Wrinkly Kong
| Wrinkly Kong | |
|---|---|
 Wrinkly Kong as a ghost in DK: Jungle Climber. | |
| Species | Kong/Ghost (as of Donkey Kong 64) |
| First appearance | Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (1995) |
| Latest appearance | Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (spirit cameo) (2018) |
| Latest portrayal | Miho Yamada (2007) |
- “Why, if it isn't Donkey -- or is it Funky? No -- Diddy!”
- —Wrinkly Kong, Donkey Kong Land III
Wrinkly Kong (also known as Mrs. Kong)[1] is an elderly Kong and the late wife of Cranky Kong. She first appeared in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, but has been deceased and a ghost since Donkey Kong 64. Wrinkly mostly either provides information or saves the player's game progress.
History[edit]
Donkey Kong Country series[edit]
Donkey Kong Country[edit]
While not physically appearing in Donkey Kong Country, Cranky Kong mentions her in one of his lines.[1]
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest[edit]
In her debut appearance, Wrinkly runs a school named the Kong Kollege, where she can save Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong's game for two Banana Coins in Western releases and one Banana Coin in Japanese releases. Like Cranky's Monkey Museum, Wrinkly provides hints that range from either no cost to a few Banana Coins. In various moments, Wrinkly alludes that the Kong Kollege is specifically a school for the Kremlings, including Kaptain K. Rool, whom she asks the Kongs to ask if he has done his homework.
In the Game Boy Advance version, Diddy and Dixie can request homework from Wrinkly, where their assignment is to entirely fill a Scrapbook with all 40 photographs. Wrinkly gives a Hero Coin to them for every page they fill. Wrinkly no longer saves the player's progress, as this is done from the world map's 
menu.
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble![edit]
Wrinkly also appears in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!. Sometime after the events of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, Wrinkly retired from teaching at Kong Kollege and moved to the Northern Kremisphere inside a Wrinkly's Save Cave. Like Kong Kollege, Wrinkly's Save Cave has a crucial role in saving the player's game progress, although it is free of charge. She no longer provides level hints, and she cares for the Banana Birds rescued from various secret caves. Whenever the Kongs enter her Save Cave, Wrinkly is performing one of four activities, either exercising, sitting on her couch either asleep or awake, or playing the Nintendo 64.
In the Game Boy Advance version, Wrinkly's role has been lessened. She only runs a single sanctuary, named Wrinkly's Retreat, from the main Northern Kremisphere map. There her only purpose is taking care of the Banana Birds rescued by Dixie and Kiddy Kong. As with Donkey Kong Country 2's Game Boy Advance remake, Wrinkly no longer saves the player's progress, which is instead done from the world map's menu.
Donkey Kong Land series[edit]
In the Donkey Kong Land series, Wrinkly's role is consistent with her appearances in each game's corresponding Donkey Kong Country counterpart. In Donkey Kong Land 2, she offers to save the player's game for two Banana Coins, just as in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, but she no longer offers any gameplay advice. In Donkey Kong Land III, Wrinkly retains her role of saving the Kongs' progress in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, though a big difference is she no longer cares for the Banana Birds, as they do not make a reappearance. Additionally, Wrinkly does not perform various activities and is always sitting awake on her couch. One of Wrinkly's lines has a misspelling of Kremling: "Keep an eye out for those Kremlins!".
Club Nintendo[edit]
Wrinkly is briefly seen in the ending of the Club Nintendo comic, "Donkey Kong in: Banana Day 24", quarreling with Cranky. It is strongly implied that the reason is because Cranky kissed a random girl out of enthusiasm that Earth was saved.
Donkey Kong 64[edit]
- “My body may have passed away since DKC3, but I'm here in spirit to help you defeat those naughty crocodiles.”
- —Wrinkly Kong, Donkey Kong 64
In Donkey Kong 64, Wrinkly is revealed to have died sometime after the events of Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! and appears as a ghost. In every level's lobby, the active Kong can talk to Wrinkly from one of the five color-coded Wrinkly Doors. If the Kong steps in front of a Wrinkly Door of their color, a ghostly sound effect plays and Wrinkly comes out from the door. She gives a hint to the Kong on how they can obtain a Golden Banana. When talking to Wrinkly, a slower and major key version of Cranky's Lab plays. Her appearance as a ghost in this game would later continue into her future appearances.
