Donkey Kong (franchise): Difference between revisions

==Games==

===Original series===

[[File:DKMachineBlue.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|The original ''Donkey Kong'' arcade cabinet.]]

The original [[Donkey Kong (game)|''Donkey Kong'' arcade game]] was created when [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] was assigned by [[Nintendo]] to convert ''{{wp|Radar Scope}}'', a game that had been released to test audiences with poor results, into a game that would appeal more to Americans. The machine was a major breakthrough for Nintendo and for the video game industry and became one of the best-selling arcade machines of the early 1980s. The gameplay was a huge improvement over other games of its time and had Mario ascend a construction site while avoiding obstacles such as barrels and fireballs to rescue his girlfriend, Lady (later renamed [[Pauline]]), from Donkey Kong. Miyamoto created a greatly simplified version for the [[Game & Watch]] multiscreen. The game was also ported to many other systems, namely the {{wp|Atari 2600}}, {{wp|ColecoVision}}, {{wp|Apple II series|Apple II}}, {{wp|Atari 7800}}, {{wp|Intellivision}}, {{wp|Commodore 64}}, {{wp|Commodore VIC-20}}, {{wp|IBM PC}}, the {{wp|ZX Spectrum}}, {{wp|Amstrad CPC}}, {{wp|MSX}}, and the {{wp|Atari 8-bit family}}. The appearance of single games like this and ''{{wp|Pac-Man}}'' on many different platforms, with large variations in general quality among all the ports, was a primary factor in the over-saturation of the video game market that {{wp|North American video game crash of 1983|caused it to crash}} in 1983. ''Donkey Kong'' also appeared on the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Family Computer]], its [[Family Computer Disk System|Disk System]] add-on, and its North American equivalent, the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] (NES). The original arcade version reappeared in ''[[Donkey Kong 64]]'' for the [[Nintendo 64]], and the NES port was re-released as an unlockable game in ''[[nookipedia:Doubutsu no Mori (game)|Doubutsu no Mori]]'', ''[[nookipedia:Animal Crossing|Animal Crossing]]'', and  ''[[nookipedia:Doubutsu no Mori e+|Doubutsu no Mori e+]]'' for the [[Nintendo 64]] and the [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]] and as an item for purchase on the [[Wii]]'s [[Virtual Console]]. In the early 2000s, Nintendo released the NES version on the [[Game Boy Advance]] via the [[e-Reader]] and the [[Classic NES Series]].

===''Donkey Kong Country'' series===

[[File:Boxart dkc front.png|thumb|left|''Donkey Kong Country'' was the first game to use pre-rendered sprites, creating a 3D effect throughout.]]

''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'' (known as ''Super Donkey Kong'' in Japan) was released in 1994 as the game that made ''DK'' its own franchise, taking the premise thereof in an entirely new direction. Directed by British game designer {{wp|Tim Stamper}} for his company [[Rare Ltd.]], the games are platformers where levels are shown in a sidescrolling perspective, similar to the ''[[Super Mario (series)|Super Mario]]'' series, and the heroes must jump and avoid obstacles in order to clear levels. The original ''Donkey Kong Country'' for SNES was a technological innovator, designed to showcase the then-revolutionary use of {{wp|Computer-generated imagery|computer-generated imagery}} to create pre-rendered 3D graphics. The modern Donkey Kong (portrayed as the grandson of the original DK character, reworked into Cranky Kong) was the hero who, along with his sidekick Diddy, had to save his banana hoard from the thieving King K. Rool and his Kremling Krew. The sequel, ''[[Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest|Diddy's Kong Quest]]'', is a less cheery and more darkly-themed follow-up where DK is kidnapped by K. Rool, now donning the alias "Kaptain K. Rool" and Diddy must save him with help from his girlfriend Dixie. The third game in the series, ''[[Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!|Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!]]'', has both Donkey and Diddy Kong getting kidnapped by K. Rool, now called Baron K. Roolenstein, and having to be saved by Dixie and her cousin Kiddy. All three of these games received good reviews and greatly impacted DK's future. The original ''Donkey Kong Country'' was ported to [[Game Boy Color]] in 2000, and the entire trilogy was later ported to [[Game Boy Advance]] and made available on the Wii's Virtual Console.

===''Donkey Kong Land'' series===

The ''[[Donkey Kong Land (series)|Donkey Kong Land]]'' series is a smaller handheld companion series to ''Donkey Kong Country''. The installments of that series are generally considered pseudo-sequels to the ''Country'' games, running on similar engines but featuring different storylines, stages, level layouts, etc., and many aspects of the original SNES adventures are removed or altered to fit the limitations of the Game Boy system. The games in this series, presented in yellow cartridges instead of the typical gray ones, were released over a three-year period between 1995 and 1997.

