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DK Vine

@dkvine.com

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For over 25 years, the premier source for Donkey Kong Country and Rare's shared universe! Home of the Kongversation podcast. Posts by Hyle! Contact me at [email protected]. http://www.dkvine.com

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · Jun 19

Everyone is discussing Donkey Kong and the notion of “Donkey Kong lore” lately. Don’t be afraid. You’ve taken your first step into a larger world. Yes, Donkey Kong has a wonderfully rich mythology. Allow us to guide you.

First, Diddy Kong Racing and how DK is (still) part of Rare’s shared universe!

The Donkey Kong Universe: Exploring Diddy Kong Racing's Enduring Legacy

YouTube video by DK Vine

www.youtube.com

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 6h

Hold the hands of the Idaho Crew at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT as they chaperone you through a night of Donkey Kong Bananza rides and revelry in the Feast Layer! Don't get lost, or you might find yourself wandering into forbidden areas where all kinds of strangers could be lurking...

www.twitch.tv/dkvine

The park and factory map of the Feast Layer hangs on a rocky wall. The map consists of everything seen in Sublayer 1400. A Fragmentone, a Lion Fractone, and a standard Fractone are posing atop a burger in the bottom left corner. Screenshot from Donkey Kong Bananza.

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 11h

Unless... you pay $5 or up to listen live.

...

If you won't leave, we record this Wednesday at 10:30 PM EDT/7:30 PM PDT (3:30 AM Thursday BST). Call the DK Vine Hotline at 1-202-630-VINE (8463) with your thoughts on Sublayer 1500 and what lies beyond Go-No-Further Gate.

...

Get more from DK Vine on Patreon

creating podcast, web, and video content

www.patreon.com

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 11h

Get out. Go away. The next #Kongversation is off-limits. You shouldn't listen to it. @geekcritique.org and I will discuss Donkey Kong Bananza's Sublayer 1500. It's restricted. Leave.

...

A towering Securitone, a Fractone in the shape of an enormous monolith, stands in the Underground World's Forbidden Layer and abmonishes Donkey Kong & Pauline.

Securitone: "Get out."

Screenshot from Donkey Kong Bananza.

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 12h

Last year, @wolfefm.bsky.social and I tried to break down the essence of what makes Gregg's games unique. While there will always be certain intangibles that you can't articulate, I think we did a pretty good job of getting to the heart of what makes him such a standout creative talent.

The Kongversation 1208 - DKU Architects: Gregg Mayles

YouTube video by DK Vine

www.youtube.com

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 12h

Today was Gregg Mayles' last day at Rare. He posted this lovely little farewell over on social media. Since he's not on Bluesky, I hope he doesn't mind me sharing it here.

There's probably no video game designer, let alone creative mind, who has had as much of a positive impact on my life as Gregg.

A poem by Gregg Mayles, including a photo of him looking out at the countryside with Googly Eyes.

A Rather Resplendent Rewarding Rare Ramble

Grant me moments of your time,
To tell a story versed in rhyme,

In eighty nine this tale does start,
When famous wall did fall apart.

Still standing tall a lad left school,
Who'd employ this daydreaming fool?

A chance arose to go into banking,
Choice he ignored and forever thanking,

Local paper had tiny ad,
Go join Rare? WHAT! You must be mad!

He tested games then got into design,
Which somehow turned out reasonably fine,

Mentored by the Ultimate greats,
Expectations of Rare game traits,

Each game adding to his skills,
A memorable ride of many thrills,

First three toads and then some apes,
Donkey, Diddy, barrels of japes,

Grand adventures of bird and bear,
Whacking Ghoulies with haunted chair,

Critters of paper in gardening charm,
Sporting parties waving leg and arm,

Sailing pirates through stormy weather.
Players creating stories together,

Others too, much less well known,
With Rare magic in them sown,

Wonderful games made by splendid teams,
Enchanting players have been their dreams,

The Ruby Ramble one final chapter.
Of lovingly crafted games and laughter,

For here is where this story ends,
Thirty six years it's been my friends,

For come the day October fourteen,
At Manor Park then no longer seen,

His sack of fun upon his back,
To set off down a different track,

Leaving behind some parting advice,
Have no fear, it's helpful and nice,

If captivating players is what you seek,
Keep on making Rare games unique!

Now time to start new tales to tell,
Farewell to Rare he waves, farewell!

Gregg

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 13h

A huge glow-up from the Corplet Drones of the original.

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Reposted by DK Vine

Playtonic @playtonicgames.com · 15h

What's been your favourite new enemy type in Yooka-Replaylee so far? My vote has to go to Bizzy Bees with their little pouty faces.

Here's some early concept art of the bee enemy from our incredibly talented Concept Artist, Phoebe! All the loading screens you'll have seen are her work too!

Concept art for the Bizzy Bee enemy in Yooka-Replaylee. The biggest sketches show a big fluffy bee with wings and different coloured ties while the smaller sketches show different variations with different wing sizes and shapes and even completely different styles, for example what a completely robotic Bizzy Bee would look like.

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 13h

I know it's been a huge year for head-turning games, but don't sleep on Dunk Dunk. Even if the elevator pitch of "What if indie video game characters played basketball in a Spirit Halloween" doesn't mean anything to you, you'll have lots of genuine fun playing this with a buddy.

Playtonic @playtonicgames.com · 16h

🎉 Dunk Dunk has been nominated! 🎉

Our pals at BadgerHammer are up for Best Indie Game Made in the North and Best Small Studio at the Game Republic Awards! 💚

If you’ve loved Yooka and Laylee, try playing as them in this chaotic local party game, Dunk Dunk! 🏀✨

DK Vine @dkvine.com · 1d

Lettuce on the #Kongversation discuss the 14th world of Donkey Kong Bananza. Will DK Cheese it and live to bring home the Bacon, or will Void Kong beat DK's Meat? Before we fight... we FEAST! Note: This episode only contains spoilers through the end of Sublayer 1401.

www.dkvine.com?p=podcasts&s...

