Diddy's Dash

Diddy Kong in the level Hot-Head Hop during the Diddy's Dash mode, as seen in the game Donkey Kong Country 2 for GBA.

"What happened? Did you get lost?"

—Cranky Kong in the game Donkey Kong Country 2 for GBA

Diddy's Dash is an optional timed mode found in the Game Boy Advance version of the game Donkey Kong Country 2. During this mode, the player must clear regular levels from the main game mode as fast as possible in order to set time records.

Overview

This mode is accessible by the player picking the Diddy's Dash option at the main menu screen of the game. It is also possible to play Diddy's Dash in single player or multiplayer, the latter by using a Game Link Cable between two Game Boy Advance systems. After that, the player chooses a world and then a level to play.

The main objective of the mode is for the player to play as Diddy Kong solo (hence the name), through the all game's levels, except for boss levels, while being timed. He must reach the empty End of Stage Target in the lowest time, setting a new time record. At any moment, it is possible for the player to pause the game and restart or quit the current level by picking one of the two options.

All enemies and regular collectables seen during the main game mode are still inside the levels. However, all DK Barrels on the ground are replaced with crates. Floating DK Barrels, Star Barrels, Warp Barrels, Kannons, DK Coins and K-O-N-G Letters are missing. And despite all Bonus Barrels being still present, Bonus Rooms and their secret entrances are unaccessible during this mode.

Throughout three points in each level, there are lines of stars which act as checkpoints. If Diddy Kong is harmed or falls into pits, the player will not lose extra lives, but the small ape will return to the beginning of the level or previous active checkpoint after a few seconds. If the player uses jumps, roll attacks or Animal Buddies' attacks to defeat two or more enemies in succession, the time clock will freeze for a few seconds. More enemies are defeated in succession, more multipliers are added to the frozen clock.

After the player clearing a level, Cranky Kong will evaluate their current time. The old monkey will mock the player if they are not able to set a new record. In case of the player setting a new time record, they can input a name for the record by using until three letters. Either way, Cranky will also ask if the player wants to play the same level again.

Cranky's Times

All initial time records for each level are set by Cranky Kong. By the player highlighting a level at the selection screen, the old ape's initial record for the current one will flash at the bottom of the screen. Once time records for each five levels are beaten, Cranky will reveal a random cheat code to the player. Here are all of Cranky's initial time records by world maps and levels of the Crocodile Isle:

Gangplank Galleon

• Pirate Panic: 20 seconds
• Mainbrace Mayhem: 30 seconds
• Gangplank Galley: 30 seconds
• Lockjaw's Locker: 55 seconds
• Topsail Trouble: 55 seconds

Crocodile Cauldron

• Hot-Head Hop: 1 minute
• Kannon's Klaim: 58 seconds
• Lava Lagoon: 1 minute 30 seconds
• Red-Hot Ride: 2 minutes 45 seconds
• Squawks's Shaft: 1 minute

Krem Quay

• Barrel Bayou: 1 minute 15 seconds
• Glimmer's Galleon: 1 minute 50 seconds
• Krockhead Klamber: 1 minute 5 seconds
• Rattle Battle: 1 minute 5 seconds
• Slime Climb: 1 minute 10 seconds
• Bramble Blast: 1 minute 41 seconds

Krazy Kremland

• Hornet Hole: 1 minute 40 seconds
• Target Terror: 1 minute 27 seconds
• Bramble Scramble: 2 minutes
• Rickety Race: 1 minute 30 seconds
• Mudhole Marsh: 1 minute 40 seconds
• Rambi Rumble: 1 minute 30 seconds

Gloomy Gulch

• Ghostly Grove: 1 minute
• Haunted Hall: 1 minute 55 seconds
• Gusty Glade: 1 minute 10 seconds
• Parrot Chute Panic: 2 minutes
• Web Woods: 2 minutes 45 seconds

K. Rool's Keep

• Arctic Abyss: 1 minute 40 seconds
• Windy Well: 2 minutes 55 seconds
• Castle Crush: 4 minutes 25 seconds
• Clapper's Cavern: 1 minute 10 seconds
• Chain Link Chamber: 1 minute 45 seconds
• Toxic Tower: 2 minutes

The Flying Krock

• Screech's Sprint: 2 minutes

Lost World

• Jungle Jinx: 1 minute 15 seconds
• Black Ice Battle: 1 minute 12 seconds
• Klobber Karnage: 1 minute 46 seconds
• Fiery Furnace: 1 minute 40 seconds
• Animal Antics: 3 minutes

Trivia

• Despite boss levels are not available in the Diddinator 3000's Dash, during the main mode of the GBA version of the game Donkey Kong Country 2, it is possible for the player to revisit already cleared boss levels and replay them while being timed. However, the player must first pay ten Banana Coins to Swanky Kong for each attempt. By defeating a boss and setting a new time record for the level, the player earns a single blue Extra Life Balloon. The same boss levels cannot be revisited outside this mode in the same game version.
• Diddy's Dash is similar to the DK Attack, an optional timed mode from the GBA version of the game Donkey Kong Country. However, as opposed to the DK Attack, the Diddy's Dash does not possess score points, it evaluates only the time taken by the player to clear a stage.
• In the game Donkey Kong Land III, there is also a time trial mode called Time Attack. In this mode, unlocked by the player collecting all six Stop Watches and clearing The Lost World, the player must quickly complete twelve stage types seen during the main game in order to beat each time record for them. However, unlike the Diddy's Dash from the game Donkey Kong Country 2 for GBA, clearing the Time Attack is required for raising the percentage rate of completion in the game Donkey Kong Land III.
• There is also an optional timed mode known as Time Attack in the games Donkey Kong Country Returns, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. By clearing a level once in the mentioned games, the player can try to complete it again while being timed. After doing that, the current time set by the player is evaluated according to existing time records assigned to bronze, silver, gold and shiny gold medals, respectively.