DK Barrel

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"Kong Barrel" redirects here. For information about a type of barrel from Donkey Kong 64, see Cranky's Kong Barrel.

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“It's dangerous to go alone! Buy this!”
Cranky Kong, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D

DK Barrels[1][2] (sometimes called Buddy Barrels[3][4] or Kong Barrels[5]) are a type of Barrel that appear in almost every level of the Donkey Kong Country and Donkey Kong Land series. They are identifiable from the red and yellow "DK" letters on its side. If the two Kongs are together and the lead one is hit by an enemy or an obstacle, that Kong runs away; the player takes control of the other Kong. When a Kong finds a DK Barrel, they can pick it up and throw it to reunite with the other Kong.

History

Donkey Kong Country / Donkey Kong Land trilogy

A DK Barrel next to a "2" number in the Game Boy Color remake of Donkey Kong Country

If a DK Barrel is on the ground, it can be picked up and thrown like a normal Barrel, although like Vine Barrels, DK Barrels break upon impact with the ground. As such, most enemies can be defeated when a DK Barrel is thrown at them. If a Kong is without their partner and they touch a DK Barrel that is either in mid-air or underwater, the DK Barrel breaks open and releases the other Kong. In the first three Donkey Kong Country games, after a Kong is released from a DK Barrel, they follow behind the Kong in front.

In the backstory for Donkey Kong Country, Diddy was ambushed by Kremlings while he was guarding the Banana Hoard. He is sealed into a DK Barrel and thrown into the jungle. The first DK Barrel of Jungle Hijinxs is presumably the one that Diddy was trapped into due to it being the closest DK Barrel to the Banana Hoard.

Most DK Barrels in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! are found in mid-air, so they cannot be picked up. If both Kongs are in play, they pass through both mid-air and underwater DK Barrels. In Donkey Kong Land 2 and Donkey Kong Land III, all DK Barrels are found in mid-air. In the former game are DK Barrels found in treasure chests which can be picked up like normal Barrels.

Certain cheat codes in the sequels can affect the availability of DK Barrels. In Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, from the mode selection menu, the player can highlight the hidden Cheat Mode and enter a combination of buttons to remove every DK Barrel: B Button,A Button,+Control Pad right,+Control Pad right,A Button,L Button,A Button,X Button; in that game's Game Boy Advance remake, the WELLARD cheat removes all DK Barrels, and the ROCKARD cheat removes all DK Barrels and Star Barrels. In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, the HARDR cheat only removes some of the DK Barrels, and the TUSFT cheat removes all DK Barrels (if used on a new save file) and Star Barrels; in the Game Boy Advance version, the TUFFER cheat removes all DK Barrels and Star Barrels on a new game save file. In all applicable games, if DK Barrels are disabled, every level automatically starts with both Kongs.

DK: Jungle Climber

DK Barrels also appear in DK: Jungle Climber, with the same role as in the first Donkey Kong Country and Donkey Kong Land games.

Donkey Kong Country Returns

DK Barrels return in Donkey Kong Country Returns where they have the same functions as before. In this game, they are always found on the ground and can be thrown. If Diddy is present when a DK Barrel is tossed, the barrel instead restores Donkey Kong's health if it is not full.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

DK Barrels return in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, functioning just like they did in Donkey Kong Country Returns. With the addition of Dixie Kong and Cranky Kong, the barrels come in four new variations — a Diddy Kong Barrel marked with a blue "DD" instead of the usual red "DK", a Dixie Kong Barrel marked with a pink "DX" (this one containing Dixie Kong), a Cranky Kong Barrel with a yellow "CK", and another one which contains all three spinning in a roulette-like manner. With the latter barrel, Donkey Kong is able to choose his partner, by picking it up at the moment the desired Kong's insignia appears (or by corkscrewing into it, if it is underwater). Normal DK Barrels only appear in Hard Mode since Donkey Kong only has one heart in his health counter and is not assisted by the other Kongs. He can still use the DK Barrel as a weapon. In multiplayer mode, the second player can choose which of the partner Kongs to play as (Diddy, Dixie, or Cranky).

