History NightmareFuel / DonkeyKongCountry

** Let's not forget [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuF1hvF3A6c Lockjaw's Saga]] from DKC 2, though it has some touches of possible epicness.

** That's nothing compared to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ofm6PARSVM Misty Menace]] and its [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyMoO0SesGk invincible stone zombie Kremlings]] called [[https://www.mariowiki.com/Rock_Kroc Rock Krocs]].
*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHxyctEX8Mo Here's a version of Misty Menace that was composed for E3 1994 (or rather, CES 1994, if one commenter is to be believed).]]
** The "Stop & Go Station" stage from [=DKC1=] and "Haunted Hall" from [=DKC2=], essentially acting as Nintendo's response to the [[AnimationAgeGhetto Kiddy Gaming Age Ghetto]], especially "Haunted Hall", the Kackle enemy found inside it, and its EvilLaugh. As for "Stop & Go Station", [[ItMakesSenseInContext did you ever crap your pants after seeing a green light?]]

* ''DKC'' gives up the Stop N Go Station, which is a pretty straightforward level, but you have to rush through to make sure the stop lights are always on, or else you have these unstoppable and [[NoSell ever-powerful]] ''things'' charge and attack you, with their manic pace and [[RedEyesTakeWarning glowing red eyes.]] Making it worse is how well they blend into the background.

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Being a series from Nintendo, VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry sure as hell doesn't lack the others' mood-swings from [[SugarBowl cheery and childish]] to [[NightmareFuel genuinely frightening]]. Enjoy - FromACertainPointOfView - Nintendo and Rare's use of the hardware capacities.

''VideoGame/DonkeyKong64'' [[NightmareFuel/DonkeyKong64 gets its own page]].

* [=DKC2=]'s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D95R9h7Jqw infamous Castle Crush glitch:]] a GameBreakingBug that can also wipe save files and potentially ''brick the cartridge'' or worse, '''the entire console.''' Thankfully the glitch no longer destroys the game in the UsefulNotes/VirtualConsole re-release.

* The first three ''Donkey Kong Country'' games for SNES had shockingly depressing GameOver screens. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-U5e9LR6E4 The first game]] shows an injured Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong standing in a dark background, with "GAME OVER" written in deranged wooden font and depressing music playing; [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAPxbnL4a7E the second game]] shows Diddy and Dixie locked up while depressing music plays and the words "GAME OVER" hover down to taunt you, after which the whole screen slowly turns blood red; and finally, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3-6g7p56lQ&feature=related the third game]] shows a door opening on Kiddy and Dixie in a baby crib in the dark with sad expressions, after which a [[IronicNurseryTune creepy music box plays]] (ButtonMashing allows you to play along) until [[LastNoteNightmare the door slams]].

** The Game Over screen in the second game is deliberately ambiguous, depending on your interpretation of the fade-to-red: it either represents the young Kongs being simply screwed, or [[MurderByCremation implies their "prison" is actually an oven.]]

** Mixed with [[FridgeHorror Fridge]] TearJerker but in the Zinger hive stages, you can see baby Zingers sitting in the honeycombs. You are also killing Zingers, so these babies are essentially [[WhatMeasureIsAMook watching you kill their older siblings and families]].

* "The Curse Of Kongo Bongo" has the cursed letters sent by Bluebeard Baboon which if read aloud twice causes whatever island they are read on to sink into the ocean. The curse is so powerful that after Donkey Kong read the letter once the Crystal Coconut, the wish granting {{Macguffin}}, stops working. Since letters are sent to every person on an island, [[FridgeHorror that must mean a lot of islands were destroyed]].

** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSXcxWP-kK4 NES pirate of the first game]] has the duo in a scary reddish tint, as if they were covered in blood. The music being either a Funeral March -- of all things -- or a flawed interpretation of the original Game Over music makes it worse.
** As if seeing the screens alone didn't raise your hairs enough, this [[FearlessFool person whom we won't question what's going on in their head]], decided it would be a 'neat' idea to add the "G-Major" effect to the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97Ig1I7hBh0 first]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpPYBXpqtAE second]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3eVVvkmgrk third]], and the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K3EUfNbsf0 first game on the Game Boy Color]]. All whilst applying a bright red filter to each.
*** And as if seeing THOSE screens alone didn't send a big enough shiver down your spine, another [[FearlessFool person whom is DEFINITELY sick in the head]], decided to turn the Game Over screens into something that looked like it came from the depths of hell: the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFrwIfrrXHA first]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7frIKckHTs twice]], (The first version of the two game over screen vidoes isn't too bad, but the next one is a different story.) the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v42l6fPzwHM second]], the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdRo5xKSSb0 third]], the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdHZIF5wgBs first on Game Boy Color]], and the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRebWFx53cM one on Tropical Freeze]].
** Someone thought it was a great idea to get the Game Over screen of the first game inked onto their arm as a [[http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/0e/cd/a1/0ecda12f8e0b0233d8ac08fb65412581.jpg tattoo, and while the results are absolutely impressive]], it's still a bit eerie.

