Donkey Kong Country (series)

The Donkey Kong Country series is a video game sub-series of the Donkey Kong series. Although it usually stars Donkey Kong and his pal, Diddy Kong, Donkey Kong also ends up as a damsel in distress in some games. The series is a platformer-type; levels are shown in a sidescrolling perspective and the heroes must jump and avoid obstacles in order to clear levels. The series was started by Rare, Ltd., until they were bought by Microsoft. Remakes are included in the Game Boy Color and the Game Boy Advance. The series was later revived by Retro Studios and their game, Donkey Kong Country Returns. The Donkey Kong Country series also has well-received reviews and has greatly impacted future titles.

The Donkey Kong Country series is also the inspiration for a very similar sub-series created for the Game Boy systems, known as the Donkey Kong Land series.

Donkey Kong Country
The first installment in the Donkey Kong Country series was Donkey Kong Country. Here, Donkey Kong is portrayed differently as he was in the past games and it was mentioned that it was Cranky Kong who had caused trouble for Mario in the past Donkey Kong games. This time, Donkey Kong is a carefree monkey who spends his time in the jungle, until a villain named King K. Rool steals his Banana Hoard. Donkey Kong takes his nephew and dependable buddy, Diddy Kong along to stop King K. Rool and get his bananas back.
 * Year Released – 1994
 * System – Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest is the second installment of the Donkey Kong Country series. As Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong were the primary heroes of Donkey Kong Country, Donkey Kong gets kidnapped by King K. Rool (under the alias Kaptain K. Rool). Diddy Kong takes his partner, Dixie Kong, along to save Donkey Kong from Kaptain K. Rool. This game plays similarly to Donkey Kong Country, but also has new gameplay elements and new enemies added.
 * Year Released – 1995
 * System – Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
In the third installment of the Donkey Kong Country series, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong both end up getting kidnapped by KAOS, a new leader from the Kremling Krew. Dixie Kong, taking her little cousin Kiddy Kong with her, sets out to save Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong from KAOS, who turns out to be King K. Rool, under the alias Baron K. Roolenstein. Like Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, this game plays similarly to Donkey Kong Country, but has a lot of new elements not seen before in the series.
 * Year Released – 1996
 * System – Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Donkey Kong Country Returns
Donkey Kong Country Returns is the fourth installment of the Donkey Kong Country series. After Microsoft bought out Rare, the Donkey Kong Country series had a drought of new games, with several remakes for the Game Boy and Game Boy Advance being made. Retro Studios revived the Donkey Kong Country series by developing Donkey Kong Country Returns. New villains, called the Tikis, raid Donkey Kong's banana stash. As a reaction, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong set out to retrieve the lost bananas. This is the first Donkey Kong Country series game to not feature Kremlings or underwater levels. There are also some mechanics from the past Donkey Kong Country games that return in this game, such as Animal Buddies.
 * Year Released – 2010
 * System – Wii

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is the upcoming fifth installment of the Donkey Kong Country series, and is being developed by Retro Studios for Wii U. It is currently known that Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong will be playable characters (with Dixie Kong having a similar role to Diddy Kong in Donkey Kong Country Returns). It is also known that the main antagonists will be based off Vikings.
 * Year Released – 2014
 * System – Wii U

Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Color)
Donkey Kong Country was ported to the Game Boy Color in the year 2000. Although it was a port, there were several significant differences such as having only one Kong appearing at a time, extended levels, a new level, new minigames, and more. However, it still has the same gameplay mechanics and the same story as the original.
 * Year Released – 2000
 * System – Game Boy Color

Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Advance)
Donkey Kong Country was ported again to the Game Boy Advance in 2003. This particular port features new changes not seen in the Game Boy Color port. Changes include bosses becoming harder, redesigned graphics, replaced order of levels, new modes, a scrapbook, and much more.
 * Year Released – 2003
 * System – Game Boy Advance

Donkey Kong Country 2
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest also receives a port for the Game Boy Advance, however, no port for the Game Boy Color. Like most ports, Donkey Kong Country 2 features significant changes such as a new boss, graphical makeovers, more DK Coins to collect, altered levels, replaced levels, and much more.
 * Year Released – 2004
 * System – Game Boy Advance

