David Wise

Lore & Background

The game follows Conker, a greedy, hard-drinking red squirrel who must return home to his girlfriend, Berri, after an evening of heavily drinking at the local pub. The game was designed for mature audiences and features graphic violence, alcohol and tobacco use, profanity, dark humour, toilet humour, fourth wall breaks, and pop culture references. Development began in 1997, and the game, intended for a family audience, was initially titled Twelve Tales: Conker 64 and was set for release in late 1998. The family version continued development into 1999 before it was transformed into an adult-oriented version.

In Their Own Story

The studio was quiet, the only sound the gentle hum of the SNES development kit. David Wise sat at his workstation, a pair of headphones clamped over his ears. On the screen, a simple level editor displayed a lush, underwater cavern. He tapped a key, and a single, shimmering note echoed through the headphones. He adjusted a filter, added a slow, pulsing bassline, and then layered in a delicate melody. The room filled with the sound of 'Aquatic Ambience.' He closed his eyes, letting the music wash over him. It was perfect. It felt like water, like mystery, like the heart of Donkey Kong Island itself.

Reader's Guide

Most of the game requires the player to complete a linear sequence of challenges that involve jumping over obstacles, solving puzzles, and fighting enemies. The player controls Conker through three-dimensional levels. The game features an overworld where players can transition from one level to another, although many are initially blocked off until Conker earns a certain amount of cash. Conker can run, jump, smack enemies with a frying pan, swim underwater for a limited time, climb ladders or ropes, and push objects. To regain health, Conker can eat pieces of 'anti-gravity' chocolate. Context-sensitive pads allow Conker to gain temporary abilities. A multiplayer mode in which up to four players can compete against each other in seven different game types is also included.

Did You Know?

• The game was initially titled Twelve Tales: Conker 64 and was intended for a family audience before being reworked for mature audiences.
• Conker's Bad Fur Day was released in North America on 5 March 2001, and in Europe on 6 April 2001.
• The game sold well below expectations due to limited advertising and a release towards the end of the Nintendo 64's life cycle, but has since developed a cult following.
• A remake, Conker: Live & Reloaded, was released for the Xbox in 2005, and the original version was included in the Rare Replay compilation for Xbox One in 2015.