Wednesday, March 30, 2022

DKC3: Harder Baby

Back in 1996, we assumed getting 103% on Donkey Kong Country 3 meant you'd found everything... Before the Internet, there was no real way of knowing about secret codes unless they were published in a magazine... Turns out that "Cheat" codes can entered to make the game more difficult... Doing so rewards the player with up to 105% upon completion.

While codes can be used on existing files, the game will only give you extra credit if difficulty-enhancing codes are entered before starting a new file... So you gotta do everything all over again if you want to earn the fabled 105%.

Enter Code Screen:
On the Select Game screen, choose a new file, and access the code prompt by pressing:
L, R, R, L, R, R, L, R, L, R.
You'll hear a sound effect, and "ENTER CODE" will appear.
After entering the code, choose a name your file as usual.
(When a code has been correctly, Dixie Kong cries)

HARDR
Removes some of the DK barrels. Find everything with this handicap and earn up to 104%.

TUFST
Removes most DK barrels AND replaces checkpoint save barrels with a banana bunch, rewarding you with 105% if you can manage to complete the game with this difficulty setting.

(It's advisable to use the HARDR and TUFST codes separately, as both codes used together will still have save barrels barrels without DK barrels.... So one could assume your final score may only be 104%)

Other codes:
COLOR (alternate character clothing color. Purple for Dixie Kong, green for Kiddy Kong)
MERRY
(Christmas ornaments and music in bonus games)
MUSIC
(Dixie Kong's Music Test: Listen to tracks from the game)
LIVES
(50 lives - *game will flag this and if you finish the game will called out as a Cheatin' Chump*)