Weapon Balloon

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Artwork of a red Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing Artwork of a blue Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing Artwork of a green Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing

Artwork of a yellow Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing Artwork of a rainbow Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing

Artwork of the five types of Weapon Balloons—red, blue, green, yellow, and rainbow—from Diddy Kong Racing

A Weapon Balloon,[1] also referred to simply as a balloon,[2][3] is an obtainable item in Diddy Kong Racing and its Nintendo DS remake, Diddy Kong Racing DS. When touched, Weapon Balloons grant the racers items to attack their opponents or improve the racers' performance. Many Weapon Balloons appear in every course in the game. When touched, the balloons break and disappear for a short amount of time, but they appear soon after for another player to grab.

Weapon Balloons come in five different colors: red, blue, yellow, green, and rainbow, and the type of item given by them depends on their color. For example, green balloons give the player an oil slick, while blue balloons give them a speed boost. When a racer picks up a second balloon of the same color, their item is upgraded. A third balloon of the same color upgrades the item again to its maximum level. Battle stages allow only up to the first upgrade. Most kinds of Weapon Balloons have printed stars on them. While the red, blue and green balloons have yellow stars on them, the yellow balloon has purple stars on it.

If a differently colored Weapon Balloon is hit, its weapon replaces the previous item, downgrading it. In the Nintendo DS version, the Weapon Balloon only breaks without replacing the item. The blue balloons collected once, twice or three times can allow the driver/pilot to speed up with green fire and rainbow smoke if the player lets go of the A button.

In the DS remake, red balloons marked with a large white "H" appear during Bubbler the Octopus's and Smokey the Dragon's optional touch challenges, automatically granting a homing missile.

Items[edit]

Red - Missiles[4] (aka Patroller Missile)[5]
Number Weapon (Nintendo 64) Weapon (Nintendo DS)
A sprite of a red Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing. A level 1 item from a red Weapon Balloon.
A missile
Level 1 missile from a red Weapon Balloon in Diddy Kong Racing DS
A missile
A sprite of a red Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing.A sprite of a red Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing. A level 2 item from a red Weapon Balloon.
A homing missile
Level 2 missile from a red Weapon Balloon in Diddy Kong Racing DS
Five missiles
A sprite of a red Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing.A sprite of a red Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing.A sprite of a red Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing. A level 3 item from a red Weapon Balloon.
Ten missiles
Level 3 missile from a red Weapon Balloon in Diddy Kong Racing DS
A homing missile
A sprite of a red Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing. + Poweruptoken.png N/A Three missiles circle the racer and launch themselves at nearby opponents.
Blue - Speed boosts[4] (aka Boost Vortex)[5]
A sprite of a blue Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing. A level 1 item from a blue Weapon Balloon.
A speed boost, with an orange blast
Level 1 boost icon from the blue Weapon Balloon in Diddy Kong Racing DS
A speed boost, with an orange blast
A sprite of a blue Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing.A sprite of a blue Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing. A level 2 item from a blue Weapon Balloon.
A stronger speed boost, with a light blue blast
Level 2 boost icon from the blue Weapon Balloon in Diddy Kong Racing DS
A stronger speed boost, with a light green blast
A sprite of a blue Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing.A sprite of a blue Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing.A sprite of a blue Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing. A level 3 item from a blue Weapon Balloon.
An even stronger speed boost, with a purple blast
Level 3 boost icon from the blue Weapon Balloon in Diddy Kong Racing DS
An even stronger speed boost, with a purple blast
A sprite of a blue Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing. + Poweruptoken.png N/A Activates auto-pilot and enables the racer to gain up to three speed boosts from the Touch Screen.
Green - Dropper[4] (aka Trickster Mine)[5]
A sprite of a green Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing. A level 1 item from a green Weapon Balloon.
An oil spill (Cars and Hovercrafts)
Gas cloud (Planes)
Level 1 of an oil slick from green Weapon Balloon in Diddy Kong Racing DS
An oil spill (Cars and Hovercrafts)
Gas cloud (Planes)
A sprite of a green Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing.A sprite of a green Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing. A level 2 item from a green Weapon Balloon.
A land mine (Cars and Hovercrafts)
Floating land mine (Planes)
Level 2 of an oil slick from green Weapon Balloon in Diddy Kong Racing DS
A land mine (Cars and Hovercrafts)
Floating land mine (Planes)
A sprite of a green Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing.A sprite of a green Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing.A sprite of a green Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing. A level 3 item from a green Weapon Balloon.
A bubble that traps a racer that rides into it, floats upward, and pops
Level 3 of an oil slick from green Weapon Balloon in Diddy Kong Racing DS
A bubble that traps a racer that rides into it, floats upward, and pops
A sprite of a green Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing. + Poweruptoken.png N/A Five fake Silver Coins
Yellow - Shield[4] (aka Hide-me Shield)[5]
A sprite of a yellow Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing. A level 1 item from a yellow Weapon Balloon.
A short-lasting shield that protects the user against items. It also spins out other racers.
Level 1 of a shield from a yellow Weapon Balloon in Diddy Kong Racing DS
A short-lasting shield that protects the user against items. It also spins out other racers.
A sprite of a yellow Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing.A sprite of a yellow Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing. A level 2 item from a yellow Weapon Balloon.
A longer-lasting shield
Level 2 of a shield from a yellow Weapon Balloon in Diddy Kong Racing DS
A longer-lasting shield
A sprite of a yellow Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing.A sprite of a yellow Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing.A sprite of a yellow Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing. A level 3 item from a yellow Weapon Balloon.
A shield that lasts even longer
Level 3 of a shield from a yellow Weapon Balloon in Diddy Kong Racing DS
A shield that lasts even longer
A sprite of a yellow Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing. + Poweruptoken.png N/A Makes the racer invisible with a long lasting shield
Rainbow - Special[4] (aka Magna Missile)[5]
A sprite of a rainbow Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing. A level 1 item from a rainbow Item Balloon.
A weak, yellow magnet that pulls the user towards a nearby racer
Level 1 of a magnet from a rainbow Weapon Balloon in Diddy Kong Racing DS
A weak, yellow magnet that pulls the user towards a nearby racer
A sprite of a rainbow Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing.A sprite of a rainbow Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing. A level 2 item from a rainbow Item Balloon.
A stronger, red magnet
Level 2 of a magnet from a rainbow Weapon Balloon in Diddy Kong Racing DS
A stronger, red magnet
A sprite of a rainbow Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing.A sprite of a rainbow Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing.A sprite of a rainbow Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing. A level 3 item from a rainbow Item Balloon.
A powerful magnet that pulls back opponents to the user
Level 3 of a magnet from a rainbow Weapon Balloon in Diddy Kong Racing DS
A powerful magnet that pulls back opponents to the user
A sprite of a rainbow Weapon Balloon from Diddy Kong Racing. + Poweruptoken.png N/A A homing missile that the player can choose the target of from the Touch Screen

Gallery[edit]

Merchandise[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Diddy Kong Racing instruction booklet (UK), page 23.
  2. ^ Leung, Jason, Pelland, Scott and Shinoda, Paul. Diddy Kong Racing Player's Guide. Page 11.
  3. ^ Diddy Kong Racing official site. Nintendo. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e Diddy Kong Racing enclosed reference card
  5. ^ a b c d e Diddy Kong Racing DS instruction booklet, paga 10.