Donkey Kong Country (series)

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Template:Series-infobox 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 were later revived by Retro Studios and their upcoming 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.

List of Games in the Series

Original Titles

Donkey Kong Country

File:DKC.jpg

• Year Released – 1994
• System – Super Nintendo Entertainment System

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.

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

• Year Released – 1995
• System – Super Nintendo Entertainment System

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.

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble

• Year Released – 1996
• System – Super Nintendo Entertainment System

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. Krool, under the alias Baron K. Roolenstein. Like Donkey Kong Country 2, this game plays similarly to Donkey Kong Country, but has a lot of new elements not seen before in the series.

Donkey Kong Country Returns

• Release Date – 2010
• System – Nintendo Wii

After Microsoft bought out Rare, the Donkey Kong Country a drought of new games followed, with several remakes for the Game Boy and Game Boy Advance. 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. Not much else is known about the game regarding gameplay elements, though it has been confirmed that no Kremlings or underwater levels will be present in this game. There will also be some mechanics from the past Donkey Kong Country games that will return in this game, such as Animal Buddies.

Remakes/Ports

Donkey Kong Country

• Year Released – 2000
• System – 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.

Donkey Kong Country

• Year Released – 2003
• System – 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.

Donkey Kong Country 2

• Year Released – 2004
• System – Game Boy Advance

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.

Donkey Kong Country 3

File:DKC3 GBA Cover.jpg

• Year Released – 2005
• System – Game Boy Advance

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.

Major Characters

Protagonists

Donkey Kong

File:DonkeyOriginal.jpg

Main article: 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

File:Diddy.PNG

Main article: 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, gets captured by King K. Rool in Donkey Kong Country 3, where Dixie Koong and her cousin, Kiddy Kong, must save them. He reppears in Donkey Kong Country Returns as a playable character.

Dixie Kong

File:Dixie Kong.png

Main article: 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.

Kiddy Kong

File:StandingKiddy.jpg

Main article: 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.