10 Video Game Side Characters That Got Their Own (Better) Spin-Off
2. Diddy Kong - Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
According to the old Rare developers, the decision to ditch Donkey Kong and make his sidekick Diddy the star of the sequel was completely deliberate. The team wanted to surprise the players and show them that they do not have to rely on their main character in order to make a successful franchise.
That bold direction is why, nowadays, Diddy Kong is one of the most popular characters in the Donkey Kong series.
Although the first Donkey Kong Country was a great game, the sequel improved on a lot of things while also adding new features and mechanics. It was such an improvement over the original that it almost instantly became a hit and overshadowed the fame of its predecessor.
This also took a toll on Donkey Kong's popularity. The coconut-gun-wielding gorilla ironically took second place to his sidekick and would stay in that position for quite a while.
Funnily enough, however, it wasn't long before Diddy got booted off the protagonist chair as well. When the third game came out, the little monkey lost his main character status to his girlfriend, Dixxie, and history repeated itself.
It seems Rare has an odd love-hate relationship with their primary characters.