Donkey Kong 64

Donkey Kong 64 is a Nintendo 64 video game developed by Rare. It was published by Nintendo and first released on November 6, 1999. It received generally positive reviews with an average score of 88% according to GameRankings.

The game requires the use of the Expansion Pak in order to function, and was the first Nintendo 64 game to do so.

The game features a single player (adventure) mode and a multi-player ("Kong Battle") mode.

Story
The game takes place after the events of the Donkey Kong Land series. King K. Rool is trying to destroy Donkey Kong Island with a large machine called the Blast-O-Matic, but it's malfunctioning. To buy some time, he captures a handful of Kongs and locks them up, and steals Donkey Kong's hoard of Golden Bananas. As Donkey Kong frees his fellow apes, they set off to recover the Bananas and eventually defeat K. Rool, saving Donkey Kong Island.

Donkey Kong


Donkey Kong is the first character the player will be able to play as. Donkey Kong's Bananas, Banana Balloons and Banana Coins are yellow.

Book's Description
"He's the only ape who still cares enough to wear a tie. DK may not be the most powerful Kong - or the quickest - but he applies a strong blue-collar work ethic to the business of Kremling Crushing. That may be why he's the leader of the Kong Clan."

Diddy Kong


Diddy can be unlocked by Donkey Kong in Jungle Japes. Diddy's Bananas, Banana Balloons, and Banana Coins are all red.

Book's Description
"You'll probably recognize his familiar furry mug from past adventures. A mere bantamweight in bulk, this courageous chimp is the heavyweight champion of hard-core attitude. Whether he's rocking out on a six-stringed, amplified guitar or rocketing through the sky, he's always giving it 100 percent - Diddy Style."

Lanky Kong


Lanky can be unlocked by Donkey Kong in Angry Aztec. Lanky's Bananas, Banana Balloons, and Banana Coins are all blue.

Book's Description
"This knuckle-dragging Kong looks like a clown, and it's more than just a coincidence. Think of him as a twisted twig on a distant branch of the family tree. Kremlings and Klaptraps may snicker at his goofy gait as he ambles in their direction, but there's nothing funny about a hyper extended sucker punch."

Tiny Kong


Tiny can be unlocked by Diddy Kong in Angry Aztec. Tiny's Bananas, Banana Balloons, and Banana Coins are all purple.

Book's Description
"Dixie's VERY little sister brings a big dose of flower power to the Kong's campaign. You'll find her pigtails perfect for pugilism and not too bad for a helicopter ride from the treetops. Tiny never shrinks from her responsibilities - even when she shrinks herself physically for a mouse's eye view of the action. "

Chunky Kong


Chunky can be unlocked by Lanky Kong in Frantic Factory. Chunky's Bananas, Banana Balloons, and Banana Coins are all green.

Book's Description
"He's big. He's bad. He plays the triangle. Chunky is something of a primate paradox: brutal when the situation demands it, yet almost meek at other times. He's also not the sharpest knife in the drawer, so he'll need all the help you can give him. If there's heavy lifting to be done, however, Chunky is the Monkey to see."

Krusha


Krusha was an uncommon enemy in Donkey Kong Country, and is now a character only playable in Multiplayer mode. He is unlocked by collecting a certain amount of banana fairies.

Klaptrap
Klaptrap is an uncommon enemy and is playable only once in the game during a mini-game.

Cranky's Lab
Cranky Kong, Donkey Kong's father, helps his Kong relatives with secret potions concocted by him himself.

Also, After the player earns at least 15 banana metals and visit Cranky they get to play Jetpack for a Rareware Coin.

Prices

 * All-Simian Slam (Buttus Bashium) - Free
 * Donkey Kong-Baboon Blast (Barrelum Perilous) - 3 Coins
 * Diddy Kong-Chimpy Charge (Hurtus Cranium) - 3 Coins
 * Lanky Kong-Orangstand (Palmus Walkum) - 3 Coins
 * Tiny Kong-Mini Monkey (Kongum Smallus) - 3 coins
 * Chunky Kong-Hunky Chunky (Kremlingus Crushum) - 3 Coins
 * Donkey Kong-Strong Kong (Strongum Kongus) - 5 Coins
 * Diddy Kong-Rocketbarrel Boost (Boostum Highus) - 5 Coins
 * Lanky Kong-Baboon Balloon (Baboonus Balloonus) - 5 Coins
 * Tiny Kong-Pony Tail Twirl (Roundum Roundus) - 5 Coins
 * Chunky Kong-Primate Punch (Sandwichium Knucklus) - 5 Coins
 * All-Super Simian Slam (Big Buttus Bashium) - 5 Coins
 * Donkey Kong-Gorilla Grab (Simium Strainus) - 7 Coins
 * Diddy Kong-Simian Spring (Leapus Largium) - 7 Coins
 * Lanky Kong-Orangstand Sprint (Palmus Dashium) - 7 Coins
 * Tiny Kong-Monkeyport (Warpum Craftious) - 7 Coins
 * Chunky Kong-Gorilla Gone (Wheresim Gonium) - 7 Coins
 * All-Super Duper Simian Slam (Bigga Buttus Bashium) - 7 Coins

