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Evidence of a Link Between DK and Mario
EVIDENCE OF A LINK BETWEEN DK AND MARIO
Evidence That the
Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong
Country Series Took Place Within the Marioverse
Kamikaze Koopa
Marioverse 411
Abstract
This paper will attempt to support a link between the Donkey Kong videogame series and the Super Mario Bros videogame series. Its purpose will be to provide further insight into the so called “Marioverse” and allow for more in depth study of its nature. The paper will include evidence supported by character similarities, cameo appearances, and whether or not either of these things should be taken into account at all. This paper is in no way linked to Nintendo or its employees and should be taken into consideration as speculation only. It should also be stated that this paper does not recognize the sports, racing, or Mario Party game series as canon and is based on information and evidence taken solely from the side-scrollers, platformers, and RPGs of the series. WARNING: This paper contains spoilers for the Super Mario and Donkey Kong videogames.
EVIDENCE THAT THE
DONKEY KONG AND DONKEY KONG
COUNTRY SERIES TOOK PLACE WITHIN THE MARIOVERSE
The Donkey Kong Games
It is a widely known fact that Donkey Kong and Super Mario both starred in their very first game together in 1981: Donkey Kong. One year later, the two were reunited for the sequel,Donkey Kong Junior, in 1982. But since these two classic arcade games, the two characters have seemingly parted ways, not only in terms of storyline, but seemingly in universe as well. Mario and his brother, Luigi, quickly became the stars of their own videogame series, Super Mario Bros, in 1985, leaving Donkey Kong in the proverbial dust, starring only in the sequel Donkey Kong 3 (widely considered a flop), until his own resurfacing in the Donkey Kong Country series in 1994. Although, it should be noted that the two starred in several remakes of the original Donkey Kong, it is uncertain whether these should be considered separate occurrences in the timelines of the two series or as replacements of their progenitor arcade game.
It was originally believed that the Italian plumber, then being employed as a carpenter, and the barrel-throwing gorilla originally clashed with one another on the skeletal beginnings of a building in Brooklyn, New York. In this classic game, Mario had to make his way to the top of a construction site in order to rescue his girlfriend, Pauline. However, the release of Donkey Kong Land in 1995 for the Gameboy suggested that the original Donkey Kong actually took place in an area on DK Island known as Big Ape City. In regards to the level, the manual states “[t]ravel by zeppelin to Donkey Kong's favorite stomping ground, Big City. The sight of that familiar skyline might bring back fond memories, but don't waste your time sightseeing…” (Donkey Kong Land manual, pg. 15). Whether or not these “fond memories” they mention are actually a reference to the original Donkey Kong, however, is up for debate.
Another bit of discrepancy that supports the DK/Mario link is the remake of the original Donkey Kong for the Gameboy in 1994 entitled Donkey Kong '94 (also known as GB Donkey Kong). In this new rendition of the classic game, the action no longer takes place in Brooklyn, but is now in a generic cityscape referred to only as “Big City”. An excerpt from the game’s manual reads “Hunt down Donkey Kong as he escapes from the Big-City, traveling on the Ship, through the Jungle, the Desert, Rocky Mountains and on to his home” (Donkey Kong ‘94 manual, pg. 2). It can be seen that both manuals now refer to the location of the original Donkey Kong as “Big City”. It should also be noted that the ending sequence for the game contains objects and items which are exclusive to the Super Mario Bros series; specifically Super Mushrooms, Warp Pipes, and Question Blocks. The question to be asked here is whether or not this game replaces the original Donkey Kong in the series’ timeline or if it is a completely separate occurrence all together.
