Diddy Kong: Difference between revisions

''Diddy Kong'' is the deuteragonist of the ''[[Donkey Kong (franchise)|Donkey Kong]]'' franchise and [[Donkey Kong]]'s best friend and sidekick. He is a creation of the British company [[Rare Ltd.]], which produced many successful ''Donkey Kong'' games that Diddy Kong either starred or co-starred in. However, after Rare lost its rights to the Donkey Kong franchise due to [[Nintendo]] selling its shares to [[Wikipedia:Microsoft|Microsoft]], Nintendo kept the rights to all ''Donkey Kong'' characters, including Diddy Kong. He became a regular character in spin-off ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]'' titles since ''[[Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour]]'' ([[List of games by date#2003|2003]]), effectively taking [[Donkey Kong Jr.]]'s former role. Diddy Kong is a monkey who sports a red shirt with yellow stars and a red hat with the Nintendo logo. "[[wiktionary:diddy#Adjective|Diddy]]" is a slang word in some parts of northern England for "small," as Diddy Kong is. Diddy Kong occasionally pairs up with his girlfriend, [[Dixie Kong]], a chimpanzee who has a similar personality to him. He has even starred in his own racing game, ''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'' ([[List of games by date#1997|1997]]) for the [[Nintendo 64]] and later in its [[Reissue|remake]], ''[[Diddy Kong Racing DS]]'' ([[List of games by date#2007|2007]]) for the [[Nintendo DS]].

Diddy Kong made his debut appearance in the ''[[Donkey Kong Country (series)|Donkey Kong Country]]'' series, having appeared in every game. The only game he is not playable in is ''[[Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!]]''. Diddy has had more playable appearances in this series than [[Donkey Kong]] has.

Diddy Kong first appears in the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] game ''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'' and its [[Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Color)|Game Boy Color]] and [[Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Advance)|Advance]] remakes as the two playable Kongs, alongside Donkey Kong appearing as the second player and sidekick for him. The original game's instruction manual describes him as a "Donkey Kong wannabe," [[Fourth wall|wanting to be a video game hero]] like Donkey Kong.<ref>"Although he would never admit it, Diddy Kong is a [[Donkey Kong]] wannabe. His ambition in life is to be a video game hero just like the big guy. And although Donkey Kong would never say it to Diddy’s face, the kid has potential. He’s fast, agile, and has the heart to be a world class video game hero. He just needs a little more experience and, of course, exposure!" ''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'' ([[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]]) instruction manual, pg. 14</ref> In the game's first level, [[Jungle Hijinxs (Donkey Kong Country)|Jungle Hijinx]], Diddy is inside the first [[DK Barrel]] after the [[Kremling Krew]] raids the [[banana hoard]]<ref name=kremlingkrew group=note>The perpetrator of Diddy's defeat is inconsistent. In the original SNES game, the game manual states that Klump defeats him, the Game Boy Color version vaguely states that Kremlings defeat him, and the Game Boy Advance version's intro shows Krusha defeating him.</ref>, overpower him.<ref>''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'' ([[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]]) instruction manual, pg. 4-7</ref><ref>''[[Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Color)|Donkey Kong Country]]'' ([[Game Boy Color|GBC]]) instruction manual, pg. 2-3</ref><ref>''[[Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Advance)|Donkey Kong Country]]'' ([[Game Boy Advance|GBA]]) instruction manual, pg. 6-7</ref> In the original game's instruction manual<ref>"His last memory was of a hissing voice..."It’ssss the sssmall one... Ssseal him inssside thisss barrel and tosss it into the bussshesss... [[Donkey Kong]]’sss [[Banana hoard|bananasss]] are ourssss!” The [[DK Barrel|barrel]] lid closed on Diddy, blotting out even the fleeting light of the storm. Seconds later, the barrel flew through the air, courtesy of [[Klump]]’s army boot-assisted punt, and landed roughly in the [[Jungle Hijinxs (Donkey Kong Country)|jungle foliage]]. Diddy Kong knew no more." ''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'' ([[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]]) instruction manual, pg. 5</ref> and GameBoy Advance remake reveal it was the Kremling Krew who put Diddy in the barrel. Whenever a Kong takes damage, the player switches to the second Kong they were not controlling, a mechanic that would be consistent in the next two games. Donkey and Diddy Kong have the same basic abilities, such as [[Jump|jumping]], [[dash|running]], and rolling. Rather than using DK's [[Roll Attack]], he has his unique rolling move: the [[Cartwheel Attack]]. He can use this ability to defeat enemies by cartwheeling into them to gain momentum. Diddy can also cartwheel off a ledge and perform a jump midair, usually to get collectibles such as a [[Banana Bunch]] or a [[KONG Letters|KONG Letter]]. The ability that Diddy lacks that DK has is the [[Hand Slap]], making him unable to find secret items that require it.

Diddy's main difference is that he is weaker but is more agile, can jump higher, and move faster than Donkey Kong. He is much smaller, making it easier to pass through enemies than DK. Diddy cannot defeat [[Krusha|Krushas]] and [[Klump|Klumps]] by [[Stomp|stomping]] them, though he can still defeat the latter with the Cartwheel Attack. Diddy must jump on an [[Army]] twice to defeat it, rather than just once as DK can. Diddy also holds [[Barrel|barrels]] in front of him rather than above his head, allowing him to use it as a shield from enemies and break open walls to find [[Bonus room|bonus levels]], though cannot throw a barrel as far as DK can.  

