Barrel Jet
- This article is aboutDiddy Kong's jetpack. For the barrel resembling a jet plane, seeJumbo Barrel.
- "Rocketbarrel" redirects here. It is not to be confused withRocket Barrel.
| Barrel Jet | |
|---|---|
 Artwork of Diddy Kong with his Barrel Jet strapped onto his back, fromDonkey Kong Country Returns | |
| First appearance | Donkey Kong 64 (1999) |
| Latest appearance | Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (2025) |
| Variant of | Barrel |
- “After jumping and while in the air, hold A to activate Diddy Kong's Barrel Jet. When Diddy Kong is on Donkey Kong's back, Donkey Kong will have control of the Barrel Jet.”
- —Donkey Kong Country Returns manual
TheBarrel Jet,[1][2] also called theRocket Barrel[3][4] (orRocketbarrel)[5] and theJet Pack[6] and originally known as theJetbarrel[7] and then therocketbarrel pack,[8] isDiddy Kong's signature jetpack that he uses to travel around in the air. It usually has the appearance of a crate with a barrel attached on each side. The crate has a belt that straps around Diddy's waist while using it, and each barrel is connected to the crate from a black pole. Both barrels have an opening at the bottom for the flames to expel from.
History[edit]
This section is astub. Please considerexpanding it to include any missing information.Specifics: Info onMario Golf: World Tour andMario Hoops 3-on-3
Donkey Kong 64[edit]
- “He can fly real high with his jetpack on.”
- —DK Rap
In its debut appearance,Donkey Kong 64, Diddy can use his Jetbarrel to fly around in the sky while using hisRocketbarrel Boost move. The move is fueled byCrystal Coconuts, as with the otherKong Barrel moves. If Diddy runs out of Crystal Coconuts, he can no longer take control of his Jetbarrel, and therefore falls back to the ground.
Donkey Kong Country series[edit]
Donkey Kong Country Returns (3D /HD)[edit]
InDonkey Kong Country Returns, the Barrel Jet is redesigned as a gray backpack that a single barrel extends from with a mechanical arm. The barrel is more like a rocket than a jetpack, as it has a red metallic nosecone and red fins. It is also thinner overall. The shade of brown is darker than a normal barrel. All elements are retained inDonkey Kong Country Returns 3D andDonkey Kong Country Returns HD.
If the jump button is held while Diddy Kong is in the air, and he is not rising from ajump, Diddy uses his Barrel Jet to significantly slow down falling for a few seconds. This also ends the increased speed cap provided byRoll Jumping. If the jump button is released early, the Barrel Jet's effects end early, but a Roll Jump's speed cap increase is not returned. The Barrel Jet can be reactivated mid-fall, but each use shares the overall timer. To reset the timer the player has to land on terrain orstomp an enemy. The Barrel Jet is not a mandatory ability, but the extra hang time can make certain jumps easier, allow the player to jump farther than they can otherwise, or adjust the timing of their landing. One set ofBananas inJungle Hijinxs is positioned in a gently descending line over spikes to demonstrate the trajectory moving with the Barrel Jet creates. While Diddy is on Donkey Kong's back, the player controlling Donkey Kong has control of the Barrel Jet and the move benefits both characters. While ridingRambi, the Barrel Jet's effect is shortened significantly. It is more of a way to stall the players fall for a fraction of a second than a hover. This may be due to Rambi's weight.
Diddy uses his Barrel Jet in four cutscenes. InPinchin' Pirates,Ruined Roost, andThugly's Highrise, the Kongs fall some reasonable distance. Diddy Kong breaks his fall with his Barrel Jet. After defeatingTiki Tong inTiki Tong Terror, the ending cutscene plays out differently depending on which Kongs are present. When both are together, Diddy Kong uses it to boost Donkey Kong into theMoon so he can punch it at theTiki Tong Tower. Then he activates it mid-fall to carry Donkey Kong so that they land onDonkey Kong Island safely. If only Donkey Kong is present, Diddy Kong appears during Donkey Kong's fall to rescue him, to the same effect. If only Diddy Kong is present, then he uses the Barrel Jet to prevent himself from falling into the Moon, only for it to malfunction and propel Diddy Kong headfirst into the Moon. This still causes the Moon to drop onto Tiki Tong Tower.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze[edit]
The Barrel Jet reappears inDonkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze where it serves the same purpose as in its predecessor. OnePlay Nintendo article identifies the action Diddy Kong does as aRocket Barrel Boost.[9]
Mario Power Tennis[edit]
This section is astub. Please considerexpanding it to include any missing information.Specifics: This is shorter than the articles for other Defensive Power Shots
| Barrel Jet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Used by | Diddy Kong |
| Type | Defensive Power Shot |
| Appears in | Mario Power Tennis |
Diddy uses his Barrel Jet during hisDefensive Power Shot inMario Power Tennis, which itself is named Barrel Jet. It involves Diddy attaching a specialbarrel to his back and flying around the court to fetch the ball.