NOTE: When Cranky teaches a Kong Simian Slam, Super Simian Slam, and Super Duper Simian Slam the other Kongs also learn it.

Armory
Funky Kong helps his Kong friends with their personalized shooters.

Prices

 * Shooter Installment - 3 coins
 * Ammo Belt 1 - 3 Coins
 * Homing Ammo - 5 Coins
 * Ammo Belt 2 - 5 Coins
 * Sniper Scope - 7 Coins

Instruments
Candy Kong, Donkey Kong's girlfriend, owns a Music Store were she is more then happy to aid her fellow kongs with her Music pad-compatible instruments.

Prices

 * Music Installment - 3 Coins
 * Upgrade 1 - 5 Coins
 * 3rd Melon and Music Energy - 7 Coins
 * Upgrade 2 - 9 Coins

Blueprints
Snide is willing to help the Kong Clan if they acquire blueprints to the Blast-O-Matic. Each Kong is assigned their color Blueprint. The blueprints are always gathered after the player defeats a Kasplat. When a Kong hands over a single piece of blueprint to Snide they receive a golden Banana in return. To give the blueprints to Snide, the player must find Snide's HQ in each level.

Kasplats have hair that come in the colors that the blueprints they hold come in. Once the player retrieves the blueprint from the Kasplat, it's hair turns white to signify it's already been beaten.

Yellow Haired Kasplats hold Donkey Kong's blueprints, Red Haired Kasplats hold Diddy Kong's blueprints, Blue Haired Kasplats hold Lanky Kong's blueprints, Purple Haired Kasplats hold Tiny Kong's blueprints, and Green Haired Kasplats hold Chunky Kong's blueprints.

Troff 'N' Scoff
Troff the Pig and Scoff the Hippo guard the doors that lead to the bosses who hold the eight keys to K. Lumsy's cage. By feeding Scoff a certain number of bananas, it allows Troff to reach the key to open the door. The player would need to feed Scoff more bananas each progressed level and the combined total of all the Kong's bananas can be pertained. Once all the bananas reached to 0, the key opens the door and find out which Kong is going to battle against the Boss. If the Kong is chosen to fight a boss, the correct Kong must enter the door. The door will close if a different Kong goes inside the door at any time.

Amounts and Bosses
Note: The final boss, King K. Rool, does not involve help from Troff & Scroff.

Battle Crowns
In each world there is one battle arena platform, and beating it gets the player a crown. Its usefulness is plentiful. First, the player must collect at least four of them to enter King K. Rool's secret room to retrieve the final key to K. Lumsy's cage. Second, they add to the final percentage score. Finally, the player must have at least one to open the multiplayer modes. There are ten Battle Crowns (two crowns on DK Isle, one crown in each of the eight worlds).

Banana Fairy Snap
Once the player receives the Banana cam, they can snap photos of various fairies. Good fairy pictures refill the player's items. The number of fairies captured on film will reflect what will be open in Mystery Mode. A total of twenty fairies can be captured (two in each regular level; four in DK Isles).

Golden Bananas
Golden bananas are a pivotal role in the storyline. The player must collect them to earn access to new worlds because B. Locker won't allow the player to the specified world unless they have the specified amount of golden bananas. Every world contains five Golden bananas for each Kong to grasp.

Bananas
There are a total of 500 Bananas in each level (minus the final level and the DK Isles overworld), with 100 of them in each of the 5 Kong's colors. They are found in singles, bunched in fives, or packed into a balloon of ten. They are used to feed Troff 'N' Scoff in order to gain access to bosses, and collecting 75 of any color banana in a single level will net the player a Banana Medal.

Banana Coins
Like the banana, coins come in the five Kong colors. The player must obtain them to pay for power-ups.

