Depiction for Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Zingers are enemies of the Donkey Kong franchise. They are giant wasps covered in spikes. Only certain items such as barrels and various Animal Friends can damage Zingers. They have been one of the most recurring enemies in the Rare and Paon-produced titles within the Donkey Kong franchise.
The insect that Zinger most closely resembles is not a yellow-jacket or the honey bee, but the bald-faced hornet.
Timeline[]
Donkey Kong Country series[]
Donkey Kong Country[]
Zingers first appear in Donkey Kong Country. They are first seen in Ropey Rampage and are one of the more recurring types of enemies. Zingers come in a variety of colors, which determine their flight patterns. Zingers have spikes on their back to prevent themselves from being defeated by the Kongs through direct contact. The Kongs have to rather must use Rambi or any type of Barrel to defeat the Zingers.
One of the bosses, fought in Vine Valley, is the queen of the Zingers herself, Queen B. She is assisted by Zingers in battle in the Game Boy Advance version, each time after she is hit.
In the Game Boy Color port, Zingers are present only in the yellow variety.
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest[]
Zinger returns in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest. Zingers now exist in two varieties, yellow and red, the latter requiring a TNT Barrel to defeat.
Similar to Donkey Kong Country, one of the bosses is a giant Zinger, this time King Zing at Krazy Kremland.
Donkey Kong Land series[]
Donkey Kong Land[]
Zingers return in Donkey Kong Land. They do not appear in color varieties, since the Game Boy has only a monochromatic palette, and
Donkey Kong Land 2[]
Zingers also appear in Donkey Kong Land 2. Similar to the previous game, only the regular Zingers appear, but here specifically, the red Zingers do not return from the game's counterpart, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.
Donkey Kong 64[]
Zingers return in Donkey Kong 64. Their attack is to ether dive-bomb the Kong or drop unripe Orange Grenades on them. A Zinger can be defeated if either shot with a projectile from a Kong's weapon, an Orange, or a musical instrument attack.
Zingers received a robotic variant named Mecha-Zingers, which fly with propellers on their heads, have a lower-pitched voice, and a compartment from which they drop Orange Grenades. If a Mecha-Zinger is not defeated in one hit, they start expelling smoke.
Donkey Kong Racing[]
Zinger was going to make an appearance in Donkey Kong Racing, but the game was later canceled when Rare had been sold to Microsoft entirely.
Diddy Kong Pilot[]
Zingers appear as items in the 2003 build of Diddy Kong Pilot. They can be used as projectiles to be left behind to defend the player from Buzzes or to allow players to knock into them.
DK series[]
In DK King of Swing, Zingers could be damaged directly by using a charged jump attack in the face (the back or sides would cause damage). They have a similar role in the sequel, DK: Jungle Climber.
Donkey Kong Barrel Blast[]
Zingers appear yet again in Donkey Kong Barrel Blast. They slow players who crash into them and can be put behind them as a form of defense.
Other games[]
WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase[]
A red Zinger is an obstacle in DK Country, a microgame in WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase. In it, Diddy has to avoid touching the red Zinger while collecting bananas, otherwise the player loses at the microgame.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl[]
Zingers appear as a sticker in Super Smash Bros. Brawl to allow more resistance by 5 to slashing attacks.
Relatives[]
Buzz[]
In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! and Donkey Kong Land III, Zinger was replaced by Buzz which shares similarities to Zingers (except the regular type is green and not yellow), and the pink type can be defeated either through invincibility or a TNT Barrel, being just like in the latter case. Buzz appears to be a mecha bee, with a buzz saw replacing its stinger, and without Antennas.
Buzz's name comes from the low, vibrating sound a bee makes, though it could also refer to a buzz saw, the circular saw blade that replaces its stinger.
Notable members[]
Queen B.[]
Queen B. was the third boss of Donkey Kong Country. She is fought in the boss level Bumble B. Rumble at the end of Vine Valley. To defeat Queen B. the player must hit her with 5 barrels. In the Game Boy Advance version, she is protected by smaller Zingers, which must be destroyed first before Queen B. can be injured again.
King Zing[]
King Zing has purportedly been the husband of Queen B., but this has not been officially confirmed. He appears in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Donkey Kong Land 2. In Rambi Rumble, during the Rambi part, you had to flee from King Zing as he chased you throughout the level. At the end of the world, Krazy Kremland, the player fights King Zing as Squawks. Squawks must spit nuts at King Zing's stinger to damage him. After several hits, he shrinks into a small red Zinger, surrounded by four yellow ones. King Zing can be injured after the other Zingers are defeated (however, they regenerate if all four are not defeated quickly). Apart from the Game Boy Advance port of Donkey Kong Country 2, King Zing has never returned since.
Word origin[]
Zinger's name most likely comes from the word Zing, a brief high-pitched humming or buzzing sound. Its name could also be derived from "stinger," the stinging organ on a bee. There is a possibility that Zinger's name is a portmanteau of both words.
Disclaimer[]
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- Wikipedia
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- Mario Wiki
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