1443 - Bestia-Rare-y: Vampires

Vampires lurk in the shadows of the Donkey Kong Universe, but what rules should you remember when encountering a count? The Kongversation raises the "stakes" of video game discussion by "cross"ing real-world vampire folklore with Rare's shared world. How closely do the bloodsuckers of Conker's Bad Fur Day, Grabbed by the Ghoulies, and other titles mirror the undead creatures of mythology and Hollywood? Too bad they have no reflection!

The karts are out of gas. The Emperor has given Donkey Kong (Gladiator) a thumbs-down verdict. Luigi with the Big Sausage has gone from bratwurst to burst. With Mario Kart Tour's service now ended, the Kongversation rushes to put the Spotlight on what memories still remain. Although oftentimes controversial, Hyle and David explain how the mobile racer got DK diehards through the most severe drought in Donkey Kong Universe history!

Hyle and Matt discuss the return of Star Fox Adventures on the Switch 2, ruminating on the simple story of a boy and his dinosaur and the wistful melancholy of Rare's sole GameCube outing.

With the year of Emerald Rush events now concluded, Hyle and Dustin reunite to help bring the story of Donkey Kong Bananza full circle! They reflect on all 12 events, how they helped extend Bananza's lifespan, and what it felt like to have a full calendar's worth of blatant Donkey Kong fan service in the form of character statue rewards. Plus, which excluded DK characters SHOULD have made the cut?

NINTENDO introduced the "BIGGEST" Donkey Kong adventure ever... 30 YEARS AGO! Donkey Kong Land 2! Plays on Game Boy, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch, and new Nintendo Switch 2!

Hyle and Cameron chat about the leaked ROM of Dream: Land of Giants, a four-screen technical showcase for the SNES! Created by the bulk of the original Donkey Kong Country team following the completion of DKC2 in 1995, it's most famous as the project that evolved into Banjo-Kazooie. However, it would also influence numerous other Rare games over the next two decades, from Donkey Kong Country 3 all the way to Sea of Thieves!

Hyle and Jeff wistfully reflect on the end of Sea of Thieves: Season 20, the end of summer 2026, the differences between the Mid-Atlantic and the Great Lakes, the taste of jellybeans, and, of course, mosquitoes slurping from your dangling bits. It's the Kongversation's final seasonal wrap-up of Rare's shared pirate adventure!

Kiddy Kong fanatic Joy Content returns to the show to discuss the 2005 Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country 3! Rare's finest final and finest installment in the GBA trilogy, it gave the world a new Brothers Bear, a new boss, an entire new world, and a brand-new soundtrack from David Wise! Learn more about how this handheld river eventually flowed from Rare straight into Retro Studios, setting up an entirely new era of Donkey Kong Country!

Broadcast live on https://www.twitch.tv/dkvine on September 9th, 2026, Hyle is joined by the Idaho Crew's Adam to discuss the September Nintendo Direct! Stinky Ape Summer is winding down, but we've been smelling Star Fox Adventures' arrival on Switch 2 for months! All this, plus the things that were surprisingly not mentioned or announced, and Hyle continuing to struggle with the pronunciation of Ocarina of Time.

The Kongversation returns to Yooka-Replaylee for more thoughts on the enhanced remaster of Playtonic's 2017 3D platformer! With the Switch 2 version's framerate finally sorted, along with other bugs and bees, how do Hyle and Freezer now feel about the game nearly a year after launch?