However, yet another crossover between these two characters was still to come, once again taking the form of a clone of the original Donkey Kong. This new edition to the series, entitled Mario vs. Donkey Kong, hit shelves in 2004 and brought with it even more evidence of a link between the two games. In the introductory animation sequence, we see Donkey Kong casually lounging in his home on DK Island and flipping through the channels on television. We are provided a quick glimpse at three of the stations which he is watching, one of which simply shows a commercial selling bananas. The other two channels, however, provide substantial proof that DK Island is within close proximity to the locations of the Marioverse. The first station shows one of the creatures from the Super Mario series, known as a Shyguy (Super Mario Bros 2, 1988), hosting what seems to be a type of news program. Unfortunately, the Shyguy’s words are nothing more than gibberish, which might provide some insight into their own language since all other dialogue in the game can be understood as English, but does not give us any information on the current happenings in the Marioverse. Finally, the third station appears airing a commercial for a children’s toy called “Mini-Mario” which, as the name suggests, is a small wind-up doll made in the likeness of the Italian plumber himself. Now, the fact that DK would be able to pick up those television signals, which are obviously from the Marioverse, in his own home suggests that he does, in fact, reside within the Marioverse itself. Not only that, but the fact that he seems to be able to reach the city where the toys are being manufactured so quickly, gives way to the notion that the area where the game takes place, Twilight City, is located on DK Island; perhaps a neighbor to Big Ape City? You decide.
Super Mario RPG
Two years after the release of Donkey Kong ’94, the first ever Super Mario RPG was released, appropriately titled “Super Mario RPG”, in 1996. Several characters from various Nintendo games make cameo appearances in this game including Link from the Legend of Zelda series and Samus Aran from the Metroid series. However, in regards to Donkey Kong, there are two particular enemies which stand out as probable tie-ins with the series: the Chained Kongs, variations of which are called Guerillas, and the Frogogs, variations of which are called Ribbites. The Chained Kongs and Guerillas are quite obviously nods to the DK series, the character model being basically Donkey Kong himself, sans his famous red tie, and sporting various chains and restraints. The Frogogs and Ribbites, on the other hand, bear a striking resemblance to the anthropomorphic crocodiles called Kremlings (1) which DK must battle in the Donkey Kong Country videogame series. It seems almost inconceivable that the similarities between all the aforementioned characters are simply coincidence. And the fact that they weren’t named after the particular characters they resemble illustrates that they were not intended to simply be cameos, as Link and Samus were, but actual individual creatures.
However, one problem with the credibility of Super Mario RPG is that it was a joint creation with a separate company called Square, now known as Square Enix. Square was the company responsible for the creation of a number of RPGs, the most well known of which being the Final Fantasy series. The fact that Square had quite a large hand in the development of Super Mario RPG could lead some readers to disregard the idea that it has anything to do with the true timeline of the Marioverse, arguing that it is not a pure Nintendo creation. This could also be supported by a large number of discrepancies which are also found throughout the rest of the game. These disparities include the appearance of Princess Peach’s castle (2), and the town that surrounds it (3), as well as the size and shape of Mario’s own home (4) compared to how they appear in other games. One detail that should be taken into account, however, is the fact that if this game is to be ignored then there is a great deal of Mario lore that is to be ignored with it; such as the existence of the majority of characters and places shown throughout the game (i.e. Geno, Mallow, Nimbus Land , ect).
Conclusion
In the end, the debate over whether or not the Donkey Kong universe and the Super Mario universe are one in the same remains a mystery. In spite of the recent evidence, there is still the possibility that the two games share nothing but cameo appearances and that everything else is merely coincidence. However, the possibility that so many coincidences would mean nothing seems very unlikely. But still, the conclusion is yours to draw, reader. I’m hoping that this paper may have provided enough substantial evidence to illustrate the incredible similarities between the two videogame series. And even if it didn’t, I’m confident that this is not the last we’ve seen of two games spilling over on one another in classic Nintendo style.
1) Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, 1995
2) Super Mario RPG, 1996; Super Mario 64 , 1996; Paper Mario, 2000
3) Super Mario RPG, 1996; Paper Mario, 2000
4) Super Mario RPG, 1996; Paper Mario, 2000
Acknowledgments
Mario vs. Donkey Kong intro provided by Mario Gamer.
Images of Geno and Mallow provided by Secrets of the Seven Stars
(http://www.classicgaming.com/sotss/).
Rip of Nimbus Land provided by Beam Lainsir Yosho.
Rip of Mushroom Kingdom provided by Red Boshi
Screencap of Mario’s house provided by Rogultgot.
Rip of Mario’s pad provided by TJ09.
Ending sequence for Donkey Kong ’94 provided by VGMuseum (www.vgmuseum.com)
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