DK's Missing Hat & K'Rool's FPS Sacrifice! Talking DKC Tech & Character Design with OG Staff! (25th)

In Part 2 of our Donkey Kong Country 25th anniversary celebration, we talk to DKC's character designer, Steve Mayles, and lead programmer, Chris Sutherland, to get even more behind-the-scenes details, including info on DK's missing hat, why he has 4 fingers instead of 3, and what exactly makes Donkey Kong Country's graphics tick. All this and tons more in our 25th anniversary discussion (including a few bonus questions about Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair!)
➤ More Info on Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair:
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➤ Follow Chris on Twitter: / chris_suth
➤ Follow Steve on Twitter: / winkysteve
Watch our Interview with Gregg Mayles, DKC's Lead Designer:
➤ • Talking with Rare's Cr...
➤ Thanks to LongPlayArchive for use of their footage!
• Longplay of Donkey Kon...
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[@GameXplain]

Check out our interview with Rare's very own Gregg Mayles, the Leader Designer of Donkey Kong Country! Did you know Wario was originally the villain? kzbin.info/www/bejne/oImWmGyQaK95b80

[@baranylmaz2516]

Hi

[@dnmoore28]

⁹

[@DKCreo]

After the first interview, I've been eagerly looking forward to this second ones upload. Again, this is some quality content, GameXplain. Donkey Kong as a character and as a series deserves far more recognition and high-quality games than it receives. I'm happy that a channel with notoriety in the community such as this one is giving the series the content it deserves.

[@cesarswc13]

Exactly what I was saying

[@marktapia8327]

Seriously, what kind of hoops did you have to jump through to get this stuff from the original DKC staff? You continue to impress me

[@branaa09]

Twitter man and these guys are almost all free lance to do what they want.

[@TripleJump]

These guys are an inspiration. In a time when 32 bit consoles were on the rise, Rare proved that with some unconventional thinking, you could use (prerendered) 3D graphics long before the N64, on a relatively weak 16 bit system. I consider them part of the evolution of Nintendo's consoles as they demonstrated the amazing things you can do with lesser hardware.

[@GentlemanGamer94]

Great interview; as a DKC fan, it was a joy to listen to this retrospective from the original devs. My only criticism: I don't think you sold Impossible Lair enough near the end of that interview. I think you really should've gone harder on that 😉 In all seriousness...I was actually only half-serious there. You definitely did a great job pushing the game, but Impossible Lair is so good that I wouldn't have complained about the extra marketing 😁 I can highly recommend to the game to ANYONE even remotely interested in the game, DKC fan or no. I bought it on PC, 100%-ed (minus the Golden try), enjoyed the freaking heck out of it and will probably re-buy it on Switch to replay in the probably near future. The controls, graphics, platforming mechanics and level design are just phenomenal and is really reminiscent of classic DKC in the best possible way ^_^

[@riggles]

YES we need the original prerendered graphics in full resolution! That would be the perfect remake.

[@hnickel4757]

“Someone probably counted all of the characters” Swanky Kong: *Sweats nervously*

[@healmore8716]

So they’re finally here Preforming for you If you know the words You can join in too

[@thesuperean3008]

Put your hands together If you want to clap As we take you through This Monkey Rap!

[@thesuperean3008]

He’s the leader of the bunch. You know him well. He’s finally back. To kick some tail.

[@pokeluis2002]

TheSuperEan300 His coconut gun Can fire it’s spurts If he shoots ya, it’s gonna hurt He’s bigger, faster and stronger too He’s the first member of the DK crew, HUH!

[@santiagoc.9037]

@@dukemon6163 she can fly trought the air And climb up trees

[@FunkeyMonkeMan]

If you choose her, you’ll not choose wrong With a skip and a hop, she’s one cool Kong HUH!

[@guguig9746]

I could make an elaborate comment about why I love this video an the entire "DK week" concept, but people already did it quite in depth. So I'll keep it short : I'm bananas for this content

[@DirectorToby]

I really hope The Impossible Lair gets a second wave of sales as it's so bloody good but people are sleeping on it :( These guys were great on this interview - icons!

[@christianstenger7280]

Totally looking forward to play The Impossible Lair! I've bought it already and expect it to be a Tropical Freeze 2.5 =)

[@niespeludo]

@@christianstenger7280 more so of a Donkey Kong Country 4. It's really really good, no complaints here and anyone who loved the old games is gonna love this one.

[@TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

Donkey Kong is 25 yrs old I feel like an old man

[@CardinalGem]

Just Some Guy without a Mustache Well, he's 38 years old, really.

[@niespeludo]

Diddy Kong is 25... Donkey Kong is 38

[@TeamSoraPresents]

21:42 There's a perfect inspirational quote: "If something seems impossible, try it anyway! You never know!"

[@rezahydra]

There are entire wikis and fan sites that are devoted solely to figuring out the relationship of the Kong family. That says a lot.

[@Ray_2112]

Yeah, a lot about people thinking about useless stuff that even the developers didn't care about. xD I'm convinced it's the same with the Zelda timeline...they just made a new Zelda again and again, without thinking about any big chronological links between them. The "official" one only was made since so many fans asked for it.

[@rezahydra]

@picklejuice “Donkey *king*” family tree?

[@redeadbone9007]

@@rezahydra lmao thank you

[@Carz03]

Yep. I was a bit thrown off by Chris Sutherland not really caring or even remembering what the lore was for Cranky and DK.

[@Nay089]

This game was huge hit in my daycare the year it came out. And here I am at 30 years old still playing. One of the few unforgettable games of my lifetime

[@johneygd]

It’s mind blowing to think how they how to convert a 16 million color image down to just 16 colors and they also had to figure out wich colors should be shared with eachother, then they had to break the picture in a set of tiles,phew,well i can’t wait for the sound department.

[@Nonjola]

Nintendo should do more with the DK IP. At this moment a new DKC game would be more appreciated than Pokémon Sword and Shield.

[@alex_rose3930]

Everything is more appreciable than Sword/Shield

[@X-RAGE]

Its sad that the DK ip is underused these days, i hope they will do more with DK and K Rool in the future, especially on the switch, because i think that theres a lack of DK games on recent Nintendo hardware

[@RecklessThomas]

Been waiting on this! Fantastic discussion. One of my favorite series of all time and great to hear these deep dives! Kudos Andre and Jon! Can't wait for more!

[@gamingyoshifanatic4082]

I grew up with the SNES even though I'm a 2000s kid (My older brother had one) and I remember that DKC 2 (Not 1, but they are pretty similar )was one of my favourite SNES games along with games like Yoshi's Island, Super Mario World and the OG Starfox. Love Donkey Kong Country, great platformer!

[@clintheistwood]

These interviews are an absolute treat. Great work, guys.

[@analog_ape]

Thanks so much for doing these interviews! Pure gold!

[@Plasmariel]

CAN'T WAIT FOR THE INTERVIEW WITH DAVID WISE !!!!

[@diegojosepinzon]

We need DK remastered trilogy on the switch

[@MaroonMarlin]

Yes! And considering the circumstances around the popularity of K. Rool's reveal and the mysterious lack of DKC in NSO, it's very possible!

[@diegojosepinzon]

Donkey Kong Country Rebarrel Trilogy or ReBanana Trilogy I try to be clever

[@Carz03]

@@diegojosepinzon The naming is interesting. When Nintendo remade Link's Awakening they just named it Link's Awakening. The DKC trilogy can just be called "Donkey Kong Country Trilogy"

[@Matt-gh2zm]

I would prefer if they preserved the original art while doing so. Add back in those precious frames though

[@diegojosepinzon]

@@Matt-gh2zm I could a setting for the original and remastered style And adding all playable king's in all games And adding Funky Kong

[@blindmanai6957]

Just hearing that opening score for DK Country brings a tear to my eyes. Thanks for making and sharing this content.

[@ChodyRay]

I didn't know they cranked the first game out in a year. Imagine if they would've out 2 years into it. These guys made a masterpiece in a year

[@Klaxynd]

I actually did a research report on the SNES which basically turned into researching Rare and DKC as much as possible. I loved my history of video games class.

[@eLite-Tiss91]

What a great interview this was WONDERFUL I'm huge k rool fan. I loved every second of this

[@ImaFnT-Rex]

would be awesome to see an HD version come out on Switch

[@hnickel4757]

“How many globes are there at Kong College?” -A psychopath (1995)

[@Seaphron]

And just wrapped this one up. These are so good!! Can't wait to see the next one!!! Bring on the Wise man.

[@akeem6024]

Does Nintendo plan to add DKC 1-2-3 to the archive on Switch?

[@charlessugg6102]

Akeem H I hope so

[@turboalpha6558]

Damn, this was DOPE! You guys should do a Killer Instinct one like this too.

[@karlwest49]

Great interview! I definitely loved yooka laylee and the impossible lair and I look forward to whatever Playtonic puts out next! (and hopefully Nintendo will throw the DKC trilogy onto their SNES online games at some point too!)

[@schrottinator]

I can't believe that it's been 25 years. I feel old.

[@budosharon9793]

💜😂 Thanks guys! Such a big deal, back in the day! It's a shame Nintendo doesn't seem to think so

[@nickofzo]

As I maxed out all percentages of all savefiles of DKC1/2/3 countless times, I really liked The impossible liar. Whatever game Playtonic is working on currently.. I really look forward to it.

[@gtotheunit91]

Please Nintendo, bring the DKC trilogy to SNES Online!!!!

