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Kremling

Kritter
Kritter subspecies

Klaptrap
Klaptrap subspecies

Krockhead
Krockhead subspecies

Homeland Crocodile Isle


Sub-Species Kritter
Klaptrap
Krochead


Leader(s) King K. Rool
Affiliations Zinger
Necky
Gnawty
Enemies Kongs
Bears




"You'll never beat us Kremlings this time!"
Klubba in Donkey Kong Country 2 GBA

The Kremlings are a crocodilian species native to the extinct Crocodile Isle in the Donkey Kong Series. The vast majority of them are members of the Kremling Krew led by K. Rool that have conflicts with the Kong Family. They became main enemies in the series (with the sole exception being K. Lumsy).

They have repeatedly tried to steal Donkey and Diddy's Banana Hoard for reasons that aren't fully understood but involve starving the primates to death and occupying DK's Treehouse (effectively making K. Rool the king of Donkey Kong Island). To reach his goal, he has even gone as far as kidnapping Kong Family members such as DK and Diddy. He's likely been terrorizing the Kongs before DKC and back in the glory days of a younger Cranky Kong and Donkey Kong Junior.

Biology[]

The Kremling species is characterized by crocodile heads, sharp teeth, scaly skin, yellow bellies, tails, and 3 toes with pointy nails. Physical differences between Kremlings can be quite varied. For example, the Kritter subspecies are bipedal and the Klaptrap subspecies are quadrupedal.[1][2] Kremlings come in a wide variety of colors, perhaps the most common of which is the following: green, purple, blue, brown, yellow, gray, orange, red, and pink. They can also have features that reptilians do not naturally have: ears, horns, and hair are all things that Kremlings can be seen with.

Certain subspecies of Kremlings are capable of breathing underwater, such as Klomp in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (as demonstrated in Lockjaw's Locker, the very first water stage in said game). They could all be capable of breathing underwater. Kremlings have also been shown to be immune to toxic waste (best demonstrated in the Toxic Tower stage of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest).

Most, if not all Kremlings are male. The only two known female Kremlings in the entire Donkey Kong series are Kass and Kalypso.

Society And Culture[]

The Kremlings were born in Kremling's Lost World, where they established their society and culture. They have set wooden spears in pits to protect Krocodile Kore's power source, which is their great secret.[3] Like most reptilians, the Kremlings live in swamps from Crocodile Isle.[4] Krocheads are primal Kremlings that are also indigenous to these marshes.[5] Despite their primitive nature, however, the Kremlings have built a floating complex located nearby Crocodile Isle.[6]

K. Rool's ancestral Kremlings leave their home island due to the invasion of pirate Snaps and founded a city called Kremlantis near Kong Island to hide from them.[7][8]

Evil Kremlings founded a pirate society known as the Kremling Kuthroats, where they established a town.[9][10][11] They kept valuables they looted hidden in underground storage.[12] Undead Kremlings, such as Kloak, Kackle, and Krossbones, were part of the pirate group.[13]

The Kremling Krew formation, which was lead by King K. Rool, turned them into a race of toughened soldiers.[14][15] They were treated very poorly by his cruel dictatorship.[16] During the reign of the Kremling Krew, they were characterized as technologically advanced. They had created numerous machines. For example: robots, airships, amusement parks, submarines, warships, laser weapons and spacecrafts. They are shown as very environmentally uncaring, as they establish harmful factories, waste natural resources from their own island, release toxic waste into their castles, and cause deforestation. They are also chemists, creating gases and poisons.

The cause of Kremling antagonism towards the Kongs is unknown, though it is known that they had met each other prior to the Kremling invasion of Donkey Kong Island.[17][18][19] Their homeland, Crocodile Isle, is known to be a neighboring isle to DK Island.[20][21][22]

Some Kremlings were even Wrinkly Kong's students.[23] However, they were shown to be difficult to educate, as they often had incorrect sums.[24] One of them was even caught bringing his sword to class.[25]

Profiles[]

Donkey Kong Country[]

"Kremlings, Kremlings everywhere! Kremlings are the tribe of reptilian rascals who have ripped off Donkey Kong's banana horde. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and shades:"
Donkey Kong Country Instruction Booklet (SNES version), page 28
"The largest enemies you'll encounter are the Krocs that work for King K. Rool. The Krocs come in many shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common-their number-one directive is stop the Kongs. Some of the tough-skinned reptiles can be a bit much for Diddy, so be on your guard."
Donkey Kong Country Player's Guide (GBA version), page 14

Notable Kremlings[]

Sub-species[]

Gallery[]

Triva[]

References[]

