DK: King of Swing

DK: King of Swing
For alternate box art, see the game's gallery.
Developer	Paon Nintendo SPD Group No.4
Publisher	Nintendo
Platform(s)	Game Boy Advance, Virtual Console (Wii U)
Release date	Game Boy Advance: February 4, 2005 March 17, 2005[?] May 19, 2005[?] September 19, 2005 Virtual Console (Wii U): November 19, 2014[?] November 20, 2014[?] January 22, 2015[?] January 23, 2015[?]
Language(s)	English (United Kingdom) English (United States) French (France) German Spanish (Spain) Italian Japanese
Genre	Puzzle
Rating(s)	ESRB: - Everyone PEGI: - Three years and older CERO: - All ages ACB: - General USK: - All ages
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer
Format	Wii U: Digital download Game Boy Advance: Game Pak
Input	Wii U: Wii U GamePad Wii Remote (horizontal) Classic Controller Wii U Pro Controller Game Boy Advance: Gamepad
Serial code(s)	AGB-BBKP-EUR AGB-BBKU-AUS AGB-BBKJ-JPN AGB-BBKE-USA AGB-BBKC-CHN

DK: King of Swing is a puzzle game starring Donkey Kong for the Game Boy Advance. It is the first installment of the DK series. Its gameplay is similar to Clu Clu Land, but has been re-formatted in certain aspects to have similarities to an adventure game. DK: King of Swing involves Donkey Kong having to go through five worlds to retrieve the Jungle Jam medals stolen by King K. Rool. The game was developed by Paon, followed by DK: Jungle Climber and Donkey Kong Barrel Blast. DK: King of Swing was re-released for the Wii U's Virtual Console in Japan and North America in November 2014 and in Europe and Australia in January 2015.

A release of the game in mainland China was planned by iQue, though it had been canceled due to the huge scene of piracy in China at that time. A prototype of the game still received an ISBN, so it reached a point of being approved for distribution.

Story

A screenshot from the intro, where K. Rool steals all the medals

The game takes place during the Jungle Jam, where a huge festival is held. During the tournament, medals are handed out as prizes to participants in contests like breaking barrels and jumping pegs, with the winner being crowned the hero of the jungle. King K. Rool, however, steals all the medals before the tournament commences, proclaiming himself the jungle hero. Donkey Kong pursues King K. Rool to get the medals back and restore peace to Donkey Kong Island. After traveling through four different regions, gaining the stolen medals dropped by K. Rool, Donkey Kong arrives on the King Kruizer III. Confronting K. Rool, Donkey Kong wins both a climbing race and battle against him and claims the last medal. He leaves with all the medals on K. Rool's hovercraft while the flying fortress falls out of the sky.

Gameplay

Donkey Kong climbing across some Peg Boards in the first level, Banana Bungalow

The player character is Donkey Kong, who swings and climbs across many pegs for most of the game, similarly to Bubbles of Clu Clu Land. The stages appear in worlds, and like the platforming games, Donkey Kong has to complete every stage first before he can challenge the world boss. After the boss is defeated, Donkey Kong can continue to the next world.

After completing the game and obtaining every medal and Crystal Coconut, the two required collectible items, the player unlocks Diddy Kong for play, in place of Donkey Kong, in a variation of the Adventure mode titled Diddy Mode. A few things were removed from Diddy Mode, including the tutorial level, the Bonus Barrels, and most bananas.

Controls

The basic controls while swinging on the pegs is to move Donkey Kong left and to move right. By keeping the former button held down, Donkey Kong swings on a fixed spot from left to right, and vice versa if the latter is held. If the button is lightly tapped, Donkey Kong goes flying off in the direction he is facing. Donkey Kong can improve his aim by swinging about until facing in the correct direction. Attacking is done by holding down both the and buttons: Donkey Kong clutches the pegs and begins to glow red, at which point releasing both buttons causes Donkey Kong to launch. Donkey Kong can restore a health unit by pressing the button while having at least ten bananas. He can also use the Going Bananas move, making him temporarily invincible with a higher jumping ability, if the player presses the button while having at least twenty bananas.

While on the ground, Donkey Kong can walk quickly with the and buttons; when both are pressed at the same time, Donkey Kong lifts off from the ground in a flying leap.

Game modes

The list of modes

• Adventure: The main mode of the game.
• Single Jungle Jam: The mode has a total of twelve events, most of which are races. The player can choose between Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong, and Funky Kong, and they can also unlock Bubbles, Wrinkly Kong, King K. Rool, and Kritter too. The CPU uses the other characters. The first accessible events are: Climbing Race 1, Climbing Race 2, Obstable Race 1 and Attack Battle 1.
• Multiplayer Jungle Jam: The same as above, but in multiplayer with four players using the GBA Link Cable.
• Extras: It features Cranky's Lectures (the tutorial level), a Time Attack Mode, and Diddy Mode.

