Professional Documents
Culture Documents
org/wiki/Donkey_Kong
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong (ドンキーコング Donkī Kongu, [doŋ.kiː
Donkey Kong
koŋ.ɡɯ]) is a series of video games featuring the
adventures of an ape-like character called Donkey
Kong, conceived by Shigeru Miyamoto in 1981. e
franchise mainly comprises two different game genres,
plus spin-off titles of various genres.
The most common logo in the franchise
e games of the first genre are mostly single-screen Genres Platformer
platform/action puzzle types, featuring Donkey Kong as Action-adventure
the opponent in an industrial construction seing. Puzzle
Donkey Kong first made his appearance in the 1981
Racing
arcade machine called Donkey Kong, in which he faced
Developer(s) Nintendo
Mario, now Nintendo's flagship character. is game
was also the first appearance of Mario, pre-dating the Ikegami Tsushinki
(1981)
well-known Super Mario Bros. by four years. In 1994,
the series was revived as the Donkey Kong Country Rare (1994–1999)
series, featuring Donkey Kong and his clan as Namco
(2003–2005)
protagonists in their native jungle seing versus a
variety of anthropomorphic enemies, usually against Paon (2005–2007)
the Kremlings, a clan of crocodiles, and their leader Retro Studios
(2010–present)
King K. Rool. ese are side-scrolling platform games.
Titles outside these two genres have included rhythm Publisher(s) Nintendo
games (Donkey Konga), racing games (Diddy Kong Creator(s) Shigeru Miyamoto
Racing), and edutainment (Donkey Kong Jr. Math).
Platforms Arcade, Game &
Watch,
A hallmark of the Donkey Kong franchise is barrels,
Intellivision,
which the Kongs use as weapons, vehicles, furniture,
ColecoVision, Atari
and lodging. e Donkey Kong character is highly 2600, TRS-80
recognizable and very popular; the franchise has sold CoCo, Atari 8-bit
over 40 million units worldwide.[1] Computer,
TI-99/4a, IBM PC
Booter,
Commodore 64,
Contents Commodore
VIC-20, BBC Micro,
Characters
MSX, ZX
Games Spectrum,
Original series Amstrad CPC,
Donkey Kong Country series Atari 7800,
Donkey Kong Land series Nintendo
Donkey Kong 64 Entertainment
System, Famicom
1 of 13 13/07/2018, 00:50
Donkey Kong - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey_Kong
Disk System,
Racing games
Game Boy, Super
Donkey Konga series
Nintendo
Mario vs. Donkey Kong series
Entertainment
DK series
System, Nintendo
Miscellaneous genres 64, Game Boy
Cancelled games Color, Game Boy
Spin-offs Advance,
Crossovers e-Reader,
Other media GameCube,
Television series Nintendo DS, Wii,
Film Nintendo 3DS, Wii
Medal games
U, Nintendo Switch
Platform of origin Arcade
Reception
Critical response Year of inception 1981
Impact and legacy Donkey Kong
First release
References July 9, 1981
External links Latest release Donkey Kong
Country: Tropical
Freeze
May 3, 2018
Characters
Spin-offs Mario
Donkey Kong first appeared in the eponymous arcade
Donkey Kong
game in 1981 as an antagonist. He would become a
Country
protagonist in later games. Donkey Kong Jr. first
Banjo-Kazooie
appeared in the arcade style game Donkey Kong Jr.
Conker
released in 1982. e plot was that Donkey Kong Jr.
Mario vs. Donkey
saves his father, Donkey Kong, from Mario (initially
Kong
known as Jumpman in the Japanese arcade version of
Donkey Kong). Cranky Kong is the original Donkey Kong who has alternately been called
the modern DK's grandfather and father.[2] He is elderly and frequently berates the
younger generation of heroes. Diddy Kong was first introduced in Donkey Kong Country
and is featured in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong est as the main character. Dixie
Kong first appeared in Donkey Kong Country 2 as a sidekick to Diddy Kong and has been
referred to as his girlfriend. She later starred in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Detail of the
Trouble alongside Kiddy Kong. Other notable members of the Kong family include Funky original
Kong, Candy Kong, Wrinkly Kong, Tiny Kong, and Lanky Kong. King K. Rool is the main Donkey Kong
antagonist of the Donkey Kong Country series, though additional villains have appeared as Jr. videogame
well, including Wizpig (Diddy Kong Racing), Ghastly King (Donkey Kong Jungle Beat), the
Tiki Tak Tribe, and the Snowmads.
