Funky Fishing - Donkey Kong Country [GBC & GBA]

Trials are open-form objectives with adjustable Difficulty scales or Completion Challenges.

Another Trial is declared:

Reel in as much fish as possible in Funky Fishing on Donkey Kong Country for the Game Boy Color and Advance.

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Funky Fishing (Trials)

In similar spirit to enjoying Donkey Kong Country on Hero Mode to the absolute fullest, Lord Rigor made His best attempt to be the funkiest of fisherman. Not released on the original SNES version, Funky Fishing is a classic minigame involving catching as much fish as possible within an allotted time. This Trial is indeed funky considering the vast difference between the relaxing reality of traditional fishing and this digital aquatics endeavor.

Fishing is urgent in the tidal waters surrounding Donkey Kong Island. Even worse than kidnapping Kong family members, it appears that King K. Rool has polluted the ocean with multitudes of plastic and glass bottles; true evil! When the tides turn, these unnatural products block lure lines and must be avoided during fishing excursions. Funky fishers are time penalized for accidentally collecting this rubbish.

There are no defined Difficulties in Funky Fishing. Both minigames have the same survival goals yet are fundamentally different. Fishing skills vary drastically between the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance installments as described herein:

Game Boy Color

According to the manual of the Game Boy Color version of Funky Fishing:

"Catch the fish, then flick them into your boat to keep it afloat - but be sure to avoid catching the junk! Catch special combinations of fish, then pass them to your friend's boat to sink it."

To accomplish such sophisticated primal voracity, ultimate lure precision rewards access to the deep water of this fishing hole. Only the local primate population can reach the lowest fathoms whilst avoiding trash and simultaneously catching identical fish species. Even more impressive, Donkey Kong ride's Enguarde whilst flicking fish into Diddy's unmonkeyed barge that floats about aimlessly.

To make up for lost time and accidental junk intake, obtaining KOMBO letters offers slight reprieve from the imminent deadline. Letters are earned by pulling in two or more of the same colored fish on a single fishing line, adding a substantial time buffer. Thus, true piscivores of the deep earn the highest scores in Funky Fishing by obtaining four, five, or perhaps even six members of a fish family. In addition, reeling in octopi greatly adds to the time bar despite the minimal point value of that cephalopod. Indeed, a consistent octopus in the reel line is an important technique to maximize this insatiable feeding frenzy.

Lord Rigor reached the below Funky Fishing Level VIII milestone on the Game Boy Color version:

There are nine Levels, and only select alpha primates have reached such mastery of the polluted seas. The esteemed fisher, starcrytas, has proven to all of apekind that Level 9 is reached upon obtaining a fish bounty score of twenty and a half million points (20.5 million). After that achievement, no new Levels are unlocked and the score counter resets to zero after ninety nine million nine hundred ninety nine thousand nine hundred ninety nine points (99,999,999). The grand mysteries of these shifting waters are at last understood. Hail!

Game Boy Advance

According to the manual of the Game Boy Advance version of Funky Fishing:

"Try to achieve a high score by hooking as much sea life as possible before the time runs out. Gain extra time by hooking multiples of the same-colored fish."

Here, the waters are shallower and there is significantly less fish in the salty sea. Donkey Kong was perfectly content fishing alone and Diddy Kong's suggestion for a different fishing area is of detriment. Elements of patience are necessary but, sometimes, the fish simply aren't biting. Nevertheless, no matter where the Kongs try to fish, King K. Rool's despicable trash is ever present and flowing. Whether in the shallows or the deeps, sheer luck may overcome this great environmental insult.

As time passes strangely, the drifting filth increases with the undertow. The time bar in the Game Boy Advance version absolutely subjects the funky fisher to more stress than other watering holes. Often, only trash floats by as time swiftly depletes. Hooking multiples of the same-colored fish is much more Difficult here and rarely exceeds more than three or four fish on the same line. Shallower water equals less fishing line length, limiting flinging abilities into Diddy's storage barge.

Unfortunately, there aren't KONG or KOMBO letters to collect in the Game Boy Advance version, which is a useful survival tool on the Game Boy Color. Instead, crabs fortunately inhabit the sea floor here, offering twenty thousand points (20,000) and an increased time bar. All monkeys should immediately shift reels and attempt to catch these magnificent crustaceans.

Reset, replay, catch a few crabs, and have fun. Lord Rigor reached the below Funky Fishing Level XV milestone on the Game Boy Advance version:

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