The Kongversation: Donkey Kong Universe Discussion - podcast cover

The Kongversation: Donkey Kong Universe Discussion

hyle@dkvine.comwww.dkvine.com
Let the weekly podcast from DK Vine be the anthem in your ears whether you’re on the street or feeling the Jungle Beat. In these uncertain times, you don’t want to just fight the power. You want to fight the power while playing with Nintendo Power! It’s a regular Rarevolution as we debate current events or the lessons of history from the Donkey Kong Universe: Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Kazooie, Conker, Dinosaur Planet, Yooka-Laylee, Sea of Thieves, and much more. No kings. No tyrants. Just the power of the people. Oh, and we've also invited some apes, monkeys, bears, squirrels, lizards, and bats. © 2025 DK Vine and File Two Productions
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Episodes

1004 - Rarenaissance Rarespective

The Rarenaissance era, which we've been living in for the past eight years, has seen the embers of Rare reignite across the games and studios of the Donkey Kong Universe. As the era nears its end and we prepare to embark on what's next, Hyle and Mitchell reflect on the last near-decade of the DKU!

Mar 13, 20222 hr 12 min

1003 - Sea of Thieves: Season Five

Happy holidays! Hyle and Jeff discuss the holiday season, and a season of change, in Sea of Thieves. As Season Five winds down, we look back at sitting down, talk about eating pounds of rat, question who's the true star of loads, and review the introduction of Belle and the Shrouded Islands adventure!

Mar 06, 20222 hr 27 min

1002 - The Slush Fun'd: Sabre Wulf

Let's guzzle some tea and have another chat about Sabre Wulf! Hyle has revived his DK Vine Forum series "The Slush Fun'd" to chronicle his experiences playing the Game Boy Advance cult classic, and he and Dustin will delve into all of his findings and theories, including the game's timeline placement in the DKU and a grand unifying theory between it, Donkey Kong Land, Conker's Pocket Tales, Donkey Kong 64, Banjo-Tooie, Mario Super Sluggers, Donkey Kong Country Returns, Sea of Thieves, and... Imh...

Feb 27, 20223 hr 5 min

Mini 016 - Banjo-Kazooie on the Nintendo Switch

We give our quick thoughts on Banjo-Kazooie on Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. The performance, the differences, and the joy of having the Nintendo 64 version available once again!

Feb 20, 202258 min

1001 - DKU Tribunal Special Session: Sabre Wulf

In the first of several special Tribunal episodes throughout the season, Hyle and the gang set out to reexamine if Sabre Wulf for the Game Boy Advance should be considered part of the shared universe of Donkey Kong. It's a twisty, convoluted journey into how shared universes have evolved in the popular imagination over the past 50 years, DK Vine's own rules on the subject, and how it all relates to the weird case of a 2004 GBA game about an old British man getting chased by a wolf.

Feb 13, 20221 hr 41 min

934 - New Year's Forecast 2022

It's a special LIVE New Year's Forecast 2022! Hyle and Gibbon look into the ORB to see what the year ahead may entail for the Donkey Kong Universe, and then they usher in 2022 for the homeland of Rare and Playtonic!

Dec 31, 20211 hr

933 - Imagining the Dream Rare Racing Game!

Inspired by the fervor that Fangamer's RareRacers pins caused, Hyle, Cameron, and Jeff sit down to discuss all of the various shapes and sizes that a new Rare racing game could take and what we would most like to see. Got milk?

Dec 30, 20212 hr

932 - Dinosaur Planet: Fallen Kingdom

Since our discussion of the Dinosaur Planet ROM, even more of it has been uncovered. In fact, we now have an entire view of the game's storyline and shocking twists, some of which differ quite a bit from Star Fox Adventures. Steve from off of Rare Gamer returns to discuss the alternate reality that could have been!

Dec 23, 20213 hr 4 min

931 - Sea of Thieves: Season Four

In the Kongversation's last Sea of Thieves recap of the year, Hyle and Jeff look back at Season Four of Rare's ongoing pirate prequel, which explored the underwater kingdom of the Sirens, saw Halloween and Thanksgiving-inspired events, and... introduced Kremlings?

Dec 09, 20211 hr 40 min

930 - Demon Turf First Impressions

The Kongversation discusses all of the big news about Playtonic's ambitious plans before focusing on Demon Turf, the new Hell-based 3D platformer published by Playtonic Friends and featuring an appearance by Yooka and Laylee!

Dec 03, 20211 hr 28 min

929 - Mario Party Superstars First Impressions

DK Vine's love/hate relationship with the Mario Party franchise has been well-documented on the Kongversation and elsewhere, so what happens when we get a Mario Party "greatest hits" package that focuses heavily on nostalgia for the Nintendo 64 trilogy? We discuss and debate the return to Mushroom Village, as well as all of the Kong-based representation in the game!

Nov 14, 20211 hr 43 min

928 - AfterSmash

Our journey with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has come to an end. Hyle and Mitchell sentimentally reflect on one of the wildest content cycles for any game we've ever covered. We also ponder what could possibly be next for the Smash franchise!

Nov 04, 20212 hr 23 min

927 - RareRacers

The Kongversation geeks out over Fangamer's new RareRacers merchandise line, kicking off with Banjo and the first-ever Timber the tiger merchandise!

Oct 19, 20212 hr 1 min

926 - It's Always Sunny in Donkey Kong Country

The Kongversation connects the dots and lays out the case for why Donkey Kong Country fans should be happy, seeing as how we're on the verge of the greatest time for the franchise since the 1990s. Featuring insights on the purported new game, the movie, and the just-announced theme park! Co-starring Josh "The Geek Critique" Wallen!

