Rambi

Rambi in Donkey Kong Country.
Rambi
Species	Rhinocerous
Eye color	Black
Debut	Donkey Kong Country

Rambi the Rhino is one of the most loyal of Donkey Kong's animal buddies, who has a recurring presence throughout the Donkey Kong Country series.

Background

Rambi was a powerful rhino who aided the Kongs in most of their adventures. He was the first animal buddy that Donkey Kong encountered in Donkey Kong Country, within the very first level of the Kongo Jungle. He mostly appeared in the jungle levels. Rambi was also one of the three animal buddies to appear in Donkey Kong Land. In Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, Rambi continued to help the Kongs on Crocodile Island. In one level, Rambi had to escape from a beehive while being chased by a King Zing.

After being absent for the third installments of both series, Rambi appeared again in Donkey Kong 64. This time, Donkey Kong could only utilize Rambi in the Jungle Japes area, and Rambi's main purpose in the game was to break down a special wall. Rambi would later made cameo appearances as a spectator in the Donkey Konga games.

Rambi also appeared in the Dynamite Run level of Donkey Kong Barrel Blast, where he could be ridden similar to the other games when broken out of his crate. He later reprised his role as animal buddy in several levels of Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.

Abilities

Rambi's horn makes him the strongest of the animals. There is almost nothing that can withstand his horn especially in midcharge. Rambi was helpful for plowing down enemies and smashing into hidden passages. Rambi's only disadvantage was his lack of jumping power, making chasms his greatest enemy.

Other Appearances

Video Games

• In the Super Smash Bros. series, Rambi has been represented as a trophy and sticker in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, a trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and an Ace Primary Spirit in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'. His Spirit came with the added effect of enhancing the player character's speed. When fought in a Spirit battle, Rambi's Spirit would possess a white-furred Donkey Kong, who was made capable of damaging enemies just by dashing into them, in imitation of Rambi's attacks.

Cancelled Appearances

• Rambi was going to appear in Donkey Kong Racing as one of the mounts, along with identical rhinos of different sizes, but the game was cancelled after the Rareware was bought out by Microsoft.

Trivia

• His name could be a play on the action movie star "Rambo", or a combination of "ram" with "bambi".
• Rambi appeared as an animal buddy in most of the Donkey Kong games made by Rareware, except for the third Country and third Land, where he was replaced by Ellie the elephant. He was also the only animal buddy to return in a mountable form in Donkey Kong Country Returns.
• Rambi also had an unlockable minigame in Donkey Kong 64. In it, the player controlled Rambi and plowed through an endless wave of Gnawtys.
• In Mario Kart DS, Donkey Kong's personal kart is called the Rambi Rider and is designed to resemble Rambi.
• In Super Mario Odyssey, he is referenced in the form of a street name in New Donk City.
• In the Donkey Kong Adventure campaign of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, there is a weapon available to Rabbid Peach known as the Horn-Nosed Needler that bears Rambi's likeness. Its description refers to it as "officially licensed Rambi merchandise".