Team up

Teaming-up is an ability performed by the Kongs in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!. It allows one of the Kongs to piggyback on their partner. While the move slows the Kongs' movement, Team-up allows them to reach higher locations, items, Bonus Barrels, and to more easily defeat stronger enemies. When a Kong is thrown to another position, including higher areas, the lead Kong automatically follows them there. Some enemies are not affected by Team-up, including Zingers, Buzzes, Bristles, Kuff 'n' Klout, and bosses, all of whom result in the player losing a Kong.

By pressing, the player can have the lead Kong carry their partner, and a second time to separate the Kongs again. They can press and either left, right, or up on the  to throw a Kong either vertically or horizontally. In the Game Boy Advance games, the button is used for Team-up, and pressing it again separates the Kongs. The button is used to throw a Kong.

If the tossed Kong hits the ground, it is shown in its hurt status. To reunite with that Kong, the lead Kong must go back to their partner. If the thrown Kong hits a hazard or gets hit by an enemy after landing on the ground, the player loses that Kong.

The Team-up move is absent from both Donkey Kong Land 2 and Donkey Kong Land III because only one Kong is featured on screen at a time.

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong's Quest
In Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong's Quest, the Team-up move is performed by Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong. This allows them to reach higher areas and to enter some Bonus Levels. If Dixie is on Diddy while he is idle, her animations show her pointing left. Near the start of the first level, Pirate Panic, there are bananas arranged in the shape of the button for performing Team-up, and it instructs the player on how to use the ability.

In the Game Boy Advance version, the Kongs can defeat Krunchas with the Team-up ability.

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, Team-up differs depending on which Kong is performing it.

If Dixie carries Kiddy Kong, her movement is significantly slowed due to Kiddy's weight. Dixie can throw Kiddy onto a cracked part of the ground (usually a boardwalk) to access a hidden area, often a Bonus Barrel. Dixie cannot throw Kiddy far, and if she throws Kiddy at a wall, he ricochets, and Dixie can jump on him to perform a roll.

When Team-up is used by Kiddy carrying Dixie, the move acts very similar as in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest. Kiddy can carry Dixie more easily due to her lighter weight. With Team-up, Kiddy can throw Dixie as a projectile at other enemies and throw her up onto some otherwise unreachable areas.

Trivia

 * Although Team-up is not performed in Donkey Kong Country, there is official artwork of Donkey Kong carrying Diddy on his shoulders.