Helicopter Spin

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Artwork of Dixie Kong performing her Helicopter Spin
Artwork of Dixie Kong performing the Helicopter Spin
“Dixie Kong can spin her ponytail and lift Donkey Kong into the air for a short time.”
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze manual

The Helicopter Spin (also called the Ponytail Spin[1], alternatively written as pony tail spin[2]) is an ability performed by Dixie Kong in the Donkey Kong Country and Donkey Kong Land series. She first performs this ability in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Donkey Kong Land 2. She also uses her Helicopter Spin in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, Donkey Kong Land III, and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.

Since Dixie cannot cartwheel like Diddy or roll like Donkey and Kiddy, Dixie rather uses her ponytail to spin into enemies. She primarily uses the Helicopter Spin while in midair, allowing her to safely move across gaps and other stage hazards; this move effectively slows her descent. Dixie performs the move by whirling her ponytail around in a circular motion, hence the ability name. In Donkey Kong Country 2 and Donkey Kong Country 3, if Dixie is accompanied by Diddy or Kiddy respectively, her partner Kong rolls in the air while she uses Helicopter Spin.

In a few cases, Dixie's Helicopter Spin is required for crossing certain large gaps that the other Kongs cannot do so alone. For instance, in Donkey Kong Country 3 at the start of Stampede Sprint, there is a large divide that can only be crossed via her Helicopter Spin. The ability is sometimes used to more easily reach a Bonus Barrel: for example in Donkey Kong Country 2, during the second level Mainbrace Mayhem, while Diddy can perform a cartwheel to reach the Bonus Barrel, Dixie's Helicopter Spin lowers the risk of Diddy missing a jump and losing a life.

In Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, the Helicopter Spin allows Dixie to gain a small boost in altitude, even while riding on Donkey Kong.

In the original Super Nintendo games, the player can press Y Button to have Dixie perform a Helicopter Spin. In the Donkey Kong Land games, this is accomplished by pressing B Button, and the Game Boy Advance versions also require B Button.

In Donkey Kong 64, Tiny Kong uses a similar move for gliding, known as the Pony Tail Twirl. In the Super Smash Bros. series, Donkey Kong uses a similar move as his recovery, Spinning Kong, where he spins to briefly propel himself into the air.

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Italian Elicottero di Dixie[3][4]
L'"effetto elicottero" di Dixie[5]
Volteggio[6][7]
Elicasalto[8]
Dixie's helicopter
Dixie's "helicopter effect/style"
Glide/Hover
Propeller-jump

References[edit]

  1. ^ Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Wii U Virtual Console electronic manual. Tab 2: "Controls".
  2. ^ Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! Wii U Virtual Console electronic manual. Tab 2: "Controls".
  3. ^ Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! Spanish-Italian manual, pag. 40
  4. ^ Donkey Kong Land 2 Italian manual, pag. 12
  5. ^ Donkey Kong Land III Spanish-Italian manual, pag. 42
  6. ^ Donkey Kong Country 2 European manual, pag. 110
  7. ^ Donkey Kong Country 3 European manual, pag. 108
  8. ^ Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Italian e-manual, pag. 13