Conker
| Conker | |
|---|---|
 Artwork fromDiddy Kong Racing | |
| Full name | Conker the Squirrel[1] |
| Species | Squirrel |
| First appearance | Diddy Kong Racing (1997, overall) Conker's Pocket Tales (1999,Conker franchise) |
| Latest appearance | N-Gang ("Freeze Frame," cameo) (1999,Super Mario–related media) Young Conker (2016, overall) |
| Latest portrayal | Chris Seavor (Diddy Kong Racing)[2] |
- “Ah, nuts. I was supposed to star inRare'sfirst game.”
- —Conker,Nintendo Power, volume 102 (Diddy Kong Racing section)[3]
Conker is the protagonist of theConker series of games developed byRare. He is a friend ofDiddy Kong's, and, likeBanjo, he made his debut appearance inDiddy Kong Racing. Also like Banjo, he would later appear in a series of his own games. While currently portrayed by Rare as a vulgar, adult-oriented figure (as seen in the mature-ratedConker's Bad Fur Day andits remake), Conker debuted as a cheery and playful character, as seen in his debut appearance and his first starring role inConker's Pocket Tales.
In 2002, Rare was sold toMicrosoft, which acquired the rights to both theConker andBanjo-Kazooie series. As a result, inDiddy Kong Racing DS, Conker is replaced byDixie Kong. Though he is absent, Conker's theme music is still retained in the selection screen theme song.
History[edit]
Diddy Kong Racing[edit]
In the storyline ofDiddy Kong Racing, Diddy Kong, with help fromSquawks, manages to contact Conker, asking for help in defeatingWizpig. Conker answers Diddy's plea and ventures toTimber's Island to help in the quest to drive Wizpig off the island.
Conker is a middleweight racer, featuring average speed and below-average acceleration and turning. His top speed withoutbananas, shared withBumper andTimber, is 56.5 miles (90.93 km 🇪🇺) per hour. His instrument on the character select screen is a flute.
Mario Artist: Paint Studio[edit]
Conker'sDiddy Kong Racing artwork appears as a stamp inMario Artist: Paint Studio.
Mario no Bōken Land[edit]
Conker makes a brief, unspeaking cameo in theDiddy Kong Racing segment ofMario no Bōken Land, titled "Go Go Diddy!". He is shown competing in a race while in fifth place.
4koma Gag Battle[edit]
Conker appears throughout the4koma Gag Battle manga adaptation ofDiddy Kong Racing.
N-Gang[edit]
Conker briefly makes a cameo in theN-Gang comic "Freeze Frame".
Unused appearances[edit]
A rejected 2004 video game pitch idea,Diddy Kong Racing Adventure, would have included Conker (in hisConker's Bad Fur Day appearance). He would have had explosive nuts as his special move.
Profile and statistics[edit]
Diddy Kong Racing[edit]
- Character stats
- Weight: Middle
- Acceleration: 2.5/5
- Handling: 2.5/5
- Top Speed: 3/5
- Vehicle Color: White
- Instruction booklet bio: "(Medium acceleration, medium weight, good handling, medium top speed) Another friend made by Diddy Kong on one of his endless adventures with Donkey Kong, Conker is an exploration nut who’ll jump at any chance to break free of a squirrel’s less than exciting daily routine. He’s eager to join up with Banjo as the bear passes through."[4]
- Player's Guide: "Before heading back, Squawks made one more stop at the home of a certain devil-may-care squirrel named Conker. He may not end up with many nuts in his winter store, but Conker couldn’t pass up the chance for some excitement. Besides, he figures he might pick up a few pointers from the others before starting his own quest for adventure."[5]
- Nintendo Power Volume 103: "Conker the courageous squirrel is biding time until his own game comes out next year, but in the meanwhile he has a thing or two to prove. His attributes are identical to Timber’s, making him a solid racer in any vehicle."[6]
- Diddy's Drivers Ed: "Light-heavyweight Conker also does well on courses where there is room to maneuver. Combine Conker's good top speed with decent acceleration and you have the makings of a good choice for the power courses."[7]
- Nintendo 64 Game Secrets, 1999 Edition: "Another good middle-of-the-pack character, Conker probably has a slight edge when it comes to acceleration and handling, though his weight is somewhat less than every animal except Pipsy. As with the mouse, that means Conker is easily shoved aside when the animals start trading elbows in a tight turn, and his medium top speed keeps him in the thick of things."[8]
- Rarewhere: "Another friend made by Diddy on one of his endless adventures with DK, Conker is also an exploration nut who’ll jump at any chance to break free of a squirrel’s less than exciting daily routine. He’s all ready to fall into step beside Banjo as the Honey Bear passes through..."[9]
List ofSuper Mario appearances[edit]
| Title | Description | Year | System/format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diddy Kong Racing | Playable character | November 21, 1997 | Nintendo 64 |
| Mario Artist: Paint Studio | Cameo as stamp design | December 1, 1999 | 64DD |
| N-Gang | Christmas poster in "Freeze Frame" | December 24, 1999 | Comic |
Gallery[edit]
Diddy Kong Racing artwork
Diddy Kong Racing artwork
Diddy Kong Racing artwork
Diddy Kong Racing artwork
Diddy Kong Racing in-game model
Diddy Kong Racing mugshot
Diddy Kong Racing screenshot
Diddy Kong Racing screenshot
Diddy Kong Racing screenshot
Conker with Diddy Kong and Pipsy in a Japanese commercial forDiddy Kong Racing
Cast ofDiddy Kong Racing in a Japanese commercial
1999 Christmas poster from theGermanClub Nintendo magazine
ConkerRareRacers spinning pin
RareRacers t-shirt
RareRacers t-shirt design
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | コンカー[?] Konkā | Conker | |
| Chinese | 库克[?] Kùkè | Conker | |
| French | Conker[10] | - | |
| Korean | 콩거[11] Konggeo | Conker | |
| Russian | Конкер[?] Konker | Conker | |
| Spanish | Conker[?] | - |
Notes[edit]
- InConker's Pocket Tales, leaving Conker idle for a while makes him play on hisGame Boy. While he plays, an arrangement of "Bonus Room Blitz" based on the title theme ofDonkey Kong Land III can be heard.
References[edit]
- ^XCageGame (July 7, 2016).Conker's Bad Fur Day ( Rare Replay ) The Movie ( All Cutscenes ) (00:29:05).YouTube. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ^Twitter confirmation by Chris Seavor
- ^November 1997.Nintendo Power Volume 102.Nintendo of America (American English). Page 29.
- ^1997.Diddy Kong Racing manual.Nintendo of America (American English). Page 24.
- ^Swan, Leslie (1997).Diddy Kong Racing Player's Guide.Nintendo of America (American English). Page 7.
- ^December 1997.Nintendo Power Volume 103.Nintendo of America (American English). Page 14.
- ^Diddy's Driver Ed.Nintendo of America (American English). Archived December 6, 1998, 06:57:14 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine.
- ^April 7, 1999.Nintendo 64 Game Secrets, 1999 Edition Prima's Official Strategy Guide.Prima Games. ISBN0-7615-2103-7. Page 35.
- ^DKR Cast List | Conker.Rarewhere (British English). Archived July 5, 1998, 00:52:38 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ^February-March 1998.Official Nintendo french magazine N3. French. Page 25.
- ^https://blog.naver.com/wolf5160/220183007543?photoView=6