Wrinkly is the game's only supporting character with an optional role and one that does not cost anything. She is also the only Kong in the game who does not appear during the end credits.
DK series[edit]
DK: King of Swing[edit]
In DK: King of Swing, during the starting tutorial level Cranky's Lectures, Wrinkly assists Cranky in teaching the basic controls to Donkey Kong. She demonstrates to him how to climb Peg Boards and how to charge an attack. Wrinkly is also unlockable in the Jungle Jam mode, her her first playable appearance in general, and she can be unlocked by obtaining every Crystal Coconut. In Jungle Jam, Wrinkly has a high jumping ability, tied with Dixie Kong's, though she has an intermediate attack.
DK: Jungle Climber[edit]
Wrinkly makes a minor appearance in the opening cutscene for DK: Jungle Climber, having gone on vacation to Sun Sun Island with the other Kongs. She appears alongside Cranky, admiring the scenery, and carries a white umbrella. Despite only having one minor appearance, Wrinkly has official artwork for the game, similar to Candy Kong in DK: King of Swing. She is unvoiced in this game.
Donkey Kong Barrel Blast[edit]
In Donkey Kong Barrel Blast, Wrinkly is an unlockable playable character. She is unlocked by completing Candy's Challenge #26: Let Wrinkly Kong Win!, which is level 4 in difficulty. As the name implies, Wrinkly must come in first in order to complete the challenge. Wrinkly's rival is Kopter, and she has average boost and speed and maxed-out agility. Like all other playable characters, Wrinkly has the ability to perform Wild Moves.
Wrinkly is the only playable Kong who does not appear on the game's title screen.
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
In the Super Smash Bros. series, Wrinkly only appears in the form of a few different items. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Wrinkly appears as both a trophy and a sticker. Her trophy heavily resembles her DK: Jungle Climber artwork, and ironically, Wrinkly's trophy incorrectly mentions her latest game appearance as Donkey Kong 64 instead of DK: Jungle Climber, though in the Japanese version, the trophy incorrectly lists Wrinkly's debut appearance as Donkey Kong Country 2 for the Game Boy Advance. Wrinkly's sticker, which recycles her DK: King of Swing artwork, can only be used by Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, and equipping it raises resistance against battering attacks by four. In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Wrinkly returns as a trophy, which is featured in the "Donkey Kong and his friends" trophy box. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Wrinkly Kong appears as a spirit.
General information[edit]
Physical appearance[edit]
Back when she was alive, Wrinkly Kong was an old Kong with a similar build to her husband Cranky Kong. She is covered in brown fur, has grey hair on her head and she also wears glasses. In her debut in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, she wore a green blanket. In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, she wears a white and purple gymnastics outfit that has dark gray fur armbands, and also wears white and purple sneakers and a white and purple headband. In the GBA remake of Donkey Kong Country 3, she only wears a white coat and does not wear any shoes.
Ever since she became a ghost in Donkey Kong 64, Wrinkly still retained a similar appearance as in Donkey Kong Country 2, except she is now white and translucent, has a wispy tail where her legs used to be, and wears a nightgown. In her current appearance introduced in DK: King of Swing, she is no longer translucent and has gray fur, though her skin is rather white. Her glasses are much smaller and are oval shaped, compared to her previous semicircular ones, and her hair is covered by a white nightcap.
