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Donkey Kong: Difference between revisions
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==History== | ==History== | ||
Donkey Kong was created when [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] was assigned by [[Nintendo]] to convert | Donkey Kong was created when [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] was assigned by [[Nintendo]] to convert ''Radar Scope'', a poorly selling arcade game in the U.S., into a game that would have more appeal to Americans. The result was a major breakthrough for Nintendo and for the videogame industry. It was likely the first game with a "hero," a "villain," and a "damsel in distress." Sales of the machine were brisk, with the game becoming the best-selling arcade machine of all time in its era. The gameplay itself was a large improvement over other games of its time, and with the growing base of arcades to sell to, it was able to gain huge distribution. | ||
MGM sued Nintendo over copyright violations, claiming that Donkey Kong was a copy of | MGM sued Nintendo over copyright violations, claiming that Donkey Kong was a copy of King Kong. If victorious, this lawsuit would have crushed Nintendo of America, and the history of videogames would be drastically altered. Nintendo's lawyer, Howard Lincoln, who would go on to become a Senior Vice President of the company, discovered that MGM didn't own the copyright to King Kong either, and was able to not only win the lawsuit but get MGM to pay the legal costs. | ||
Due to the huge success of Donkey Kong, Nintendo of America was able to grow and release many more games in succeeding years and had the resources necessary to release the NES in the USA. | Due to the huge success of Donkey Kong, Nintendo of America was able to grow and release many more games in succeeding years and had the resources necessary to release the NES in the USA. | ||
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The exact origins of the name "Donkey Kong" are unclear and debated. The most common explanation of the name is that it was created by [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] as a combination of the word "Kong" from ''King Kong'' (although 'Kong' by that time had already come to colloquially mean monkey), and "Donkey," a word which can mean stubborn. It is believed by many that the name "Donkey Kong" was the result of a typo on the original cabinet's art work for "Monkey Kong," but this has been denied by Miyamoto and others. | The exact origins of the name "Donkey Kong" are unclear and debated. The most common explanation of the name is that it was created by [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] as a combination of the word "Kong" from ''King Kong'' (although 'Kong' by that time had already come to colloquially mean monkey), and "Donkey," a word which can mean stubborn. It is believed by many that the name "Donkey Kong" was the result of a typo on the original cabinet's art work for "Monkey Kong," but this has been denied by Miyamoto and others. | ||
In the original [[Donkey Kong (arcade game)|Donkey Kong game]], the player's character "[[Jumpman]]" (later: "[[Mario]]") must jump over barrels thrown by Donkey Kong while climbing ladders up a crooked construction site to reach the top of the screen to rescue his girlfriend Pauline (who was originally called Lady in Japan). Each screen is a game stage, with stages grouping to form | In the original [[Donkey Kong (arcade game)|Donkey Kong game]], the player's character "[[Jumpman]]" (later: "[[Mario]]") must jump over barrels thrown by Donkey Kong while climbing ladders up a crooked construction site to reach the top of the screen to rescue his girlfriend Pauline (who was originally called Lady in Japan). Each screen is a game stage, with stages grouping to form levels. Each successive level is progressively harder. | ||
This game was first released in the arcades, but was ported to home | This game was first released in the arcades, but was ported to home video game consoles and home computers. The game was also sold as a portable LCD game (1982) by [[Nintendo]] in two versions: Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong II. | ||
The game was quite revolutionary for its time, featuring multiple distinct levels, large colorful graphics, and a unique form of play control. | The game was quite revolutionary for its time, featuring multiple distinct levels, large colorful graphics, and a unique form of play control. | ||
