Donkey Kong (SSB4)

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Donkey Kong in Super Smash Bros. 4
Universe	Donkey Kong
Other playable appearances	in SSB in Melee in Brawl
Availability	Starter
Final Smash	Konga Beat

Donkey Kong (ドンキーコング, Donkī Kongu) was confirmed as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. 4 on June 11, 2013 during the E3 Nintendo Direct. He is among the first wave of compatible amiibo figures for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Takashi Nagasako voices the character. Nagasako's voice clips from Super Smash Bros. Brawl are being reused for this installment, so Donkey Kong retains his realistic gorilla grunts.

He is the laid-back protagonist of the Donkey Kong series and one of Nintendo's oldest, most recognizable characters. As in Brawl, DK will be joined by his sidekick Diddy Kong as playable representation for his series.

Changes from Brawl

While Donkey Kong retains most of his attacks, he performs them significantly faster. A prime example is the Giant Punch, which comes out much faster (DK also more quickly retracts his hand). DK's average speed has also been greatly increased. This improves Donkey Kong's abilities in battle.

• Hand Slap can be used in midair, and appears to have a larger hitbox on the ground.
• Back aerial deals slightly more damage on both the early and late hits.
• Konga Beat is now accompanied by an indicating bar that shows when to press the attack button.
• Stage 9 Giant Punch has been strengthened to the point where it can KO reliably. The move as a whole also comes out faster.
• Forward aerial, up aerial, and up tilt appear to have less startup lag.
  • However, his forward aerial and up aerial deal slightly less damage.
• Down aerial is now much faster.
  • However, it has gained a sourspot at the chest.
• Spinning Kong no longer spins completely horizontally when he uses the move on the ground, but instead spins at an angle. This increases the attack's vertical range.
  • However, it deals half the damage it dealt in Brawl.
• Down tilt deals less damage.
• DK's dash grabs have been slowed down a bit.
• Donkey Kong now rolls like in the Donkey Kong Country series as his dash attack.
• Donkey Kong has a new ledge attack that involves him punching the ground in front of him.

Donkey Kong appears to have more stylized fur, even more so than he did in Brawl. His proportions seemed to have been tweaked slightly to be more reminiscent of his recent appearances in Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze. His general expressiveness has been greatly exaggerated as well, with many of his moves and animations now accompanied with smirks, toothy grins, or a look of utter confusion. When Donkey Kong is launched, his eyes will even bulge out of his head.

Moveset

Ground attacks

Normal

• Neutral attack - Donkey Kong performs a quick cross punch followed by an uppercut.
• Dash attack - Donkey Kong performs a roll as done in Donkey Kong Country.
• Forward tilt - Donkey Kong quickly swats his outstretched hand.
• Up tilt - Donkey Kong quickly swipes his hand in the air. Has very reliable arch range.
• Down tilt - Donkey Kong quickly swats towards the opponents feet.

Smash Attacks

• Forward smash - Donkey Kong performs a very forceful clap. DK now smirks as he performs the move.
• Up smash - Donkey Kong performs a very powerful clap above his head, swinging both of his arms 90˚ in the process.
• Down smash - Donkey Kong performs a double back-handed punch, swinging both of his clenched fists down 90˚ in the process.

Aerial attacks

• Neutral aerial - Donkey Kong quickly spins with arms extended.
• Forward aerial - Donkey Kong closes his hands together over his head and quickly thrusts them downward as an ax-handled smash. If landed correctly the opponent is meteor smashed.
• Back aerial - Donkey Kong performs a quick kick directed behind him.
• Up aerial - Donkey Kong performs a quick and reliable headbutt. Ideal for combos.
• Down aerial - Donkey Kong performs a downward stomp while flexing his arms in a somewhat iconic "macho" pose. It will always meteor smash.

Grabs and throws

• Forward throw - Donkey Kong cradles the opponent on his back and carries them away. When the player releases the grab button DK will toss the opponent forward.