Time Attack mode

A Time Attack mode is unlocked by completing Adventure. When the player selects the mode (from Extras), they are presented with a list of every level, each with a best time for the player to team. There are three other optional times in the high scores list, since these do not unlock anything. The player character has three hearts during the mode, and if they lose all of them, the character has to restart Time Attack. It is still passible to use the Going Bananas move, if enough Bananas are collected along the way. Once the level is completed, the player's time is recorded if it surpasses one of the default high scores.

Characters

Playable in all modes
Image	Name	Description	Stats
	Donkey Kong	Donkey Kong is the starter character of Adventure mode. He is also playable in Jungle Jam, having the most balanced stats compared to the other characters.	Jump: 3/5 Attack: 3/5
	Diddy Kong	Diddy is the unlockable character of Adventure Mode, after defeating King K. Rool as Donkey Kong. Diddy is also playable in Jungle Jam. He has a high jump, though his attack is low.	Jump: 4/5 Attack: 2/5
Playable in Jungle Jam
Image	Name	Description	Stats
	Dixie Kong	Dixie is playable in the Jungle Jam mode. She has one of the highest jumping abilities, though her attack is the lowest.	Jump: 5/5 Attack: 1/5
	Funky Kong	Funky is the fourth and final starting character of the Jungle Jam mode. He has a high attack stat but a low jumping stat.	Jump: 2/5 Attack: 4/5
Unlockable in Jungle Jam
Image	Name	Description	Stats
	Kremling	Kremling is unlocked by earning six gold medals in Jungle Jam. His stats are the same as Donkey Kong's.	Jump: 3/5 Attack: 3/5
	Wrinkly Kong	Wrinkly is unlocked once all twenty Crystal Coconuts are obtained. Her stats are nearly identical to Dixie's, but with just a slightly higher attack.	Jump: 5/5 Attack: 2/5
	King K. Rool	King K. Rool is unlocked upon obtaining 12 gold medals in Jungle Jam. He has maximum attack power whilst having the lowest jumping ability.	Jump: 1/5 Attack: 5/5
	Bubbles	Bubbles is unlocked by collecting every medal in Diddy Mode. She has a high attack and jumping ability.	Jump: 4/5 Attack: 4/5
Supporting
Image	Name	Description
	Cranky Kong	Cranky presides in Cranky's Lectures, where he teaches basic controls and provides gameplay hints.
	Candy Kong	Candy appears only in the opening and closing cutscenes of Adventure mode, having neither any lines nor role.

Enemies

Sprite	Enemy	Summary	Levels
			Debut	Final
	Click-Clack	Click-Clacks are found on peg boards. Their mandibles protect them from any frontal attack. When a Click-clack detects the player character, it follows them while making a clicking noise.	Cactus Woods
	Flipflap	Blue bats appearing mostly in cave levels. They fly either in horizontal or vertically patterns or towards the ground.	Contraption Cave	Kremling Kamp
	Flitter	Blue dragonflies that behave similarly to Flipflaps, except they do not hover towards the ground.	Banana Bungalow	Cactus Woods
	Ghost	Ghosts attack the player character by approaching them. If visible, the Ghost aims to harm to the Kong. Ghosts are only defeatable while invisible, although with visible silhouettes.	Ship of Souls
	Kremling	Very common enemies that either throw rocks, pull on peg switches, or jump from one peg to another.	Contraption Cave	K. Kruizer III Hull
	Lockjaw	Lockjaws are in some of the underwater levels. If it spots the player character, Lockjaw does a biting call before charging in his direction.	Risky Reef	Underwater Ruins
	Mini-Necky	Vultures that either spit coconuts or swoop, like in the Donkey Kong Country series.	Necky's Canyon	Booster Barrel Skyway
	Neek	Rats in cave-themed levels that make a squeaking sound while moving around on peg boards.	Contraption Cave	Madcap Mine
	Shuri	Starfish that bounce around from walls in underwater areas.	Risky Reef	Underwater Ruins
	Zinger	Buzzing wasps that move either horizontally or vertically. Only a frontal attack can defeat a Zinger, since they have spikes and a stinger on their back.	Cactus Woods	Booster Barrel Skyway

