[X] My Assistant

[Clutch]

Maybe this is old news, but I've never seen this before today.

Was trying to look up something else when I stumbled on Donkey Kong Wiki's page about Krosshair. Figured it was just going to be another page about the enemy we never see as anything but a, well, crosshair, and instead I saw this:


Caption: Possible form of Krosshair. It's apparently from a 1996 Nintendo Power.

...wow. Is this thing really supposed to be what was shooting at us?

[Lighthouse]

Maybe. That really puts a new spin on things too, and changes my belief that Bleak was the one controlling the crosshair.





^ I noticed the TNT Knocka in the background. Perhaps Pacifica was composed of elements recycled from DKC3 SNES?

[Man-Frog]

I remember seeing that same render back when I was collecting Nintendo Power issues. There's no caption or any text on the actual page referring to that thing or what it's supposed to be. My first assumption was that it was an early version of Karbine or KAOS.

Maybe StAmP0Rz knows what it is....

[Caramelman]

Wow, so many things to learn about old Rare these days, aren't we?

This guy reminds me of

and

[Jeff]

Yeah, somebody on the Atlas found that picture back in August and brought it to the web. I believe it to be Krosshair. I mean, it's got sirens on the sides of it's head and speakers in it's upper arms; these could be used to make the sounds and sirens that you hear during the level. It's laser-y looking eye is what projects the actual crosshair which he uses to aim.

In a more fanon-y sense, he uses those speakers to shout GET OUT when he appears again in Angry Aztec.

[Joe]

I always thought Krosshair was just some random Kremling, hence "Krack-Shot Kroc". This thing looks like a beta KAOS, or maybe, due to its monkey-like look, the Gyrocoptor?

[Man-Frog]

It's holding the exact same cannon as Karbine. My first thought was "unused early version of Karbine" upon seeing him.

[SwankyKlubba]

It looks like KAOS mated with Funky's Gyrocopter.
You know what? I like that theory.

And I remeber one of the guides saying Krosshair in DK64 was K.Rool even though his voice sounded nothing like K. Rool. He kinda soundedl ike Nemesis from Resident Evil...

[Clutch]

He's damn goofy looking, but like Jeff said, him being Krosshair makes too much sense. There's a laser sight on the barrel (which Karbine has), sirens for him to make that blaring noise that follows you throughout the level and him being a robot would explain the weird techno sound while he was targeting you. Heck, him being a robot would even better explain getting to control him/his gun in that bonus stage.

Not so much for the GBA remake where he laughs like Kloak, though as we've recently learned the GBA team didn't have a lot to go on for referencing the original games' production. For the sake of my sanity maybe I can consider GBA Krosshair and the one in 64 as still just mentally-unstable Kremlings with itchy trigger fingers.

[Jeff]

They could just be Kremling voice recordings that he plays over his speaker. You know, for intimidation.

[Kobble]

Like Joe, I thought Krosshair was just a random Kremling. But I kind of like the idea that this thing is Krosshair. It explains how it keeps up with you throughout the whole level.

[Valentina]

What the heck?!

It flies through a propeller jutting out of its butt? The Kremlings must have been big fans of meatspin.com (NSFW if you're unaware)! I'm not convinced I even have an accurate idea of what it looks like -- the anatomy is confusing. But I guess it's cool to finally see who it was that was always shooting at you; doesn't look at all scary as I imagined. Just really, really, tacky.

Maybe now I can actually get those Golden Bananas in Angry Aztec without turning off the game and getting scared.

[Joe]

I'm beginning to lean towards the K. Rool theory - if Grunty can set up a series of cameras and speakers all over her lair and the Isle of Hags so she can watch Banjo and say rude things to him wherever he goes, than so can K. Rool!

[Jeff]

Well maybe K. Rool just controls this robot, heck in both of his appearances. It's not automated, it's just an RC. K. Rool controls it remotely, and can project his voice through the speakers, and like Clutch said, during that one bonus game you somehow find the controls and operate him.

[Slush]

It's holding the exact same cannon as Karbine. My first thought was "unused early version of Karbine" upon seeing him.