Special Moves

In Super Smash Bros. 4, special moves can be swapped out for different variants, but only a few of Donkey Kong's are known. All of Donkey Kong's original special moves and his final smash are retained. These are DK's special moves:

• Neutral Special - Giant Punch: Donkey Kong winds up and thrusts out his arm as a potentially powerful attack. The attack is at full power after nine windups. The punch can be saved and chosen when to be released after being fully charged.
  • Custom 2 - Storm Punch: Donkey Kong winds up and thrusts out his arm. The action produces a powerful wind that will push back opponents but not damage them, like F.L.U.D.D..
• Side Special - Headbutt: Donkey Kong slams his head downward. When performed in the air, the struck opponent is meteor smashed. When performed on the ground the opponent is buried and will remain submerged longer if the opponent has already dealt a fair amount of damage. Unlike in Brawl, DK will not stall in the air.
• Up Special - Spinning Kong: Donkey Kong spins with his arms outstretched. DK has knockback resistance when using this move, and it is an effective horizontal recovery. However, it's weak as a vertical recovery. DK no longer spins completely horizontally when he uses the move on the ground, but instead spins at an angle. This increases the attacks vertical range.
• Down Special - Hand Slap: Donkey Kong repeatedly slaps his hands against the ground, causing earth-shaking vibrations in the process. The attack gives DK some protection from opponents while grounded and has good range. Donkey Kong can now use the move while in midair, although not in rapid succession.

Special Move	Basic	Custom 1	Custom 2
Neutral Special	Giant Punch	-	Storm Punch
Side Special	Headbutt	"Launch-resistant variant of Headbutt"	-
Up Special	Spinning Kong	-	-
Down Special	Hand Slap	"Electrical version of Hand Slap"	-
Final Smash	Konga Beat	-	-

Final Smash

• Konga Beat: Donkey Kong's final smash from Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Donkey Kong will take out a pair of bongos and begin to play them to the beat of "DK Island Swing", sending out shock-waves in the process. The attacks range and power is determined by the player's input. The player must push the attack button in succession with the song's beat in order have the greatest range and power. While this was difficult in Brawl, the final smash now is accompanied by an indicative bar that will appear above DK. It will let the player know when to press the attack button. The final smash is heavily influenced by the Donkey Konga subseries.

Taunts

• Beats his clenched hands against his chest. DK now smirks as he does so.
• Shakes himself as if his fur was wet. DK now has a large toothy grin as he does so.
• Faces the camera, shrugs his shoulders, and makes a confused grunt. It originates from Super Smash Bros..

On-Screen Appearance

Donkey Kong bursts from a DK Barrel and briefly strikes a pose.

Victory Fanfare

A flourished remix directly from Brawl based on the jingle that would play whenever Donkey Kong completely cleared a bonus room or defeated a boss in Donkey Kong Country.

Palette Swap

• Standard - Brown: Donkey Kong wears his trademark red tie and has brown fur.
• Black: Donkey Kong wears a yellow tie and has black fur. It may originate from the Contest Mode in Donkey Kong Country.
• Red: Donkey Kong wears a blue tie and has red fur. It is based on the color of the original Donkey Kong.
• Blue: Donkey Kong wears a purple tie and has blue fur. It is based on one of the alternate colors for DK in Donkey Kong 64.
• Green: Donkey Kong wears a red tie and has green fur.
• White: Donkey Kong wears a red tie and has white fur. It makes him resemble a yeti.
• Yellow: Donkey Kong wears a blue tie and has yellow fur.
• Pink: Donkey Kong wears a green tie and has bright pink fur.

File:DonkeyKongColorsSSB4.png

Gallery

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  Donkey Kong in the Nintendo Direct from April 8th, 2014.

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  Donkey Kong's appearance during E3 2013.

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  Donkey Kong's appearance in the 3DS version of the game.

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  Donkey Kong using Spinning Kong on the ground in the Wii U version.

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  Donkey Kong using Hand Slap in the 3DS version of the game.

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  Being hit by a smash attack from a Home-Run Bat.

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  Grinning while next to Diddy Kong.

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  With Kapp'n.

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  With King Dedede, Mario, and Bowser.

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  Holding a Bomb with Toon Link and Link.

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  With Wii Fit Trainer.

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  Pikachu footstooling on Donkey Kong.

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  The Wii Fit Trainer lifting Donkey Kong.

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  Donkey Kong attacking next to Pikachu

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  Donkey Kong fighting against enemies in Smash Run.

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  One of Donkey Kong's custom special moves, the Storm Punch.