Donkey Kong: Difference between revisions

Donkey Kong is a [[Kong]] resembling a gorilla who sports a burly physique; in addition to having particularly large pecs, biceps and triceps, he is noted to weigh 800 pounds (363 kg) according to [[Microbuffer]], the talking microphone that serves as the announcer for the fight against K. Rool in ''[[Donkey Kong 64]]'', as well as having the traditional large feet of primates with opposable thumbs. Donkey Kong also has brown fur, with the fur on his head being distinctly shaped to the point of looking like a hairstyle. As of ''Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze'', his fur has also consistently sported a realistic texture. The shade of brown his fur is colored, however, has been inconsistent between games, being either a lighter shade or its original darker shade. Donkey Kong wears only a single item of clothing: a red necktie with the "DK" logo printed on it in yellow from ''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest'' onwards.

In the games, despite his carefree lifestyle, Donkey Kong is a brave and friendly hero who highly cares for his friends and [[banana hoard]], and he becomes enraged if either are threatened. He is always keen to be helpful and use his strength whenever possible. The [[Mario vs. Donkey Kong (series)|''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' series]] portray him as prone to temper tantrums if he doesn't get what he wants, which leads him to steal the Mini Mario toys and even kidnap Pauline at various points, though he does show some remorse towards the end and relents when he is forgiven. Donkey Kong is also shown as more aggressive and willing to fight in ''Donkey Kong Jungle Beat''.

Donkey Kong is inconsistently depicted as somewhat dimwitted—in ''[[Fortune Street]]'', [[Toad]] remarks that Donkey Kong is the brawn while Diddy Kong is the brains, and he speaks in broken, third-person English for his few lines in ''Donkey Kong 64''; however, in other appearances, particularly during the ''Donkey Kong Country'' series, DK speaks fluent English much like the other [[Kong]]s. In [[The Subspace Emissary]], Donkey Kong is shown to be more cautious, sensing the danger of the Dark Cannon Bowser wielded and electing to get the impulsive Diddy Kong to safety. In [[Solid Snake|Snake]]'s codec conversation on Donkey Kong in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', Otacon claims that Donkey Kong seems "pretty smart" for an ape.

Unlike most characters, who have some kind of special power, Donkey Kong relies mainly on his brute strength. He sometimes has the title of "The strongest of the Kongs", though this claim may refer to his combat abilities instead of strength alone, as some Kongs like Chunky Kong and [[Sumo Kong]] are clearly larger and stronger than Donkey Kong. In the original ''[[Donkey Kong (game)|Donkey Kong]]'' he had a seemingly unlimited supply of Barrels, and could throw them easily. This carried on to the ''Donkey Kong Country'' games, where he can pick up and throw Barrels with ease. Also in ''Donkey Kong Country'', he can destroy certain enemies that [[Diddy Kong]] cannot hurt with a single jump. In ''Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat'', his strength is shown yet again, it makes him so strong that when he claps, a sound-wave is produced. This is his main attack throughout the game. In the ending of ''Donkey Kong Country Returns'', Donkey Kong is shown to be strong enough to knock the moon out of its orbit and into the planet's atmosphere with a single punch (though the fact he was falling towards it at an alarming speed may have helped with it).

[[Dixie Kong]] is one of Donkey Kong's closest friends, sometimes hanging out with him and Diddy Kong. She actively helped rescue him when he's kidnapped and joined him in retaking Donkey Kong Island from the Snowmads. Donkey Kong seems to act like a big brother to Dixie, similar to how he is with Diddy. He was very defensive of her when she was antagonized by a [[Dry Bones]] in ''Mario Super Sluggers''. Dixie does show minor exasperation with DK when he's rash and thick-headed, but they nonetheless have a close friendship.

[[Cranky Kong]] is Donkey Kong's crabby and constantly rambling grandfather. He also originally had the name Donkey Kong until he turned it over to his replacement, and has not resumed the title since (with the sole exception being re-releases such as games in the [[Game & Watch#Game & Watch Gallery series|''Game & Watch Gallery'' series]]). He finds a way to help DK and his friends in their adventures, though it usually entails giving out advice or valuable items for a [[Banana Coin|price]]. Although he frequently gets frustrated with DK's slow-witted nature, he does nonetheless look out and care for him. In ''Tropical Freeze'', their relationship is shown in the most friendly; Cranky attends his grandson's birthday party, and their Kong Pow shows them doing a fist bump.

