Donkey Kong Country (series): Difference between revisions

|image=[[File:DKCLogo.png|250px]]<br>The logo used for the original three installments in the series.<br>[[File:Logo_DKC23.png|250px]]<br>The logo used for ''Donkey Kong Country Returns''<br>[[File:DKClogo3.png|250px]]<br>The logo used for ''Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze''

|number=11 (5 main, 5 remakes, 1 canceled)

|parent=''[[Donkey Kong (franchise)|Donkey Kong]]''

The '''''Donkey Kong Country''''' series is a video game series of the [[Donkey Kong (franchise)|''Donkey Kong'' franchise]]. Although it usually stars [[Donkey Kong]] and his sidekick, [[Diddy Kong]], Donkey Kong also ends up kidnapped in several games. The series is a platformering series. The series was started and produced by [[Rare Ltd.|Rare]], until they were bought by Microsoft. Remakes are included in the [[Game Boy Color]], [[Game Boy Advance]], and [[Nintendo 3DS]] handhelds. The series was later revived by [[Retro Studios]] and their 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)|''Donkey Kong Land'' series]].

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|style="text-align:center"|[[File:DKC2.jpg|145x145px]]<span style="font-size:8pt"><br>{{release|USA|November 20, 1995}}[[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]]</span>

||''Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze'' is a game developed by Retro Studios for the [[Wii U]], released in 2014. Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong reappear, and Dixie Kong, and Cranky Kong are playable characters with a similar role to Diddy Kong in ''Donkey Kong Country Returns''. [[Funky Kong]] also makes an appearance as the shopkeeper. The game's antagonists, the [[Snowmad]]s, freeze [[Donkey Kong Island]]. During the game, the Kongs try to defeat the Snowmads to restore the island back to its initial state.

===Remakes and ports===

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!colspan="2"style="font-size:125%;text-align:left"|''Donkey Kong Country'' (Game Boy Color)

|''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'' was ported to the [[Game Boy Color]] in 2000. Several significant differences were made such as having only one Kong appear at a time, extended and exclusive levels, new minigames, and more. This was the only game in the series to be ported to the Game Boy Color.

!colspan="2"style="font-size:125%;text-align:left"|''Donkey Kong Country'' (Game Boy Advance)

!colspan="2"style="font-size:125%;text-align:left"|''Donkey Kong Country 2''

|''[[Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest]]'' was remade for the Game Boy Advance in 2004 in the same way as the previous game. The title was shortened to ''Donkey Kong Country 2'', and features significant changes such as a [[Kerozene|new boss]], graphical makeovers, more [[DK Coin]]s to collect, and altered and replaced levels.

!colspan="2"style="font-size:125%;text-align:left"|''Donkey Kong Country 3''

|''[[Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!]]'' was remade for the Game Boy Advance in 2005. Like the previous remakes, major changes has been added. These changes include graphical makeovers, exclusive boss fights, a new soundtrack, and new and different methods of trading items and new areas, including the new world [[Pacifica]].

!colspan="2"style="font-size:125%;text-align:left"|''Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D''

|''Donkey Kong Country Returns'' was ported to the [[Nintendo 3DS]] in 2013, titled ''[[Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D]]''. The remake has additional new content. This includes New Mode (which includes additional items in [[Cranky Kong's Shop]] and a third heart added to the life meter), and a new world called [[Cloud (world)|Cloud]], which features additional levels that are not present in the Wii game.

!colspan="2"style="font-size:125%;text-align:left"|''Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze''

|''Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze'' was [[Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Nintendo Switch)|ported]] to the [[Nintendo Switch]] in 2018, adding a new easier mode where [[Funky Kong]] is playable for the first time in the series.

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|[[File:Dk64.jpg|145x145px]]<span style="font-size:8pt"><br>{{release|USA|November 22, 1999}}[[Nintendo 64]]</span>

The ''Donkey Kong Country'' games are divided into worlds, all containing a variable number of levels, friendly [[Kongs]] who provide services such as saving, tips and minigames, and a boss battle that marks the end of the world. Worlds tend to be linear, although ''Donkey Kong Country 3''{{'}}s map allows for a limited degree of exploration.