Bosses

#	Sprite	Boss	Stage	Summary
1		Congazuma	Congazuma's Castle	A large Kremling statue that attacks by slowly jumping toward the the player character. After being charged into four times, Congazuma is defeated.
2		Fire Necky	Fire Necky's Nest	A large, fiery Necky who spits flames that form into rocks at the player character. After seven hits, Fire Necky is defeated.
3		Davy Bones	Davy Bones' Locker	An undead eel who emerges from one of six holes towards the player character, then around him for a few seconds. Davy Bones takes damage if the player character swings it into the spikes after grabbing the peg at the tip of its tail. After enough damage, Davy Bones is defeated.
4		Sassy Squatch	Sassy Squatch's Lair	A sasquatch who chases the player character up a snowy mountain as he climbs around on pegs. It is damaged from bombs entering its mouth. After being damaged, Sassy Squatch shoots frozen pegs from its mouth, which melt soon after. After eating enough bombs, Sassy Squatch is defeated.
5		King K. Rool	King K. Rool (level)	K. Rool first challenges the player character to a climbing race. If the player character wins, K. Rool then challenges him to an attack battle. After losing all health, K. Rool is defeated, and the player wins the game.

Worlds and levels

Jungle World
Level	Medal	Type of level
Banana Bungalow	none	Jungle
Tropical Treetops	Bronze	Jungle
Contraption Cave	Bronze	Cave
Puzzling Pyramid	Silver	Pyramid
Boss level: Congazuma's Castle	Gold	Pyramid
Wild West World
Level	Medal	Type of level
Necky's Canyon	Silver	Desert
Cactus Woods	Silver	Cactus
Treacherous Twister	Bronze	Desert
Madcap Mine	Bronze	Mines
Boss level: Fire Necky's Nest	Gold	Desert
Aqua World
Level	Medal	Type of level
Risky Reef	Bronze	Underwater
Lockjaw Falls	Bronze	Waterfalls
Kremling Kamp	Silver	Ship
Ship of Souls	Silver	Ship
Boss level: Davy Bones' Locker	Gold	Underwater
Ice World
Level	Medal	Type of level
Cold Cold Forest	Silver	Forest
Raging Ravine	Silver	Ice
Underwater Ruins	Bronze	Underwater
Ice Castle	Gold	Ice
Boss level: Sassy Squatch's Lair	Gold	Ice
K. Kruizer III
Level	Medal	Type of level
Booster Barrel Skyway	Bronze	Sky
K. Kruizer III Artillery	Silver	Gunship
K. Kruizer III Hull	Gold	Gunship
K. Kruizer III Engine	Gold	Gunship
Boss level: King K. Rool	Gold	Gunship

Items

Sprite	Item	Summary
	One Banana	Common items found in every level. When enough bananas are collected, they can be used for Going Bananas or restoring health.
	Five Bananas	A less common type of banana worth five individual ones, analogous to Five Coins.
	Ten Bananas	A less common type of banana worth ten of them each, analogous to 10-Coins.
	Crystal Coconut	One of these crystalline objects appear in each level. They are obtained by breaking a certain crate or barrel, defeating a certain enemy, or for completing a Bonus Barrel challenge. Once all twenty Coconuts are obtained, Wrinkly Kong is unlocked for single player Jungle Jam Tournament.
	Medals	Every level except Banana Bungalow has either a hidden bronze or a silver medal. A gold medal is rewarded for defeating a boss.

Objects

Sprite	Object	Summary
	Bomb	Bombs can break open obstacles or destroy enemies. They detonate about five seconds later and inflict one heart of damage to the player character if he holds the bomb for too long.
	Cannons	Fixed and rotating cannons shoot fireballs at the player character in different levels of K. Kruizer III.
	Coconut	They are spit by some Mini-Neckys, though can be destroyed by a rock.
	Rock	Throwable objects that either damage enemies or destroy breakable walls.
	Spike	They are lined all over certain surfaces and inflict a unit of damage on contact. Some spikes appear as either stationary or moving floating balls.
	Tire	Bouncing off of them allows certain items and places to be reached.
	Wooden Crate	Boxes of wood that can break open from Donkey Kong's charge attack. Many of them cover a peg board, so destroying them is sometimes necessary to progress.

Barrels

Sprite	Barrel	Summary
	Barrel	Can be destroyed to reveal bananas or other items.
	Barrel Cannon	Entering one launches Donkey Kong in a certain direction.
	Bonus Barrel	Blasts the player character to a Bonus Area
	Booster Barrel	Rocket-like barrels that can be steered with and .
	Question Barrel	Destroying them is necessary to either reveal certain Peg Boards or to activate doors.
	Rolling Barrel	Barrels that can be entered to have their aim adjusted with the and buttons.