In the Nintendo Switch port, a fifth variety of a DK Barrel appears due to Funky Kong's inclusion as a playable character. Funky Kong's barrel is marked with a purple "FK".

Appearances in Mario titles

In Mario Party 8, when a character steps on a DK Space (or reaches a cannon in DK's Treetop Temple), Donkey Kong will appear before them by bursting out of a DK Barrel.

In Mario Kart 7, DK Barrels appear on the jungle section of DK Jungle, where they are located on the sides of the track. They contain Bananas and Stars that are revealed by destroying the barrels with Green Shells, or by colliding with them at a high speed.

A DK Barrel appears in Donkey Kong's Double Bogey animation in Mario Golf: World Tour and Mario Sports Superstars.

With the return of DK Jungle in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, DK Barrels also come back in the jungle section of the course.

A DK Barrel appears as a Donkey Kong's Skill Effect in Dr. Mario World.

Appearances in other titles

In the Super Smash Bros. series, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong enter stages by bursting out of DK Barrels. One also appears as a Sticker in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U.

One of the collectables Kirby can find in Kirby Super Star's "The Great Cave Offensive" mode is the "Kong's Barrel." It returns in the remake, Kirby Super Star Ultra. It is found in a room guarded by two Gordos in the Garden Area. The Kong's Barrel is worth 1,500 Gold.

A DK Barrel is a token piece that can be used in Nintendo Monopoly.

DK Barrels can be found floating in the ocean during the level Do U Stack Up? in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle.

Profiles

Donkey Kong Country

  • Game Boy Advance manual bio: "Break one of these to keep the other Kong ready and waiting. He'll take over when your current Kong takes a hit, or you can press the L Button to swap them at any time."
  • Wii U Virtual Console manual bio: "If you are alone, break this barrel to release the friend inside."

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

  • Game Boy Advance manual bio: "Here's where you'll find your partner if he or she isn't already by your side. If both characters are already in play, you won't be able to break this Barrel when it's in mid-air."
  • Wii U Virtual Console manual bio: "If either Diddy or Dixie is missing, you can find him or her in this barrel."

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!

  • Game Boy Advance manual bio: "Here's where you'll find your partner if they're not already with you. If you already have both Kongs, you won't be able to break the DK Barrels that float in mid-air."

Super Smash Bros. Brawl sticker

Image Game Effect
A sticker of DK Barrel Donkey Kong Country Launch Power +53

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U trophy

Name 3DS Image Wii U Image Appears in
(Wii U version only)
American English Description British English Description
DK Barrel DK Barrel Trophy.png DK Barrel trophy from Super Smash Bros. for Wii U SNES Donkey Kong Country (11/1994)
Wii Donkey Kong Country Returns (11/2010)
Little known fact: the "DK" on a DK Barrel stands for "Donkey Kong"... What? You mean you already knew that? In that case, you must also know that hopeful feeling you get upon seeing one of these in a really tough stage. Break one to release a helpful partner! Did you know that the "DK" on a DK Barrel stands for "Donkey Kong"?... You did? Well then, maybe you also know what a beautiful and hopeful feeling it is to see one of these when you're toughing it out alone, all sad and forlorn. Break it and a partner will show up to lift you out of your doldrums and help you on your way.

Gallery

Artwork

Sprites

Screenshots

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning
Japanese DKバレル
DK Bareru
ディディバレル
Didī Bareru
ディクシーバレル
Dikushī Bareru
クランキーバレル
Kurankī Bareru

DK Barrel

Diddy Barrel

Dixie Barrel

Cranky Barrel

Spanish Barril DK
DK Barrel

References

  1. ^ Donkey Kong Country instruction booklet, page 17.
  2. ^ Super Smash Bros. for 3DS / Wii U Trophy information
  3. ^ Donkey Kong Land instruction booklet, page 10.
  4. ^ Donkey Kong Country Game Boy Color instruction booklet, page 11.
  5. ^ Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze instruction manual (PDF). Section 16