Profiles and statistics[edit]
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble![edit]
- Player's Guide: Wrinkly dumped her schoolmarm duds to take up the fitness craze. When she's not working out to aerobics videos, she's sharpening her reflexes on the Nintendo 64. Stop in for a visit and she'll save your game progress. Wrinkly's abode is also where the freed Banana Birds migrate to roost. Check out the flock whenever you save your game.[2]
Rarewhere: DKC Trilogy Cast List[edit]
APPEARS IN: DKC 2, 3
The younger Kongs often wonder how Wrinkly can put up with the endless grouching of her husband Cranky at all, let alone come away from it with her own kind, good-natured outlook still intact. Wrinkly was still teaching at Kong Kollege when Diddy and Dixie set out to rescue the kidnapped DK, but since then she's retired and moved away from all the Kremlings and screaming kids to a network of caves that run through the surrounding islands. These days she spends her time reading, exercising, feeding the banana birds and, when she thinks nobody's around, even playing the occasional video game.[3]
Donkey Kong 64[edit]
- Instruction booklet bio from Professor Cranky Kong (page 9): She may not be quite the same as you remember her from past adventures, but my good-natured wife will again be around to help you if you get stuck... which I’m sure you will.
- Player's Guide: Wrinkly Kong isn’t about to let a little thing like death keep her from helping her hairy kinfolk in their biggest adventure yet. The matriarch of the Kong family returns in ghostly form to give hints to the youngsters. Clearly, she enjoys tormenting them with half-truths and incomplete directions, but most of the time she coddles the kids with helpful suggestions. You can be sure to find Wrinkly’s sage advice behind any of the doors that show a picture of her face.[4]
- Prima Games guide: Wrinkly has come back in spirit form to help the Kong family defeat K. Rool. She can't fight the lizard's minions but she can provide tips and hints. In the lobby of each level are five Wrinkly doors. Approach one and Wrinkly will come out to bestow her knowledge.[5]
- German website: After the last great adventure of the Kongs, Wrinkly, who was advanced in years, left us, much to the sadness of all involved. Nevertheless, she returns from the realm of the spirits to provide her friends and relatives with all kinds of important information and useful tips. In the lobby of each level there are five doors, each with a frame of a different color. If a Kong approaches one of these doors, Wrinkly appears and gives him a hint to uncover especially well-kept secrets. Wrinkly loves her friends and relatives so much that she even crosses the threshold of mortality in order to support them in the battle against the evil empire of the Kremlings.
DK: King of Swing[edit]
- Instruction booklet bio: Wife of Cranky. Even though she's passed away, she's a gentle Kong who frets about Donkey.
- Jump: 5
- Attack: 2
Donkey Kong Barrel Blast[edit]
| Wrinkly Kong | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
| Rival | Kopter | Boost | 3/5 | ||
| Speed | 3/5 | Agility | 5/5 | ||
| How to unlock: Win Candy's Challenge 26: Let Wrinkly Kong win! | |||||
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]
| Trophy Wrinkly Kong | ||
| ||
| Appears in: SNES Donkey Kong Country 2 N64 Donkey Kong 64 | ||
| How to unlock: Random | ||
| The wife of Cranky Kong. Wrinkly first appeared as director of Kong Kollege, where she provided game hints. Did you know King K. Rool was also a student of hers? After her passing, she appeared in Donkey Kong 64 as a ghost, where again... she provided hints. | ||
| Sticker Wrinkly Kong | ||
| ||
| Artwork from: DK: King of Swing | ||
| Effects in The Subspace Emissary: Battering Resistance +4 | ||
| Usable by: Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong | ||
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U[edit]
| Trophy Wrinkly Kong | ||
| ||
| Category: Series Related | ||
( ) Appears in:SNES Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (11/1995) N64 Donkey Kong 64 (11/1999) | ||
| () Trophy Box: 17: Donkey Kong and His Friends
| ||
| How to unlock: Random | ||
