Why, hello there! Today is an exciting day, for it is my first time participating in the Question of the Month, put on by none other than Kim from Later Levels! This month, the burning question on the collective Internet hivemind is:
Who’s the most memorable video game NPC?
The games we play are filled with some interesting characters, but memorable? Now that’s a hard one to narrow down. However, I’m going to have to go back to one of my favorite franchises, specifically, the installments on the Super Nintendo. And that NPC is none other than Cranky Kong, of Donkey Kong Country fame!
Here is my argument, in precisely 100 words:
Cranky Kong is the epitome of what an NPC should be – the fourth-wall-breaking peanut gallery that would insult the protagonists Donkey and Diddy Kong, the players’ skill level, and the entire game itself. He’s the crotchety old man that you find in every cul-de-sac in suburbia. Providing you live amongst talking monkeys.
Throughout the trifecta of the Donkey Kong series, Cranky is a recurring character, although his role is slightly diminished outside of the Gameboy Advance re-release of the series. Regardless, the amount of thought that was put into Cranky Kong makes him by far the most memorable NPC for me.
A few hand-picked Cranky Kong quotes:
- “They can’t keep this level of graphics up for much longer! We used to be lucky if we only got three shades of grey, let alone any real colors!”
- “Tired of me? You’re lucky I’m here to brighten up this boring manual!” (from the Donkey Kong Country manual)
- “Look!…look at this!…as I rock, my beard swings! Waste of frames in my opinion!”
Be sure to swing on by Kim’s site on September 1st where you can participate in the discussion and the poll to crown the most memorable NPC of all time!
Who’s your favorite NPC of all time, and why is it Cranky Kong? Do you have some other crazy theory about who’s the best out there!? Let me know in the comments below!
nostalgia trigger 
I loved Cranky Kong’s banter in the manual for the Gameboy Advance version of Donkey Kong Country. “Where’s the quit barrel?”…hahaha.
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Isn’t he awesome? The crotchety old man that everyone knows from somewhere!
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love cranky kong and his whole “back in my day” attitude but that it reflected on how games were before the snes. Hilarious stuff and easily one of my favourites NPCs and games as well.
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Never played a Donkey game, but I like this character. Great observations on his part, cranky and so funny!
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Great choice. I was listening to a podcast recently that talked about the strange Donkey Kong lineage. I can’t remember the details exactly but it’s your typical Nintendo timeline, practically impossible to follow but interesting!
My most memorable NPC might have to be Socucius Ergalla (the Census and Excise Office guy) in Morrowind. That gleeful ‘ah yes!’ he yelps as you submit your character sheet has always stuck with me.
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[…] In a shocking twist, we have another new contender: this time it’s Geddy from nostalgia trigger! Read his reasons for choosing Cranky Kong this month in this post. […]
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Haha, man I remember booting up the GameBoy with Donkey Kong. Then immediately getting the humor that I understood better as I got older from good ol’ Cranky Kong.
Good memories indeed, an interesting choice as well as a good read with your post.
Stay Cozy and have a nice day!
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Thank you sir! I loved the Gameboy aesthetic and they made DKC look incredible, especially that old man rocking chair animation 🙂
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Nice choice! The older I get, the more I start relating to Cranky Kong… Scary 🙂
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Don’t we all!
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