Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Advance)

The second remake of Donkey Kong Country, this time on the Game Boy Advance. While retaining some elements from the Game Boy Color version, this remake attempts to stick closer to the SNES original and adds revised bosses, a restructured level order, a time attack mode, and other quality-of-life changes, though the graphical and audio quality were reduced to account for the GBA's limitations.

Unused Graphics#

Much like their SNES counterpart, the game contains small numbers from 1-6.

Background	In-Game

These numbers are used in the temple-themed levels, but are always covered up by a torch. They are likely placeholders.

Unused Text#

Error Messages#

A number of error messages relating to the game's sound engine can be found within the ROM. This text can also be found in many of Rare's other Game Boy Advance games.

AUDIO ERROR, freq of sample unusually high. (>3 times normal)
 AUDIO ERROR, pitch frequency too low
 AUDIO ERROR, pitch frequency too high
 AUDIO ERROR, adsr_acts table exceeded
 AUDIO ERROR, midi_command table exceeded
 AUDIO ERROR, midi delta time too big
 AUDIO ERROR, midi delta time of 4 bytes unsupported
 AUDIO ERROR, too many notes on channel 0.increase polyphony RAM
           or modify tune (perhaps reduce envelope release times)
 AUDIO ERROR, too many notes on channel 1.increase polyphony RAM
           or modify tune (perhaps reduce envelope release times)
 AUDIO ERROR, too many notes on channel 2.increase polyphony RAM
           or modify tune (perhaps reduce envelope release times)
 AUDIO ERROR, too many notes on channel 3.increase polyphony RAM
           or modify tune (perhaps reduce envelope release times)
 AUDIO ERROR, too many notes on channel 4.increase polyphony RAM
           or modify tune (perhaps reduce envelope release times)
 AUDIO ERROR, too many notes on channel 5.increase polyphony RAM
           or modify tune (perhaps reduce envelope release times)
 AUDIO ERROR, too many notes on channel 6.increase polyphony RAM
           or modify tune (perhaps reduce envelope release times)
 AUDIO ERROR, too many notes on channel 7.increase polyphony RAM
           or modify tune (perhaps reduce envelope release times)
 AUDIO ERROR, too many notes on channel 8.increase polyphony RAM
           or modify tune (perhaps reduce envelope release times)
 AUDIO ERROR, too many notes on channel 9.increase polyphony RAM
           or modify tune (perhaps reduce envelope release times)
 AUDIO ERROR, too many notes on channel 10.increase polyphony RAM
           or modify tune (perhaps reduce envelope release times)
 AUDIO ERROR, too many notes on channel 11.increase polyphony RAM
           or modify tune (perhaps reduce envelope release times)
 AUDIO ERROR, too many notes on channel 12.increase polyphony RAM
           or modify tune (perhaps reduce envelope release times)
 AUDIO ERROR, too many notes on channel 13.increase polyphony RAM
           or modify tune (perhaps reduce envelope release times)
 AUDIO ERROR, too many notes on channel 14.increase polyphony RAM
           or modify tune (perhaps reduce envelope release times)
 AUDIO ERROR, too many notes on channel 15.increase polyphony RAM
           or modify tune (perhaps reduce envelope release times)
 AUDIO ERROR, not enough space to put audio RAM code
 AUDIO ERROR, more than 16 tracks in song
 AUDIO ERROR, tune num > max tunes available
 AUDIO ERROR, MIDI note on command before MIDI prog chng command
 AUDIO ERROR, requested playback freq exceeds max freq
 AUDIO ERROR, incorrect note mapping for rhythm_set
 AUDIO ERROR, incorrect note mapping for keysplit
 AUDIO ERROR, invalid fx number
 AUDIO ERROR, invalid tune number

Debug Text#

To do: Is there a way to view this text in-game?

A significant amount of debug text is present starting at ROM offset 9ACD8 in the European version, 99FC0 in the American version, or 9AA34 in the Japanese version.

