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Why Donkey Kong Island is not in Mario's Dimension
By Claws
NOTE: Most of this evidence was brought to light by the members of the Donkey Kong Universe message board. I simply compiled it.
Just where is Donkey Kong Island? Somewhere on Mushroom Earth in the Mushroom (Mario’s) dimension? One would likely draw that conclusion (as it may at first seem to make more sense) before considering the facts.
First, let us establish in which dimension a few islands from certain Rareware games are located. The islands include the Isle O’ Hags from Banjo-Kazooie (N64) and Banjo-Tooie (N64), the island where Ghoulhaven Hall is from Grabbed by the Ghoulies (Xbox), whatever island Willow Woods from Conker’s Pocket Tales (GBC) and Conker’s Bad Fur Day (N64) is on, and Timber’s Island from Diddy Kong Racing (N64). Each of these islands is very similar to the others regarding the landscape and inhabitants.
Timber’s Island was the site of the events of Diddy Kong Racing. Here it was that many heroic animals from the area raced to save the island from the alien swine Wizpig. This would place Willow Woods and the Isle O’ Hags in the nearby vicinity, as we know Conker and Banjo respectively hailed from those places.
In Banjo-Kazooie there is a ship docked in the harbor level that has Twycross, England printed on its side. Obviously, then, the ship came from Twycross, which is on Earth and in our dimension. Therefore, the Isle O’ Hags is in our dimension, not Mario’s.
In Banjo-Kazooie, Banjo and Kazooie owned a goldfish named Roysten. Roysten was somehow in Grabbed by the Ghoulies. So from this we can conclude that Ghoulhaven Hall is near the Isle O’ Hags. There is also a globe of our Earth in Grabbed by the Ghoulies, which confirms it to be in our dimension. So far, both the Isle O’ Hags and wherever Ghoulhaven Hall is are definitely in our dimension.
Willow Woods is a place unlike any seen in the Mushroom Dimension. Here modern warfare is being waged. This is something we don’t see in the Mushroom Dimension, so most likely Willow Woods is in our dimension where the animals would have access to such weapons.
Now, if all of these islands are near Timber’s Island, and all of these islands are in our dimension, it makes sense that Timber’s Island would be in our dimension, correct? Now the only question is, what relation does Timber’s Island have to Donkey Kong Island? Diddy Kong Racing’s manual says that Timber’s Island is a swimming distance away from Donkey Kong Island. It also says that Diddy sent word of Wizpig's intrusion to Banjo and Conker via Sqawks, the parrot--this confirms that Willow Woods and the Isle O' Hags are near DK Island. So that would put DK Island in our dimension.
One may wonder about Mario vs. Donkey Kong’s (GBA) intro sequence. There it shows Donkey Kong lounging in a treehouse before he rushes to nearby Twilight City. This proves DK’s house is in the Mushroom Dimension, right? No. Look closely. The floor of this treehouse is blue, and there are no breaks in the material (as there usually are in DK's wooden structures). This would imply that the treehouse is made of concrete or something similar. So it’s a different treehouse, and it could be located anywhere. Think about how Donkey Kong must travel to the Mushroom Dimension every time Mario holds some sports competition or party. Maybe Mario gave him this house as a place to stay during these events? Considering the evidence presented above, the latter explanation makes a lot more sense.
Consider the name of Donkey Kong’s home jungle. The Kongo Jungle is what it’s called. There is a place in our world called the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the western coast of Africa. The Kongo Jungle is alternatively called the Congo Jungle in Super Smash Bros. (N64) and Mario Golf Toadstool Tour (GCN). For it to still be considered part of the “Congo,” as its name suggests it is, it would have to be located just off the coast of the real world Congo. And since all of the other Rareware islands are near DK Island, they are also near the western coast of Africa.
We know the Mario games released prior to Super Mario Bros. (NES) were intended to take place in our dimension. Rareware revealed in Donkey Kong Land (GB) that the large city from Donkey Kong (Arcade) is actually a city on Donkey Kong Island called Big Ape City. So, if the arcade games were supposed to take place in our dimension, Big Ape City is where they took place, and Big Ape City is on Donkey Kong Island, Donkey Kong Island is in our dimension.
The ending to Donkey Kong (GB), or DK’94, may seem troublesome to this point of view. But it actually isn’t. In that ending Mario is seen among several Mushroom Dimension elements. He even consumes a mushroom that enhances his size. But if DK’94 took place on DK Island (because DK’94 is just the extended tale of DK Arcade), how could these elements be present? Well, we know Donkey Kong must have some route to the Mushroom Dimension. There is most likely a tear in the dimensional fabric that leads to the Mushroom Dimension. As can be seen from Banjo-Kazooie’s overworld, the area around a magic portal tends to develop the characteristics of the area on the other side of the portal. The portal on Donkey Kong Island leading to the Mushroom Dimension is no different. Over time unique aspects of the Mushroom Dimension have slowly bled into our dimension. Donkey Kong Sr. (or Cranky Kong) realized that this odd area was a portal to another place. That is why he built his menacing tower there. He also used the poisonous mushrooms that grew in the area to his advantage.
Obviously, then, the facts point to DK Island being in our dimension, off the coast of western Africa. If you have an argument that you think could disprove this conclusion, email it to me at Claws84@hotmail.com or post it at Kamikaze Koopa's Mario Forums, and I will consider it.
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