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''Donkey Kong'' spawned two sequels, neither of which were as popular as the original arcade hit. In ''[[Donkey Kong Jr. (arcade game)|Donkey Kong Junior]]'' Donkey Kong was kidnapped by Mario and players had to control his son [[Donkey Kong Jr.]] to rescue him. In ''Donkey Kong 3'' DK broke into a greenhouse and got chased out by [[Stanley the Bugman]], who carried a spray can to protect his greenhouse from Donkey Kong's insects. In 1994, Nintendo produced a remake of the original game for the Game Boy (often dubbed "Donkey Kong '94" to distinguish it from the original) which contained 96 new stages (most which were puzzle-oriented) in addition to the original four from the Arcade game. Donkey Kong's and [[Pauline]]'s respective appearances were updated for this game (DK now had a tie and Pauline was made into a brunette to set herself apart from Peach). | ''Donkey Kong'' spawned two sequels, neither of which were as popular as the original arcade hit. In ''[[Donkey Kong Jr. (arcade game)|Donkey Kong Junior]]'' Donkey Kong was kidnapped by Mario and players had to control his son [[Donkey Kong Jr.]] to rescue him. In ''Donkey Kong 3'' DK broke into a greenhouse and got chased out by [[Stanley the Bugman]], who carried a spray can to protect his greenhouse from Donkey Kong's insects. In 1994, Nintendo produced a remake of the original game for the Game Boy (often dubbed "Donkey Kong '94" to distinguish it from the original) which contained 96 new stages (most which were puzzle-oriented) in addition to the original four from the Arcade game. Donkey Kong's and [[Pauline]]'s respective appearances were updated for this game (DK now had a tie and Pauline was made into a brunette to set herself apart from Peach). | ||
After that he went on hiatus until he appeared in ''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'' (in Japan, Super Donkey Kong). Donkey Kong Country was an entirely new DK franchise established by the British company [[Rare | After that he went on hiatus until he appeared in ''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'' (in Japan, Super Donkey Kong). Donkey Kong Country was an entirely new DK franchise established by the British company [[Rare|Rareware]] which took the Donkey Kong premise in an entire new direction. Severing DK's ties to the [[Mario]] world (until ''[[Super Mario Kart]]''), Donkey Kong Country established a whole new world for DK, and became a showcase title to show-off then-revolutionary 3D CGI graphics. | ||
In ''Donkey Kong Country'', DK was the hero and he and his sidekick [[Diddy Kong]] had to save his hoard of bananas from the thieving [[King K. Rool]] and his [[Kremling]] Krew. The game was an action sidescrolling title similar to the Mario games and was enormously popular for its graphics, music, and gameplay. Some sources, such as ''[[Nintendo Power]]'', suggest that the Donkey Kong in the ''Country'' series was the son of [[Cranky Kong]], the original Donkey Kong from the arcade game, which would equate him with Donkey Kong Junior. Other sources, including the manual of ''Donkey Kong Country''<small><sup>[[#Notes|1]]</sup></small> and in-game dialogue from other games in the series, suggest that the Donkey Kong in ''Donkey Kong Country'' is Cranky's grandson and the son of Donkey Kong Junior. This is also contradicted by the in-game dialogue from [[Donkey Kong 64]], as Cranky specifically calls DK his son. Rareware released an official statement some time ago, stating that Cranky is indeed the D.K. of the arcades and that the current Donkey Kong is D.K. Jr. However, Nintendo hasn't made up their minds yet as to what it should be, and have been known to refer to today's Donkey Kong as Mario's oldest rival. This has led to some confusion, but because they own the characters, it is ultimately up to Nintendo to decide which possibility is correct. | In ''Donkey Kong Country'', DK was the hero and he and his sidekick [[Diddy Kong]] had to save his hoard of bananas from the thieving [[King K. Rool]] and his [[Kremling]] Krew. The game was an action sidescrolling title similar to the Mario games and was enormously popular for its graphics, music, and gameplay. Some sources, such as ''[[Nintendo Power]]'', suggest that the Donkey Kong in the ''Country'' series was the son of [[Cranky Kong]], the original Donkey Kong from the arcade game, which would equate him with Donkey Kong Junior. Other sources, including the manual of ''Donkey Kong Country''<small><sup>[[#Notes|1]]</sup></small> and in-game dialogue from other games in the series, suggest that the Donkey Kong in ''Donkey Kong Country'' is Cranky's grandson and the son of Donkey Kong Junior. This is also contradicted by the in-game dialogue from [[Donkey Kong 64]], as Cranky specifically calls DK his son. Rareware released an official statement some time ago, stating that Cranky is indeed the D.K. of the arcades and that the current Donkey Kong is D.K. Jr. However, Nintendo hasn't made up their minds yet as to what it should be, and have been known to refer to today's Donkey Kong as Mario's oldest rival. This has led to some confusion, but because they own the characters, it is ultimately up to Nintendo to decide which possibility is correct. | ||