** Someone decided to combine the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DN_KxAjRLGM GBC game over]] with the game over theme from [[DarkerAndEdgier the U.S. version of]] ''Videogame/SonicCD'', which is just as chilling as it sounds.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0efyEdGSiI The really bad pirated [=NES=] [=DKC2=] which featured the Game Over screen from the SNES version for an ending.]]

* If you want to hear the aforementioned nightmare-fuel music tracks in a higher quality, [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKNuUcvZGX21obTJzXuVHUWRcS2cCBBsP here's a playlist of restored DKC music]], and the person restoring them isn't even done yet! [[ShmuckBait Have fun listening to the likes of Misty Menace in all its glory!]]

* This game actually introduces shadow levels, where almost everything is a silhouette, the entire level coated in black with the a more colorful background. This certainly looks pretty in some levels, like "Foggy Fumes" it looks rather ominous, a factory shrouded in smoggy fumes, silhoutes of buzzsaws, a giant beastly skull, and [[TheCameo Mr. Game and Watch]] [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking hammering away at a pipe.]] The whole level feels like something out of "VideoGame/{{Limbo}}".

** The game over screen from the [=GBC=] version takes it up to eleven, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1YPcRhZLGs managing to be even worse thanks to color limitation and the poorly drawn version of the duo (especially with Diddy, as it now appears if he actually lost his right eye, all while his other eye is absolutely hideous, rendering this Game Over screen to be even more graphic than the original version)]], as well as the music being even more depressing than ever before, as it has been changed to a [[DarkReprise profoundly haunting and emotionally harrowing version of the Jungle Hijinxs theme]] that makes the SNES' 16-bit theme seem tame.

*** And as if seeing THOSE screens alone didn't send a big enough shiver down your spine, this [[FearlessFool person whom is DEFINITELY sick in the head]], decided to turn the Game Over screens into something that looked like it came from the depths of hell: the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFrwIfrrXHA first]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7frIKckHTs twice]], (The first version of the two game over screen vidoes isn't too bad, but the next one is a different story.) the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v42l6fPzwHM second]], the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdRo5xKSSb0 third]], the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdHZIF5wgBs first on Game Boy Color]], and the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRebWFx53cM one on Tropical Freeze]].

*** As if seeing the screens alone didn't raise your hairs enough, this [[FearlessFool person whom is DEFINITELY sick in the head]], decided to turn the Game Over screens into something that looked like it came from the depths of hell: the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFrwIfrrXHA first]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7frIKckHTs twice]], (The first version of the two game over screen vidoes isn't too bad, but the next one is a different story.) the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v42l6fPzwHM second]], the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdRo5xKSSb0 third]], the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdHZIF5wgBs first on Game Boy Color]], and the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRebWFx53cM one on Tropical Freeze]].

*** As if seeing the screens alone didn't raise your hairs enough, this [[FearlessFool person whom is DEFINITELY sick in the head]], decided to turn the Game Over screens into FUCKING NIGHTMARES: the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFrwIfrrXHA first]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7frIKckHTs twice]], (The first version of the two game over screen vidoes isn't too bad, but the next one is a different story.) the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v42l6fPzwHM second]], the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdRo5xKSSb0 third]], the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdHZIF5wgBs first on Game Boy Color]], and the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRebWFx53cM one on Tropical Freeze]].

*** As if seeing the screens alone didn't raise your hairs enough, this [[FearlessFool person whom is DEFINITELY sick in the head]], decided to turn the Game Over screens into FUCKING NIGHTMARES : the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFrwIfrrXHA first]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7frIKckHTs twice]], (The first version of the two game over screen vidoes isn't too bad, but the next one is a different story.) the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v42l6fPzwHM second]], the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdRo5xKSSb0 third]], the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdHZIF5wgBs first on Game Boy Color]], and the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRebWFx53cM one on Tropical Freeze]].

*** As if seeing the screens alone didn't raise your hairs enough, this [[FearlessFool person whom is DEFINITELY sick in the head]], decided to turn the Game Over screens into a FUCKING NIGHTMARE : the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFrwIfrrXHA first]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7frIKckHTs twice]], (The first one isn't so bad, but the next one is a different story.) the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v42l6fPzwHM second]], the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdRo5xKSSb0 third]], the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdHZIF5wgBs first on Game Boy Color]], and the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRebWFx53cM one on Tropical Freeze]].