| Wrinkly Kong first appears in Donkey Kong Country 2, where she manages the Kong Kollege. Even Kaptain K. Rool was one of her students at one time! Sadly, Wrinkly has become a spirit by the time she's seen in Donkey Kong 64. She doesn't let her ghostly form keep her from sharing advice, though. (American English) | ||
| Wrinkly has been in the series since Donkey Kong Country 2, where she was the director of Kong Kollege. Even Kaptain K. Rool was one of her students once upon a time! She passed away at some point before Donkey Kong 64, but still shows up now and then as a ghost. Why should she let a little thing like death stop her? (British English) | ||
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
| Spirit #144 Wrinkly Kong | ||
|---|---|---|
|
|
Series/game | Donkey Kong Series |
| Type | Support | |
| Slots | 1 | |
| Class | Advanced | |
| Strength / effect(s) | Trade-Off Defense ↑ | |
| How to obtain | World of Light (Light Realm); Spirit Board | |
| Spirit battle | Opponent(s) | Clear Donkey Kong |
| Conditions |
Hazard: High Gravity; Low Gravity
| |
| Stage | Luigi's Mansion | |
| Song | The Map Page / Bonus Level |
List of appearances[edit]
| Title | Description | Release | System/format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest | Non-playable character | North America: November 20, 1995 |
SNES |
| Donkey Kong Land 2 | Non-playable character | North America: September 1, 1996 |
Game Boy |
| Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! | Non-playable character | North America: November 22, 1996 |
SNES |
| Donkey Kong Land III | Non-playable character | North America: October 1, 1997 |
Game Boy |
| Donkey Kong 64 | Non-playable character | North America: November 22, 1999 |
Nintendo 64 |
| Donkey Kong GB: Dinky Kong & Dixie Kong (port) | Non-playable character | Japan: January 28, 2000 |
Game Boy Color |
| Donkey Kong Country 2 (remake) | Non-playable character | Europe: June 25, 2004 |
Game Boy Advance |
| DK: King of Swing | Unlockable playable character in Jungle Jam mode | Europe: February 4, 2005 |
Game Boy Advance |
| Donkey Kong Country 3 (remake) | Non-playable character | Europe: November 4, 2005 |
Game Boy Advance |
| Donkey Kong Barrel Blast | Unlockable playable character | Japan: June 28, 2007 |
Wii |
| DK: Jungle Climber | Non-playable character | Japan: August 9, 2007 |
Nintendo DS |
| Super Smash Bros. Brawl | Cameo as trophy and sticker | Japan: January 31, 2008 |
Wii |
| Super Smash Bros. for Wii U | Cameo as trophy | North America: November 21, 2014 |
Wii U |
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Cameo as spirit | Worldwide: December 7, 2018 |
Nintendo Switch |
Gallery[edit]
- For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Wrinkly Kong.
Donkey Kong Country (television series) trading card
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | リンクリーコング[?] Rinkurī Kongu |
Wrinkly Kong | |
| Chinese (simplified) | 瑞珂丽刚[6] Ruìkēlì Gāng |
Wrinkly Kong | |
| Finnish | Kurttu Kong[?] | Wrinkle Kong | Donkey Kong Country 2 and Donkey Kong Country 3 |
| Russian | Ринкли Конг[?] Rinkli Kong |
Wrinkly Kong | |
| Spanish | Wrinkly Kong[?] | Wrinkly Kong |
Trivia[edit]
- The artwork of Wrinkly Kong for Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest shows her reading a book with various phrases like "Diddy's Kong Quest is the best game in the world.", "Look for more great games from RARE.", and a "Worm Pie" recipe.
- In the Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! group artwork of the Kongs playing on the Nintendo 64, Wrinkly is seen with a green blanket like in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, yet in the game and her solo artwork, she wears a white and purple gymnastics outfit.
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Sure beats a visit from Mrs. Kong! How can I help you?" – Cranky Kong. Donkey Kong Country.
- ^ Owsen, Dan, et al. (1996). Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (English). Page 8.
- ^ DKC Trilogy Cast List. Rarewhere (British English). Archived September 1, 1999, 06:31:21 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ Bihldorff, Nate, et al. (1999). Donkey Kong 64 Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (English). Page 6.
- ^ Barton, Jeff, et al. (December 1, 1999). Donkey Kong 64 Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Prima Games (American English). ISBN 0-7615-2279-4. Page 14.
