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Donkey Kong 64

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Donkey Kong 64
Donkey Kong 64 game cover
Developer(s)Rare
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Platform(s)Nintendo 64, Wii Virtual Console
ReleaseVereinigte Staaten October 31, 1999
European Union December 6, 1999
Japan December 10, 1999
Genre(s)3D Platform game
Mode(s)Single player, 2-4 Multiplayer

Donkey Kong 64, often abbreviated DK 64, is a 3D platformer video game developed by Rare for the Nintendo 64. It was published by Nintendo and first released on October 31, 1999. The game requires the use of the Expansion Pak in order to function, and was the first Nintendo 64 game to do so. The initial release of Donkey Kong 64 included the Expansion Pak with the game for free. Donkey Kong 64 would later become a Nintendo 64 Player's Choice. The game is a follow up to the Donkey Kong Country, or Super Donkey Kong as it's known in Japan, trilogy on the SNES/Super Famicom.

The game's working titles were Super Donkey Kong 64 (for the Japanese version) and Donkey Kong Country 64 (for the North American and PAL European versions).

Gameplay

A single player adventure mode and a multiplayer mode are both available.

Single-player (Adventure)

The game is a 3D adventure with strong platforming links, similar to that of ''Super Mario 64. Much of the gameplay involves collecting various items, such as coins, bananas, weapons, keys, fruits, and more. IGN described it as the most "collecting-ist" game ever. Thematically, Donkey Kong 64 is most like the original Donkey Kong Country, with the pirate and sci-fi settings and themes of the second and third games being largely omitted.

Unusual for its genre is the ability to buy and upgrade weapons for each character featured in this game. Players are able to fire both regular and homing ammo, and can throw orange grenades. These weapons are useful for defeating enemies and helping to solve certain puzzles, usually involving switches.

There are two unlockable mini-games - the Rambi Arena and the Enguarde Arena. There are also two unlockable arcade games - the original Donkey Kong and Jetpac. Completing Donkey Kong earns a silver coin with the N64 symbol, and beating Jetpac earns a silver coin with the Rareware symbol. Both coins are needed to complete the game.

Multiplayer (Kong Battle)

This can be played by up to 4 players at one time. It features 3 arenas (and one special one) and 6 gameplay modes. The 5 playable characters from the single-player adventure are also used in the multi-player mode, along with one secret character, Krusha.

Game Modes

  • Survival: Each player has a set amount of lives. Play continues until all players but one have been eliminated.
  • Coin Hoard: Each player must collect coins from set locations. The player with the most coins at the end of the time limit wins.
  • Wins: Similar to Survival, except that winning is based upon scoring a set amount of kills.
  • Timer: Similar to Wins, except instead of a set amount of kills, a time limit is placed. The player with the most kills by the end of the match wins.
  • Capture: A single coin is placed in the middle of the arena. The player who holds onto the coin the longest wins.
  • Capture Pads: Players must carry the coin over pads to gain points.

Plot

Template:Spoiler The game takes place after the events of the Donkey Kong Country series, however, aside from a few characters and many self-referential jokes (as is typical of Rareware), it has little to do with story found in those games. King K. Rool (pronounced "cruel") is trying to destroy the Donkey Kong Island with a large laser called the Blast-O-Matic, but it's malfunctioning. To buy some time, he captures a handful of Kongs and locks them up, and steals Donkey Kong's hoard of Golden Bananas. As Donkey Kong frees his fellow apes, they set off to recover the Bananas and eventually defeat K. Rool, saving Donkey Kong Island.

Characters

Playable Characters

File:DonkeyKong64ConceptArt.jpg
Promotional art for Donkey Kong 64 that illustrates the game's protagonists.