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
- Main article:Rocketbarrel Boost
The Barrel Jet also appears in theSuper Smash Bros. series, where it is known as the Rocketbarrel Pack. It first appears inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl, the first installment with Diddy Kong as a fighter. Diddy uses the Rocketbarrel Pack during his up-special move,Rocketbarrel Boost, which blasts him slightly upward, allowing him to blast back onto the main stage. Diddy also uses it during hisFinal Smash, namedRocketbarrel Barrage, where he rapidly flies around in his Rocketbarrel Pack while blasting fire explosive peanuts at opponents.
DuringThe Subspace Emissary ofSuper Smash Bros. Brawl, Diddy uses his Rocketbarrel Pack to propel himself onto the smash skiff, afterFalco releases him from theArwing.
Profiles and statistics[edit]
Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]
InWestern releases ofSuper Smash Bros. Brawl,Donkey Kong: Barrel Blast is listed as the Rocketbarrel Pack's other game appearance instead ofMario Power Tennis.
| Trophy Rocketbarrel Pack | ||
 | ||
| Appears in: N64Donkey Kong 64 WiiMario Power Tennis | ||
| How to unlock: Clear level 4 ofTarget Smash | ||
| An item that looks like regular barrels but becomes a rocket-powered jet pack when Diddy Kong straps them on his back. It's a convenient gadget to have when adventuring, but for whatever reason, Diddy also uses it when playing tennis and basketball. The moves he can pull off with the rocketbarrel pack are so cool that they're almost not fair. Almost. | ||
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS /Wii U[edit]
| Trophy Rocketbarrel Pack | ||
3DS: Wii U:  | ||
| Category: Fighter Related | ||
( )Appears in:N64 Donkey Kong 64 (11/1999) Wii Donkey Kong Country Returns (11/2010) | ||
| ()Trophy Box: 18: Animal Friends and Items | ||
| How to unlock: Random | ||
| Two barrels modified into jet engines—if you throw them on, you're airborne! You can charge them up for a bigger, more accurate boost, but be careful while using these. If you get hit while you're powering up on the ground or zipping around the sky, you'll lose all control of this jet pack!(American English) | ||
| Two barrels equipped with jet engines. Strap them onto your back and the sky's the limit! Use this contraption to boost your jump and control where you land with pinpoint precision. Just try not to let yourself get attacked when you're charging the jets or in the air, or things'll go haywire!(British English) | ||
Gallery[edit]
Sprites and models[edit]
Miscellaneous[edit]
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | バレルジェット[?] Bareru Jetto | Barrel Jet | |
| Arabic | حقيبة نفاثة[10] Haqibat nafaatha | Jetpack | |
| Dutch | Raketton-jetpack[?] | Rocket Barrel jetpack | |
| French | Tonneaux Rapido Rocket[?] | Fast Rocket Barrels | |
| German | Raketenrocker[?] | Rocket Rocker | |
| Italian | Barile Jet[?] | Barrel Jet | Donkey Kong 64 |
| Barile a Reazione[?] | Rocket Barrel; same asBooster Barrel | Mario Power Tennis | |
| Scimmia jet[?] | Monkey jet | Donkey Kong Country Returns,Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze | |
| Razzobarili[?] | Rocketbarrel | Super Smash Bros. series | |
| Portuguese | Mochila de Barris a Jato[?] | Barrel Jet Backpack | |
| Spanish | Barriles retropulsados[?] | Retropulsed barrels |
References[edit]
- ^2010.Donkey Kong Country Returns instruction booklet.Nintendo of America (English). Page 15.
- ^"This time he’s helping Donkey Kong dodge obstacles with his hovering Barrel Jet and pummel foes with his Peanut Popgun." –Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Playable Characters Quiz.Play Nintendo. Retrieved 6 Aug. 2025. (Archived December 23, 2024, 00:17:47 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^"He can ride on Donkey Kong’s back and blast his buddy to new heights with his Rocket Barrel." – 2024.Donkey Kong Country Returns HD product page.Nintendo of America (English). Retrieved February 3, 2025. (Archived February 11, 2025, 07:52:02 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^"Diddy Kong is a peanut-popping powerhouse who can ride on Donkey Kong’s back and extend jumps by gliding with his Rocket Barrel." –5 Tips and Tricks for New Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Players.Play Nintendo. Retrieved 6 Aug. 2025. (Archived April 9, 2025, 15:28:36 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^November 25, 2018.Today's Fighter - #36: Diddy Kong.Super Smash Bros.. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
- ^"You can try to master special moves, including unique abilities like Diddy Kong’s Jet Pack, Dixie Kong’s Spinning Ponytail, and Cranky Kong’s Cane Bounce." –Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Switch Release Date.Play Nintendo. Retrieved 6 Aug. 2025. (Archived August 10, 2021, 00:44:05 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^1999.Donkey Kong 64 instruction booklet.Nintendo of America (English). Page 7.
- ^"The moves he can pull off with the rocketbarrel pack are so cool that they're almost not fair." – Rocketbarrel Pack trophy,Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
- ^"Why walk when you can have Dixie Kong and Diddy Kong give you a Rocket Barrel Boost or a Helicopter spin?" –6 ways to get around the jungle - Donkey Kong Tips.Play Nintendo. Retrieved 6 Aug. 2025. (Archived April 27, 2025, 09:46:59 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^DONKEY KONG COUNTRY RETURNS HD متوفرة الآن على NINTENDO SWITCH.Nintendo Saudi Arabia (Arabic). Retrieved January 22, 2026.
