The Kongversation: Donkey Kong Universe Discussion
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414 episodes
In DKU Architects, the Kongversation examines the creative philosophies behind the minds that helped shape the Donkey Kong Universe. Up first is the design brilliance of Gregg Mayles, the creative juggernaut at Rare who lent his talents to Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Kazooie, Viva Piñata, Sea of Thieves, and more!
Hey, it's Tiptup! Believe it or not, Diddy Kong Racing's speedy turtle, who would go on to become a minor character in the Banjo-Kazooie series, was once one of Rare's most popular characters. Learn about the fervent late 1990s devotion to the maestro as we explore his life history on the Kongversation!
Why do a fourth episode on Stop 'N' Swop? What more could possibly be said for the fabled scrapped feature that would have connected Banjo-Kazooie, Donkey Kong 64, Banjo-Tooie, and at least three more of Rare's N64 titles? Steve from off of Rare Gamer is back to take it to the fridge, freezer, or shower!
The Kongversation discussing a Super Mario Bros. game? What? Why? Because it takes one of the world's biggest Donkey Kong Country fans, as well as one of the world's biggest Sonic the Hedgehog fans, to talk about the virtues of the most maligned and misunderstood entry in the Super Mario series. Hyle and Josh Wallen chat about Super Mario Bros. 2!
The Kongversation catches up with Sea of Thieves' final months of 2023 with the three big new features added to the game: Guilds, the Skull of Siren Song, and Safer Seas!
The most recent new, standalone Donkey Kong game is now one decade old. It's a dubious, depressing milestone for any DK fan, but Hyle's joined by The Cartoon Gamer, Malik, to help look on the bright side of things and warm the cold sensation of 10 years wandering the frozen tundra!
Hyle and Cameron discuss Rare's sudden, surprising multiplatform spread across Xbox, Nintendo, and PlayStation consoles! Between five more titles arriving on Nintendo Switch Online and Sea of Thieves coming to PlayStation 5, what does the future hold for the rest of Rare's past and present?
The Kongversation kicks off its 12th season! After discussing some news about DK Vine up front, Hyle and Dustin get into their thoughts on the Nintendo Switch remake of Mario vs. Donkey Kong. While the original is controversial in certain corners of Donkey Kong fandom, does the remake hit any differently 20 years later?
DK Vine rings in 2024 for the UK while ringing out Season 11 of the podcast. What does 2024 look like for the Donkey Kong Universe, specifically the Donkey Kong franchise, Banjo-Kazooie, and Yooka-Laylee?
We discuss the recent 30-second ad for the upcoming Donkey Kong Country expansion to Super Nintendo World!
Following up on the Spotlight episode for 2003's browser game, Hyle and Josh are back with some surprising revelations about Donkey Kong Country Barrel Maze and Skyworks Technologies, Inc., the studio behind the magic! Be sure to watch the YouTube version of this episode at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00vNYtO3T78 for the full effect!
2023 saw a unique video game crossover when the world of LucasArts' Monkey Island, the classic point-and-click adventure series, crossed over with Rare's shared universe in Sea of Thieves. Stalwart Rare diehard Hyle is joined by Monkey Island fanatic Dustin and Sea of Thieves expert Jeff to break down all three installments of "The Legend of Monkey Island" and determine if it was the middle ground to win us all over!
Universal Studios Japan has unveiled many of the details for the upcoming expansion to Super Nintendo World entitled Donkey Kong Country. DK Vine discusses all of the major news and ramifications of the biggest Donkey Kong story of the decade!
Donkey Kong Country Barrel Maze was a 2003 browser game licensed by Nintendo to promote Donkey Kong Country for the Game Boy Advance on the Candystand.com website. Explore the history and surprisingly intricate lore of the DK game the general public never knew existed!
Hyle's about a month into his journey as the world's first self-employed Donkey Kong journalist. But where are the checks and balances? What professional can hold him accountable? Mitchell Wolfe returns to the podcast to give Hyle his DK Vine performance review!
We were going to do a two-hour episode but then we realized we had to DOUBLE IT!! The Kongversation looks back at Mario Kart Double Dash!! and the GameCube racer's many triumphs, notorious frustrations, and unique place in Mario Kart history!
The moment we had given up on more than once has finally come to (Booster Course) pass: Diddy Kong is in Mario Kart 8! Along with Funky Kong's addition, the biggest hindrance towards DK fans embracing the most recent console iteration of the series has been resolved. Hyle and Cameron share their initial thoughts on finally getting to play a nine-and-a-half-year-old game with slightly different primates!
Travel back to Rare's Manor House, circa early 1998, as a recently uncovered document reveals a previously unknown game and new details about the origins of another. Explore what could have been for the Diddy Kong Racing cast in the immediate aftermath of their hit N64 racing game!
Grabbed by the Ghoulies is a brilliant entry in Rare's shared universe and one of our favorite titles. But their Xbox debut has been dismissed and maligned by mainstream gamers since its release in 2003. What's the disconnect between the two sides? Altermentality returns to the podcast to discuss exactly why Ghoulies has grabbed true believers for two decades and counting!
DK Vine enters a new era! Broadcast live on https://www.twitch.tv/dkvine, Hyle's joined by Josh from off of the Geek Critique to discuss what's ahead for DK Vine as the hub for Donkey Kong Universe fandom in the weeks, months, and hopefully years to come!
Sea of Thieves' Season Nine was its longest yet. Stretched out over seven months, it was intended to be a lowkey series of updates focused on quality-of-life improvements that, due to delays for future content, bore the weight of much of Rare's 2023. However, it wasn't without its charms! Hyle and Jeff check in with Rare's ongoing pirate adventure!
It's autumn! Crisp air, pumpkin-flavored beverages and desserts, and all the cider your supple little cheeks can swallow. And what better place to spend the fall than the island in the Rare Archipelago most associated with it? Hyle and Dustin celebrate Oktoberfest in Autumn Heights!
Hyle and Cameron discuss the end of new content in Mario Kart Tour, the strange melancholy of it, and what it and the end of the Booster Course Pass could mean for the future of Mario Kart!
Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge. Overlooked. Dismissed. Forgotten. And... vitally important to the history of Banjo-Kazooie? Hyle and Dustin honor the Game Boy Advance midquel in light of its 20th anniversary, examining why the underrated gem means so much to the hardcore Banjo-Kazooie and DKU fandoms!
Stinky Ape Summer comes to a close with our annual Talk Like a Pirate Day episode! This time, Hyle and Dustin pick up a discussion they started back in June about Rare, Rare's legacy, and how they could do a better job in honoring it. The answer? Put Captain Blackeye in Sea of Thieves!
Broadcasted live on DK Vine's Twitch channel at https://twitch.tv/dkvine, Hyle and Josh from off of the Geek Critique discuss the September 2023 Nintendo Direct! From a leak that unnecessarily raised expectations to a nine-year drama ending in victory, few Nintendo Directs ran the full gamut of emotions for Donkey Kong fans!
Having recently passed the 25th anniversary of the infamous Donkey Kong Country cartoon's premiere in his native United States, Hyle comes to terms with the adaptation that many fans love and that he's historically loathed. The Cartoon Gamer joins the show to discuss with him how his feelings have softened over the years and why he now respects its place in history. (Mostly!)
The Kongversation reflects on Charles Martinet's surprise retirement from voice acting in Mario games. What's the hardcore Donkey Kong fanatic perspective on the loss of his frienemy's familiar mouth sounds?
An entire episode of the Kongversation centered on the upcoming Donkey Kong Country section of Super Nintendo World in Osaka and Orlando! Hyle and Dustin break down everything that's known and leaked about the little slice of Kongo Jungle, including all the twists and turns of the minecart coaster!
Why is Camelot's second console Mario Golf game so beloved by a subset of Donkey Kong Universe fans? Hyle and David discuss the legacy of Toadstool Tour in light of its 20th anniversary, including Diddy's playable debut in a game not developed by Rare. We also delve into the history of DK Vine's infamous "prosthetic golfing fingers" rationale, pinpointing the precise date and time Hyle vomited out the most ludicrous piece of fanon bile ever committed to the Internet.