In a certain level, vehicles are used. In all games in the series, the player can ride on [[Mine Cart]]s, [[Roller Coaster]]s, or [[Toboggan]]s. These automatically move through a stage and depending on the game and level the player can either jump out of the vehicle or make the vehicle jump. Toboggans can also jump on [[Buzz (enemy)|Buzz]]es and latch onto railings. In ''Donkey Kong Country Returns'', Mine Cart which the player can only jump out of having crystals in them. In ''Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze'', the player can switch tracks in a third-person view in the level ''[[High Tide Ride]]''. In ''Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble'', a [[Rocket Barrel]] appears in the level [[Rocket Rush (level)|Rocket Rush]]. The player controls the Rocket Barrel by moving left and right and exhausting fuel, which they can restore with [[Fuel Barrel]]s. The Rocket Barrel goes upward at the end of the level. Depending on the version of the game the Rocket Barrel can defeat different types of Buzzes. Rocket Barrels reappear in ''Donkey Kong Country Returns'' and ''Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze'', where they automatically move right, do not use fuel and can be moved up or down. At a certain level in ''Donkey Kong Country Returns'', Rocket Barrels automatically move up and can be moved left and right. In ''Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze'', the [[Log Canoe]] appears which automatically moves right, can jump, and can sink into the water after jumping. The player can defeat enemies while jumping using the Log Canoe.

The ''Donkey Kong Country'' series features an emphasis on item collection and exploration. Four [[KONG Letters]] appear in each stage giving the player an extra life if they collect all four. The original ''Donkey Kong Country'' encourages players to find all of the game's hidden [[Bonus Area]]s, with [[Completion|100% completion]] slightly changing the dialogue in the ending sequence.  Bonus Areas are found usually by breaking a wall or going inside a hidden [[Barrel Cannon]]. Each Bonus Area contains a room with a minigame or platforming room. ''Donkey Kong Country 2'' added [[Kremkoin]]s which are rewards for beating each Bonus Room's objective, and [[DK Coin]]s which are hidden in each level and are rewards for the Bonus Rooms in the [[Lost World]], which is a new post-completion world with a final boss battle, which can only be accessed by finding and successfully completing the game's bonus areas. ''Donkey Kong Country 3'' features a similar hidden world and again expands the mechanic by featuring another item collection sidequest that extends beyond the game's bonus world. The games developed by Retro Studios include [[Puzzle Piece (Donkey Kong Country series)|Puzzle Piece]]s, which replace Kremkoins as the reward for beating Bonus Rooms, and also are collectibles in the main parts of stages. They give access to pictures. In these games, KONG Letters give access to secret levels once all KONG Letters in a world are completed.

The first ''Donkey Kong Country'' is famed for its usage of pre-rendered 3D sprites, which were rendered on then-cutting edge [[wikipedia:Silicon Graphics|Silicon Graphics]] workstation. Although not the first game to use these graphics (the Sharp X68000 version of ''{{wp|Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished|Ys}}'' and ''[[wikipedia:Viewpoint (video game)|Viewpoint]]'' feature similar pre-rendered sprites, and predate ''Donkey Kong Country'' by several years), ''Donkey Kong Country'' was the first mainstream game to be extensively marketed around its pre-rendered graphics, with commercials for the game playing up that the SNES was able to output a game of its visual fidelity without needing expensive add-ons<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM5rYucoQRU Donkey Kong Country commercial]. Retrieved November 05, 2015.</ref>, mocking the [[wikipedia:Sega Genesis|Sega Genesis]].

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|[[Donkey Kong]] is the main star and hero 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 the ''Donkey Kong Country'' games. He is the more powerful, but slower of the two apes that the player controls 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 and plays the part of a hostage. In the latest game in the series, ''[[Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze]]'', Donkey Kong and his friends are kicked off [[Donkey Kong Island]] by a gang of Vikings.

|[[Cranky Kong]] appears in most ''Donkey Kong Country'' games, where he occasionally played some roles. He is the original Donkey Kong that attacked [[Mario]], and is said to be the current Donkey Kong's grandfather. He usually gives advice to the monkeys and helps them on their quest, and serves as an element of comic relief with his jokes and sarcasm. However, he plays a very minor role in ''Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!''. In the Game Boy Advance remake, he plays a slightly larger role by owning [[Cranky's Dojo]]. He runs [[Cranky Kong's Shop|a shop]] in ''Donkey Kong Country Returns'', and is playable in ''Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze''.

