Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kongs Quest #26 - Crocodile Cauldron

1. Hot-Head Hop, Crocodile Cauldron

Enemies: Neek, Klobber, KrocHead, Klampon, Zinger, Kruncha

WARP BARREL!: Team Throw up to above the start, then execute another jumping Team Throw straight up, to the left of the camouflaged Chest.

"K": The first Chest in front of you has this letter inside.

"O": Protected by two Klampons guarding the Chest with the Kannonball inside it. See Bonus Area 1 for how to get to the Bonus Kannon.

"N": Above a Brown Krochead.

"G": Platform webs or Team Throws will work here, but take care of Kruncha first, or you will suffer for your ignorance and naivety!

DK COIN: Right when you get Squitter (you cannot get this without him), make web platforms upward, right above the "Y" made of Bananas, until you find the DK Coin.

SQUITTER CRATE: Impossible to miss. Your arachnid ally will transform into a 1-Up at the end of the level.

BONUS AREA 1: At the letter "O," hit the lower Klampon to get a Chest safely, then destroy the upper Klampon with the Chest to get the Kannonball. Take it to the Bonus Kannon and there you go! TO COMPLETE: Use the twin Brown Krocheads to carefully collect all the Stars before the timer reaches zero.

BONUS AREA 2: Only Squitter can get this. When you see two pairs of Bananas above you, make a web platform underneath each pair, then spin and jump up and right until you land in the Bonus Barrel. TO COMPLETE: Web platform straight up above until you find your Kremkoin.

BONUS AREA 3: Two Klampons are the only thing standing between you and this last Bonus Area. Eliminate them, then either Team Throw your way into the Bonus Barrel or have Squitter web platform your way to it. TO COMPLETE: Use Squitter (who can be found here if you lost him before you came in here) to make platform webs up and right to find the Kremkoin. If you are still mastering web platforming techniques, the Bananas will help you know where to place each web.

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2. Kannon's Klaim, Crocodile Cauldron

Enemies: Neek, Kruncha, Klomp, Kannon, Flitter, Zinger, Mini-Necky

WARP BARREL!: Below the ledge with the twin TNT Barrels. Get rid of the baddies on this ledge, then walk off the left edge. Immediately, Helicopter Spin to the right, under the ledge, to find your elusive Warp Barrel.

"K": When the first Kruncha is crunched with the twin Neeks, time your launch from the first Arrow Barrel so you land in the second one. From here, blast back to the right to nab the letter and land on the wooden catwalk you started out from. Also, you can steer your trajectory from the second Barrel Cannon so you claim the "K" and return to the Arrow Barrel you fired from, but this is much more risky, even though it saves time.

"O": As soon as you see barrels flying toward you from the right side of the screen, go right and disarm the Kannon firing them with a knock on his noggin. You can also use the TNT Barrel provided to block one of his shots or even hit both him and his barrel at the same time. The latter can only happen if his projectile is close enough to him when the TNT Barrel explodes. From his catwalk, a jumping Team Toss at the letter "O" from the left edge of the catwalk will be enough to get it, but do not forget to recover your buddy when he/she lands on the lower catwalk!

"N": After you knock out a Mini-Necky after escaping a patrolling Zinger, go right and stop when you see the Diddy Barrel on a small ledge with the letter "N" above it. At the right edge of the bigger platform you are standing on, jump straight up and throw your partner upward, above the right edge of the platform, to land near the Bonus Barrel behind a Kannon. That is why you must throw from this position. Otherwise, you could land too close to the Kannon with your partner and lose him/her (not to mention risk falling to your possible doom). You can also ride the Diddy Barrel to see the exact location of the last Bonus Area to further get your bearings and, in addition, capture the letter "N"!

"G": Once you leave Bonus Area 3 and trounce two Mini-Neckys, take the Chest you find and smack another Mini-Necky with it to uncover the level's last letter.

DK COIN: At the start of Bonus Area 1, do a Helicopter Spin Jump to the right to find it. Use the Dixie Barrel to shoot back into the fray.

BONUS AREA 1: At the beginning ledge, do a jumping Helicopter Spin right off the edge to find the Bonus Barrel. Just crush the Neeks first. TO COMPLETE: Use the Diddy and Dixie Barrels to find your Kremkoin.

BONUS AREA 2: You cannot see the Bonus Barrel unless you turn left immediately after the Zinger-guarded Arrow Barrel beside the only horizontal Arrow Barrel in the level spits you up onto an upper catwalk with a lofty DK Barrel. Be on your guard: this is watched by double Mini-Neckys (one is off-screen). Use a running jump to the left to land in the Bonus Barrel before either bird can divebomb you. Also, bouncing off one of the twin swooping Mini-Neckys will work to get you to your destination, but as this is more dangerous, I do not recommend it unless you cannot get your partner back at all. TO COMPLETE: Blast from Arrow Barrel to Arrow Barrel to win this Kremkoin. If you fall, be quick to get back on the path before time runs out.

BONUS AREA 3: Though you can get this Bonus Area in the manner described in "N", what if you have no buddy anymore? Just bounce off of one of the final Kannon's barrels to defeat him and access the last Bonus Area. do not hesitate for a second when you avoid the level's last Zinger and land on the platform below the final Arrow Barrel — if you are too slow, you could get shot! See the single Banana to your right in midair? A well-timed Spin Jump toward it followed by a Helicopter Spin will also take out the Kannon for you if you are quick enough, but if you have Diddy, execute a short Cartwheel Jump toward the Banana and use the incoming barrel as a platform, bouncing from the flying barrel onto Kannon's head. TO COMPLETE: Bounce from Flitter to Flitter to find your prize. Not every Flitter needs to be crushed for you to find the token.

