Welcome to the Unofficial Diddy Kong Racing Player's Guide.
Here, you'll find lots of information about Rare's hot racing
game - DK Racing. If you'd like to see the HTML version of
this guide, you can check it out on the web at
http://rwn.com/games/dkr/guide/ - it's got the same info you'll
see in this text guide, but with screenshots, sounds, and much
more. One other note: this guide is to help you through the
adventure mode in DK Racing.
Latest Updates:
There is currently a listing of all 4 of the hidden key
locations, and what the challenge levels are like. That is
in the levels section. The other sections have nice basic
information about the game, too, so check that out if you
want to learn more about the game.
0..............................................Contents
1..............................................Gameplay Information
2..............................................Characters
3..............................................Items/Weapons
4..............................................Cheats
5..............................................*Level Secrets*
Note - Level Secrets includes key locations, and descriptions & tips
for each of the challenge levels. Coming soon will be shortcuts in
the levels to help you improve your racing times.
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GAMEPLAY INFORMATION
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Adventure Mode, How it Works:
If you've ever played Super Mario 64, then you know about how
the star system works. You start out, gain a star or two,
then all of the sudden you can open up doors to new worlds.
From these worlds, you get more stars, and with the more stars
you get, you can go even further into the game. Diddy Kong Racing
is very similar to this, but instead of gathering stars, you
collect gold balloons. You get the balloons by winning races,
or just finding them in the huge outter world that you start
out in. In each of the 4 worlds, this is what happens. First,
you race against the computer players, and you must get first
place in every race in order to get another gold balloon. Once
you've finished first in every race (you can try them over and
over as many times as you wish), you get to race against the boss
of the levels. All the bosses are very similar - you race them,
and they are usually quite a bit faster than you, but by using
weapons that are found on the track, you can keep up with them,
and defeat them. After you beat the boss, you're still not
finished. You then have to do all the levels again, but this
time race and collect all 8 of the silver coins on the track.
They are usually pretty easy to find, none are really hidden so
you can't find them. After doing this, you race the boss again,
and this time the boss is a quite a bit harder. After that,
there is still one more thing left to do. You must find the
key which TT has hidden in one of the levels of that main area.
The key is always hidden VERY well, and it can be very hard to
find them. Once you do find the key you can just exit out of
the level by pausing and returning to the lobby, then you will
do the challenge for that world.
Here are some terms, and what they mean, and/or how they are done.
Starting Boost:
In order to get a turbo boost at the start, wait until the
word "Ready" start fading out and the word "GO" is about to
come up. This way, you'll get a boost. It is sometimes
different with different vehicles, you can try for yourself
to see what I mean. Typically a blueish flame means you got
the best boost, and a yellow/orange color means you did get
a boost, just not a really good one.
Cart Info:
With the cart, by pressing the Right Shift button (the one on
the top of the controller), you can make a bit of a wider turn.
This is a good thing to do if there is a balloon or something
else that you want to hit, and it's on the outside of the track.
Also, while pressing the R button, if you press the B button
(brakes), your cart will tip up on two wheels and you'll turn
much sharper. Try your best to say away from water - the cart
will get stuck.
Hovercraft Info:
The hovercraft will take a little getting used to at first
because the control is a bit looser. By pressing the Right
shift button, you'll do a little hop. When you're coming into
a sharp corner, you'll notice that sometimes you'll turn your
hovercraft, but you'll just slide. If you do a hop, that
problem will be fixed. You can go on land or water with the
hovercraft very easily.
Plane Info:
The plane controls are similar to a real plane. Pressing up on
the control stick will make the plane go down. Pressing down
will make it go up. By holding the Right Shift button down,
you can make turns much sharper and quicker. If you tap the
Right Shift button two times while making a turn, you'll do a
little loop. If you tap the Right Shift button two times while
you're just going along straight, you'll do a big backflip.