  1. M. Arakawa. Donkey Kong Country Player's Guide, Nintendo, 1994, p. 12 - "KRITTER: Kritters come in several colors, but other than that, they basically look the same. You can take them out easily by jumping on their heads or rolling through them and bowling them over. Depending upon their color, they have different jumping abilities and patterns of movement. That's what makes them a little unpredictable. Another member of Kritter family, Krash, is the type that likes to hide out in mine carts."
  2. M. Arakawa. Donkey Kong Country Player's Guide, Nintendo, 1994, p. 13 - "KLAPTRAP: Small in comparsion to other baddies, Klap-Traps scurry along the ground, muching on air or whatever happens to come in contact with their razor-sharp, manic jaws. They usually cover a small patch of trail, patrolling back and forth along it. A quick hop and bop does the trick."
  3. Gregg Mayles' answer accepted on Twitter, retrieved Jan 2,2019
  4. M. Arakawa. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Player's Guide, Nintendo, 1995, p. 50 - "BARREL BAYOU: What is it about this place that Kremlings like so much? Swamp gas and mosquitoes the size of Buicks? You're not going to like much about Barrel Bayou, but if you follow the Kloaks, they'll conjure up a few goodies. If you keep Rambi safe until the end of this area, he'll turn into the Hero Coin!"
  5. M. Arakawa. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Player's Guide, Nintendo, 1995, p. 15 - "KROCKHEAD: These primitive Kremlings inhabit swamps and are not quick to attack. With their springy haws, they make great stepping stones and catapults, but be careful that they don't sink out of sight just as you're making your leap."
  6. Donkey Kong Land Instruction Booklet, Nintendo, 1995, p. 15
  7. "KREMLANTIS: Rock hewn and rock solid is Kremlantis, ancient home of K. Rool's masterfull predecessors."
    Donkey Kong Land Nintendo Magazine System, 1995, page 13
  8. Adrian Smith's like on Twitter (retrieved on December 25, 2023)
  9. GLOOMY GULCH: "Don't count on meeting another living soul in this dilapidated ghost town, where even the ropes fade in and out of existence like phantoms. Not even the town of Tombstone was terrifying!"
    Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Player's Guide, Nintendo, page 20 on Wayback Machine
  10. GLOOMY GULCH: "Avast! We're in for it now, me hearties! The last stretch of road leading to K. Rool's Keep passes though the ghost town of Gloomy Gulch, and you'll be up to your hips in ghosties, beasties and bogles. Evem the ropes seen to be fickle phantoms, fading in and out of existence as you swing across vast chasms. Don't exepct any help from the sheriff as you wander through town, since he's been put six feet under like everyone one else! Aye! Ahr! Argh-gug-gh!"
    Nintendo Power, Volume 79, December, 1995, page 26 on Wayback Machine
  11. Gregg Mayles on Twitter (retrieved on May 24, 2018)
  12. "THE PIRATE'S HOARD: Transform into Enguarde and leap out of the water and through the star three times to open the way into the pirate's treasure room."
    —M. Arakawa. Donkey Kong 64 Player's Guide, page 66 on Wayback Machine
  13. "CAPTURED: Keep a watch out for Klobber when he's barreling ahead and the Ghost Pirate who haunts the forest shadows."
    Nintendo Power, Volume 76, September, 1995, page 26 on Wayback Machine
  14. "K. Lumsy: "Sniff... K. Rool says I'm too soft to be a Kremling and I'm to stay in here until I've toughened up." - Donkey Kong 64
  15. "MEET K. LUMSY: The giant Kremling has been booted out of K. Rool's service for the crime of kindness."
    Nintendo Power, Volume 126, November, 1996, page 22 on Wayback Machine
  16. "Klubba: Kap'n K. Rool treats us rotten. I hope yer scupper his plans!" - Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
  17. Donkey Kong: "My bananas and my buddy, Diddy, they are gone! The Kremlings will pay! I'll hunt them down through every corner of my island, until I have every last banana from my hoard back!" - Donkey Kong Country (GBA)
  18. Cranky Kong: "Surely K. Rool can come up with better than that, maybe a bucket or perphaps a really nasty fridge!" - Donkey Kong Country (GBA)
  19. Cranky Kong: "That's it, only K. Rool left to beat, Come on, lets go and kick his scaly butt!" - Donkey Kong Country (GBA)
  20. "Dixie Kong: Let's go over to Crocodile Isle and rescue DK." - Donkey Kong Country 2 (GBA)
  21. Wrinkly Kong: Have you been to see my husband Cranky? He complains a little, but he does know everything about this island." - Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
  22. "Funky Kong: Lookin' good, dudes! I'm Funky the main monkey, and my new Funky's Flights can take you anywhere on Crocodile Isle, provided you've already checked it out of course!" - Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
  23. "Wrinkly Kong: I've found life too hectic at school with all those naughty Kremlings pestering me all the time!" - Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble
  24. Wrinkly's words: "Well! Just look at those sums those Kremlings have done. Disgraceful!" - Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
  25. Wrinkly's words: "I hope you're better behaved than those reptiles. Why, I even caught one sharpening his sword in class yesterday!" - Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
  26. David Wise on Twitter (retrieved Janaury 10, 2019)
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