Yeah, I agree. I remember seeing this in Nintendo Power and then, when not confronting it in the game, figuring it was just a prototype version of Karbine.

That being said, it could be Krosshair, but I never took Krosshair to be a literal Kremling. I figured it was just a Karbine that was shooting at you.

[M-Dog1000000]

Well, it more closely resembles Bazuka's cannon than Karbine's. But they're both similar anyhow.

He also appears to be wearing Funky Kong's boots.

[Kobble]

EDIT: Nevermind.

I really do like Krosshair though. He's such a unique enemy, and to this date we still discuss what he really is!

[Waddle Dedede]

At the risk of sounding STUPIDY STUPIDY STUPID, where does the name "Krosshair" come from to begin with? Is it a fan-invention? Is it a DK VINE invention? (It's not in DKC3's ending, and I'm damn sure only, like, three of DK64's enemies were actually given names.)

Maybe StAmP0Rz knows what it is....

StAmP0Rz is in trouble again and currently on the run from another Rareware lynch mob.

[Chad]

Krosshairs was either me or Hyle, and for some reason I seem to recall it being me. That could just be wishful thinking, though, as he's the more creative-writing oriented of the two of us, and I'm always looking to steal credit whenever possible.

[Bazuka]

So that's the mysterious entity hiding behind the reticle? I was always under the impression that krosshair was a poised, calm sniper of sorts. I pictured it looking like a more grizzled Bazuka--yes, completely unfounded. This is, um, interesting though. I wasn't expecting a uniquely designed robot. It makes sense though.

[Man-Frog]

^ We don't know if that actually IS supposed to be the enemy we refer to as Krosshair.

[Bazuka]

Right! I guess I got caught up and forget that this isn't for certain. However, if it were then I would have never expected it to look like that. Not saying that it's bad, but it's design is....interesting.

[SwankyKlubba]

At the risk of sounding STUPIDY STUPIDY STUPID, where does the name "Krosshair" come from to begin with? Is it a fan-invention? Is it a DK VINE invention? (It's not in DKC3's ending, and I'm damn sure only, like, three of DK64's enemies were actually given names.)

Maybe StAmP0Rz knows what it is....

StAmP0Rz is in trouble again and currently on the run from another Rareware lynch mob.

I always wondered about that myself. In fact, all of the different guides to DK64 had conflicting information regarding the names of enemies...except for Army Dillo, since I guess EVERYONE thought of that name on the spot. And of course everyone calling Kasplat "Krusha" even though Krusha was in the game's multiplayer.

And as far as StAmPORz legal trouble (if a lynch mob from Rareware can be called that), why does gving information to one of the few DK fansites on the web cause trouble. Yeah, I know Rare's always been medai shy, but its not like we're giving away information to Kotaku, IGN, Giantbomb, etc.

[Clutch]

We know Army Dillo and Dogadon are official names because they're displayed in the cutscene subtitles.

Yeah, I know Rare's always been medai shy, but its not like we're giving away information to Kotaku, IGN, Giantbomb, etc.

It's the internet. The information would easily go beyond us, Neogaf, RWP, or Rareware Central (ideally the mainsite articles are supposed to get DKVine public attention). Rare's denial of MundoRare's documentary spread to other sites as "Rare fan community closes due to Rare's own bullshit". If something an employee leaks could be perceived as bad PR ("They blocked this awesome game from release for lame reasons!") certain higher-ups may not want it out there.

[SwankyKlubba]

That makes sense...I guess...

Though its been said before, they're way past thier prime. Why does it seem like the Stamper brothers are gonna have a hard time finding other work? Seeing as how this shit's been happening...

[Sean]

The Stamper brothers haven't been with Rare in like four or five years. They left shortly after Viva Pinata was released.

[Pacman]

Perhaps it was an early boss for Mekanos, seeing as how KAOS was originally going to appear in the Kastle with his headgear in-tact.

[SwankyKlubba]

The Stamper brothers haven't been with Rare in like four or five years. They left shortly after Viva Pinata was released.

I'm aware of that. In fact, I read about it here years ago. Maybe I should rephrase the question: WHY haven't they found other work or so-called "future endeavors"?