The 8 main characters can be grouped into 3 different
categories. They are as follows:
Lightweight Group:
Consists of Pipsy and Tip Tup. They've got great handling,
very good acceleration, but their top speed is not as good
as the other characters. They can corner much better, though.
These characters are usually best for beginners.
Middleweight Group:
Consists of Diddy, Bumper, Conker, and Timber. They are very
well rounded characters. They've got good handling, good
acceleration, a medium top speed, and they are somewhat powerful.
These characters are usually best for intermediate to advanced
players.
Heavyweight Group:
Consists of Banjo and Krunch. These characters are hard to
control, and they have poor acceleration, but they have very
high top speeds, higher than any of the other characters.
These characters are best for advanced players. If you miss
the turbo boost at the beginning of the race, it's often times
takes a long time to catch back up with the other racers.
TT The clock:
TT is a clock (duh). He helps you out in several ways. If you
don't feel like racing against all the other racers, and you
just want to zip around the courses for yourself, then just go
up to TT and highlight "Time Trial" and use the analog stick
(move it right/left) to change from Time Trial to normal racing.
You can also check up on your status (how many pieces of the
amulet you have, etc.) TT also hides the keys you have to find
in each world, and he does a very good job of it, too.
Taj:
Taj is a genie that will help you change your vehicle, get
balloons, and do other things. Each time you get a gold balloon,
Taj will deliver it on his magic carpet. You can also go to him
to change your vehicle, and you can race him around the island
in his "challenges". You can race him with a cart, hovercraft,
or plane. If you win, he'll give you a gold balloon.
WEAPONS:
Weapons are picked up on the track (or in the air with a plane
or jump) and they are in balloons. A certain colored balloon
will have a certain weapon in it. Getting 3 balloons of the
same color in a row will power up the weapon to be even better.
If you get two in a row, it powers it up a little bit. Here are
the color codes for the weapons, and what the power ups do.
The following cheats are done at the "Magic Codes" options.
After you turn the game on, just go to Options, then to Magic Codes.
Magic Codes:
BYEBYEBALLOONS - No ballons, the computer can still use
weapons though
TIMETOLOSE - Computer AI is very high, good luck winning now!
TOXICOFFENDER - All balloons are green (oil slicks)
BODYARMOR - All balloons are yellow (shields)
OPPOSITESATTRACT - All balloons are rainbow (magnets)
BOMBSAWAY - All balloons are red (rockets)
ROCKETFUEL - All balloons are blue (turbo boosts)
VITAMINB - No limit to bananas
FREEFRUIT - Start with 10 bananas
BOGUSBANANAS - Bananas reduce speed instead of increase speed
NOYELLOWSTUFF - Makes the bananas are useless, they do nothing
BLABBERMOUTH - Random character noises are played instead
of a horn
JOINTVENTURE - Two player adventure mode
ZAPTHEZIPPERS - All the zippers will disappear
FREEFORALL - Pick up one balloon, and it will be at full
power already
ARNOLD - Big Characters
TEENYWEENIES - Small Characters
OFFROAD - 4 Wheel Drive, go just as fast on grass or
dirt than on pavement
JUKEBOX - After doing this code, go to Audio Options then
you can play music
WHODIDTHIS - Displays the credits for the game, even when
you didn't beat Wizpig
DOUBLEVISION - Allows two players to be the same character
Getting Drumstik:
In order to get Drumstik as a selectable character, you must
first get all the amulet and TT pieces. Once you've done that,
and opened up the Wiz Pig face, you can get him. Here's how:
You go to the main outter world, and go look at the frogs that
are hopping around the water. One will have little red rooster
feathers on it's head. Run over it, and Drumstik will appear.
Then you'll be put back in the center of the field. Immediately
go to quit game, then start a new game and you'll find him
between Diddy and Bumper.
Just a note about the keys - Once you find a key, you don't
have to continue racing, you can just pause, then go to
"return to lobby" and it still knows you found the key.
