Donkey Kong Racing followed Diddy Kong Racing on Nintendo 64. 2002 was the Nintendo GameCube release date. Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Tiny Kong, Kiddie Kong, and Taj the Genie from the trailer were playable characters in Donkey Kong Racing, as were Cranky Kong and Lanky Kong from an internal render. Playable characters included Taj. Thus, Diddy Kong Racing’s original characters may return. Donkey Kong Racing’s overworld would combine jungles, grasslands, and seas. “It was up to you to decide where the track met amidst marauding rhinos, schools of darting piranha, swarms of agitated wasps, and other roaming wildlife bent on mischief.” Featuring fading sunlight and swaying trees, Donkey Kong Racing was realistic.
Dolby Surround Sound and an orchestral soundtrack were planned for the game. The main difference between Donkey Kong Racing and Diddy Kong Racing was that the player rode Donkey Kong Country animals instead of cars. Rambi, Enguarde, Ellie, and Zingers can be hung. Expresso (Ostriches), Chomps (Sharks), Flitter (Dragonflies), Glimmer (Anglerfishes), Necky (Vultures), and Army (Armadillos) appeared in the trailer, suggesting they could be ridden. Each animal’s size and color would determine its skills. Smaller animals can avoid obstacles, but larger ones can break things. When knocked off their animal, the user must perform a “Track and Field” button-mashing activity to regain control.
Players can collect fruits and rewards for their animals during races. Giving enough may make the user’s animals “true thoroughbreds.” To maximize animal potential, the user can harvest fruits. A multiplayer mode was planned. Four people could play simultaneously. This mode is poorly understood. Donkey Kong Racing only appeared at E3 2001, where a teaser trailer was shown. The game was expected to be released in 2002. Space World 2001 and ETS 2001 never showed the game. Nintendo was underfunding Rare Ltd. Tim and Chris Stamper, Rare Ltd.’s leaders, offered Nintendo the rest of their company, but Nintendo declined. Microsoft bought Tim and Chris Stamper for $375 million in 2002. Rare lost the Donkey Kong trademark, so people thought Donkey Kong Racing was over. When asked if the game was still being developed in 2004, Rare replied, “Well, yes and no.” “It’s no longer Donkey Kong Racing, it’s not on the GameCube, and I’m sure so little of the original art and code exists that it’s scarcely the same game anymore, but yeah, it’s still coming out in some form.” In late 2005, Sabreman Stampede, the Donkey Kong Racing replacement, was canceled.
