Mine Cart artwork from Donkey Kong Country Returns.
- "General Klump! I found the perfect gift for everyone! Mine cars!"
- —Donkey Kong in The Kongo Bongo Festival of Lights
The Mine Cart is an item that appears in Donkey Kong Country, Donkey Kong 64, and Donkey Kong Country Returns. It is a basic measure for transportation across the Kremlings' underground mining tunnels in these games. These were replaced by Skull Carts in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest then into Toboggans in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!. It also appears in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze in the levels Trunk Twister, Sawmill Thrill, High Tide Ride and Rocket Rails.
History
Donkey Kong Country
Mine carts first appear in Donkey Kong Country in the levels Mine Cart Carnage and Mine Cart Madness. Mine Carts do not stop regardless of controller input, and the only real control the player has over is jumping. As such, the two levels consist of the mine cart charging through a mineshaft in the cart while the player must avoid mine hazards, such as abandoned mine carts or sudden de-railings throughout the level. Krashes sometimes appear, who are Kritters riding Mine Carts in the opposite direction of the Kong's. These levels can be quite risky, and it is highly suggested to time jumps carefully.
Donkey Kong 64
In Donkey Kong 64, they were used for mini-games and other purposes. However, they are only used by Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, and Chunky Kong. Only Donkey Kong and Chunky Kong can jump along with their Mine Carts due to their massive weight and strength, while Diddy Kong can only jump out of the Mine Cart and back inside due to his light weight and inability to lift heavy objects.
Donkey Kong Barrel Blast
A Mine Cart with Donkey Kong in it in Donkey Kong Barrel Blast.
Mine Carts only appear in the Scorching Canyon level in Donkey Kong Barrel Blast. They function in a similar way as they did in Donkey Kong Country and Donkey Kong 64.
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Mine Carts make their most recent appearance in Donkey Kong Country Returns in the six levels as listed; Crazy Cart, Rickety Rails, Grip 'n' Trip, Bombs Away, Prehistoric Path, and Roasting Rails. They act the same way as they did in the previous games, but in Rickety Rails, Grip 'n' Trip, and Roasting Rails, the primates may jump out of their vehicles, much like in the level Mine Cart Madness in Donkey Kong Country.
Gallery
Trivia
In Donkey Kong Country and Donkey Kong 64, the Mine carts resemble those from Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom