The Kongversation: Donkey Kong Universe Discussion

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 Donkey Kong sub-series for LEGO Super Mario has arrived! Hyle shares his first impressions with Dustin, full of amusing anecdotes about building the characters and playsets, navigating the LEGO Super Mario app, and trying to figure out the all-important question: IS IT CANON?

The Geek Critique is back on the Kongversation for a lengthy discussion about the most magical time for a fan of a video game series. No, not when you're playing a new game. Before that. The time between the official reveal and release, when your brain centers on this one monumental target of upcoming excitement. Being that it's now been a decade since Donkey Kong fans got to experience this, we l...

Everyone has ideas for a new Donkey Kong or Banjo-Kazooie game, but what about the third pillar of the DKU? Being a more auteur-driven series, most people have written Conker off as a dead franchise. But what if it indeed got a new full-length game? In a unique Kongversation, three DK Vine staffers with wildly contrasting opinions on where to take the peeing squirrel all convene for a wild and mes...

A reconciling of the drama surrounding the "mob_dk" nonsense for Mario Kart Tour and, by extension, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe! The hope brought about by the data-mining of a new Donkey Kong track earlier this year affirmed the belief that Diddy Kong was coming to the Booster Course Pass... and now it's turned out to be something completely different. Where do DK fans (Donkey Kong, not dokan) currently s...

Squawk! How did the most minor regular character in Donkey Kong Country become one of the most beloved and essential characters in the entire Donkey Kong Universe? It's a fascinating tale of Rare's development philosophies and never letting a character go to waste. It's the tale of Squawks the parrot! Bwark!

In honor of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, the Kongversation looks at the very real impact the original trilogy had on the development of the DKU, specifically in how Rare reconceptualized the Kongs for Donkey Kong Country. Anything goes when it comes to lifting traits and set pieces from the classic films!

Banjo-Kazooie has Beak Bombed the quarter-century mark! The Kongversation celebrates with a massive chat about the game's enduring legacy, how the series continues to make new fans despite the lack of new titles, how it's maintained its sibling relationship with Donkey Kong, and, of course, our hopes for its future!

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Apparently, that means swinging a sharp sword around while driving a go-kart. Hyle and Cameron have a Kongversation about the new costumed Donkey Kong variant in Mario Kart Tour while also discussing some dispiriting rumors about what may (or may not) be ahead for the Kong cast in both Tour and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe!

The Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country has turned 20 years old in June of 2023! But why does an "inferior" version of DKC deserve a long Spotlight episode and the respect of Donkey Kong fandom? Hyle and Dustin discuss why the GBA version might actually be the most crucial game in DK's history after Miyamoto's original arcade game and the SNES DKC!

Broadcast LIVE on https://twitch.tv/dkvine, Hyle is joined by Josh Wallen from off of the Geek Critique to discuss Nintendo's big June 2023 Direct! Did we get the new Donkey Kong game? Nope! Was Diddy announced for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe? Nope! Were there any cool DKU Nintendo Switch Online titles revealed? Nope! So why is Hyle feeling so good about Donkey Kong's future?

A discussion about the Donkey Kong Country cartoon on DK Vine's Kongversation? Hold your loved ones tight and say goodbye to all you hold dear! Hyle and Cameron sit down with the key creative minds behind the surprise animated short that reunited the cast of the classic animated series. How did they recruit them? What was it like blending them into a more games-accurate version of the DKU? And wha...

Broadcast LIVE on https://twitch.tv/dkvine, Hyle and Dustin are back with thoughts on the 2023 Xbox Showcase! What did we think about Rare's announcement for the big green digital presentation? We also pause to acknowledge the fact that it's been ten years since Tropical Freeze's reveal, reflecting on the heaviness that comes with being a Rare and DKU fan. Why is it so gosh darn hard compared to e...

Broadcast LIVE on https://twitch.tv/dkvine, Hyle and Dustin kick off Stinky Ape Summer and the game announcement season with a look at the Donkey Kong Universe's chances over the next three months. Less blind predictions and more a State of the Union of our fandom, we speak our concerns and express our hopes on everything Yooka-Laylee and Playtonic, Rare's franchises both new and old, and Donkey K...

The most overlooked Mario Kart? The most underrated Mario Kart? Or a middling compromise between Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart 64? The Kongversation looks back at the first handheld Mario Kart game that bridged the divide between the Nintendo 64 and GameCube eras and also launched the Game Boy Advance!

Hey, remember that time Tiny Kong encountered a mermaid in Donkey Kong 64? That was kind of stupid. It didn't fit the Donkey Kong Universe. OR DID IT? Historic folklore intertwined with further in-game mythology over the next 24 years says otherwise! DK Vine sells out to Disney by analyzing the little mermaids (and little mermen and oh-so-precious sirens) of Rare's shared universe!

The Super Mario Bros. Movie has reignited a debate for the ages (and a debate about the aged). Is Cranky Kong the father or grandfather of the current Donkey Kong? And does that make the current Donkey Kong an adult Donkey Kong Jr. or his son? And where does Baby Donkey Kong fit into this mess? The Kongversation recounts the complicated, sometimes contradictory history of Cranky and Donkey's relat...

Rare's beloved classic website, Rarewhere, has turned 25! The Kongversation takes a look back at what made this particular corporate website so special for the fandom, why it continues to influence us today, and all the ways it influenced the lore and our understanding of the shared Rare universe!

The Kongversation discusses the four new Donkey Kong sets coming to LEGO Super Mario! The surprises, the references, and even the hidden lore of the upcoming expansion to the sprawling toy series!

It's another spoiler-filled episode on the Super Mario Bros. Movie as Hyle is joined by The Cartoon Gamer himself, MALIK! They're opening the show up to our listeners, who have called in to ask for our opinions on the role of the Kongs in the movie, the potential possibilities for the Donkey Kong film, and much more!

Go back to World 1 for episode 1111 and learn all about the home of Donkey Kong and most of his friends and family: the Kongo Jungle! The Kongversation gets into the weeds on this audio expedition, discussing the real-world influences of the iconic locale and uncovering inane minutiae like where the tennis courts in Mario Tennis games are located and what is actually the true source of the Kongo R...

What's up, Colin? What's up, LADIES? Hyle and Jeff discuss the surreal experience of Funky Kong appearing on Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update!

With a renewed interest in every Kong both famous and obscure, the public wants to know everything there is to know about Swanky Kong! Luckily, DK Vine indeed knows everything there is to know about the gaudy gorilla game show host. Hyle and Dustin welcome Swanky to our own version of "This Is Your Life"... Character Witness!

Broadcast live on https://www.twitch.tv/dkvine, it's our massive four-person, four-hour roundtable discussion of the Super Mario Bros. Movie! We spoil everything by getting into all of the film's triumphs and flaws... and all of that Donkey Kong content.