The following are the five non-human primate members of the so-called "D.K. Crew":

An ape who is the titular character of the game, recognized by his red necktie and ability to talk like humans. Your average all-around character. His weapon is the Coconut Shooter, and his instrument is the Bongos. He collects yellow bananas in the 8 levels.
Donkey Kong's nephew. A monkey who wears a red hat and is very energetic. He can jump farther than Donkey Kong, and is armed with a jetpack, but he is lacking in the strength department. His weapon is the Peanut Popgun, and his instrument is the Guitar. He collects red bananas in the 8 levels.
A tailless monkey or chimpanzee who is the younger sister of Dixie Kong (DKC3). Her two ponytails allow her to float for a little while, much like Dixie Kong (who has one long ponytail), and she can shrink in size to fit into places the other Kongs can't reach. Her weapon is the Feather Crossbow, and her instrument is the Saxophone. She collects violet bananas in the 8 levels.
A newcomer in the Donkey Kong series. An orangutan whose long arms allow him to handstand. He can also inflate himself to allow himself to float. His weapon is the Grape Shooter, and his instrument is the Trombone. He collects blue bananas in the 8 levels.
A strong, yet cowardly, gorilla who is the older brother of Kiddy Kong. The juggernaut of the Kong family, he is the strongest out of all the Kongs and can lift heavy objects, but he is slow and can't jump high. His weapon is the Pineapple Bazooka, and his instrument is the Triangle. He collects green bananas in the 8 level.
A powerful rhinoceros. Donkey Kong can transform into him with a Rambi box.
A swift swordfish that Lanky can turn into with an Enguarde (derived from the French "en guarde") box.
  • Krusha is playable in Multiplayer mode after a certain amount of banana fairies were returned.

Non-playable characters

Cranky is DK's father or grandfather (in this game, he refers to himself as DK's father). He aids the playable characters by allowing them to purchase potions, which give them necessary abilities.
Funky is the large ape with a hat and vest. He provides the playable Kongs firepower in the form of guns which shoot various types of jungle-related items.
Candy is DK's main love interest. She provides the playable Kongs with surprisingly destructive musical instruments, and also expands their collective life meter at specified points throughout the game.
King K. Rool is DK's arch-nemesis. He plans to destroy DK Island with his new invention, the Blast-O-Matic.
  • K. Lumsy
K. Lumsy was captured and imprisoned by K. Rool after disobeying his order to smash the DK isles. K. Rool has ordered K. Lumsy to stay in his large and heavily locked cage until he decides to shape up and get smashing. Along the way, DK and his pals will run into him and help set him free.
Wrinkly is Cranky's wife and DK's mother or grandmother. Wrinkly dies in the time between Donkey Kong Land 3 and Donkey Kong 64. In the latter game, she gives the Kongs hints about various level objectives.
  • Scoff n' Troff
Two creatures who are always hungry. Scoff is a hippo, and Troff is a pig. One of them has eaten too mcuh, and has bulked up beyond measure. The other wants to be as fat as the one that currently is, so he asks that you feed him. Feeding him enough bannanas will cause him to grow twice as fat as the other, after which he uses him mighty girth to boost the other one to a key for you. Their goal is to get as fat as they can, and they grow bigger in each new world.
  • Snide
Snide is a weasel who once worked as an engineer for King K. Rool until he got the boot from his boss. Snide has now decided to help the Kong family in their quest. Throughout the game, you can visit Snide's hideout and bring pieces of a blueprint of K. Rool's blast-o-matic. Once all of the pieces are in, you'll be rewarded.

Levels

Donkey Kong exploring the level Jungle Japes.

Donkey Kong 64 contains 8 levels in addition to an overworld and the final boss arena. The levels are as follows:

  • DK Isles (the overworld): The Kongs' home island in the shape of Donkey Kong's head and K. Rool's opposing ship in the shape of a giant Kremling.
  • Jungle Japes (level 1): A classic mountainous jungle scene reminiscent of early Donkey Kong Country levels.
  • Angry Aztec (level 2): A desert based area modeled after ancient central America, complete with accessible temples, sandstorms, quicksand, etc.
  • Frantic Factory (level 3): A rogue toy robot factory, complete with production and R&D rooms.
  • Gloomy Galleon (level 4): A water based cove area featuring K. Rool's sunken navy from earlier DK games with a mild pirate theme with both underwater and cave-like areas.
  • Fungi Forest (level 5): A large toadstool based world where the player must use the strategy of switching between day and night to access different parts of the level.
  • Crystal Caves (level 6): Underground ice caves complete with waterfalls and glistening crystal formations.
  • Creepy Castle (level 7): A haunted spire-like castle, complete with a museum, ballroom, crypts, and much more.
  • Hideout Helm (level 8): The final arena where K. Rool's Blast-o-Matic laser is powering up.
  • The Flying Kroc (final boss arena): After K. Rool's airship is downed by K. Lumsy, the roof opened to allow the Kongs inside for the final battle.

The overworld contains four Banana Fairies, two Battle Crowns, five Golden Bananas to collect for each of the 5 protagonists and secret Golden Banana with Rareware logo (regular ones have a N64 logo on them). Each other level contains 5 golden bananas and 100 regular bananas to collect for each Kong (excluding Hideout Helm, there's no bananas), one Battle Crown and two Banana Fairies.

Bosses

  • Army Dillo (armadillo with rocket-mounted armor): Jungle Japes and Crystal Caves
  • Dogadon (dragon-like bug): Angry Aztec and Fungi Forest
  • Mad Jack (duck-like crocodile in a box) : Frantic Factory (Quack in the Box in Prima's guide)
  • Puftoss (a pufffish): Gloomy Galleon (Blowfish Baddie in Prima's guide)
  • King Kut Out (a paper version of King K. Rool): Creepy Castle (Kardboard K. Rool in Prima's guide)
  • King K. Rool (a large green crocodile with a red eye): The Flying Kroc (final boss)

In fact, Mad Jack was never in the original game as he is, he actually was just called "Junk in the box" at a showdown in the R&D room. It was played similar as "Army Dillo" he would throw pellets of fire around at you and you had to throw a TNT barrel at him when he laughs. Picture: [1]

Mysteries

  • Donkey Kong 64 has several seemingly pointless features, which sparked rumors of secret extra modes when it came out. The most famous is a useless monkeyport linking to a pillar (Which was actually used to get Diddy's Blueprint in that level), but there are also unopenable doors and out-of-place pictures. Typically, Rareware have refused to comment, but they have a history of putting in these features to amuse and intrigue the gamer, for instance the cheese in Perfect Dark.
  • Many players believed there was a secret Lost World stage in Donkey Kong 64 called "The Great Girder Grapple", since one was featured in Donkey Kong Country 2, Donkey Kong Land 2, Donkey Kong Country 3, and Donkey Kong Land 3. By now it is clear that no such stage exists. There is however, a glitch which allows you to get underneath DK island, upon getting under it, theres a computer room similar to the one the Kremlings control in Hideout Helm. To find out how to perform this glitch, go to the DK64 section labeled Glitch FAQ at GameFAQs.com. [2]
  • Some claimed the Kritter enemy was actually Krunch from Diddy Kong Racing. Although they both look identical (both wear a Skull biker jacket), the two are not related.
  • Like Kritter, the Kasplat enemy was also believed to be Krusha from Donkey Kong Country. This is untrue since a real Krusha makes an appearance as an unlockable playable character in Multiplayer mode. This theory was most likely fueled by a mistake made in Prima's Donkey Kong 64 Strategy guides, where Kasplat was mistaken for Krusha.
  • Donkey Kong's treehouse was supposed to have a shower with Banjo-Kazooie on it. The shower was removed before the game was released.
  • In one multiplayer level, there are secret rooms acessed by running though walls, enabling the player to fire essentially undiscovered.
  • More or less trivia than a mystery, however, in Donkey Kong's room, there is a picture of a Dolphin on his wall. This was a joke towards Nintendo's old codename for the Gamecube the Dolphin.