*** As if seeing the screens alone didn't raise your hairs enough, this [[FearlessFool person whom we won't question what's going on in their head]], decided it would be a 'neat' idea to make the Game Over screens EVEN SCARIER : the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFrwIfrrXHA first]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7frIKckHTs twice]], the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v42l6fPzwHM second]], the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdRo5xKSSb0 third]], the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdHZIF5wgBs first on Game Boy Color]], and the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRebWFx53cM one on Tropical Freeze]].

* ''DKC 3'' has the GimmickLevel Fish Food Frenzy. First, it's a deep-sea underwater level, with all the hydrophobia fuel that entails. Second, this level features Nibbla, the fish that in two previous levels attacks you if you dare to go into the water, following you. The good news: it won't attack you...initially. The bad news: You have to keep feeding Kocos (the fish enemies) to it to keep it in a good mood, because over time or if you feed Lurchins (the sea urchin enemies) its mood will deteriorate, represented by its facial expression becoming less and less happy and its color gradually changing from blue to red. If its mood hits fully red, it will then attack you. It is possible to [[CuttingTheKnot skip this gimmick]] by just [[SpeedRun speeding as fast as possible to the end of the level]]; this is not advised, because if you stall you are likely going to be greeted by an angry-enough-to-attack Nibbla coming at you at high speed from off the screen.

* The Game Boy Advance port of DKC 3 adds a new boss to Razor Ridge, the Kroctopus. It's supposed to be a play on "[[XtremeKoolLetterz K]]rockodile" and "Octopus", but instead it's blob-like entity with appendages that lives in green water and has [[OffModel an art style that clashes against the rest of the game's visuals]] and goes straight into UncannyValley.

* Because of [[SpecialEffectsFailure how poorly the animation has aged]], the characters suffer a fair share of UncannyValley moments.

* Also at the end of that episode, that terrifying roar that was heard by the Kremlings. Maybe the bog monster is [[RealAfterAll]]...

* Also at the end of that episode, that terrifying roar that was heard by the Kremlings. Maybe the bog monster is real after all...

** The game over screen from the [=GBC=] version takes it UpToEleven, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1YPcRhZLGs managing to be even worse thanks to color limitation and the poorly drawn version of the duo (especially with Diddy, as it now appears if he actually lost his right eye, all while his other eye is absolutely hideous, rendering this Game Over screen to be even more graphic than the original version)]], as well as the music being even more depressing than ever before, as it has been changed to a [[DarkReprise profoundly haunting and emotionally harrowing version of the Jungle Hijinxs theme]] that makes the SNES' 16-bit theme seem tame.

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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screenshot_141_48.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[DownerEnding The Kremlings have won, and the Kongs are beaten.]] [[ItsAWonderfulFailure Sweet dreams.]]]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screenshot_140_04.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[OhCrap FLY UP! FLY UP! FLY UP!]]]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screenshot_139_5.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Did he get bigger?]]

* The first three ''Donkey Kong Country'' games for SNES had shockingly depressing Game Over screens. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-U5e9LR6E4 The first one]] shows an injured Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong standing in a dark background, with a deranged wooden font and depressing music playing, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAPxbnL4a7E the second one]] shows Diddy and Dixie locked up while depressing music plays and the GameOver message hovers down to taunt you (with the whole screen slowly turning blood red), and finally, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3-6g7p56lQ&feature=related the third one,]] shows Kiddy and Dixie with sad expression in a baby crib, while a [[IronicNurseryTune creepy Music Box plays depressing music]] (ButtonMashing allows you to play along) until [[LastNoteNightmare you hear someone slam a door]].

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hauntedhall_2.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The intense music certainly doesn't help.]]
%% The page image is a notorious example: if you really must change it, remember to update the entries referencing it as "see above" or "see the page image" among the ones below. %%

*** As if seeing the screens alone didn't raise your hairs enough, this [[FearlessFool person whom we won't question what's going on in their head]], decided it would be a 'neat' idea to make the Game Over screens EVEN SCARIER : the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFrwIfrrXHA first]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7frIKckHTs twice]], the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v42l6fPzwHM second]], the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdRo5xKSSb0 third]], and the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdHZIF5wgBs first on Game Boy Color]].

** In the Zinger hive stages, you can see baby Zingers sitting in the honeycombs. You are also killing Zingers, so these babies are essentially watching you kill their families.