Characters in Diddy Kong Racing

Racers

Banjo Bear

Banjo was a Honey Bear identifiable by his yellow shorts and blue backpack. Hailing from Spiral Mountain on the Isle o' Hags, Banjo is an accomplished if lazy adventurer. During his journeys he had befriended the monkey Diddy Kong, which led him to be invited to help in the battle with Wizpig, utilizing his strengths as a heavyweight racer. However, Banjo was excluded from the DS version of Diddy Kong Racing (he and Conker were replaced with Dixie and Tiny Kong), and this move could be seen as retconning Banjo out of the Mario/Donkey Kong universe.

• Banjo appeared in a series of games for the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Advance. However, after Rareware (the maker of Banjo and Conker) was bought by Microsoft, they took the rights to Banjo and Conker with them. This led to Banjo and Conker being excluded from Diddy Kong Racing DS, and presumably from the Mario canon. Banjo's series will continue on Microsoft's X-Box 360.

Bumper

Bumper was a badger living on Timber's Island. He wore goggles and enjoyed the high-speed excitement and thrills of racing, which set him apart from his nocturnal kind. Bumper was in the heavyweight class. He was glad to help Timber and the group save Timber's Island from Wizpig.

Conker

Conker was a mischievous young squirrel with a noble heritage hailing from the Willow Woods. He met Diddy Kong during his adventures, leading Conker to aid Diddy in the fight against Wizpig in the original version of Diddy Kong Racing as a light-heavyweight racer. However, he was left out of the DS version (he and Banjo were replaced with Dixie and Tiny Kong), and this move could be seen as retconning Conker out of the Mario/Donkey Kong universe.

• Conker appeared in a pair of games for the Game Boy Color and Nintendo 64. However, after Rareware (the maker of Banjo and Conker) was bought by Microsoft, they took the rights to Banjo and Conker with them. This led to Banjo and Conker being excluded from Diddy Kong Racing DS, and presumably from the Mario canon. Conker's series continues on Microsoft's X-Box systems.

Diddy Kong

see main article, Diddy Kong

Diddy Kong takes the lead of this pack of animals in the fight against Wizpig. He has previous had experience as the head hero in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest. Diddy also brings along Dixie and Tiny (Banjo and Conker in the original version) to help in the fight against Wizpig. Despite his starring role, he has only average stats.

Dixie Kong

see main article, Dixie Kong

A close friend (some may say girlfriend) of Diddy Kong, she joins him in the battle against Wizpig as a lightweight racer. Dixie's racing stats are basically identical to those of Diddy Kong as well as her sister Tiny.

• Dixie and her sister Tiny appear only in the DS version as replacements for the absent Banjo and Conker.

Drumstick

Drumstick was an overall-wearing rooster and the most experianced racer on Timber's Island. After Wizpig took over the island, Drumstick went into Wizpig's mountain lair himself and challenged Wizpig to a one-on-one race with the fate of the island in balance. It is unknown who won, but Drumstick was turned into a frog by Wizpig afterwards. Drumstick could be unlocked by a playable character by running him over and freeing him from his frog form, which first appears in the meadow after nearly all the game's items are collected.

Krunch

Krunch was a young Kritter who acted as a scout for the Kremlings. He followed Diddy Kong to Timber's Island because he suspected an anti-Kremling plot was being brewed. A heavyweight racer, Krunch wound up helping Diddy and Timber in the battles against Wizpig.

• He is the first playable Kremling.
• The jacket he wears is later worn by the Kritters of Donkey Kong 64; oddly enough, the skull on the back of his jacket was removed for the DS version.
• He was scheduled to return in Diddy Kong Pilot prior to the game's cancellation.

Pipsy

Pipsy is a tiny mouse who lived in the mountain of Timber's Island with her family, until they were kicked out when Wizpig took over. This led her to aid the Kongs as a lightweight racer. She has the best handling and almost the best acceleration, but is the slowest of the game's racers. She spoke with a squeaky voice, and presumably she and her family were eventually able to live in peace again.

T.T.

T.T. is a freakish living clock with arms, legs and a face. He is the overseer of the tracks on Timber's Island. Found in the lobby of each world, he sends the racers off on special T.T. Challenges after they would bring him a key. If the challenge is complete, he will give them a piece of the T.T. Amulet.