Oct 09, 20213 hr 26 min

925 - September 2021 Nintendo Direct

DK Vine teams with The Cartoon Gamer to have a Kongversation about the big DKU stories of the September 2021 Nintendo Direct: Banjo-Kazooie on the Nintendo Switch and Seth Rogen and Fred Armisen as Donkey and Cranky Kong in Illumination's Super Mario movie!

Sep 28, 20211 hr 57 min

923 - Interview: D.M. Cumbo II

D.M. Cumbo, the mind behind Dreamprism Press and the author and artist of Yooka-Laylee and the Kracklestone, joins us once again on the Kongversation for a chat about the creation of the graphic novel, collaborating with Playtonic, and why you should VOTE FART.

Sep 12, 20212 hr 18 min

922 - Yooka-Laylee and the Kracklestone: A Literary Analysis

In honor of the Grand Tome Edition available now at Limited Run Games (https://www.limitedrungames.com/products/yooka-laylee-and-the-kracklestone-graphic-novel), the Kongversation tackles the official Yooka-Laylee graphic novel, Yooka-Laylee and the Kracklestone! How did the work change the way Hyle and Cameron view Yooka-Laylee, and why is it worth the time of any longtime fan of the DKU?

Sep 05, 20211 hr 52 min

921 - Interview: Kev Bayliss and David Wise

The Kongversation is joined by two fathers of the Donkey Kong Universe: the designer of the modern Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, Kev Bayliss, and legendary composer David Wise. They're on the podcast to chat about their careers (including Donkey Kong Country, Diddy Kong Racing, and Star Fox Adventures) and also their new venture: DK Creations Ltd. and the multi-media comic experience SALAMANDOS!

Aug 22, 202159 min

920 - Dr. Mario World, Nintendo, and Game Preservation

With the news that Nintendo is shutting down Dr. Mario World, rendering it inaccessible to play, the Kongversation takes a look at the history of Nintendo games that are lost to time, the Donkey Kong Universe's close calls over the years, and Nintendo's practices with game preservation compared to Xbox and others.

Aug 17, 20211 hr 19 min

918 - Character Witness: Banjo Bear

Who's the most stand-up, solid dude in the Donkey Kong Universe? Not that piece of trash Conker! The Kongversation makes the case for Banjo, a bluegrass-loving hillbilly with cosmopolitan tastes, an enormous heart, and only light manslaughter charges.

Aug 01, 20213 hr 4 min

Mini 015 - Pirates of the Caribbean 1 - 5: A Film Critique

Hyle watched all five "Pirates of the Caribbean" films for the first time in order to have proper context for Sea of Thieves: A Pirate's Life. He has opinions, so Jeff will be the Ebert to his Siskel in the Kongversation's first-ever Film Critique!

Jul 22, 20211 hr 13 min

917 - Sea of Thieves: Season Two

Hyle and Jeff discuss everything Season Two brought to Sea of Thieves and some things it didn't, including disguising yourself as a barrel, Forts of Fortune, and the sweet creamy taste of squirrel milk. Press play to find out which is which!

Jul 16, 20211 hr 56 min

916 - 40 Years of Donkey Kong

The Donkey Kong franchise has turned 40! To celebrate, DK Vine's LIVE Kongversation (originally broadcast on https://twitch.tv/dkvine) honors the last four decades, and every era, of Donkey Kong. To help with the festivities, several notable names behind DK's storied legacy even drop in with their warmest regards!

Jul 10, 20213 hr 56 min

915 - Mario Golf: Super Rush First Impressions

Hyle's been suffering from deliberating insomnia for nearing two weeks, so he spends the first episode back from E3 railing against Space Jam, for some reason. He also discusses Mario Golf: Super Rush, which has been getting mixed reviews across mainstream gaming sites. What does DK Vine think, and how much of it comes down to the glistening perfection of Donkey Kong soaking wet in the rain?

Jul 02, 20211 hr 28 min

914 - E3 2021 Wrap Up

E3 2021 is over. All of the games have been revealed. All that's left is a summer of perpetual longing. To help find closure, an exhausted Hyle is joined by Cameron and Gibbon to bring things full circle on a LIVE Kongversation (broadcast on https://twitch.tv/dkvine) on the Friday after E3!

Jun 18, 20211 hr 36 min

913 - E3 2021 Nintendo

Hyle is drunk. Jeff is drunk. Mitchell is sober, although he's drunk on power. Nintendo's E3 was a disappointment for Donkey Kong fans, but DK Vine tries to make the best of it on a LIVE Kongversation (broadcast on https://twitch.tv/dkvine) covering the Nintendo Direct!

Jun 15, 20212 hr 23 min

912 - E3 2021 Xbox

Captain Jack Sparrow has joined the DKU. The bizarre (and robust) crossover between Sea of Thieves and Pirates of the Caribbean takes over E3 Sunday and the LIVE Kongversation (broadcast on https://twitch.tv/dkvine) for the Xbox and Bethesda Showcase!

Jun 13, 20211 hr 53 min

911 - E3 2021 Preview

E3 is here! E3 is at home! On our LIVE E3 preview (broadcast on E3 Friday on https://twitch.tv/dkvine), Hyle and a panel of DK Viners discuss what the all-digital return of the biggest gaming event of the year might yield for the Donkey Kong Universe. The new Donkey Kong game? A second or THIRD Donkey Kong game? Everwild? Banjo-Kazooie? BACONHEADZ? Nothing is too ludicrous to speculate on!

Jun 11, 20212 hr 6 min
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