There are currently known to be a total of 949 Banana Coins in Donkey Kong 64. This is broken down as follows:

Donkey: 174, Diddy: 178, Lanky: 185, Tiny: 193, Chunky: 219

During the game, each Kong spends 21 coins on personal upgrades, Donkey spends an extra 2 on the DK Arcade game, and a total of 53 coins are spent on shared upgrades. At the end of the game, assuming Donkey pays for all shared upgrades, these are the totals the player should have if he/she has collected them all:

Donkey: 98, Diddy: 157, Lanky: 164, Tiny: 172, Chunky: 198

Total: 789

Banana Medals
After a Kong collects 75 of their color bananas in any one world, they receive a Banana Medal. After collecting 15, Cranky will allow the player to play Jetpac, an old ZX Spectrum game from Rare, in order to try and earn the Rareware Coin.

Boss Keys
Boss keys are needed to unlock K. Lumsy's cage. 7 of the 8 keys are obtained by defeating each of the worlds bosses, but the final key can only be obtained by having collected 4 Battle Crowns and collecting the Rareware Coin (earned by beating 5000 points on Jetpac) and the Nintendo Coin (earned by beating Donkey Kong a second time).

5-Banana Coin
Gives 5 coins to each Kong's coin bank and is obtained by eradicating a DK dirt pile.

DK Dirt Piles
By holding the B button after Tiny Kong learns a special charge move from the head Banana Fairy, the Kong can obtain a 5-Banana coin.

Watermelons
Watermelons are the Kong's life meters. Each melon they obtain contains four slices. Once a Kong is hit, they will loose one or more slices. Once the Kong looses all slices, game over. Enemies also usually have one or more slices contained in themselves after they are eliminated.

Melon Crates
Melon crates contain four watermelon slices that can extravagantly aid a Kong's life meter.

Orange Grenade
Oranges that act like bombs. They are stronger than a normal attack, and are required to defeat certain enemies.

Headphone
Headphones replenish the amount of plays a Kong can use on their instrument.

Supply Crate
The supply crates encase the specified Kong's shooter ammo. Each crate contain five doses of ammo.

Crystal Coconuts
The Crystal Coconuts contain the power to use on Cranky's barrel potions. Any move used by a Kong Barrel will use up the coconuts quickly, but there are typically supplies of coconuts near these barrels.

Banana Camera Film
The Banana Camera Film is used to supply film into cameras to take photos of Banana Fairies.

Rareware Coin & Nintendo Coin
These items are required to get the final key to K. Lumsy's cage. Players can get the Nintendo Coin by playing the Donkey Kong Arcade in Frantic Factory and completing it twice (the second time through the game replaces the sprite of Pauline with the coin & the difficulty is increased). In order to get the Rareware coin, players must first collect a minimum of 15 Banana Medals, and then go see Cranky. He will then let the player play Jetpac, an old arcade game by Rare, in which the player must earn 5000 points. Doing so will cause the coin to drop from the top of the screen, allowing the player to collect it.

Battle Crowns
Battle Crowns are awarded by completing a Battle Arena challenge. They're required for the 100% completion total, and the player needs at least 4 of them, along with the Rareware Coin and Nintendo Coin, in order to reach the final Boss Key. There are a total of 10 in the entire game; one for each Battle Pad. These Battle Crowns closely resemble King K. Rool's own Crown.

Barrels
There are many variations of barrels a Kong will encounter during their adventure. There are four main types.

Kong Barrels
Kong Barrels contains the barrel moves Cranky can teach each Kong. Once a Kong hops into this barrel, crystal coconuts are the only thing that can keep its move alive.

Tag Barrels
The Tag Barrel allows the player to switch Kongs in the middle of a world. There are quite a few in each world.

Bonus Barrels
The Bonus Barrels are a gateway to a bonus game for the five Kongs. Beating a game will obligate them to a Golden Banana.

TNT Barrels
TNT Barrels can often be used as a convenient weapon that can explode (much like an orange). They are frequent in Boss Battles and such. At times, enemy Kabooms will nest in one.

Kong Switches
Each of the principal Kongs has their face on a switch. The switches are activated by either the Simian Slam, the Super Simian Slam, or the Super Duper Simian Slam (all taught by Cranky). The switches activate a host of things including passageways and secret areas.

Target Switches
The target Switches are as obvious as the Kong Switch. Each switch has a picture indicating the weapon needed to shoot it. It has either a coconut (DK), a peanut (Diddy), a grape (Lanky), a feather (Tiny), or a pineapple (Chunky).

Wall Switches
These switches are a variation of the Target Switch. They require either Diddy's Chimpy Charge (which is usually the case) or Chunky's Primate Punch to activate.