T.T. also runs the Time Trial mode. Whenever a racer gets a certain time in one course he will then challenge that racer, and if beaten in every one of the game's courses he will be unlocked as a playable character.

Taj

Taj is a wise and ancient, elephant-like genie who lives within his lamp in the mountain of Timber's Island. Because he rarely exits his mountain lair (indeed by the time of Diddy Kong Racing he had not appeared to the people for 50 years), some regarded him as a myth. Taj tests the racers and uses his magical abilities to aid them by switching their vehicles. Taj is also an unlockable racer in the DS version.

• He seems to be based on Ginesha, the Hindu god of wisdom who has an elephant's head. Taj even spoke with an Indian accent in the original game, but it was changed to a British accent for the DS version.
• Taj was to appear in Donkey Kong Racing, seemingly as a playable character, but the game was cancelled when Rareware left Nintendo.

Timber Tiger

Timber Tiger was a playful young tiger whose parents were the guardians of Timber's Island. Go-kart racing was an old hobby of his, and he was a middle-weight racer, close to Diddy Kong stat-wise. Timber had been left in charge of the island while his parents were visiting Donkey Kong Island, at the time that Wizpig invaded. Timber called together Diddy Kong and a group of other animals to defeat Wizpig without his parents finding out.

Tiny Kong

see main article, Tiny Kong

Tiny Kong was one of the Kongs whom Diddy brought with him to aid in the battle against Wizpig. Tiny appears to have undergone a growth spurt since her previous appearance in Donkey Kong 64. Tiny's racing stats are basically identical to those of Diddy Kong, as well as her sister Dixie.

• She and her sister Dixie appear only in the DS version as replacements for the absent Banjo and Conker.

Tiptup

Tiptup was a clumbsy turtle who resided on Timber's Island. He helped the others in the races as much as he could despite his clumbsiness. He was a light-weight racer with one of the highest scores in acceleration and handling, yet was also one of the slowest.

• Tiptup also made additional appearances in Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie, where he conducted a frog choir and had children. However, these appearances no longer seem to be part of the Mario/Donkey Kong canon.

Boss Characters

Tricky

Tricky is a red triceratops and the boss of Dino Domain. Like the other three bosses, he was one of the island's champions and a friendly fellow before he was brainwashed by Wizpig. His course consisted of a race to the top of a mountain. After all his challenges were completed, Tricky was freed from Wizpig's spell and awarded the racer with a piece of the Wizpig amulet. The ending showed that Tricky had a pair of children, one red and the other pink.

• The character Tricky from Star Fox Adventures (which was also made by Rare Ltd., the same company that made Diddy Kong Racing) is of a similar race and seems to be an homage to the Tricky from Diddy Kong Racing.

Bluey

Bluey is a giant walrus and the boss of Snowflake Mountain. Like the other three bosses, he was one of the island's champions and a friendly fellow before he was brainwashed by Wizpig. His course consisted of a race down an icy hill. After all his challenges were completed, Bluey was freed from Wizpig's spell and awarded the racer with a piece of the Wizpig amulet.

Bubbler

Bubbler is a giant octopus and the boss of Crescent Island. Like the other three bosses, he was one of the island's champions and a friendly fellow before he was brainwashed by Wizpig. Bubbler's course consisted of laps around an island, and Bubbler dropped bubbles or mines to harm his opponant. After all his challenges were completed, Bubbler was freed from Wizpig's spell and awarded the racer with a piece of the Wizpig amulet.

Smokey

Smokey is a red dragon and the boss of Dragon Forest. ike the other three bosses, he was one of the island's champions and a friendly fellow before he was brainwashed by Wizpig. Smokey would challenge the racer to an aerial race and breathe puffs of smoke at them. Completing all of Smokey's challenges would free Smokey from Wizpig's spell, leading him to award the racer with a piece of the Wizpig amulet.

Wizpig

see main article, Wizpig

Wizpig is the evil alien racer who is the game's main villain. He races the player twice throughout the game. First in the mountain of Timber's Island after the racers access his lair with all pieces of the Wizpig amulet. This was a foot race. Afterwards Wizpig retreated to Future Fun Land. In the final boss battle he rode a rocket against the racers. Additionally, Wizpig is an unlockable racer in the DS version.