In Donkey Kong's cabin hangs a picture of a dolphin. This is a reference to the code name of the Nintendo Gamecube, "Dolphin". The game was released before the Nintendo Gamecube was revealed, and is thought to be the earliest reference to the code name "Dolphin."

The Kong's weapons were originally real guns, as opposed to the comical fruit and nut based weaponry seen in the final game. This was changed in response to Shigeru Miyamoto being horrified by them upon paying a visit to the Rare headquarters to check on the game's development. He then sketched out and offered a replacement that would be more fitting to the world of Donkey Kong, which would ensure that the game would receive a child friendly rating.