Monkey Museum
- “Look at all this junk in here! Treat my home like a trash can they do! No respect for their elders, that's the trouble...”
- —Cranky Kong, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
The Monkey Museum is a site where Cranky Kong has taken up residence in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest. There is an establishment in every world, including the Lost World but not including The Flying Krock. The Monkey Museum is the successor to Cranky's Cabin from the first Donkey Kong Country.
In the Game Boy Advance remake, Cranky Kong resides in a new location similar to the Monkey Museum, Cranky's Hut. Here, he does not only provide information but also hosts the minigame Expresso Racing.
Overview
Like Cranky's Cabin, the main purpose of the location is for Diddy and Dixie receive tips and advice from Cranky. Most of it reveals Bonus Area entrances amongst other collectibles such as DK Coins. The background music is even based on the original theme for Cranky's Cabin. Cranky does not rant as frequently in Monkey Museum, usually only doing so when the Kongs enter and exit the location.
Monkey Museum can be considered as an enhancement to Cranky's Cabin. Instead of providing random advice regardless of the location, the Kongs select their advice from a dropdown menu, which changes based on the world. The advice covers every level of each world, and is usually priced at one to three Banana Bunch Coins. However, the first one or two options are usually free of charge. The menu options are organized from least to most expensive.
Objects in the Monkey Museum
The Monkey Museum may also double as a typical museum, as it has various artifacts in the background. Most of them were not retained in Cranky's Hut for the Game Boy Advance version.
- Bananas.
- A Rareware symbol.
- A Nintendo logo.
- An oversized Super Nintendo controller. The Japanese and PAL version of Donkey Kong Country 2 have the red, blue, green, and yellow buttons while the North American release has the lavender and purple buttons. This directly reflects on an actual Super Nintendo's differently colored buttons based on region.
- A Killer Instinct arcade cabinet, which appears to be on sale for two dollars.
- A Donkey Kong statue appears above the arcade cabinet.
- A poster of Chief Thunder from Killer Instinct.
- Funky Kong's surfboard from Donkey Kong Country.
- A mounted Kruncha head, which is "on sale" for three dollars. It is based on a typical mounted animal head.
- A motionless Winky figure, shown to be priced at five dollars.
- A Donkey Kong logo.
- A golden Expresso statue.
- A Banana Coin.
- Two Barrels.
- A tipped over Mine Cart.
- Two pirate swords.
- Cartridges which resemble Virtual Boy ones.
Official descriptions
- “Even old Cranky is getting on the entrepreneurial spirit. He's opened up a Monkey Museum where inquisitive monkeys can go to learn about the lore of Crocodile Isle. Prepare to pay to get the best hints.”
- —Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest instruction booklet, page 26
- “The Kong clan's resident curmudgeon returns to dispense his pearls of wisdom to the next generation of video game heroes, whether they like it or not! Cranky gives you scouting reports on the current area, including tips on beating major enemies and finding secret Bonus Areas. Tips can cost up to three Banana Coins, but they're worth it. Of course, wise cracks are always available free of charge.”
- —Donkey Kong Country 2 Nintendo Player's Guide, page 6
- “Even old Cranky is getting on the entrepreneurial spirit. He's opened up a small outlet where you can learn about the "history" and "culture" of Crocodile Isle.”
- —Donkey Kong Country 2 GBA instruction booklet, page 18
Gallery
Background in the North American release.
Background in the PAL release.
Concept of the Monkey Museum, called "Cranky's Mobile Museum"
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | クランキーの小屋 Kurankī no Koya |
Cranky's Cabin |
Trivia
- Cranky occasionally asks the Kongs if they have tried the game "Cranky Kong Country", which he claims was on sale a year ago. In reality, this is directly based on Donkey Kong Country's release a year earlier. Even though he dislikes the game, Cranky takes credit for causing its popularity instead of Donkey Kong. This implies that he might have been jealous of the game. In Donkey Kong Country 3's Game Boy Advance remake, Cranky has a dojo, where he trains himself for the same adventure, Cranky Kong Country, likely hoping for a successful game starring himself.
- Cranky is often seen restraining himself from hitting the Kongs with his walking stick. In Cranky's Cabin, he would whack Donkey Kong and Diddy every couple of seconds. This was most likely changed in response to controversies over child abuse.
