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Mine Cart
MinecartReturns
Artwork of a Mine Cart from the game Donkey Kong Country Returns for Wii.
User(s) Kong Family,
Kremlings,
Mole Guards,
Skellirexes
Purpose(s) Traversing railroad tracks inside levels
Game(s) Donkey Kong Country,
Donkey Kong 64,
Donkey Kong Barrel Blast,
Donkey Kong Country Returns,
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D,
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
First Appearance Donkey Kong Country (for SFC/SNES) (1994)
Latest Appearance Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (for Switch) (2018)
"General Klump! I found the perfect gift for everyone! Mine cars!"
Donkey Kong in the episode "The Kongo Bongo Festival of Lights" from the Donkey Kong Country animated series.

Mine Carts are vehicles that appear in some games of the Donkey Kong series. They are a basic measure for transportation across railroad tracks in the games.

History[]

Donkey Kong Country[]

Mine carts first appear in the game Donkey Kong Country. They can be found inside the stages Mine Cart Carnage and Mine Cart Madness. As soon as the Kongs jump on them, Mine Carts do not stop moving forward. The only input required by the player is pressing the "Jump" button. In some stages, the Mine Cart jumps alongside the heroes, where they ride a single cart for an entire stage. But, in other stages, only the Kongs jump out of the Mine Cart, forcing the player to change between vehicles constantly in order to progress. As such, the stages consist of the primates charging through a mineshaft on the Mine Cart while the player must avoid hazards on the way, such as gaps on the tracks or derailed Mine Carts. By the Mine Cart falling into pits, the player will lose an extra life on the spot. However, touching a derailed Mine Cart will only harm the Kong at the main position.

In the same game, there are also Krashes, who are Kremling enemies riding Mine Carts in the opposite direction of the Kongs'. They can be very dangerous, and it is advisable to the player to jump over them carefully, and avoid to touch the enemies, because they can harm the heroes upon contact. However, inside stages where the Kongs are outside the Mine Carts, they can bounce on Krashes to defeat them, taking away their vehicles.

Donkey Kong 64[]

In the game Donkey Kong 64, Mine Cart sections appear inside some levels, and they are used for specific purposes. Usually, the player must complete an objective in order to earn a Golden Banana, such as collecting certain number of coins, while avoiding hazards and enemies over the tracks. However, Mine Carts are only used by Donkey, Diddy and Chunky Kong. Only Donkey and Chunky Kong can jump along with their Mine Carts due to their massive weight and strength, while Diddy Kong can only jump out of the Mine Cart and back inside due to his light weight and inability to lift heavy objects.

Donkey Kong Barrel Blast[]

BarrelBlast MineCart

Donkey Kong riding a Mine Cart during a short section of the Scorching Canyon course, as seen in the game Donkey Kong Barrel Blast for Wii.

A single Mine Cart appears during a short section of the Scorching Canyon course in the racing game Donkey Kong Barrel Blast. After the starting line and going past some wooden barrels and iron barrels, the player will reach a Barrel Cannon. By taking it, they will be blasted into the Mine Cart, which the player rides through a mine tunnel. During the short ride, the player can only jump in order to collect bananas and avoid some barrels on the tracks.

Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D[]

Mine Carts also appear in the games Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D inside the six levels as listed: Crazy Cart, Rickety Rails, Grip 'n' Trip, Bombs Away, Prehistoric Path and Roasting Rails. They act in similar way as they did in the previous games, but if the vehicle is hit once, the player will lose an extra life on the spot. Inside the levels Rickety Rails, Grip 'n' Trip and Roasting Rails, the primates may jump out of their Mine Carts. In the other levels, the primates must sometimes crouch inside the vehicle in order to avoid obstructions above the tracks. Opposite to Donkey Kong Country, some Mine Carts can also be used to bounce on non-flamable enemies in order to collect usually unreachable items and jump over pits. In the multiplayer mode, if both players' Kongs are present, only the first player, Donkey Kong, can control the Mine Cart. Also, opposite to Donkey Kong Country, at the end of each level track, the Mine Carts will always derail and drop the Kongs next to the Slot Machine Barrel.