Characters from the Donkey Kong series have appeared in Nintendo's crossover titles such as the Super Smash Bros.
and the Mario Kart series.
Games
2 of 13 13/07/2018, 00:50
Donkey Kong - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey_Kong
Original series
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong II
Donkey Kong II was developed by Nintendo R&D1 and was released in
1983, as part of the Game & Watch Multi Screen series.
Donkey Kong 3
3 of 13 13/07/2018, 00:50
Donkey Kong - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey_Kong
revolutionary CGI graphics. In Donkey 2014 Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
4 of 13 13/07/2018, 00:50
Donkey Kong - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey_Kong
Kong Country, the original Donkey 2015 Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars
Kong's grandson, also called Donkey
Kong, was the hero and he and his sidekick Diddy Kong had to save his hoard of bananas from the thieving King K.
Rool and his Kremling Krew. e game was an action sidescrolling title similar to the Super Mario games and was
enormously popular for its graphics, music and gameplay. e sequel, Diddy's Kong est (Super Donkey Kong 2 in
Japan) involves DK being kidnapped by K. Rool, who was now a "Kaptain", and geing rescued by Diddy Kong and
his girlfriend Dixie Kong, in a less cheery and a more darkly-themed game. In Dixie Kong's Double Trouble (in Japan,
Super Donkey Kong 3) Donkey and Diddy both get kidnapped by K. Rool, now Baron K. Roolenstein, and Dixie and
her cousin Kiddy Kong have to save them in the final game of the series for the SNES. All three of the Donkey Kong
Country games for the SNES have been made available on the Virtual Console. In addition, Donkey Kong Country
was ported to the Game Boy Color, and the entire Donkey Kong Country trilogy has been ported to the Game Boy
Advance. Tim Stamper stated that an SNES emulator was used to rip the graphics and port it to GBA, and that the
GBA versions were coded from scratch.[5]
Donkey Kong Country Returns was developed for the Wii by Retro Studios and was released in 2010. In this
adventure, Donkey and Diddy Kong must retrieve the Banana Hoard and save the island from the Tiki Tak Tribe
with their leader, Tiki Tong. e 3DS edition of the game was released on May 24, 2013 under the name Donkey
Kong Country Returns 3D with Monster Games as the developer and it includes a secret ninth world, extra items and
new stages. A new title was revealed at E3 2013 and which would be called Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.
e game was released for the Wii U in February 2014. A port for Nintendo Switch was released in May 2018.
Donkey Kong 64
A successful Nintendo 64 sequel to Rare's Donkey Kong Country games was also developed. In Donkey Kong 64, DK
once again has the starring role as he joins forces with the DK crew. e game allows play as DK, Diddy Kong,
Lanky Kong, Tiny Kong and Chunky Kong to save Donkey Kong Island from destruction at the hands of K. Rool
and his Kremling Krew in a fully 3D adventure. It also features multiplayer arena-bale modes. is game features
a unique yellow cartridge and is only playable with the included Expansion Pak.
Racing games
5 of 13 13/07/2018, 00:50
Donkey Kong - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey_Kong
Donkey Konga
The first game in the Donkey Konga series, Donkey Konga, was released
for the GameCube in 2004. Created by Namco, this musical rhythm
action game relied upon use of the DK Bongos accessory (purchasable
separately or included, depending on the package) to hit a beat in time
with the tune. The tunes included pop songs and themes from some
previous Nintendo games. Its sequel, Donkey Konga 2, was released in
2005, and Japan later got Donkey Konga 3 that same year.
DK series
DK King of Swing
DK King of Swing, was a spin-off game developed by Paon that features
gameplay similar to Clu Clu Land. Here, the player must navigate levels
using only the GBA's left and right shoulder buttons.
6 of 13 13/07/2018, 00:50
Donkey Kong - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey_Kong
DK Jungle Climber
DK Jungle Climber was a sequel to the aforementioned game, and
Donkey Kong's first title role on the Nintendo DS. It features improved
visuals, better play control, and dual screen gameplay.
