Hand Slap
The Hand Slap, also called Ground Pound[1], is one of Donkey Kong's attacks in the Donkey Kong Country games and the Super Smash Bros. series.
History
Donkey Kong Country series
Donkey Kong Country
In Donkey Kong Country, the Hand Slap is a move that only Donkey Kong can use. The move can defeat most regular enemies, and even reward a free banana. If he uses a Hand Slap in certain areas on the ground or on tree tops, Donkey Kong can unearth a banana bunch or even an Extra Life Balloon. In the Japanese version, Donkey Kong is rewarded a banana bunch for every third enemy that he Hand Slaps, including Krushas (even though it does not defeat them).[2] In the Japanese and Game Boy Advance versions, Donkey Kong can use his Hand Slap to defeat dormant Rock Krocs.
In the Game Boy Color remake, the Hand Slap is required to unearth a Sticker Pad in each level. In the Game Boy Advance remake, some boss arenas have a buried photograph, which Donkey Kong can unearth with his Hand Slap.
Donkey Kong Country Returns
The Hand Slap reappears in Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, though it is performed differently from other games. This time, the Hand Slap is done by shaking the Wii Remote, or pressing the X button on the Nintendo 3DS. It can open Item Containers, crack blocks, push trapdoors, open Rambi's crate, and stun enemies. Hand Slapping is also possible when clinging onto grass ceilings and walls. While mounted, Rambi can also use this move; he instead stomps the ground with his front two feet.
In Multiplayer mode, Diddy Kong can perform his own variation, Popgun Pound, a move which he can additionally use to stun or distract enemies from afar.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
The Hand Slap reappears in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze with the same role as in Donkey Kong Country Returns. This time, Dixie Kong and Cranky Kong can also perform the move. Dixie's version involves her pounding the ground with her ponytail and Cranky with his cane. Unlike the other Kongs, Dixie's Hand Slap covers both sides.
Super Smash Bros. series
Hand Slap is Donkey Kong's down special move throughout the Super Smash Bros. series, starting with the first Super Smash Bros. game. It is executed by pressing the special move button while pressing the Control Stick or Circle Pad down.
By performing the move, Donkey Kong rapidly slaps the ground, generating a small shockwave around him. This causes nearby opponents to get knocked upward and be damaged. The attack is very useful in the Multi-Man modes when Donkey Kong is surrounded by opponents, letting him launch all of them away, but it has no effect against aerial targets. The attack does takes a while to use, but once used, all the player must do is hold the Control Stick or Circle Pad down and continuously tap the special move button. Donkey Kong will keep using the attack until the special move button stops being tapped, or Donkey Kong is hit by an opponent. Until Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Donkey Kong could not execute the move in mid-air. Though the move isn't as useful in the air, it can still serve as a meteor smash. Additionally, the move can now break shields quite effectively, being able to break a full shield in 3 hits.
The Hand Slap has set knockback in Super Smash Bros. Melee, although in subsequent Super Smash Bros. installments, it can send opponents with low damage high into the air, but the Hand Slap's low knockback scaling at higher percentages prevents it from being effective at KOing an opponent.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U also introduces two custom variants of Hand Slap:
- Focused Slap sacrifices attack range, but the shockwaves can stun and deal greater damage to opponents who are hit.
- Hot Slap creates a series of flame pillars in front of Donkey Kong, which can damage even airborne targets, but it has less range, and does not cover Donkey Kong's back. The attack deals more damage and knockback, and sends opponents flying sideways instead of upwards.
Gallery
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ハンドスラップ Hando Surappu |
Hand Slap |
References
- ^ Donkey Kong Country Returns instruction manual, page 5
- ^ DKC Atlas thread
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