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|[[King K. Rool]] is the primary antagonist of the ''Donkey Kong Country'' series. He usually steals something belonging to the Kongs in the games, such as Donkey Kong's [[banana hoard]] or even Donkey Kong himself, but always gets thwarted by the Kongs. In each game of the ''Donkey Kong Country'' series where he appears in, he goes by a different alias, such as Kaptain K. Rool in ''Donkey Kong Country 2'' and Baron K. Roolenstein in ''Donkey Kong Country 3''. Although he is the primary antagonist of the ''Donkey Kong Country'' series, he and his Kremling Krew have not appeared since ''Donkey Kong Country 3''.  

[[File:SnowmadLeader.jpg|145x145px]]

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|[[Funky Kong]] appears in all ''Donkey Kong Country'' games that were released so far, except for ''Donkey Kong Country Returns''. He helps the apes by providing them with mechanical services, such as lending them the [[Jumbo Barrel]], which enables the monkeys to travel in islands where they already cleared; later games where the vehicles he lends have a similar function. He also hosts minigames that promise certain rewards if cleared, such as [[Funky's Fishing]].

|[[Candy Kong]] first appears in ''Donkey Kong Country'', where she helps the apes save by managing [[Candy's Save Point]]. In the remakes of ''Donkey Kong Country'', she runs several minigames, such as [[Candy's Dance Studio]]. She does not have any other major role later in the series, partly because her role of saving the game progress is later occupied by Wrinkly Kong, although she does make cameos in several minigames in the remakes.

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|[[Expresso]] appears in ''Donkey Kong Country'' and the Game Boy Advance remake of ''Donkey Kong Country 2''. In ''Donkey Kong Country'' he can be ridden where he runs at fast speeds while allowing the player to slightly hop in the air while subsequently gliding through the air by flapping his wings. In the Game Boy Advance remake of ''Donkey Kong Country 2,'' he appears in the [[Expresso Racing]] minigame where Expresso races against other similar-looking ostriches in race tracks. In this minigame, the player can use [[Golden Feather]]s to increase Expresso's stats.

|[[Nibbla]]s are enemies that appear in ''Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!''. A certain Nibbla that acts like an Animal Friend appears in the level [[Fish Food Frenzy]] where where it follows the player(s) through the level and will bite the player(s) if it is red from not being feed [[Koco]]s in a certain amount of time or is feed [[Lurchin]]s which make it turn red faster.

|[[Rambi]] appears in all of the ''Donkey Kong Country'' games except for ''Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!''. In ''Donkey Kong Country'', he can defeat enemies and destroy certain walls by running into them. In ''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest'', he can still defeat enemies by by running into them although he now can only destroy certain walls by using his Super Move Supercharge where he runs forward until he hits an unbreakable wall, and he can also jump on certain enemies that usually cannot be jumped on such as Zingers. In ''Donkey Kong Country Returns'' and ''Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze'', he can charge forward to defeat enemies while being able to destroy spikes and blocks with his emblem and he can use Diddy Kong's Jetbarrel. In ''Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze'', he can also use Dixie Kong's Helicopter Spin and Cranky Kong's Cane Bounce and in the game's Nintendo Switch port, he is also able to use Funky Kong's [[Double Jump (airborne)|Double Jump]].

|[[Winky]] mainly appears in ''Donkey Kong Country'', makes cameos in ''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest'' and is mentioned in ''Donkey Kong 64''{{'}}s manual. In ''Donkey Kong Country''  he can jump high and can also jump on Zingers. In ''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest'', a figurine of Winky is seen in the [[Monkey Museum]] where it is priced at five dollars. This cameo is removed in [[Cranky's Hut]] in the game's Game Boy Advance remake where a small Winky is instead seen hopping around in a cage. Winky is mentioned in the game's SNES manual.