Miscellaneous genres
Cancelled games
7 of 13 13/07/2018, 00:50
Donkey Kong - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey_Kong
Following the sale of Rare to Microsoft in 2002, Rare announced that they
were concentrating their efforts on Xbox games. Although they had
continued to support Nintendo's portable consoles, the Game Boy
Advance and Nintendo DS, the game was cancelled. Rare later reworked
the game into Sabreman Stampede, which incorporated a lot of the same
ideas without the racing aspect, but was also later cancelled.
Spin-offs
Mario franchise
After appearing in the original Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr., Mario
would star in Mario franchise, beginning with the arcade game Mario
Bros. and resulting in the Super Mario series—becoming Nintendo's
mascot in the process. The Super Mario series would have its own spin-
offs, including Mario Kart and Mario Party. Donkey Kong appears as a
playable character in the vast majority of these spin-offs. The roots of the
8 of 13 13/07/2018, 00:50
Donkey Kong - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey_Kong
Conker series
After Conker the Squirrel's appearance in Diddy Kong Racing, he went on
to star in Conker's Pocket Tales, leading to the Conker series. Following
their acquisition of Rare in 2002, Microsoft is the current owner of this
franchise.
Banjo-Kazooie series
After Banjo's appearance in Diddy Kong Racing, he went on to star in
Banjo-Kazooie, leading to the Banjo-Kazooie series. Following their
acquisition of Rare in 2002, Microsoft is the current owner of this
franchise.
Crossovers
9 of 13 13/07/2018, 00:50
Donkey Kong - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey_Kong
Other media
Television series
e Saturday Supercade was the character's first role in a television series. In it, Donkey Kong (voiced by Soupy
Sales) has escaped from the circus and Mario (voiced by Peter Cullen) and Pauline (voiced by Judy Strangis) are
chasing the ape. As with the original game, Donkey Kong will oen grab Pauline, and Mario has to save her.
e Donkey Kong Country television series was developed based on game of the same name. Airing in France in
1997 and in the USA in 1998, the series lasted two seasons with 40 total episodes featuring exclusive characters
including Bluster Kong, Eddie the Mean Old Yeti and Kaptain Scurvy.
Film
e original arcade iteration of Donkey Kong is the main antagonist of the 2015 film Pixels.[6]
A 2007 documentary, King of Kong, was also produced and follows the games highest recorded scores.
Medal games
During the seventh generation of video games, there were two arcade Donkey Kong titles released in Japan. e first
was Donkey Kong Jungle Fever, a medal game released in 2005, and the second was a sequel,[7] Donkey Kong Banana
Kingdom (released on November 16, 2006). Both games were developed by Capcom and published by Nintendo on
the Triforce arcade system board. Neither title has been released outside Japan.
Reception
Critical response
e Donkey Kong series has received mainly positive reviews from critics.
10 of 13 13/07/2018, 00:50
Donkey Kong - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey_Kong
— (SNES)
89% (SNES)[8]
— (GBC)
Donkey Kong Country 90% (GBC)[9]
78%
79% (GBA)[10]
(GBA)[11]
— (SNES)
90% (SNES)[12]
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest 80%
81% (GBA)[13]
(GBA)[14]
— (SNES)
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double 84% (SNES)[15]
77%
Trouble! 75% (GBA)[16]
(GBA)[17]
87% (Wii)[22]
87% (Wii)[20]
Donkey Kong Country Returns 83%
83% (3DS)[21]
(3DS)[23]
Aer the first Donkey Kong was released, Universal Studios sued Nintendo, alleging that the video game was a
trademark infringement of King Kong, the plot and characters of which Universal claimed for their own. In the case,
Universal City Studios, Inc. v. Nintendo Co., Ltd., a United States District Court ruled that Universal had acted in bad
faith, and that it had no right over the name King Kong or the characters and story. e court further held that there
was no possibility for consumers to confuse Nintendo's game and characters with the King Kong films and their
characters. e case was an enormous victory for Nintendo, which was still a newcomer to the U.S. market. e
case established the company as a major player in the industry and arguably gave the company the confidence that
it could compete with the giants of American media.[26]
e success of the Donkey Kong series has resulted in Guinness World Records awarding the series with 7 world
records in the Guinness World Records: Gamer's Edition 2008. e records include: "First Use of Visual Storytelling in
a Video Game" for the rudimentary cut scenes featured in the original Donkey Kong arcade game, and "Most
Collectible Items in a Platform Game" for Donkey Kong 64.