[@ourphilosophyis9119]

I REALLY wish people would ask these guys more about DKC2, which is arguably the best game in the series, and DKC3. We know very little about the dev process for those games and I always see people bombarding these guys with DKC1 questions. Guys, we already know A LOT about DKC1. If anyone reading this gets a chance to interview the OG Rare guys, PLEASE ask them about the dev process of DKC2 and 3.

[@ankd956]

I wish you could get to interview the Stamper brothers, that would be awesome!

[@take2studios299]

Donkey Kong Country 1 2 And 3 Remastered Trilogy On Switch Please Nintendo And Include Donkey Kong 64 Remastered

[@lolzwutify]

Thanks for this amazing DKC content, I really want a new DKC game! I miss that amazing world and characters

[@Hives511]

Oohhhh Donkey Kong week *Also when do we get to see more of that Metroid Movie Concept?*

[@codystork3008]

Some call me Johhny had a video about Derrick having to crowd fund it which was the last I heard about the project.

[@symphomaniac]

@@codystork3008 It's been funded. Just gotta wait now

[@codystork3008]

@@symphomaniac Sweet thanks

[@cesarswc13]

God i love DK i own every game its so good ^.^ ...i love to play DK fast the unli mk ited lives code is a most for me

[@shibbyguy101]

Cool interview, but is Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair 60 FPS?

[@GameXplain]

We'll never know!

[@johnnyfoxx9379]

I think a HD remaster of the original trilogy with 4k sprites and adding back all of the original missing animation frames would give me the biggest nerdgasm ever!! Please guys... DEW IT!

[@MrValor]

I can already see an interview with David Wise coming.

[@RFW9286]

Donkey kong country needs come back on the switch a new game not a port😊 hes way better then mario as a platformer , the king of platformers in my opinion.

[@aidenliveandreloaded2522]

28:50 Somebody get this man his frames

[@xXSpongeBroBrownPantzXx]

I don’t think this game is just another game now. I think it’s super unique in 2020

[@fvandoorn3737]

Time for an new dkc with king k rook

[@kevdel761]

Not really DK related, but I'm hoping that playtonic will make a fighting game just like killer instinct

[@Sjono]

You guys got the voice actor for Banjo & Kazooie and didn’t ask him to do some lines?

[@garethbeaton8414]

Got rabids and mario dony kong dlc today

[@EasyCure0]

Would love to fire up the original SNES but I'm lazy. Good thing I have the SNES classic to get my DK fix.

[@alanescareno9748]

Get Tim and Chris Stamper

[@YoungsterSkaymore]

Dammit future Andre

[@Scrubber89]

Playing Yooka-Laylee and the impossible lair currently. What a fantastic game, highly recommended it.

[@ivanjauregui6191]

They should port all the snes and n64 rare games on the switch online service

[@larson0014]

Owned by Xbox now

[@larson0014]

@Angel Rodriguez not all the rare games are

[@AB-sz7mr]

Mother series had its 30th anniversary this year and shit happened. Why no stories there?

[@gestaltechelon4195]

Because nobody cared about that series outside JP. To this day we still haven't gotten a Mother 3 release. So that franchise's popularity is nothing more then whispers.

[@aionios1796]

Y’all need to buy Yooka Laylee and the Impossible Lair if you’re a fan of DKC. It really is great! 👌🏼

[@dimentiorules]

Are Greg Mayles and Steve Mayles brothers? Or is it just a coincidence that they share the same last name?

[@kevincmejia]

Both brothers, currently one works at Rare and the other one at Playtonic, (wish Greg would join Playtonic soon)

[@NitwitsWorld]

Doesn't explain why Mario enemies still have four fingers while humans like Mario and his friends have five fingers? I guess the Yakuza worked for Nintendo. lol

[@Franklinplatt64]

The Impossible Lair is a fantastic game but they ain’t lying about the impossible part. Near the end of the game collectibles-wise and still struggling to get halfway thru the lair. Highly recommend it though, a steal for $30. Hope the next game has bosses but that’s the only thing that feels missed. Great interview.

[@HR10GG]

Donkey Kong country return 3 please Nintendo 🙏

[@branaa09]

These interviews are conducted with guys from Playtonic Games so they have no say to Nintendo. They are free lance.

[@GmNdWtchr96]

Toy Story? Is this Andre Segers or George Wood?

[@finaltheorygames1781]

They said, oh you can't have 3 fingers for donkey kong because of some strange japanese culture thing, but if you look at King K Roll, he has 3 fingers LOL.

[@nOT_sURE08]

Officer Barbrady.

[@phantomstarlight1366]

Watching this just makes me feel so bad, because I just accepted the graphics as "it is what it is" back then. It wouldn't be for a few more years yet during the N64's lifecycle that I started thinking about graphics, and even then I put very little stock in them. Unlike now where I really appreciate such things.

[@Synathidy]

0:51: Not on sega, b*tches.

[@AB-sz7mr]

Ok

[@caydenlaffey2019]

**sees DKC anniversary** *i sleep* **sees the T-1000** *rEaL sHiT*