Diddy has a smaller role in ''[[Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!]]''. In the backstory, Donkey and Diddy go on a fishing trip to the [[Northern Kremisphere]]. The Kongs did not return from their fishing trip, so Dixie and [[Kiddy Kong]] go on an adventure to save them. In [[Kastle Kaos]], after Dixie and Kiddy defeat [[King K. Rool|Baron K. Roolenstein]], it is revealed that Donkey and Diddy were contained within [[KAOS]], who they were freed from, presumably having their brain energy used as a power source.

In the opening cutscene to "World of Light", Diddy is among the fighters who attempt to escape from Galeem's beams of light; Diddy himself attempts to flee using the Rocketbarrel Pack alongside [[Rosalina]] & [[Luma]], but ultimately is consumed and used to create puppet fighters. Diddy is found in the sub-area in the Light Realm resembling the first world of the original "Donkey Kong Country", with Diddy himself serving as the "boss" of that area.

Donkey Kong is Diddy Kong's best friend and idol. Although they are different species, Diddy Kong has been called a relative of Donkey Kong's in a handful of material mostly in the late 90's. One of the earliest instances appears to be the December 1997 issue of the United Kingdom ''Nintendo Magazine'', in which Diddy Kong is referred to as Donkey Kong's son.<ref>''Official UK Nintendo Magazine'' Issue 63, page 31. "'''''KING KONG!''' Even though Donkey Kong began life at the dawn of videogames, his son, Diddy, has only been around since tea time. He first appeared in Donkey Kong Country, one of the best games to grace the Super NES. His dad, on the other hand, has been swinging about for donkey’s years. He began life in 1981 in the arcade hit, Donkey Kong. Since then he’s been in many a battle with our favourite plumber, notably in Mario Kart and on those little Game & Watch handhelds back in the ‘80s. He even appeared as a breakfast cereal and became a Saturday morning cartoon favourite when the CBS-TV Network in the US brought him to life.''"</ref> He has also been called Donkey Kong's nephew in 1999, specifically in the English version of ''Super Smash Bros.'',<ref>"''In the past few years, other members of the Kong family have cashed in on DK’s fame as well, including his favorite nephew, Diddy.''" - [https://www.themushroomkingdom.net/images/ssb_dk.png From the character bio of Donkey Kong from ''Super Smash Bros.''] ''TheMushroomKingdom.net''. Retrieved December 14, 2014.</ref> once on Rare's website,<ref>Rare. [https://web.archive.org/web/20010606030858/http://rareware.com/recent/games/dk64/castlist/ Donkey Kong 64 Cast List]. ''Rarewhere''. Retrieved December 14, 2014. "''Long-established second half of the big Kong double act, DK's nephew Diddy makes ever-bigger leaps and bounds towards fully-fledged videogame hero status with his part in each successful overthrow of K. Rool's hordes.''"</ref> and the ''Donkey Kong 64'' [[Nintendo Power|Player's Guide]];<ref>Bihldorff, Nate, Jason Leung, and Drew Williams. ''Donkey Kong 64'' Player's Guide. Page 1. "''Cold-blooded reptile K. Rool has once again invaded the DK Isles, but if he thinks he can seize them, he’s a monkey’s uncle. And K. Rool’s definitely not one of those. But Donkey Kong is, and with him and the help of his nephew Diddy, a barrelful of new simian superstars and Nintendo Power’s know-how, you’ll make monkeys out of all the Kremlings. So stop dragging your knuckles and turn the page—it’s time to get down to monkey business.''"</ref> however, the original Japanese version of ''Super Smash Bros.'' does not call him DK's nephew,<ref>「パックにはディディーを始め、ユニークなコングファミリーが控えている。」(''Starting with Diddy of the pack, a unique Kong Kamily awaits.'') - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X08MC9rLiDA&t=2m45s Super Smash Bros. (Japanese) Playthrough Part 1] ''YouTube''. Retrieved December 14, 2014.</ref> [[Leigh Loveday]] himself uses uncertain language,<ref>Rare. [https://web.archive.org/web/20020423180638/http://www.rareware.com/the_site/talk_to_us/scribes/sep16_99/sep16_99.html Scribes - September 16, 1999]. ''Rarewhere''. Retrieved December 14, 2014. "''P.S. Diddy's DK's nephew, I think, and Dixie's Diddy's, er, 'friend'. They're all linked in some bizarre way or another. Anyway, they're probably plotting to get Cranky institutionalised as we speak.''"</ref> and the ''Donkey Kong 64'' instruction booklet only considers him "Donkey's little nephew wannabe."<ref>''Donkey Kong 64'' instruction booklet, page 7.</ref> The [[Prima Games]] guide for the 2003 [[Game Boy Advance]] version of ''Donkey Kong Country'' vaguely refers to them as cousins.<ref>Hodgson, David S. J. ''Donkey Kong Country'' Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Page 12. "''Donkey's massive frame allows him to tear through opponents with greater ease than his shrimpy cousin Diddy; use Donkey to take on bigger foes.''"</ref> Subsequent sources entirely drop the notion of Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong being related, and the usual story returned to them just being close friends.