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There are a few major names that come to mind when fans think of classic gaming: arcade glutton Pac-Man, tomb-raiding Lara Croft, and of course, Nintendo's famed ape mascot, Donkey Kong. This icon blasted onto the arcade scene with a bang in 1981 along with Mario, playing a gargantuan role in putting the Big N and their mustached plumber hero on the map.
As one might expect with this storied gorilla, there are plenty of odd details surrounding him — and he's taken part in more than a few bizarre actions himself. But just what are some of the strangest things Nintendo's furry mascot has done?
8 Allowing His Entire Banana Hoard To Be Stolen
As studio Rare quickly establishes at the start of the memorable Donkey Kong Country, Kong and friends are driven in the game by a desire to regain their depleted supply of bananas. They didn't, in fact, consume them all — but rather, managed to have the entire massive stash stolen from under their nose.
Given Donkey Kong's affinity for bananas, and the time and effort involved in nabbing a cavern filled to the brim with them, this DKC premise is a head-scratcher. But even stranger is Donkey Kong's utter neglect of his prized possessions.
7 Riding An Ostrich
One of the most appealing — and indeed strange — aspects of the DKC series are the bouts of Kong and company scampering through stages on the backs of other wild animals. While fans will likely have fond memories of iconic "Animal Buddies" like Rambi the Rhino, one of the more peculiar animals is a large ostrich who scurries about with great speed.
This oversized bird is not only able to support the weight of the ape, but actually manages to zip across the stage faster than Donkey himself when he's on his back. It's an amusing — and bizarre — sight to behold.
6 Partaking In A Dance-Off Against His Nemesis
Donkey Kong has been a part of many games that run the gamut in terms of themes and activities. But even more random and off-kilter is the short-lived cartoon show by the same name as the hit SNES game.
There is no shortage of delightfully fun, zany episodes, but one of the weirdest involves a determined Kong looking to beat the villains K. Rool and Krusha in a dance contest. The episode, cheekily called "Orangutango," ends with Donkey and Candy Kong awkwardly flailing about while singing a deliciously cheesy pop-rock song.
5 Last Second Heroics In Donkey Kong Country 2
While the first DKC saw Donkey and Diddy on a mission to retrieve their banana stash, the sequel raises the stakes quite a bit. In it, Diddy enlists the help of Dixie Kong to save the ape from the troublesome K. Rool, who's kidnapped the seemingly capable hero. It's peculiar enough that Kong would manage to get captured in the first place, but what's even stranger is how the final boss fight concludes.
After Diddy and Dixie officially "defeat" K. Rool, a tied-up Donky Kong comes dangling from the ceiling, struggling to break free. Out of nowhere, however, Kong musters enough strength to easily bust through the rope, just before dealing a massive finishing blow to K. Rool. Where he got this sudden burst of power — and why he waited this long to unleash it — is anyone's guess.
4 In The Ring With King K. Rool
The often underappreciated platformerDonkey Kong 64 has loads of fun, memorable moments — but few moreso than the epic final clash with K. Rool. Rather than fighting him on a pirate ship or airship this time around, Donkey Kong and friends take him on in a boxing ring, while a crowd of Kremlings look on.
This scenario is odd enough, but the ape's method of attack is even stranger. The battle commences with four large barrels appearing out of nowhere, which Kong then uses to blast himself directly into the dimwitted K. Rool, who's busy playing to the crowd.
3 Bongo-Playing Escapades
Nintendo's ape-tastic hero saw a strong presence on the SNES, starring in what many view as among the best platforming series on the console. By the GameCube era, however, he was largely relegated to cameo roles and obscure spin-offs, such as the bongo-controlling platformer Jungle Beat.
The bulk of the gorilla's showings actually came in the form of a unique rhythm game that utilized bongos, called Donkey Konga. It's weird and amusing seeing the platforming hero go ape for simple bongo-banging, especially when drumming to songs like The B-52's "Rock Lobster" and Blu Cantrell's "Hit 'Em Up Style."
2 Starting A Business Selling Coconut Water
There are plenty of funny bouts to be had in the crudely-animated DKC cartoon, one of which crops up in the second episode. In a rather unique, out-of-character move for the ape, the platforming hero decides to take the role of entrepreneur.
How does he do this? By seeking to sell a cobbled-together drink made of coconut water and snow. This apparently ends up being a successful endeavor, as Donky and Diddy end up making lots of money with this concoction.
1 Wreaking Havoc In His Debut Game
Donkey Kong's oddest moment ironically comes in the form of his very first outing. In the '81 arcade classic, the game's villain sees fit to wreak utter havoc on a mismatched Mario. The maniacal Kong tosses an endless supply of barrels at the plumber while threatening to collapse the construction site setting.
Not only this, but he partakes in the old-school gaming trope of capturing a "damsel in distress," for no apparent reason, and with no apparent goal in mind but to generally be a nuisance. It may be a head-scratcher, though these erratic actions did set the stage for one of the most fun and exciting arcade romps of all time.
Of course, diehard fans will wisely point out that this was in fact the current Kong's grandfather, who happens to be Cranky Kong. Still, it's really the Donkey Kong caricature and icon this piece intends to focus on, rather than a specific Kong descendant. And what an icon he's become!