Kong Pads
After learning a special move from Cranky Kong, the Kong pictured on the pad can preform a move by standing on this pad. Usually when a Kong sees a pad it means they must accomplish something in that area.

Music Pads
Each music pad has the picture of a Kong's instrument on it. If the corresponding Kong steps on the pad and plays their instrument a variety of things can happen, including entrances to passageways opening to a Golden Banana appearing out of nowhere. Playing an instrument on a Music Pad will not drain its energy.

Battle Arena Pads
The Battle Arena Pads are steel with a headshot of King K. Rool. It's the hosted way to a battle pit fight with many of the world's Kremling enemies. This is the way to win the Golden Crowns.

Bananaporters
The Bananaporter allows easy transport in various levels. it comes in numbers 1 - 5 and each of the two pairs of Bananaporters need to be activated to work (Example: both Bananaporter 1s need to be activated for them to work).

Animal Transformations
Donkey Kong is the only character who can change into Rambi the Rhino. Rambi has the power to smash huts and walls with his face on them, as well as kill enemies simply by charging them with his horn. Rambi appears in Jungle Japes, Hideout Helm (one of DK's games), and the unlockable Rambi arena.

In addition, Lanky is the only character who can change into Enguarde the Swordfish. Enguarde's pointy nose can smash open treasure chests and reveal hidden items. He can also leap out of the water. Enguarde appears only in Gloomy Galleon and the unlockable Enguarde arena.

Other Playable Characters
A Krusha is playable in Donkey Kong 64's multiplayer mode after unlocking him after capturing fifteen Banana Fairies. Also of note, a Klaptrap can be played as in the mini-game "Beaver Bother".

References to Other Games

 * Donkey Kong: A full version of this game can be played at Frantic Factory. The song that plays in the dungeons of Creepy Castle is a remix of the song that plays while Donkey Kong is climbing to the top of the construction site with Pauline.
 * Jetpac: This game could be played by collecting a certain amount of Banana Medals.
 * Donkey Kong Country 2: A picture of Kaptain K. Rool can be spotted in the sunken ship of Gloomy Galleon.

References in Later Games

 * Donkey Kong Country: The Game Boy Color remake features several-mini games that were included in Donkey Kong 64.
 * Super Smash Bros. Melee: The Monkey Rap was featured as background music in one of the Donkey Kong-related stages.
 * Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest: Funky Kong mentions the Monkey Rap.
 * DK: King of Swing: Crystal Coconuts made a return, although they served an entirely different purpose. Also, Wrinkly Kong was a ghost in this game, just she was in Donkey Kong 64.
 * Donkey Kong Barrel Blast: Chunky's Pineapple Launcher was a usable item. Also, the entire concept of barrel-rocket belts originated from this game.
 * Super Smash Bros. Brawl: Diddy Kong was included as a playable character, and this moveset came straight from Donkey Kong 64, and Chunky Kong appears as a sticker using his artwork from Donkey Kong 64. Also, Donkey Kong's Final Smash was based off of his music technique from DK64.

Trivia

 * Tiny Kong is the only Kong who can get 51 golden bananas. She is also the only Kong who doesn't pick up any barrels of any kind.
 * This game's box art shows that Chunky Kong has dark brown eyes.
 * This game's artwork suggest that Diddy Kong has blue eyes even thought his eyes are black on the box, in the game, or any other game he's appeared in.
 * This game's box art shows all five Kongs riding in a Minecart. However, only Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, and Chunky Kong ride minecarts in the game.
 * In the game's opening scene, two Kremlings, King K. Rool, and one Klump have voiced dialogue, but only speak in speech bubbles in the rest of the game. Also, King K. Rool's voice is extremely menacing in contrast to the lighthearted nature of the game.
 * Two of Diddy Kong's special moves in Super Smash Bros. Brawl originate in this game (specifically his Rocketbarrel Boost and Peanut Popguns).
 * In the Beta version of Donkey Kong 64, DK's house, the area where the game begins, featured is a picture of Banjo and Kazooie, the titular characters of the game Banjo-Kazooie, also made by RareWare.
 * The rap song in the intro has striking similarities between Run-D.M.C.'s 1983 hit "It's Like That", which conicidentally was used in some adverts for the Donkey Kong Country (animated series).
 * Controversy surrounded the DK Rap for containing the word "hell". As Rare is a British company, where hell is not considered a bad word as much as it is elsewhere.The phrase was replaced by, "This Kong's one "heck of a guy" in later versions of the song and is left unedited in the ROM download adaptions.
 * Oddly, in one of the game's official artwork, Chunky's vest is green on the front.