DINO DOMAIN:
Key Location:
The first key is in Ancient Lake. It's before the first turn,
and after the first set of balloons you come across. Off to
the right there are a few little stone structures, and one of
them is a small ramp with Rare's stylized "R" logo on it. At
the top of the small ramp, there is the key.
Challenge Level:
This challenge level is called Fire Mountain. The object is
to hatch as many dino eggs as you can. You're racing with 3
other computer characters. If you don't hatch as many as they
do, you'll lose. Right from the start, swoop down and pick
up an egg. Fly over the little area with your face on it, and
press the Z button to drop the egg off. After doing this, go
steal an egg out of another player's spot. You can only steal
the egg if it has just been dropped off though. An easy way
to tell if the egg is stealable (is that a word?) is if the
little egg icon below the person's name is flashing, you can
take it.
SNOWFLAKE MOUNTAIN:
Key Location:
In the Snowflake Valley stage, right from the starting point,
steer sharply to the left. There is a little path that you
can follow, and at the end there is a very small place in the
ice where it's located. I know that description was pretty
week, but if you go there, you'll see what I mean.
Challenge Level:
This challenge level is called Icicle Pyramid, and while it's
fairly easy to beat, it's really fun. All you have to do is
kill the other people, or just avoid being killed until they're
all dead. Each player starts out with 10 bananas, and whoever
loses all 10 dies. Remember that getting each time you're hit
or you run into a mine, you'll lose 2 bananas, and same goes
for the other player's too. I'd reccomend that you use rockets
to kill the other players. Try to power them up to be a heat
seeker if you can, it will be much easier.
SHERBERT ISLAND:
Key Location:
The key is in Crescent Island, and I really reccomend that
you use the Hovercraft to get it, although if you don't have
the Hovercraft, you can use the cart too, you'll just have
to go through some deep water, and it takes a while. This is
where the key is : Right from the start, you have the choice
of going right or left. Go on the left path, and as it comes
to an end, keep going left (yes, into the water). You'll go
through a bit of water, then you'll find a little chip of
this rock taken out, and inside it will be the hidden key.
You should be able to get this in a few seconds if you use
the Hovercraft.
Challenge Level:
This one is called Darkwater Beach. It's just like the one
from the snow level, but it is in the water and on beaches.
You just need to kill everybody else before you're killed...
that's it.
DRAGON FOREST:
Key Location:
This is by far the toughest one to find. It might be a little
hard to explain, too, so please read the whole description
carefully, and pay attention. It is in Boulder Canyon. Just
go through the course like you normally would, then when you
come to the wooden bridge, start slowing down. You'll come
to a little area where you'll see a golden bell, and a blue
balloon in front of it. Get the blue balloon, and let the
balloon reappear and get it again, and again so you have a
full boost (the little icon should have a purple flame color
on it). Go forward a little bit (just past the bell), then
turn around. Get right underneath the bell, and it should
start ringing. Stay there until you see the wooden bridge
raise up, like a draw-bridge. As soon as it raises, use your
power boost to shoot up it. If you did it right, you'll be
launched onto the ledge. The key is right in the center of
the ledge, along with some bananas on the side. You might
need to tap the R button a few times to keep the hovercraft
from falling off the ledge. Whew, that was a long one!
Challenge Level:
This one is very fun. It's called Smokey Castle, and it is
a little bit like the Dino Domain challenge level, Fire
Mountain. This one, however, you collect bananas instead
of eggs. You're racing to 10 bananas. Each player has his
or her own treasure chest, and bananas are scattered
throughout the track. You go and collect them, and bring
them back to your treasure chest. The nice thing is that
nobody can steal them once they are there. You can only
hold two bananas at a time, so you'll have to make about
5 trips back and forth. There are plenty of weapons on the
track, so watch out for missiles. However, you can use
missiles on the opponents, and it's very helpful. It's
always fun to nail another player just as they are carrying
two bananas back to their treasure chest : )
Contributed By: Trevor (webmaster@rwn.com)
Big thanks to Thomas Stitt for Hidden Key Information & Cheats