DK Rap

Unlike most Nintendo 64 games, the intro movie to the game featured a full-length song with vocals. This song, the "DK Rap", has become infamous among fans, equally loved and hated for its unabashedly campy quality and its recurrence. It describes the "DK Crew", or characters associated with Donkey Kong, with one member per verse: Donkey Kong with his coconut gun, the quicker female Tiny Kong, the handstanding Lanky Kong, Diddy Kong, and Chunky Kong.

"DK Rap" was the first-ever incidence of the word "hell" being spoken aloud in a Nintendo game. It ought to be pointed out that Rare is a British company, and in Britain the word "hell" is not viewed with anything like the opprobrium it is in the US.

"DK Rap" was also used in Donkey Konga and as the background music for the Kongo Jungle stage in Super Smash Bros. Melee, a video game for the GameCube. The song is performed by James W. Norwood Jr., who used several different voices and effects for the remix in Super Smash Bros. Melee, but used the same voice for the original Donkey Kong 64 version. Ironically, DK 64 is an E-rated game, and Super Smash Bros. Melee is a T-rated game, and yet, "hell" is used in DK 64, not Super Smash Bros. Melee or Donkey Konga (In SSBM and Donkey Konga, the word "hell" was replaced with "heck").

A sample verse: 

Huh!
DK, Donkey Kong!
 
He's the leader of the bunch you know him well,
He's finally back to kick some tail,
His coconut gun can fire in spurts.
If he shoots ya, it's gonna hurt!
He's bigger, faster and stronger too,
He's the first member of the DK crew!
  • The line "His coconut gun can fire in spurts. If he shoots ya, it's gonna hurt!" was named the fourth worst game line ever in the January 2002 issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly.

Sequels

Rareware was purchased by Microsoft in 2002, meaning they can no longer develop original games with the Donkey Kong franchise for the home video game consoles (they can still develop games for the handheld). Following this, the franchise branched off in multiple directions.

  • Nintendo teamed up with Namco to make the musical drumming games Donkey Konga, Donkey Konga 2, and Donkey Konga 3 for the GameCube.
  • Using the DK Bongos created for Donkey Konga, Nintendo's own NCL team created the GameCube's Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, a more Japanese take on the Donkey Kong Country series. It had no elements from the DKC trilogy, Donkey Kong was the only character from those games to appear. Donkey Kong Jungle Beat was released in 2005.
  • Japanese developer PAON created DK King of Swing for the Game Boy Advance, a more direct storyline sequel to Donkey Kong 64 and the titles that came before it. Instead of being a platformer, King of Swing involved jumping and swinging across hooks to advance through stages. King of Swing was released in 2005.

The Creators

  • Development Team: George Andreas, Simon Craddick, Eveline Fischer, Matthew Grover, Brendan Gunn, Robert Harrison, Steven Horsburgh, Grant Kirkhope, Chris Peil, Neil Pryce, Mark Stevenson, Carl Tilley, Richard Vaucher, Andrew Wilson, Richard Wilson, Chris Woods
  • Support Team: Kevin Bayliss, Robin Beanland, Edward Bryan, Johnni Christensen, Alistair Lindsay, Gregg Mayles, Steve Mayles, Don Murphy, Chris Seavor, Chris Sutherland, Chris Stamper, Tim Stamper
  • Rare Testing: Ross Bullimore, Matthew Carter, Leonard Godfrey, Dale Murchie, Adam Munton, Luke Munton, Gary Phelps, Gavin Price, John Silke, Gareth Stevenson, Huw Ward, David Wong
  • NOA Testing: Charlie Burgin, Tim Casey, Marc Doyal, Arnold Myers II, Chris Needham, Percy Taylor
  • Special Thanks: Hiroshi Yamauchi, Shigeru Miyamoto, Howard Lincoln, Minoru Arakawa, Mike Fukuda, Gail Tilden, Michael Kelbaugh, Ken Lobb, Armond Williams, Kenji Miki, Keisuke Terasaki, Masashi Goto

Reaction

Donkey Kong 64 was released to generally positive reviews. Review scores range from 70% to a perfect 100% with an average of 88% on Game Rankings. The most commonly cited problem for the game was that it was a "collection-fest"[3]

Awards

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