The key art to the Kongversation's "Donkey Kong Bananza: Sublayers 1400 - 1401" episode. Donkey Kong & Pauline overlook the Feast Layer as giant French fries surround them.

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 1d

We record TODAY at 8 PM EDT/5 PM PDT! Call the DK Vine Hotline at 1-202-630-VINE (8463) with YOUR first impressions of Yooka-Replaylee! And don't forget that $5 and up Patrons can listen live as we record!

Get more from DK Vine on Patreon

creating podcast, web, and video content

www.patreon.com

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 1d

We'll be slipping out a bonus #Kongversation episode this week where @freezer.bsky.social and I will discuss our first impressions of Yooka-Replaylee! Expanding on the DK Vine written review, we'll go a bit deeper into Playtonic's reimagining of the original Yooka-Laylee!

Yooka & Laylee enter a cave that connects Shipwreck Creek to Hivory Towers.

Laylee: "Sorry... I thought it would go undetected. I'll try clenching next time."

Screenshot from Yooka-Replaylee (Xbox Series X/S).

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 2d

Don't get me wrong. Mario Kart World is my favorite Mario Kart game in ages. I genuinely adore it. And even that's not enough to keep it in my consciousness!

I don't know how my brain handled years like 1999 through 2001. I'm no longer used to having big, new flagship games in the core series.

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 2d

Any other year, Mario Kart World would still be the center of gravity in the Donkey Kong fan community or even the extended Donkey Kong Universe/Rare fandom.

It's only four months old, and I keep forgetting it exists. Oops.

Donkey Kong is unlocked in Mario Kart World with the "NEW CHARACTER!" screen, him posing in the Standard Kart against a picture of the DK Spaceport course. Screenshot from Mario Kart World.

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 2d

“Oh ho! Look whose big, hairy mug finally WOKE up!”

Kroctober Kourtney @altermentality.bsky.social · 2d

"Hey DK. You awake? ...Are you? Are you?" And if you wait long enough, it transitions from Pauline's voice to Cranky's saying "GET UP YOU LAZY APE"

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 2d

I bought a Nintendo Alarmo on the off chance they ever upload a Donkey Kong Bananza theme, because I don’t want to have to rely on other people’s reporting when communicating to the masses the complete Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo - Donkey Kong Bananza experience.

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 2d

And those desk jobs have been replaced by KAOS robots.

DK Vine @dkvine.com · 2d

Join us at 11 AM EDT/8 AM PDT (4 PM BST) for our weekly Sea of Thieves stream! Yes, no matter how much we're focused on Donkey Kong Bananza and Yooka-Replaylee this year, the holes in our hearts will always be Rare-shaped.

It's a serious condition, and it will kill us.

www.twitch.tv/dkvine

DK Vine @dkvine.com · 3d

Does a Bear (have a) shit (fit) in the (Krem)woods?

Bet this guy went to some dark places in the last 29 years. Full-on bearosphere loser shit. Probably got indoctrinated by Kremling Krew propaganda, went on the Monkey Meat Diet, and regularly swims in raw sewage in the re-polluted Mekanos.

a pixel art of a teddy bear standing in front of a picture frame .

Alt: Brash Bear pounds the counter desk in his cabin, radiating loser energy. GIF from Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble!

media.tenor.com

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 3d

Beauty is subjective.

Reposted by DK Vine

Kroctober Kourtney @altermentality.bsky.social · 4d

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Layer

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 4d

Where am I? What Layer is this? Why is the Elder hitting on me? Wha-what’s her Bananza Rehearsal going to entail? 😳

Vendi talks to Yooka & Laylee in Tribalstack Tropics.

“Workin’ hard?”

Screenshot from Yooka-Replayee (Switch 2).

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 4d

It's an end-of-the-week merchandise roundup! First 4 Figures now has two versions of a Conker's Bad Fur Day statue to pre-order, while Turtle Beach is releasing a Donkey Kong series Switch/Switch 2 PlayTrek travel case in November.

DK Vine • News • Monkeys Be Shopping: The DKU Merchandise Roundup (10/10/2025)

First 4 Figures presents a statue that can storm the Tediz beach, while Donkey and Diddy wisely keep to one that belongs to a Turtle.

www.dkvine.com

Reposted by DK Vine

DK Vine @dkvine.com · 5d

Is Yooka-Replaylee worth your time? What platform should you play it on? My feature-length review addresses it all, while also making the usual contractually-mandated references to Vendi and goldfish.

dkvine.com/Yooka_Replay...

A purple Yooka-Replaylee scrapbook with the characters appearing on the cover is placed on their sunbathing rock in Shipwreck Creek. Screenshot from Yooka-Replaylee (Xbox Series X/S).

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 5d

It’s still perfectly playable on Switch 2, but you know the performance is bad when even I notice it, the guy who hardly ever cares about frame rate. Hoping it’s something that can be patched in time.

Replaylee seems to be smooth as silk on every other platform.

DK Vine @dkvine.com · 5d

The final Wave of Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush Switch Icons is now live for NSO subscribers.

Those scared Fragmentones have no larger Fractone to reunite with. Won't you give them a loving home? *Sarah McLachlan's "Angel" plays in the background*

DK Vine • News • Wave 4 of DK Island & Emerald Rush Switch Icons: Rambi Rams, Stompoid Stomps, and Void... Voids.

Plus, a new Switch Icon of the Donkey Kong baddie everyone's been waiting for... Antickoid!

www.dkvine.com

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