- ^ From the unreleased iQue prototype of DK: King of Swing
| Kongs | |
|---|---|
| Kong characters | |
| Baby Kong • Bink • Bluster Kong (Leo Luster) • Candy Clone • Candy Kong • Chunky Kong • Cranky Kong (Young) • Cranky Kong's great grandfather • Diddy Kong • Dixie Kong • Donkey Kong (Baby, Robot) • Donkey Kong Jr. • Dread Kong • Driver • Eddie • Funky Kong • Ghastly King • Karate Kong • Kiddy Kong • Kong Fu • Lanky Kong • Mecha Donkey Kong • Mini Donkey Kong (Game & Watch) • Monkey Kong • Ninja Kong • Rabbid Cranky • Rabbid Kong (Mega) • Ringo • Snow Kong • Sumo Kong • Super Kong • Swanky Kong • Tiny Kong • Uncle Kong • Wrinkly Kong | |
| Kong species | |
| Chained Kong • Cyber Kong • Guerrilla • Helper Monkey • Kong • Manky Kong • Mini Diddy Kong • Mini Donkey Kong (toy) • Ninjape • Snow Ucky Kong • Uckykong | |
| Donkey Kong's robots | |
| Cannon Kong • Capture Kong • Catapult Kong • Circus Kong • Cool Kong • Crash Kong • Kongā | |
| Kong groups | |
| Donkey Kong's robots • Kong (boss group) • Kong Family | |
| Donkey Kong Barrel Blast | ||
|---|---|---|
| Playable characters |
Kongs | Donkey Kong (Ultra Barrel) • Diddy Kong • Dixie Kong • Lanky Kong • Tiny Kong • Funky Kong • Wrinkly Kong • Cranky Kong |
| Kremlings | Kritter • Kip • Kass • Klump • Kalypso • Kludge • Kopter • King K. Rool | |
| Non-playable character | Candy Kong | |
| Cups | Topaz Cup | DK Jungle • Salty Sea • Mt. Dynamite |
| Sapphire Cup | Scorching Canyon • DK Jungle Falls • Shimmering Sea • Mammoth Glacier | |
| Diamond Cup | Open Ocean • Mt. Dynamite Remix • Parched Palace • Cranky's Temple | |
| Platinum Cup | Dynamite Run • DK Jungle Sunset • Alpine Peak • Temple Heights • Cosmic Highway | |
| Other | Gallery | |
| DK: Jungle Climber | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characters | Playable | Donkey Kong • Diddy Kong • Dixie Kong • Funky Kong |
| Non-playable | Candy Kong • Cranky Kong • Wrinkly Kong • Xananab | |
| Enemies and obstacles | Bramble • Click-Clack • Flipflap • Flitter • Ghost • Klobber • Kritter • Lockjaw • Mini-Necky • Neek • Puftup • Shuri • Spike • Zinger | |
| Bosses | Banana Ship • Junklomp • Mega Amp • Draglinger • King K. Rool | |
| Items | Banana • Banana Bunch • Banana Coin • Crystal Banana • Crystal Star • DK Coin • Gem • Hammer • KONG Panels • Oil barrel • Torch • Wings | |
| Objects | Booster Barrel • Cannon Barrel • DK Barrel • Exit • Giant flower • Handle Peg • Iron Barrel • Jack Peg • Mine • Peg • Peg Board • Question Barrel • Rock • Spike • Spirowarp • Spinner Barrel • Spinning Peg • Switch Peg • TNT Barrel | |
| Worlds | Sun Sun Island • Lost Island • Ghost Island • Chill 'n' Char Island • High-High Island • Wormhole • Extra Stages | |
| Minigames | Rolling Panic • Banana Grab • Speed Climb • Throw 'n' Crush • Orange Picker • Booster Battle • Banana Bonanza | |
- Kongs
- Playable characters
- Parents
- Married characters
- Deceased characters
- Ghosts
- DK: Jungle Climber characters
- DK: King of Swing
- Donkey Kong 64 characters
- Donkey Kong allies
- Donkey Kong Barrel Blast characters
- Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest characters
- Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! characters
- Donkey Kong Land 2 characters
- Donkey Kong Land III characters
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl stickers
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl trophies
- Super Smash Bros. for Wii U trophies
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate spirits
- Grandparents