The first game in the ''[[Donkey Konga (series)|Donkey Konga]]'' series was released for the GameCube in 2004. Developed by [[Bandai Namco Entertainment|Namco]] and based on the ''{{wp|Taiko no Tatsujin}}'' series of arcade rhythm games, this musical rhythm action game relies upon the use of the DK Bongos accessory (purchasable separately or included, depending on the package) to hit a beat in time with the tune. While the exact song selection varies depending on region, the tunes generally include pop songs and themes from some previous Nintendo games. Two sequels were later released, one of which was exclusive to Japan.

===''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' series===

Nintendo's first ''Donkey Kong'' title for the Game Boy Advance after Rare left was ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong]]'', a return to the arcade-style games that incorporated many elements from the Game Boy version. Although it retained the gameplay style of the earlier releases, Donkey Kong now used his Rare design. The character returns to his original role as a villain; wanting a [[Mini Mario (toy)|Mini Mario]] clockwork toy, he finds that they are sold out at a local toy store, and furiously terrifies the [[Toad (species)|Toads]] at the factory and steals the toys. This prompts Mario to chase Donkey Kong around and eventually take the Mini-Marios back from him.  The game was followed up by ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis|March of the Minis]]'' and later ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!|Mini-Land Mayhem!]]'' for the Nintendo DS, ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!|Minis March Again!]]'' on [[DSiWare]], ''[[Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move|Minis on the Move!]]'' for Nintendo 3DS, and ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars|Tipping Stars]]'' and ''[[Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge]]'' for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. The later installments of the series reintroduced Pauline, Mario's first damsel-in-distress, now no longer described as his love interest; and featured the Mini Marios as the playable characters instead of Mario himself, with gameplay revolving around manipulating elements of each stage to guide the Mini Marios (and in later games, miniature toy versions of other ''Super Mario'' characters) to the goal while avoiding hazards.

===''DK'' series===

Developed by [[Paon]], this spin-off series features gameplay similar to ''{{wp|Clu Clu Land}}''. The first entry in the series, ''[[DK: King of Swing|King of Swing]]'', requires players to navigate levels using only the Game Boy Advance's left and right shoulder buttons. The Nintendo DS follow-up, ''[[DK: Jungle Climber|Jungle Climber]]'', was Donkey Kong's first title role on the Nintendo DS and featured improved visuals, better play control, and dual-screen gameplay.

''Diddy Kong Racing'' was going to have a full-fledged series based on it; two sequels were planned before eventually being canceled. The first, ''[[Diddy Kong Pilot (2001)|Diddy Kong Pilot]]'' for Game Boy Advance, had flying as the only means of transport; however, Nintendo found the game substandard because its levels were too flat (the GBA cannot generate "true" 3D graphics, only flat effects similar to the SNES's {{wp|Mode 7}} technology). Some Rare employees believed the company was prejudiced since it occurred in a time period just before the Microsoft acquisition.<ref name="DK Vine">[http://www.dkvine.com/?p=1082 DK Vine]</ref> None of the Rare Ltd. games except ''[[lylatwiki:Star Fox Adventures|Star Fox Adventures]]'' were showcased at E3 2002. On September 24, 2002, Nintendo sold their share of Rare to Microsoft, which caused the company to lose the rights to ''Donkey Kong'' characters. Around the same time, in 2002-2003, Diddy Kong Pilot was being redeveloped into an entirely [[Diddy Kong Pilot (2003)|different game]], which ended up being converted into the game ''{{wp|Banjo-Pilot}}'', which was released in 2005. Another sequel, called ''[[Donkey Kong Racing]]'', was planned for the GameCube, but it was canceled on August 13, 2002, a month before Microsoft bought Rare on September 24, 2002, and that game was being reworked into ''{{wp|Sabreman}} Stampede'' for the {{wp|Xbox 360}}; this iteration of the title was canceled due to a lack of focus and Rare's unfamiliarity with the hardware, however.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200126075054/http://www.mundorare.com/features/stampedes-sorrowful-swan-song/ "Stampede's Sorrowful Swan Song" (Internet Archive)] (accessed July 19, 2012)</ref><ref>[http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/02/month_of_kong_whatever_happened_to_donkey_kong_racing Nintendo Life: Month Of Kong: Whatever Happened To Donkey Kong Racing?]</ref> Another potential sequel, ''[[Diddy Kong Racing Adventure]]'', was pitched to Nintendo by {{wp|Climax Group}}, but was rejected.

===Spin-offs===