Donkey Kong and [[Mario]] have had a rivalry for some time. The rivalry is witnessed in the ''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' series. However the rivalry is friendly in spin-off games, as implied in ''Super Smash Bros.'', and in [[Solid Snake]]'s codec conversation from ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''. Aside from their rivalry, Donkey Kong is good friends with Mario and gets along with him and his friends in some games such as the ''Mario Party'' series. Though the current Donkey Kong is large, he is actually quite a bit younger than Mario. Although Mario did fight Donkey Kong's grandfather in the original Donkey Kong game, [[Cranky Kong]] admits that Mario is a true [[Cranky's Video Game Heroes|video game hero]] and even looks back at his nostalgic antics with a fond respect. As time went on, the current Donkey Kong and Mario seemed to develop a good friendship and friendly rivalry, and do not seem to hold grudges against one another. One of the evident facts about this is whenever a player lands on a DK space in the ''Mario Party'' series, Donkey Kong will reward them with coins and stars. Another sign of Mario and Donkey Kong's friendship is how quickly Mario forgives DK in the ''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' series, even giving him a gift a few times.  

Donkey Kong has a competitive rivalry with [[Knuckles the Echidna|Knuckles]] and [[Vector the Crocodile|Vector]] from the ''Sonic'' franchise. Donkey Kong, as a hockey goalie, blocks Knuckles' strong shot with a catch, taunting the echidna. However, the powerhouses are friendly with each other. In London, the trio clear out the massive fog in the wrestling venues, with Vector offering a detective job that DK declines. Through the manipulation of two Miis in Mario and Sonic costumes, Donkey Kong and Knuckles accuse each other of cheating. After the Mii rookie beats both of them in the Boxing Event, they make up after this misunderstanding. DK has special victory animations with Knuckles and Vector in Sochi and Rio.

[[King K. Rool]] and his Kremlings are archenemies of Donkey Kong and the Kong Family. They have stolen DK's hoard often for unknown reasons and kidnapped him and his friends. Even when the king and four colored Kritters join the Kongs to form the [[DK Wilds]], their antagonism still shows in chemistry. In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', King K. Rool's trailer is called "The Rivals" as a reference to the enmity between him and Donkey Kong. In the show, the feud is still the same. Donkey Kong enjoys giving the Kremlings beatings, causing them to have great fear and apprehension of him and K. Rool is often the most on the receiving end; getting a black eye, used as a bowling ball (unseen), and when he is thrown out in a barrel.  

The Tiki Tak Tribe and the Snowmads are other adversaries to Donkey Kong. DK has personal grudges with the two groups for stealing all the bananas on Donkey Kong Island, including the ones in his hoard, and exiling him and his friends while conquering their home, respectively.

[[Pauline]] was kidnapped by both the [[Cranky Kong|original Donkey Kong]] in the Arcade, Game & Watch, and Game Boy games, and the current Donkey Kong in the ''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' series. The original Donkey Kong's motive was revenge against Mario for not being a good pet owner, while the current Donkey Kong had three different variations of the kidnapping. In ''March of the Minis'', it was due to his perceived rejection of his feelings in favor of Mario, and took Pauline away to shower her with gifts. In ''Minis March Again!'', Donkey Kong appears to have kidnapped Pauline due to theme park tickets being sold out. In ''Mini-Land Mayhem!'', Donkey Kong just missed having the free [[Mini Pauline]] that was given to the first 100 guests of the theme park, so he takes the real Pauline instead. Although the current Donkey Kong has ultimately proven to have harmless intentions, Mario still assumes the worst when his brash temper acts up and causes him to take her away somewhere. Despite this, Pauline and Donkey Kong remain on friendly terms, and Pauline is generally key to soothing his anger issues. They are even known to work alongside each other, as shown in the last installment of the aforementioned series, ''Tipping Stars'', where Donkey Kong "kidnapped" Pauline to simply to prove to Mario that he assumes nothing but good faith towards her.