10 Greatest Next-Gen Video Game Heroes
2. Donkey Kong
Grandson of Cranky Kong
Donkey Kong’s grandfather, Cranky, may be an irritable old man but he was a force to be reckoned with back in his day. When he was still a young whippersnapper, Cranky battled Super Mario in the 1981 arcade platformer, Donkey Kong.
But as old age crept up on the original DK, he took on the name, Cranky. Even though he’s a very important character in video games, there is no question that his grandson, Donkey Kong, is the most famous member of the Kongs.
First appearing in Donkey Kong Country, the banana-chomping primate was a mega-hit with gamers. Almost immediately, Donkey Kong the 3rd became, not just one of Nintendo's biggest properties, but among the most recognised video game mascots ever. Heck, he's so famous, most people think he was titular character in the original Donkey Kong game (much to Cranky's annoyance). Even though he usually appears in crossovers nowadays rather than headlining his own titles, fans are always excited to see the tie-wearing gorilla.
Cranky will always be the first Donkey Kong but no one is going to contest that his grandson is the king of the Kongs.