The Kongversation: Donkey Kong Universe Discussion

Released on the same day as Banjo-Tooie and effectively replaced only two-and-a-half years later with another remake, the Game Boy Color version of Donkey Kong Country is a relatively forgotten curiosity in DKU canon. But we? We sort of love it. The Kongversation puts the Spotlight on a game where you can't even properly display spotlights: DKC GBC!

Yooka-Laylee has turned five! Hyle and Dustin celebrate the Yooka-Layleeversary by looking back at how the presence of Playtonic Games has boosted Donkey Kong Universe fandom over the last half-decade. Plus, we also speculate and share what we'd like to see from them next!

The Kongversation discusses the newest DKU Cameo Game, Jitsu Squad! It's an indie 2-D beat 'em up/1990s martial arts pastiche with guest appearances by Yooka, Laylee, and Rextro Sixtyfourus! Master Ramen requests that you listen. Master Ramen also reminds you that you can't hear the podcast if you can't stop laughing at his name.

For a character with relatively few games, Conker's had some dramatic tweaks to his art style and presentation throughout the years. The Kongversation discusses the evolution of Conker's look (and his world) from marshmallow fingers to football head!

JINJO! Hyle and Malik get into all of the hidden lore and history of the Jinjo species from off of the Banjo-Kazooie series!

For Women's History Month, Hyle is joined by Gibbon and Courtney "Altermentality" Svatek to look at the ladies of the Donkey Kong Universe! From quiet trailblazers like Dixie Kong and Kazooie to those who caused flooding on the path (Candy Kong, Berri), it's an expansive look at some of our favorites across the DK series, Banjo-Kazooie, Conker, Dinosaur Planet, Yooka-Laylee, and more! Additional r...

The Rarenaissance era, which we've been living in for the past eight years, has seen the embers of Rare reignite across the games and studios of the Donkey Kong Universe. As the era nears its end and we prepare to embark on what's next, Hyle and Mitchell reflect on the last near-decade of the DKU!

Happy holidays! Hyle and Jeff discuss the holiday season, and a season of change, in Sea of Thieves. As Season Five winds down, we look back at sitting down, talk about eating pounds of rat, question who's the true star of loads, and review the introduction of Belle and the Shrouded Islands adventure!

Let's guzzle some tea and have another chat about Sabre Wulf! Hyle has revived his DK Vine Forum series "The Slush Fun'd" to chronicle his experiences playing the Game Boy Advance cult classic, and he and Dustin will delve into all of his findings and theories, including the game's timeline placement in the DKU and a grand unifying theory between it, Donkey Kong Land, Conker's Pocket Tales, Donkey...

We give our quick thoughts on Banjo-Kazooie on Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. The performance, the differences, and the joy of having the Nintendo 64 version available once again!

In the first of several special Tribunal episodes throughout the season, Hyle and the gang set out to reexamine if Sabre Wulf for the Game Boy Advance should be considered part of the shared universe of Donkey Kong. It's a twisty, convoluted journey into how shared universes have evolved in the popular imagination over the past 50 years, DK Vine's own rules on the subject, and how it all relates t...

It's a special LIVE New Year's Forecast 2022! Hyle and Gibbon look into the ORB to see what the year ahead may entail for the Donkey Kong Universe, and then they usher in 2022 for the homeland of Rare and Playtonic!

Inspired by the fervor that Fangamer's RareRacers pins caused, Hyle, Cameron, and Jeff sit down to discuss all of the various shapes and sizes that a new Rare racing game could take and what we would most like to see. Got milk?

Since our discussion of the Dinosaur Planet ROM, even more of it has been uncovered. In fact, we now have an entire view of the game's storyline and shocking twists, some of which differ quite a bit from Star Fox Adventures. Steve from off of Rare Gamer returns to discuss the alternate reality that could have been!

In the Kongversation's last Sea of Thieves recap of the year, Hyle and Jeff look back at Season Four of Rare's ongoing pirate prequel, which explored the underwater kingdom of the Sirens, saw Halloween and Thanksgiving-inspired events, and... introduced Kremlings?

The Kongversation discusses all of the big news about Playtonic's ambitious plans before focusing on Demon Turf, the new Hell-based 3D platformer published by Playtonic Friends and featuring an appearance by Yooka and Laylee!

DK Vine's love/hate relationship with the Mario Party franchise has been well-documented on the Kongversation and elsewhere, so what happens when we get a Mario Party "greatest hits" package that focuses heavily on nostalgia for the Nintendo 64 trilogy? We discuss and debate the return to Mushroom Village, as well as all of the Kong-based representation in the game!

Our journey with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has come to an end. Hyle and Mitchell sentimentally reflect on one of the wildest content cycles for any game we've ever covered. We also ponder what could possibly be next for the Smash franchise!

The Kongversation geeks out over Fangamer's new RareRacers merchandise line, kicking off with Banjo and the first-ever Timber the tiger merchandise!

The Kongversation connects the dots and lays out the case for why Donkey Kong Country fans should be happy, seeing as how we're on the verge of the greatest time for the franchise since the 1990s. Featuring insights on the purported new game, the movie, and the just-announced theme park! Co-starring Josh "The Geek Critique" Wallen!

DK Vine teams with The Cartoon Gamer to have a Kongversation about the big DKU stories of the September 2021 Nintendo Direct: Banjo-Kazooie on the Nintendo Switch and Seth Rogen and Fred Armisen as Donkey and Cranky Kong in Illumination's Super Mario movie!

The Kongversation navigates a four-hour voyage across the waters of chat as we discuss the epic crossover between Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean and Rare's shared universe. Spoilers ahoy!

D.M. Cumbo, the mind behind Dreamprism Press and the author and artist of Yooka-Laylee and the Kracklestone, joins us once again on the Kongversation for a chat about the creation of the graphic novel, collaborating with Playtonic, and why you should VOTE FART.

In honor of the Grand Tome Edition available now at Limited Run Games (https://www.limitedrungames.com/products/yooka-laylee-and-the-kracklestone-graphic-novel), the Kongversation tackles the official Yooka-Laylee graphic novel, Yooka-Laylee and the Kracklestone! How did the work change the way Hyle and Cameron view Yooka-Laylee, and why is it worth the time of any longtime fan of the DKU?

The Kongversation is joined by two fathers of the Donkey Kong Universe: the designer of the modern Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, Kev Bayliss, and legendary composer David Wise. They're on the podcast to chat about their careers (including Donkey Kong Country, Diddy Kong Racing, and Star Fox Adventures) and also their new venture: DK Creations Ltd. and the multi-media comic experience SALAMANDOS!