"It's on like Donkey Kong" is an expression used in pop culture that is inspired by the game. Nintendo requested a
trademark on the phrase with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in November 2010.[27][28]
e original game was the focus of the 2007 documentary e King of Kong: A Fistful of arters.
In 2007, the USHRA Monster Jam racing series licensed Donkey Kong's appearance for a monster truck. e truck is
driven by Frank Krmel, and is owned by Feld Motorsports. e truck is decorated to look like the character and has
Donkey Kong's tie on the front. e truck made its debut in the Monster Jam event at the Hubert H. Humphrey
Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota, US on December 8, 2007.[29] It went to the Monster Jam World Finals 9, as
well as World Finals 10, where it was the fastest qualifier.
11 of 13 13/07/2018, 00:50
Donkey Kong - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey_Kong
References
1. [1] (https://web.archive.org/web/20060907213926/http://press.nintendo.com
/object?id=7657)
2. Donkey Kong Country instruction manual
3. Parish.
4. "Obscure Pixels – Nintendo Game&Watch" (http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~pinwhiz
/g&w.htm). Homepages.ihug.co.nz. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
5. "DK Vine: Stamped Out" (http://www.dkvine.com/features/stamped_dkcgba.html).
Dkvine.com. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
6. "Classic video game characters unite via film 'Pixels' " (http://www.philstar.com/movies
/2014/07/23/1349432/classic-video-game-characters-unite-film-pixels). Philstar.com. July
23, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
7. "CAPCOM ARCADE GAME – カプコン アーケードゲーム" (https://web.archive.org
/web/20080408012004/http://www.capcom.co.jp/arcade/m_donkey_2/). Web.archive.org.
8 April 2008. Archived from the original (http://www.capcom.co.jp/arcade/m_donkey_2/) on
8 April 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
8. "Donkey Kong Country Reviews" (http://www.gamerankings.com/snes/588282-donkey-
kong-country/index.html). GameRankings. Archived (https://web.archive.org
/web/20130624175740/http://www.gamerankings.com/snes/588282-donkey-kong-country
/index.html) from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
9. "Donkey Kong Country for Game Boy Color" (http://www.gamerankings.com/gbc/370532-
donkey-kong-country/index.html). GameRankings. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved
31 August 2013.
10. "Donkey Kong Country for Game Boy Advance" (http://www.gamerankings.com
/gba/589452-donkey-kong-country/index.html). GameRankings. IGN Entertainment.
Retrieved 31 August 2013.
11. "Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Advance)" (http://www.metacritic.com/game/game-
boy-advance/donkey-kong-country). Metacritic. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
12. "Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest" (http://www.gamerankings.com
/snes/588283-donkey-kong-country-2-diddys-kong-quest/index.html). GameRankings.
Retrieved 22 September 2009.
13. "Donkey Kong Country 2" (http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/919611-donkey-kong-
country-2/index.html). GameRankings. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
14. "Donkey Kong Country 2" (http://www.metacritic.com/game/game-boy-advance/donkey-
kong-country-2). Metacritic. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
15. "Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble for SNES - GameRankings"
(http://www.gamerankings.com/snes/588284-donkey-kong-country-3-dixie-kongs-double-
trouble/index.html). GameRankings. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
16. "Donkey Kong Country 3 for Game Boy Advance - GameRankings"
(http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/928294-donkey-kong-country-3/index.html).
GameRankings. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
17. "Donkey Kong Country 3" (http://www.metacritic.com/game/game-boy-advance/donkey-
kong-country-3). Metacritic. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
18. "Donkey Kong 64" (http://www.gamerankings.com/n64/191702-donkey-kong-64
/index.html). GameRankings. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
12 of 13 13/07/2018, 00:50
Donkey Kong - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey_Kong
External links
Donkey Kong (http://www.mobygames.com/game/donkey-kong) at MobyGames
Donkey Kong (http://www.classicgaming.cc/classics/donkey-kong) at Classicgaming.cc
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms
may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is
a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
13 of 13 13/07/2018, 00:50