rampaging up and down. After five hits, Queen B. is defeated.
4		Really Gnawty	Gorilla Glacier - Really Gnawty Rampage	A boss who both acts like and resembles Very Gnawty. However, Really Gnawty is much faster, and he can jump much higher when angry. Like the previous three bosses, Really Gnawty is defeated after five hits.
5		Dumb Drum	Kremkroc Industries Inc. - Boss Dumb Drum	A giant black drum that tries to crush the Kongs before spawning a few of an enemy species, in order of: Kritters, Slippas, Klaptraps, Klumps, and Armys. Once all enemies are defeated, Dumb Drum explodes in defeat.
6		Master Necky Snr.	Chimp Caverns - Necky's Revenge	A boss similar to Master Necky except he spits coconuts much faster. Whenever he takes damages, Master Necky Snr. spits out more more of them d