DK's Tree House
DK's Tree House[1] is Donkey Kong's place of residence.
History
Donkey Kong series
Donkey Kong Country
DK's Tree House first appears in Donkey Kong Country, in which it is the starting point of the game. The house is cozy, with a picture of sailing boats on the wall, a window partially covered by blue curtains, and a vase of flowers on a table. It contains a large amount of bananas strewn about, an Extra Life Balloon that can be reached by jumping on a Tire and a picture of Candy Kong can also be seen hanging on a wall. DK's Tree House is designed after a regular cabin pattern, being constructed of wooden planks in its entirety.
In the Super Nintendo and Game Boy Color versions of Donkey Kong Country, the Kongs can only enter the tree house once each time they play the first level, Jungle Hijinxs. This is changed in the Game Boy Advance version, where the tree house is redesigned, and has a photograph inside it. Additionally, in that port of the game, after defeating Really Gnawty, when Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong enter DK's Tree House, they will find Very Gnawty inside. The beaver then turns around, shocked at the sight of DK, and runs past him out the door.
Donkey Kong 64
DK's Tree House next appears in Donkey Kong 64 where it is, once again, the starting point of the game.
In this game, DK's Tree House has many differences compared to the one in Donkey Kong Country. Instead of a bed, this tree house has a hammock. It also has much memorabilia in it, such as Cranky Kong's phonograph from Donkey Kong Country and a red girder from the original Donkey Kong arcade game. The tree house also has several barrels and crates in it, along with old banana peels.
Early screenshots of the game showed that there was going to be a shower stall in DK's Tree House with a poster of Banjo and Kazooie on it. The shower and posters were removed in the final version of the game.
Donkey Kong Country Returns
DK's Tree House reappears in Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D after a long absence from the Donkey Kong franchise. As in the previous games, it serves as the starting point. Upon starting the first level, the Kongs must repeatedly punch the Kalimba tiki until it is knocked out of the house (as it earlier tried to hypnotize Donkey Kong, to no avail); this occurs every time the level is re-played from the beginning.
Starting with this game, the tree house has a brand new design. Its walls are now built of bamboo stems, with the roof being round, thatched and sustained by wooden girnders. In spite of all these traits, DK's Tree House still slightly maintains the furniture from Donkey Kong 64, such as the boombox, hammock, and several barrels. However, it also has two of Donkey Kong's ties hanging from the ceiling, two picture frames, and a television which shows the game's title screen (as well as playing the respective music) if activated by ground pounding (in Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, what appears to be the Japanese version's title screen is shown instead). As in Donkey Kong Country, once the Kongs enter the tree house, they can find and collect an Extra Life Balloon inside, once for the entire game.
Donkey Kong Country television series
DK's Tree House also appears in the Donkey Kong Country television series, where it is relatively unchanged except for an elevator that is powered by a strong punch. Sometimes Donkey Kong punches the button too hard, making the elevator slam on entry and startling anyone inside of it.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong series
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong, DK's Tree House makes a brief appearance in the prologue of the game. Donkey Kong is relaxing inside it while channel-surfing on his TV, during which stumbles upon a commercial with Mini Marios.
Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge
DK's Tree House, borrowing its latest look from Donkey Kong Country Returns, can be seen in Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge as a background prop for the levels where Mini Donkey Kong is playable.
Mario Party series
Mario Party 7
In Mario Party 7, DK's Tree House can also be seen in the background of the DK minigames Jump, Man and Vine Country when players reach the top of the jungle. It appears to have its Donkey Kong 64 appearance.
Mario Party 10
The Donkey Kong Board from Mario Party 10 features many elements brought back from the Donkey Kong games, intended for decorative purposes. These include a miniatural version of DK's Tree House.
Yoshi's Island DS
DK's Tree House makes a cameo in the intro of Yoshi's Island DS, when the Toadies capture Baby DK.
Mario Kart series
DK's Tree House reappears in Mario Kart 7, Mario Kart 8, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, in the background of the course DK Jungle. Its appearance is the same as in Donkey Kong Country Returns.
Super Smash Bros. series
Donkey Kong's treehouse makes an appearance in the background of Kongo Jungle in Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Gallery
The tree house's exterior as seen in Donkey Kong Country.
The interior of DK's Tree House in Donkey Kong Country.
The tree house's exterior as seen in Donkey Kong 64.
The tree house's interior as seen in Donkey Kong 64.
The tree house in the Game Boy Color version of Donkey Kong Country.
- DKTH.png
The tree house in the Game Boy Advance version of Donkey Kong Country.
The tree house in Mario Party 7.
- Melee Kongo Jungle.jpg
The tree house in Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Trivia
- All three versions of Donkey Kong Country have a different musical theme for the treehouse. The SNES version plays Cranky's Theme, the GBC version plays the Title music from Donkey Kong Land and the GBA version plays Bonus Room Blitz.
- Nintendo of America's product development division, Treehouse, is codenamed after Donkey Kong’s residence.[2]
References
- ^ Donkey Kong 64 instruction booklet, page 33.
- ^ Kotaku: Nintendo's Secret Weapon
