Donkey Kong GB - Dinky Kong & Dixie Kong (Japan)
Donkey Kong GB - Dinky Kong & Dixie Kong (Japan) - Platformer Classic
This is the Japanese version of Donkey Kong Land III, the final chapter in the Donkey Kong Land trilogy for the original Game Boy. Released in 1997, it was published by Nintendo and developed by Rare. The title 'Dinky Kong & Dixie Kong' refers to the two playable characters - in the west, the young ape is named Kiddy Kong. This version features all the same levels and mechanics as its international counterpart, with Japanese text throughout. It's a proper side-scrolling platformer for the Game Boy, but fully playable on Game Boy Color hardware as well.
You control either Dixie Kong or Kiddy Kong across five worlds, each containing multiple stages. The goal is to rescue the stolen Banana Bird eggs from a villainous bear named Baron K. Roolenstein. Dixie can spin her ponytail to hover briefly, while Kiddy can roll into a ball and throw his partner. Stages involve jumping over pits, collecting items like stars (which offer extra lives), and activating switches to open paths. Each world ends with a boss fight against a mechanized creature. There are also bonus areas hiding extra coins and puzzle pieces.
For fans of classic Platformers, this entry in the Donkey Kong series holds up surprisingly well. The level design is inventive, with a focus on exploration and hidden secrets. It's not as polished as the SNES Donkey Kong Country games due to the hardware limits, but Rare did an excellent job compressing that experience into a portable format. If you enjoyed the first two Land games, you'll find more of that same tight platforming here. It's also a neat piece of gaming history as the last DX-style Game Boy game in that franchise.
How to Play Donkey Kong GB - Dinky Kong & Dixie Kong (Japan) Online
Getting Started
When you start the game, you'll see a title screen with the Japanese logo. Press Start (Enter) to get to the main menu which offers options like New Game and Continue. Use the D-Pad to highlight an option and press Enter to select. The menus are entirely in Japanese, but the layout is identical to the western version - the topmost option is New Game, the one below it is Continue (which requires a password from a previous save).
Immediately after selecting New Game, you'll choose your character: Dixie Kong or Kiddy Kong. They play slightly differently - Dixie can hover, Kiddy can throw. The core loop is simple: move from left to right, avoid enemies, collect items like bananas and stars, and reach the end flag. Press X to jump, S to use a special move depending on which character you picked (Dixie's ponytail spin or Kiddy's roll). In many stages, you'll need to activate DK tokens (shaped like the letters D, K, and K) to open the exit gate.
The game has a password system - every time you clear a world, you receive a long password that you can write down to resume later. Since this is the Japanese version, you cannot rely on text hints, but the levels are designed so that trial and error works. Look out for bonus areas hidden in walls or under water - they often give extra lives or collectibles. The game auto-saves? No, only passwords, so keep them handy.
Donkey Kong GB - Dinky Kong & Dixie Kong (Japan) Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: A button (jump / confirm)
- S: B button (run / attack / cancel)
- Enter: Start / Pause
- V: Select
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