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Donkey Kong also appears in a number of other games such as ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'', ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'', the ''[[Mario Party]]'' series, ''[[Mario Golf]]'', ''[[Mario Tennis]]'', and the two crossover games ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''. In nearly all of these games, Donkey Kong is presented as a powerful but slow and cumbersome character (for example, in the ''Mario Kart'' games, he has a high top speed, but poor acceleration), as opposed to [[Yoshi]]. Donkey Kong is slated for several games on the Nintendo [[GameCube]] and the [[Game Boy Advance]]. | Donkey Kong also appears in a number of other games such as ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'', ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'', the ''[[Mario Party]]'' series, ''[[Mario Golf]]'', ''[[Mario Tennis]]'', and the two crossover games ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''. In nearly all of these games, Donkey Kong is presented as a powerful but slow and cumbersome character (for example, in the ''Mario Kart'' games, he has a high top speed, but poor acceleration), as opposed to [[Yoshi]]. Donkey Kong is slated for several games on the Nintendo [[GameCube]] and the [[Game Boy Advance]]. | ||
While still under Rare's influence, numerous spin-offs of Donkey Kong were created. ''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'', a racing game released in [[1997]] starring the Diddy Kong character, was the launching point of the Banjo-Kazooie and Conker franchises as well as the first appearance of several characters that would later spring up in Rare games. These franchises are now owned by | While still under Rare's influence, numerous spin-offs of Donkey Kong were created. ''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'', a racing game released in [[1997]] starring the Diddy Kong character, was the launching point of the Banjo-Kazooie and Conker franchises as well as the first appearance of several characters that would later spring up in Rare games. These franchises are now owned by Microsoft, but they'll always have their origins in Donkey Kong's universe. ''Donkey Kong: Coconut Crackers'' was originally developed by [[Rare]] for the [[Game Boy Advance]], but was eventually released as [[It's Mr. Pants]] after the Microsoft purchase. | ||
"Donkey Kong Universe" (DKU) refers to the place in which all Donkey Kong games (except the original arcade versions), and games taking place in the same universe as Donkey Kong, exist. The list of characters in the Donkey Kong Universe include all of the Kongs in the Donkey Kong Country series, the ''Banjo-Kazooie'' series, ''Conker's Bad Fur Day'', '' | "Donkey Kong Universe" (DKU) refers to the place in which all Donkey Kong games (except the original arcade versions), and games taking place in the same universe as Donkey Kong, exist. The list of characters in the Donkey Kong Universe include all of the Kongs in the Donkey Kong Country series, the ''Banjo-Kazooie'' series, ''Conker's Bad Fur Day'', ''Grabbed by the Ghoulies'', and ''Star Fox Adventures''. The games are inter-related by cameo appearances by characters from other Rare games or references to the other games. | ||
==Playable characters in Donkey Kong games== | ==Playable characters in Donkey Kong games== | ||
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==Non-playable supporting characters== | ==Non-playable supporting characters== | ||
'''Cranky Kong''' is an older Kong who refers to the "good old days" of videogames, typically breaking the | '''Cranky Kong''' is an older Kong who refers to the "good old days" of videogames, typically breaking the fourth wall. He is said to be the original 8-bit Donkey Kong, and the current Donkey Kong is either his son (Donkey Kong Jr.) or his grandson. In his first two appearances give the player hints about how to beat certain levels. In ''Donkey Kong Country 3'', he is the opponent in Swanky Kong's game. In the cartoon show, he played the role of a potion concocting scientist, a role he also provided in ''Donkey Kong 64'', in which he would sell you potions that served as the method of teaching DK & crew new moves. | ||
'''[[Wrinkly Kong]]''' is Cranky Kong's wife, and is a schoolteacher in ''Donkey Kong Country 2'' who took over Candy's role of saving game progress. She retired from school teaching in ''Donkey Kong Country 3'' to life of leisure, exercising, playing ''[[Super Mario 64]]'', napping in her chair, and again saving the game. She also took care of the Banana Birds that were obtained in trades with the Brothers Bear or freeing from a crystal prison by playing a ''Simon''-esque memory game. By ''Donkey Kong 64'', she passed away but was able to appear in ghostly form to provide hints for Kongs who wandered up to the doorways with her face on them in each lobby of the game's worlds. | '''[[Wrinkly Kong]]''' is Cranky Kong's wife, and is a schoolteacher in ''Donkey Kong Country 2'' who took over Candy's role of saving game progress. She retired from school teaching in ''Donkey Kong Country 3'' to life of leisure, exercising, playing ''[[Super Mario 64]]'', napping in her chair, and again saving the game. She also took care of the Banana Birds that were obtained in trades with the Brothers Bear or freeing from a crystal prison by playing a ''Simon''-esque memory game. By ''Donkey Kong 64'', she passed away but was able to appear in ghostly form to provide hints for Kongs who wandered up to the doorways with her face on them in each lobby of the game's worlds. | ||