Donkey Kong Country 3
The Game Boy Advance also received a port of Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!. Like the preceding ports, major changes has been added, but not so major that it changes the game itself. Such changes include graphical makeovers, exclusive boss fights, a new soundtrack, new and different methods of trading items, new areas, including the new world, Pacifica, and much more.
 * Year Released – 2005
 * System – Game Boy Advance

Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D
Donkey Kong Country Returns received a Nintendo 3DS port, titled Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D. Aside from the graphical change, the remake has additional new content. This includes New Mode (which includes additional items and a third heart added to the life meter), and a new world called Cloud.
 * Year Released – 2013
 * System – Nintendo 3DS

Donkey Kong


Donkey Kong is the main star of the Donkey Kong Country series. Though he does get kidnapped by the Kremling Krew from time to time, he plays a major role in all Donkey Kong Country games. He is the more powerful and the slower of the two apes that the player control in the Donkey Kong Country games. He often thwarts King K. Rool's raid of his Banana Hoard, but he also gets kidnapped by King K. Rool, where his other friends must save him from King K. Rool. He is playable once again in Donkey Kong Country Returns.

Diddy Kong


Although usually a sidekick, Diddy Kong can also be a main hero of the series if the player wishes to use him as the primary Kong. He is Donkey Kong's most reliable buddy and always tags up with Donkey Kong on his adventures to stop King K. Rool. While Donkey Kong mainly boasts strength, Diddy Kong trades power for agility and nimbleness. In Donkey Kong Country 2, Diddy Kong is the main star who, along with Dixie Kong, saves Donkey Kong from the Kremling Crew. Eventually, he, along with Donkey Kong, get captured by King K. Rool in Donkey Kong Country 3, where Dixie Kong and her cousin, Kiddy Kong, must save them. He reppears in Donkey Kong Country Returns as a playable character.

Dixie Kong


Dixie Kong is Diddy Kong's partner in her debut game, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest. Dixie Kong is slower in terms of mobility, nor can she defend herself properly through the aid of a barrel, but she can glide through the air via Helicopter Twirl. She stars in the game, Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! where she takes her little cousin, Kiddy Kong to aid her on her journey. She is also comfirmed to appear in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze as a playable character.

Kiddy Kong


Kiddy Kong is Dixie Kong's little cousin, who debuts and stars in the game Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!. Despite his young age, Kiddy Kong shows remarkable strength that even his older cousin Dixie Kong couldn't perform, such as lifting objects with ease and defeating enemies more quickly. However, he is very heavy, unlike Dixie Kong, who boasts superior air mobility and her ability to use her Helicopter Twirl.

Cranky Kong


Cranky Kong appears in most Donkey Kong Country games, and in most of them, he played some roles. He is Donkey Kong's grandfather and was stated that he is actually the original Donkey Kong that attacked Mario. He usually gives advice to the monkeys and helps them on their quest. However, he plays a very minor role in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!; in the Game Boy remake, he plays a slightly larger role by owning Cranky's Dojo.

King K. Rool


King K. Rool is the primary antagonist of the Donkey Kong Country series. He usually steals something in the games, such as Donkey Kong's Banana Hoard or even Donkey Kong himself, but usually gets thwarted by the Kongs. In each game of the Donkey Kong Country series where he appears in, he goes by a different alias, such as Kaptain K. Rool in Donkey Kong Country 2 and Baron K. Roolenstein in Donkey Kong Country 3. Although he is the primary antagonist of the Donkey Kong Country series, he and his Kremling Krew don't appear in the latest installment of the series, Donkey Kong Country Returns.

KAOS


KAOS is the main foe that Dixie Kong and Kiddy Kong must deal with in Donkey Kong Country 3. It is powered by Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, whom are captured by King K. Rool to power his machine. KAOS is a mechanically powered foe that uses several attacks such as spinning blades and exhaust flames to damage its foes. It is eventually destroyed by Dixie Kong and Kiddy Kong twice, which releases Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong.