In both games, there are some enemies that also ride Mine Carts. Mole Guards can be found riding these vehicles in the levels Crazy Cart and Bombs Away. And Skellirexes ride Mine Carts during the level Prehistoric Path. Both enemy types can be seen moving at the same direction of the Kongs, or the opposite one, trying to collide against them. Usually, the player must try to avoid them by jumping over the enemies. However, as opposed to the previous games, it is safe to bounce on them, defeating the enemies in the process. In fact, by bouncing on them, the primates can reach high places in order to collect some items or enter Barrel Cannons.

During the New Mode of Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, the player can visit the Cranky Kong's Shop and purchase one unit of the Crash Guard for ten Banana Coins. By the player equipping the item in the Inventory menu after selecting a level, the Crash Guard gives an extra hit of durability for the Mine Cart during a single level. The same item can only be equipped in levels with vehicle sections, and it does not protect the vehicle against falling into pits.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze[]

Mine Carts make their most recent appearance in the game Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, working very similar to the previous games, Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, except for all Mine Carts are always ridden by the heroes being inside and jumping along the vehicles. The primates still able to crouch inside the Mine Carts to avoid obstacles and bounce on non-flamable enemies. Also, in some levels, such as High Tide Ride, the Kongs can now jump between parallel track sections, by holding the "Left" or "Right" directional button before jumping, to avoid pits and obstacles. And similar to Rocket Barrels in the same game and during regular modes, the player will only lose an extra life after the Mine Carts taking two hits.

Inside the Funky Kong's Fly 'N' Buy shop, the player can purchase one unit of the Crash Guard for ten Banana Coins. Similar to how it worked in the New Mode of Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, the item adds one hit of durability for the Mine Cart during a single level. In order to the Crash Guard to work, it must also be equipped via the Inventory menu after the player selecting a level in the world maps of the game. The same item can also be equipped in any levels, however, the Crash Guard only works during vehicle sections.

Also in the Funky's Fly 'N' Buy shop, the player can exchange Banana Coins at the Capsule Toy Machine for random figurines. These optional collectables are three-dimensional spinnable models which the player can unlock in the Figurines option of the Extras menu. The Mine Cart is one of these figurines in the game.

Donkey Kong Country animated series[]

Mine Carts are very common in the Donkey Kong Country animated series, based on the game of the same name. The vehicles are the main mean of transportation used by the Kremlings. Railroad tracks cover the entire Kongo Bongo Island, going across mine tunnels and the jungle. The tracks also establish connection between important locations of the island, such as the King K. Rool's Lair, the Bluster Kong's Barrelworks factory, and the White Mountains.

Gallery[]

See Also[]

Trivia[]

References[]

Bonus Coin Static Items (excluding mostly Barrels) Bear Coin Static
General Animal TokenBananaBanana FairyBanana MedalBoss KeyCogCrestCrystal CoconutCrystal StarExtra Life BalloonGiant BananaGolden BalloonGolden BananaGolden FeatherHeadphonesK-O-N-G LettersPuzzle PieceRare OrbSupply CrateWatermelon
Coins Banana CoinBear CoinBonus CoinDK CoinKong TokenKremkoinNintendo CoinRareware CoinSilver Coin
Vehicles GyrocopterHot Air BalloonHover CraftMine CartMotor BoatRocket BarrelSkull CartTobogganTurbo Ski
Weapons/
Projectiles
Coconut ShooterCrateFeather BowGrape ShooterKannonballOrange GrenadePeanut PopgunPineapple LauncherTreasure ChestWatermelon Bomb
Shop Banana JuiceDK Barrel (DD, DX, CK & FK Barrels) • Heart BoostMap KeyRed BalloonSquawks the Parrot
Others Animal CrateEnd of Stage TargetHookKannonMelon CrateNo Animal SignRopeStage FlagTire
Miscellaneous Brothers Bear Items (Bowling BallMirror)
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