Blubbo
|
It has been suggested that this article be moved to Whale (Donkey Kong Country series). Reason: "Blubbo" is indirect and evidently not used in release material (discuss) |
The title of this article is from an official source, but is based on development data such as an internal filename.
If an acceptable public name is found, then the article should be moved to the new title.
| Blubbo | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 A whale in Donkey Kong Country Returns | |||
| First appearance | Donkey Kong Country Returns (2010) | ||
| Latest appearance | Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (2025) | ||
| |||
Blubbos,[1] also referred to as whales,[2][3] are friendly cachalots first appearing in Donkey Kong Country Returns. In that game, they appear to help the Kongs in the Beach world.
History[edit]
Donkey Kong Country Returns (3D / HD)[edit]
The whale first appears in Donkey Kong Country Returns, as well as the game's Nintendo 3DS port and Nintendo Switch port. It debuts in the level Poppin' Planks with a minor background role; the Kongs can summon it by pounding a DK Platform next to a wavy bridge, whereupon it will blow off a large quantity of collectable bananas above this bridge.
The whale gains a more prominent role in Blowhole Bound. Encountered early in the level, the whale is initially stuck because the large anchor from the wreckage of the Scurvy Crew's ship is lodged into its blowhole; the Kongs must mount the whale and pound the surface next to the anchor to force a strong burst of water, pushing the anchor away. Freed, the whale proceeds to swim ahead with the Kongs on its flat back. This provides the player characters with a relatively limited area of movement, where they must avoid Snippys climbing from the water and Squidlys flying in from the opposite direction. The whale often swims under clusters of collectibles, such as bananas and Banana Coins. The Kongs can once again pound near the blowhole to release a stream of water that can lift them to higher items; this can be employed to easily obtain the N and G Letters as well as one Puzzle Piece. The whale can swim erratically, often tilting backward or forward, rendering its back more difficult to walk on. The camera locks on the whale around the level as the Kongs ride on it, but the Kongs can jump forward to platforms that are momentarily off-screen to advance faster through the stage, with the camera following them as usual upon landing.
In the first half of the level, the whale travels straight to an island that houses the level's checkpoint. Upon reaching the island, it submerges itself completely and moves onward, prompting the Kongs to jump off. The whale awaits them at the other side of the island and continues swimming when mounted, rampaging through a series of shipwreck fragments which the Kongs must quickly traverse before the whale sinks them completely. Finally, the whale raises the Kongs to the Slot Machine Barrel and continues swimming off-screen.
The whale as seen before and after the island are actually two separate whales in-game.[1]
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze[edit]
In Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and its its port, whales make a cameo appearance in the stage Amiss Abyss, where their silhouette can be seen in the distance, just before entering the area with Don Zunāna.[4]
Naming[edit]
The whale appears to be referred to by the name "Blubbo" via the internal name of Blowhole Bound in Donkey Kong Country Returns: L06_Beach_Blubbo.[1] It derives from "blubber", which describes the fat tissue under the skin of a number of marine mammals, including whales. Perhaps incidentally, the word "blubbo" already exists in the English vocabulary, being a derogatory term for an overweight person. Additionally, it is likely named after Blubb-O's, a company in the Internet cartoon Homestar Runner, whose mascot is a whale.
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ラジック Rajikku | From an anagram of「クジラ」(kujira, "whale") | [5] |
Notes[edit]
- The left eye, which is always facing away from the camera, is rendered incorrectly.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Supper Mario Broth (September 5, 2026). Post. Tumblr (English). Retrieved September 6, 2026.
- ^ Knight, Michael (November 21, 2010). Donkey Kong Country Returns PRIMA Official Game Guide. Prima Games (American English). ISBN 978-0-307-47102-4. Page 44, 54-55.
- ^ Knight, Michael, and Musa, Alexander (May 24, 2013). Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D PRIMA Official Game Guide. Prima Games (American English). ISBN 978-0-804-161497. Page 46, 56-57.
- ^ Zephiel805. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze - 100% Walkthrough - 4-3 Amiss Abyss (Puzzle Pieces and KONG) (00:25). YouTube (English). Retrieved July 13, 2017.
- ^ February 9, 2011. 「ドンキーコングリターンズ任天堂公式ガイドブック」(Donkey Kong Returns Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook). Shogakukan (Japanese). ISBN 978-4-09-106478-3. Page 58, 78-81.