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|The [[Kremling Krew]], led by King K. Rool, is the main antagonist organization of the [[Kong Family]]. They are mostly made up of [[Kremling]]s with different colors, sizes, shapes, and traits, and many make their appearance as enemies throughout the many levels of the series. They also are the primary cause of the [[Kong Family]] members getting kidnapped throughout the games, including Donkey Kong. King K. Rool and his aliases are often the final boss faced in the games, excluding ''Donkey Kong Country Returns'' and ''Tropical Freeze''.

|The [[Tiki Tak Tribe]] is the main organization of enemies in ''Donkey Kong Country Returns''. They resemble wooden masks or musical instruments, many having adornment feathers, and are references to real-life [[wikipedia:Tiki|Tikis]]. Their leader is [[Tiki Tong]]. Some Tikis have hypnotizing abilities, and these serve as the cause of the boss battles, hypnotizing creatures into fighting against Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong. Minor Tikis are found as regular enemies throughout the levels; most of them are drum-shaped.

|[[Snowmad]]s are Viking-like animals who are the main antagonists of the [[Wii U]] title ''[[Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze]]''. Their leader is [[Lord Fredrik]]. According to the game's story, Donkey Kong and his friends have been kicked off [[Donkey Kong Island]] by the Snowmads, and they must trek their way through five other islands to claim back what's rightfully theirs. Snowmad enemies of the game consist of a variety of creatures, such as walruses, penguins, owls, and polar bears. Many of the bosses faced throughout the game are also themed around the Viking stereotype.

[[File:DKJungleMTO.jpg|thumb|150px|left|DK Jungle in ''Mario Tennis Open'']]

In the ''[[Mario Tennis (series)|Mario Tennis]]'' series, several courts based off the ''Donkey Kong Country'' games appeared. In ''[[Mario Tennis (Nintendo 64)|Mario Tennis]]'', the [[Donkey Kong Court]] appears which is set in a jungle with barrels in the background. In ''[[Mario Tennis (Game Boy Color)|Mario Tennis]]'' for the Game Boy Color, the [[Jungle Court]] appears. In ''[[Mario Power Tennis]]'', the [[DK Jungle Court]] appears which contains Klaptraps and Kritters. In ''[[Mario Tennis Open]]'', the [[DK Jungle (Mario Tennis Open)|DK Jungle]] appears. This court takes place in a jungle, and the banana hoard and [[DK's Tree House]] appear in the background. The court's music is a remix of [[DK Island Swing]].

[[File:MK8-Course-3DS DKJungle.png|right|thumb|150px|The DK Jungle track in ''Mario Kart 8'']]

[[File:SSBU Kongo Jungle Melee.jpg|150px|left|thumb|Kongo Falls in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'']]

Several stages based on the series appear in the [[Super Smash Bros. (series)|Super Smash Bros.]] series. In ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'', ''[[Super Smash Bros Melee]]'', ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'', and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', the stage [[Kongo Jungle (Super Smash Bros.)|Kongo Jungle]] appears. This stage takes place in a jungle from ''Donkey Kong Country'', and has a [[Barrel Cannon]] under the stage. In ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', ''[[Super Smash Bros Brawl]]'', ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'', and ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'', the stage [[Jungle Japes (stage)|Jungle Japes]] appears where Cranky Kong can be seen in the background and Klaptraps are stage hazards. In ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' and ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'', the stage [[Kongo Falls]] appears. This stage contains Klaptraps, a Barrel Cannon. DK's Tree House can be seen in the background. Several themes and characters from the ''Donkey Kong Country'' series appear in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series a piece of music or [[Trophy (Super Smash Bros. series)|Trophies]]. In ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U,'' the stage [[Jungle Hijinxs (stage)|Jungle Hijinks]] appears which is based on the level with the same name in ''Donkey Kong Country Returns''. On the stage, the player can travel between the foreground and background layer with Barrels Cannons. [[Screaming Pillar]]s appear on this stage.

{{DKGames}}