Game_menu hero
Game_menu normal
Pg 19 picture book
Pg 18 picture book
ANIMAL BONUS CHEAT
WARP ROOM PICTURE
STATS PAGE
SCROLLING LEAVES
2PLY Draw
CREDITS BACKDROP
2PLY DK Win 
2PLY DK Lose
2PLY Diddy Win
2PLY Diddy Lose
CANDYS HIGHSCORE PAGE
MAIN MENU BACKDROP
DK ATTACK
BR SELECTION
Candys Hut Wld6
Candys Hut Wld5
Candys Hut Wld4
Candys Hut Wld3
Candys Hut Wld2
Candys Hut Wld1
FUNKYS HIGHSCORE PAGE
Pg 17 picture book
Pg 16 picture book
Pg 15 picture book
Pg 14 picture book
Pg 13 picture book
Pg 12 picture book
Pg 11 picture book
Pg 10 picture book
Pg 9 picture book
Pg 8 picture book
Pg 7 picture book
Pg 6 picture book
Pg 5 picture book
Pg 4 picture book
Pg 3 picture book
Pg 2 picture book
Pg 1 picture book
The Banana Hoard
SPELL IT OUT PICTURE
GET THE PRIZE PICTURE
BASH THE BADDIES PICTURE
STOP THE BARREL PICTURE
LOOK 4 EXIT PICTURE
JUMP 4 NANAS PICTURE
WINKY PICTURE
RAMBI PICTURE
EXPRESSO PICTURE
ENGUARDE PICTURE
Trevors Test Map
SPRITE GRID
James Test Map
Funkys Hut
Candy's World 6
Candy's World 5
Candy's World 4
Candy's World 3
Candy's World 2
Candy's World 1
Warp Bridge
Crankys Hut
Funky Fishing 6
Funky Fishing 5
Funky Fishing 4
Funky Fishing 3
Funky Fishing 2
Funky Fishing 1
GAME OVER PAGE
UNUSED
KONG ISLAND MAP
CHIMP CAVERNS MAP
KREMKROC IND. MAP
GORILLA GLACIER MAP
VINE VALLEY MAP
MONKEY MINES MAP
DK'S TREEHOUSE
KONGO JUNGLE MAP
BR - Oil Drum Alley (single banana secret)
DK ATTACK 100
BR -Platform Perils
BR - Platform Perils
BR - Loopy Lights
BR - Misty Mine
BR - Manic Mincers
BR - Tanked Up Trouble
BR - Blackout Basement
BR - Mine Cart Madness
BR - Elevator Antics
BR - Trick Track Trek
BR - Oil Drum Alley
BR - Rope Bridge Rumble
BR - Torchlight Trouble
BR - Torchligh Trouble
BR - Ice Age Alley
BR -Slipslide Ride
BR -Snow Barrel Blast
BR - Snow Barrel Blast
BR - Orangutan Gang
BR - Temple Tempest
BR - Forest Frenzy
BR - Tree Top Town
BR - Vulture Culture
BR - Millstone Mayhem
BR - Stop & Go Station
BR - Bouncy Bonanza
BR- Winky's Walkway
BR- Barrel Cannon Canyon
BR - Barrel Cannon Canyon
BR - Reptile Rumble
BR- Ropey Rampage
BR - Jungle Hijinxs 1
BR- Jungle Hijinxs 2
ANIMAL BONUS - Winky
ANIMAL BONUS - Enguarde
ANIMAL BONUS - Expresso
ANIMAL BONUS - Rambi
Necky's Revenge
Boss Dumb Drum
Really Gnawty Rampage
Bumble B Rumble
Necky's Nuts
 Very Gnawty Beaver
Gangplank Galleon
Platfrom Peril
Loopy Lights
Misty Mine
Manic Mincers
Tanked Up Trouble
Blackout Basement
Mine Cart Madness
Poison Pond
Elevator Antics
Trick Track Trek
Oil Drum Alley
Rope Bridge Rumble
Torchlight Trouble
Croctopus Chase
Ice Age Alley
Slipslide Ride
Snow Barrel Blast
Clam City
Orang-Utan Gang
Temple Tempest
Forest Frenzy
Tree Top Town
Vulture Culture
Millstone Mayhem
Stop & Go Station
Bouncy Bonanza
Mine Cart Carnage
Winky's Walkway
Barrel Cannon Canyon
Coral Capers
Reptile Rumble
Ropey Rampage
Jungle Hijinxs

Music Test#

This code takes you to a sound test with a fabulous render of DK hitting a jig.

At the file select screen, hold Select and press B, A, L, L, A, Down.

Note that some music tracks are actually the second half of a full track, something not present in the SNES version. Also, the GBA version has several new tracks that are not found in the SNES version at all. Second note, the compositions for "Candy's Love Song" and "Funky's Fugue" are completely different from the original SNES compositions. Most of the titles of the GBA tracks are from the SNES version's official soundtrack DK Jamz, although the titles for the Jungle and Map themes are swapped from the original release. These titles are kept in the Japanese release, despite having their own names from the Super Donkey Kong Game Music CD Jungle Fantasy. The listing is how the sound test appears in-game, with comparative titles.

Unused Levels#

To do: European/Japanese codes.

To access these levels, use the code 03000078 000000?? (where "??" is one of the below values) in the US version, then choose any stage.

James Test Map#

Value: 67

A small map containing four Mincers that bounce up and down.

"James" is most likely the first name of J. Simmons, listed as a programmer in the credits.

SPRITE GRID#

Value: 68

A small empty cave. It was most likely a sprite viewer at one point, given the name.

Trevors Test Map#

Value: 69

A small map containing three Klaptraps that spit banana bunches when attacked.

"Trevor" refers to Trevor Attwood, who was the main programmer for this port.

BR SELECTION#

Watch on YouTube

Value: 8D

A test map that takes place in a glitched version of Jungle Hijinxs. It contains all sorts of objects found throughout the game.

Regional Differences#

US/Europe	Japan

Unlike the Japanese Game Boy Color version, the Japanese GBA version uses the Super Donkey Kong name.

US/Europe	Japan

In the Japanese version, the pause graphic was shrunk from "PAUSED" to "PAUSE" and has a scroll behind it.

References#