Pegs

Sprite	Barrel	Summary
	Peg	The most common type of pegs are represented by single, floating studs.
	Peg Board	Groups of pegs that the Kongs can climb on. Their grid size can range from 2x2 to 5x6.
	Handle Peg	Wheel-like pegs that travel in a straight line if held by the player character.
	Switch Peg	They open doors or reveal a means of progressing if the player character pulls down on them with both hands.
	Jack Peg	They operate mechanisms if pulled down on repeatedly, whether to open doors or reveal peg boards obscured by walls.
	Spinning Peg	Pegs that rotate either clockwise or counterclockwise, and can be held to take the player character to a higher area.
	Cracked Peg	Obstacles that slowly fall after being grabbed on to.
	Conveyor Belt	Peg Boards that slide Donkey Kong in one of the cardinal directions if he does not move while grabbing it.
	Icy Peg Board	Peg Boards that are encased in solid ice, preventing the Kong from being able to grab them.

Development

While playing around with a Game Boy Advance, Paon employee Atsushi Kaneko had an idea to make a game that used the system's shoulder button to simulate the action of grabbing with one's left and right hands, being inspired by the hobby of free climbing. The Paon team made the initial pitch to Nintendo with an original character, but afterwards producer Toshiharu Izuno suggested to make it star Donkey Kong as to give the game more international appeal and because he thought Donkey Kong best conveyed the visual of a character climbing with his feet dangling. The game started development in earnest on the summer of 2003 but it took the Paon developers about half a year to create proper visuals for Donkey Kong. Nintendo heavily supervised Donkey Kong's design and portrayal, explaining to the developers that the character has a "warm image and a bit of a laid-back feel." The game was originally made for the Nintendo GameCube in mind until halfway through development after which the target system changed to the Game Boy Advance.

Reception

Reviews
Release	Reviewer, Publication	Score	Comment
Game Boy Advance	Craig Harris, IGN	7.8/10	"DK: King of Swing is a classic example of a Nintendo game attempting something that's both unique and familiar at the same time. It's a concept that could only be successful on the Game Boy Advance for its rather basic structure, but even with its simplistic design DK: King of Swing has a lot going for it. Simple L and R gameplay isn't enough to keep interest high all the way through, so it works best as a quick-shot experience."
Game Boy Advance	Frank Provo, GameSpot	7.3/10	"All told, DK: King of Swing is a unique and interesting take on the puzzle genre that people will either love or hate depending on how accepting they are of the game's innovative control scheme."
Game Boy Advance	Kristan Reed, Eurogamer	7/10	"But ignoring the entirely superfluous Jungle Jam, the single-player adventure more than makes up for it and although has arguably way too many incidences of annoying level design to get too excited about, for those with a steely mindset and a longing for something genuinely new DK: King Of Swing is a surprisingly worthwhile addition to the handheld (swinging) scene. Monkeys and bananas are still evidently doing it for us."
Aggregators
Compiler		Platform / Score
Metacritic		70
GameRankings		71.85%

Staff

Main article: List of DK: King of Swing staff

Quotes

Main article: List of DK: King of Swing quotes

Pre-release and unused content

Screenshot	Details
	This screen shows five heart points, while in the final, there are only three of them. It was not possible to go beyond that number in the final release.
	Everything in this image is the same as it is in the final game, minus the five heart points and different background.
	This screen features explosive pegs that weren't present in the final game.
	These floating spikes were not found in this area in the final game.
	This area does not exist in the final game.

Profiles

Nintendo eShop description

King K. Rool has stolen the medals to be used in the Jungle Jam Tournament just as the festivities are ramping up, putting a damper to everyone's good spirits. With Cranky's blessing and techniques, Donkey Kong sets off to bring those medals back to their rightful place!

Grab, climb, and swing on pegs as you charge and bash through enemies that block your way. Collect bananas and Crystal Coconuts in the five worlds of Adventure mode, or play some puzzling levels in Single-player Jungle Jam mode.

Find those medals, and let the festivities begin!

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:DK: King of Swing.

• 

  Donkey Kong

• 

  Diddy Kong

• 

  Dixie Kong

• 

  Funky Kong

• 

  Wrinkly Kong

• 

  Cranky Kong

• 

  King K. Rool

Media

For a complete list of media for this subject, see List of DK: King of Swing media.

Theme

File infoMedia:DKKOSTitle.oga ​

Help:Media • Having trouble playing?

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	ぶらぶらドンキー[?] Burabura Donkī	Hanging Donkey
Chinese (simplified)	摇摆森喜刚 Yáobǎi Sēnxǐgāng	Swing Donkey Kong
German	DK: King of Swing[?]	-

Trivia

• It is the first game where Funky Kong, Wrinkly Kong, Kritter, and King K. Rool are playable.
• A promotional browser game was released in 2005 called DK: King of Swing -- Hurling for Distance.

External links

• Official Japanese website
• European manual