Tiki Tong


Tiki Tong is the main villain of Donkey Kong Country Returns and the leader of the Tiki Tak Tribe. He replaces King K. Rool from previous games, stealing Donkey Kong's Banana Hoard in order to create a Tiki army.

Funky Kong


Funky Kong appears in all Donkey Kong Country games that were released so far except for Donkey Kong Country Returns. He helps the apes by giving them mechanical service, such as lending them the Jumbo Barrel, which enables the monkeys to travel in islands where they already cleared; later games where the vehicles he lends has a similar function. He also hosts minigames that has certain rewards if cleared, such as Funky's Fishing.

Candy Kong


Candy Kong first appears in Donkey Kong Country, where she helps the apes save by managing Candy's Save Point. In the remakes of Donkey Kong Country, she runs several minigames, such as Candy's Dance Studio. She does not have any other major role later in the series, partly because her role of saving the game progress is taken by Wrinky Kong, although she does make cameos in several minigames in the remakes.

Wrinkly Kong


Wrinkly Kong is Donkey Kong's grandmother and the wife of Cranky Kong who first appeared in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest. She manages the Kong Kollege in Donkey Kong Country 2 and Wrinkly's Save Cave in Donkey Kong Country 3, so the Kongs can always save there when they needed to. Like her husband, she tends to give advice and tasks for the Kongs to complete. She also helps the Kongs by saving Banana Birds they might have obtained during their quest.

Swanky Kong


Swanky Kong's role in the Donkey Kong Country series is for Kongs to play minigames and win them to earn rewards. In his debut appearance, Donkey Kong Country 2, he hosts Swanky's Bonus Bonanza where he gives extra lives to the Kongs if they answered the questions correctly. In Donkey Kong Country 3, he hosts Swanky's Sideshow, where, at a certain amount of Bear Coins, compete against Cranky Kong to win rewards.

Banana Bird Queen


The Banana Bird Queen first appeared in Donkey Kong Country 3, where she is sealed away by Baron K. Roolenstein. Banana Birds, the birds of the queen, are also sealed away to prevent an escape that the Banana Bird Queen could make, which turned her into a stone contraption. After collecting all possible Banana Birds, the Kongs are then taken by the Banana Birds to their mother, the queen. She would then chase after King K. Rool which makes him flee the Northern Kremisphere.

Brothers Bear


The Brothers Bear help Dixie Kong and Kiddy Kong in Donkey Kong Country 3. They are a group of bears where they own homes and businesses, scattered across the Northern Kremisphere. The Kongs need them to trade their Bear Coins for the items they have. These items help the player make a 100% complete progress in the game, especially the Banana Birds.

Kremling Krew


The Kremling Krew is the main, antagonist organization of the Kong Family led by King K. Rool. They are mostly Kremlings with different colors, sizes, shape, etc., but there are also some other creatures that are also part of the Kremling Krew. They also are the main reason some members of the Kong Family, including Donkey Kong, gets kidnapped. However, Donkey Kong and his allies defeat the Kremling Krew. The Kremling Krew will not appear in Donkey Kong Country Returns, however.

Zingers


Zingers are common, wasp-like enemies that appear in most released Donkey Kong Country games. They hover in the air, damaging any Kong who happens to go in their way. Since they have spikes on top of their body, they cannot be defeated by stomping them on their bodies. Instead, a barrel or an Animal Buddy must defeat it. Red Zingers cannot be defeated at all. In Donkey Kong Country 3, Zingers are replaced with Buzzes, which are also wasp-like enemies.

Tiki Tak Tribe


The Tiki Tak Tribe is the main organization of enemies in Donkey Kong Country Returns. They resemble wooden masks or musical instruments, many having adornment feathers, and are references to real-life Tikis. Their leader is Tiki Tong. Some tikis have hypnotizing abilities, and these serve as the cause of the boss battles, hypnotizing creatures into fighting against DK and Diddy. Minor Tikis are found as regular enemies throughout the levels, and most of them are drum-shaped.