Hand Slap
- This article is about Donkey Kong's special move. For the recurring special move, see Ground Pound.
The Hand Slap, also called ground pound[1][2] (alternatively Ground Pound[3]) or Ground Slap,[4][5] is one of Donkey Kong's attacks in the Donkey Kong Country games and the Super Smash Bros. series.
History[edit]
Donkey Kong Country series[edit]
Donkey Kong Country[edit]
The Hand Slap is a move in Donkey Kong Country that can be used by Donkey Kong only, by pressing 
and 
/
/
. The move can defeat most regular enemies, and it even rewards a free banana for each enemy beaten. In the Japanese version, Donkey Kong is rewarded a Banana Bunch for every third enemy that he Hand Slaps, including Krushas, even though it does not defeat them. A Hand Slap can also defeat inactive Rock Krocs in original Japanese releases and the Game Boy Advance version. If he uses a Hand Slap in certain areas on the ground or on tree tops, Donkey Kong can unearth a Banana Bunch or even an Extra Life Balloon. In the Game Boy Color remake, the Hand Slap is required to unearth a DK Sticker Pack in each level. In the Game Boy Advance remake, some boss arenas have a buried photograph, which Donkey Kong can unearth with his Hand Slap.
Donkey Kong Country Returns[edit]
The Hand Slap, referred to as the ground pound, reappears in Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, though it is performed differently from other games. This time, the ground pound is done by shaking the Wii Remote, or pressing the X button on the Nintendo 3DS. It can open item containers, crack blocks, push trapdoors, open Rambi's crate, and stun enemies. Ground pounding is also possible when clinging onto grass ceilings and walls. While mounted, Rambi can also use this move; he instead stomps the ground with his front two feet.
In Multiplayer mode, Diddy Kong can perform his own variation, Popgun Pound, a move which he can additionally use to stun or distract enemies from afar.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze[edit]
The Hand Slap, referred to as the Ground Pound, reappears in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze with the same role as in Donkey Kong Country Returns. This time, Dixie Kong and Cranky Kong can also perform the move. Dixie's version involves her pounding the ground with her ponytail and Cranky with his cane. Unlike the other Kongs, Dixie's Ground Pound covers both sides.
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
Hand Slap is Donkey Kong's down special move in Super Smash Bros. and every following game within the Super Smash Bros. series. It is executed by pressing the special move button while pressing the Control Stick or Circle Pad down. By performing the move, Donkey Kong rapidly slaps the ground, generating a small shockwave around him. This causes nearby opponents to get knocked upward and be damaged. The attack is very useful in the Multi-Man modes when Donkey Kong is surrounded by opponents, letting him launch all of them away, but it has no effect against aerial targets. The attack does take a while to use, but once used, all the player must do is hold the Control Stick or Circle Pad down and continuously tap the special move button. Donkey Kong will keep using the attack until the special move button stops being tapped, or Donkey Kong is hit by an opponent. Until Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Donkey Kong could not execute the move in mid-air. Though the move is not as useful in the air, it can still serve as a meteor smash. Additionally, the move can now break shields quite effectively, being able to break a full shield in 3 hits.
The Hand Slap has set knockback in Super Smash Bros. Melee, although in subsequent installments, it can send opponents with low damage high into the air, but the Hand Slap's low knockback scaling at higher percentages prevents it from being effective at KOing an opponent.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U also introduces two custom variants of Hand Slap:
- Focused Slap sacrifices attack range, but the shockwaves can stun and deal greater damage to opponents who are hit.
- Hot Slap creates a series of flame pillars in front of Donkey Kong, which can damage even airborne targets, but it has less range, and does not cover Donkey Kong's back. The attack deals more damage and knockback, and sends opponents flying sideways instead of upwards.
New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat[edit]
While absent from the original, the Hand Slap is added in New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, where several gimmicks make use of it, such as breakable floors, platforms that act as switches, and underground seeds that act as item containers.
Mario Golf: World Tour[edit]
In Mario Golf: World Tour, if Donkey Kong loses a hole or gets a bogey or worse, he performs a Hand Slap in anger.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle[edit]
The Hand Slap, referred to as DK Ground Pound, appears in the Donkey Kong Adventure DLC of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle as Donkey Kong's secondary weapon. This move deals damage to nearby enemies, with more damage being dealt to closer enemies. Once used, it cannot be used again for the following turn. The DK Ground Pound can be upgraded via Battle HQ, with each upgrade treated as a stronger weapon, and can deal additional damage to certain types of enemies and may inflict the Bounce super effect.
Gallery[edit]
Donkey Kong Country screenshot
Super Smash Bros. artwork
Super Smash Bros. screenshot
Super Smash Bros. Melee screenshot
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS screenshot
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ハンドスラップ[?] Hando Surappu |
Hand Slap | |
| Italian | Forza bruta[6] | Brute force | |
| Schiaffo[7][8] | Slap | ||
| Manata[?] | Handslap | Super Smash Bros. series | |
| Scouti la terra[9][10]/Scuotere la terra[11] | Shake the ground | ||
| Schianto a terra DK[?] | DK Ground Pound | Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle | |
| Russian | Лапошлеп[?] Laposhlep |
Paw Slap |
References[edit]
- ^ 2010. Donkey Kong Country Returns instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 13.
- ^ 2010. Donkey Kong Country Returns instruction booklet. Nintendo of Europe (British English). Page 18.
- ^ 2014. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze instruction manual. Section 12. (PDF). Nintendo of Europe (British English).
- ^ Hodgson, David S. J. (June 17, 2003). Donkey Kong Country Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Prima Games (American English). ISBN 0-7615-4334-1. Page 4.
- ^ 2009. New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat instruction booklet (PDF). Nintendo of America (American English). Page 14.
- ^ Donkey Kong Country Italian manual. Page 13.
- ^ 2000. Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Color) European manual. Nintendo of Europe (Italian). Page 108.
- ^ 2003. Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Advance) European manual. Nintendo of Europe (Italian). Page 105.
- ^ 2010. Donkey Kong Country Returns Italian manual. Nintendo of Europe (Italian). Page 18.
- ^ Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Italian e-manual. Page 12.
- ^ Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D Italian e-manual. Page 5.
| Super Smash Bros. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Playable characters | Donkey Kong • Fox • Kirby • Link • Luigi • Mario • Samus • Yoshi • Others | |||
| Non-playable characters | Bob-omb • Whispy Woods | |||
| Bosses | Giant Donkey Kong • Metal Mario | |||
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| Moves | Miscellaneous | Jump • Taunt | ||
| Special | Standard | Up | Down | |
| Mario | Fireball | Super Jump Punch | Mario Tornado | |
| Luigi | Green Fireball | Luigi Cyclone | ||
| Donkey Kong | Giant Punch | Spinning Kong | Hand Slap | |
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| Other | Gallery • Glitches • Pre-release and unused content • Quotes • Staff | |||
- Donkey Kong Country
- Donkey Kong Country Returns
- Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
- New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
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