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3. Lava Lagoon, Crocodile Cauldron

Enemies: Neek, Flotsam, Klampon, Lockjaw, Puftups, Click-Clack, Klobber

WARP BARREL!: Above the second large, clean crate (no moss or weeds covering it) when you start the level. it is past the first Clapper and guarded by a Klampon.

"K": Once you pass the third Clapper, swim down and left.

"O": Swim down, left, and then up when you hit the fourth Clapper, avoiding the baddies you encounter, including a nasty Lockjaw who guards the letter itself.

"N": At the Banana arrow pointing upward, get off Enguarde, run right, and jump on the second Clapper from the Continue Barrel (the first Clapper you find when you rescue Enguarde). Get back on your swordfish buddy and swim straight up as safely as possible, watching out for Lockjaws, until you swim through a small alcove (the entrance of which is marked by two small crates: a rectangular crate and a square crate above that). Charge upward for a little while longer and enter a secret upper passage leading to the right. Dart right and use Enguarde's Super Dash to get to the letter "N" as well as a few other rewards.

"G": When the road ahead narrows and forks vertically up and down, take the lower route to the "G," then swim back up to the final Clapper as fast as you can!

DK COIN: Swim down to the right of the last Clapper, get the "!" Barrel, and swim as fast as you can to the right and get the Hero Coin before your invulnerability disappears.

ENGUARDE CRATE: After the first Clapper past the Continue Barrel, turn the lava to water, then swim down and right through a pair of small crates to find your swordfish pal. When the water reverts back to lava, you will lose Enguarde, so keep hitting Clappers to stay that reversion as long as possible. At the "No Enguarde" Sign, your reward will be a Red Balloon!

CLAPPER: Turns lava to water for a short time.

BONUS AREA: After the "No Enguarde" Sign, pick up the Barrel you see (or a Click-Clack if you mess up your throw), and chuck it at the large crate on your right. A single Banana will show which crate must be broken. TO COMPLETE: With Enguarde, carefully but quickly stab every Flotsam and Puftup to win a Kremkoin as well as a Banana Bunch from Enguarde. Here, the water stays water, so do not worry about getting boiled alive.

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4. Red-Hot Ride, Crocodile Cauldron

Enemies: Klobber, Kruncha, Zinger, Flitter, Neek

WARP BARREL!: At the letter "K," park your hot-air balloon to the letter's right, atop the level's third steam column, then jump and throw your partner straight up.

"K": Can you get this without sinking down too far?

"O": Have Rambi horn the Zinger above it before attempting any letter capture.

"N": Use the first DK Barrel past the Continue Barrel to bash the upper of two Zingers guarding a balloon, but can you get the DK Barrel there without breaking or dropping it? With the Zinger cleared away, move closer and get on top of the balloon above the lower Zinger and jump to the "N". With an upward Team Toss at the same time, you will also snag the hidden Hero Coin too!

"G": On grabbing this, prepare to squeeze below three more Zingers! Almost there.

DK COIN: See "N."

RAMBI CRATE: Impossible to miss unless you do not look up to find him. Watch out for the Zinger and Kruncha! Rambi gives you a Banana Bunch when he cannot go any further.

BONUS AREA 1: Past the first giant sequence of balloons and Zingers is a stony sloping wall just before the "No Rambi" Sign. Have Rambi use his Super Charge and break down the wall! TO COMPLETE: Do not let a single enemy escape your sights. DESTROY THEM ALL!!!

BONUS AREA 2: Right below the Continue Barrel. Have Dixie jump from a balloon and Helicopter Spin downward until you reach the Bonus Barrel. Watch your step while you do this dangerous stunt! TO COMPLETE: Using the hot-air balloon and careful timing, I recommend using Dixie's Helicopter Spin to snare all the Stars.

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5. Squawk's Shaft, Crocodile Cauldron

Enemies: Krook, Klomp, Zinger, Klampon, Mini-Necky, Kannon

WARP BARREL!: Go past the first Krook, then do a midair Helicopter Spin jump to get here. You might even get a Banana Coin if you time it right!

"K": Whack the first Krook with the first Chest, and the letter is yours!

"O": Just past the Continue Barrel, obscured by a Krook.

"N": Careful flying will earn you this letter! Just nail the two Yellow Zingers with eggs, and make a cautious swoop over the Red Zinger.

"G": Fire from the Barrel Cannon at just the right moment to get this prize on the Exit Target. To do this successfully, leap into the Barrel Cannon just as the letter appears on the Exit Target.

DK COIN: To the right of Bonus Area 3.

SQUAWKS CRATE: You will inevitably find this crate.

BONUS AREA 1: Crush the second trio of Klomps, then Helicopter Spin or Cartwheel Jump right from the right edge of their platform until you land in a Barrel Cannon. Fire at the correct angles, avoiding the Zingers, until you shoot into the Bonus Barrel. TO COMPLETE: Break the correct Chest onto the Red Zinger, and the prize is yours!

BONUS AREA 2: At the Continue Barrel, Team Throw up and into the Auto-Fire Barrel to your left. you will be blasted into the Bonus Barrel immediately. TO COMPLETE: Follow the correct path via spinning Barrel Cannons. Misfires will slow you down.

BONUS AREA 3: When you see two Krooks facing each other after a nasty Mini-Necky flock, bean them both with eggs, then fly up onto the lower right-hand platform. Get the Banana Coin if you wish as you fly right and spy a third Krook on a ledge above you. Dispatch him, then fly right until you can fly no more. At this point, fly straight up to find the DK Coin and Bonus Area 3. TO COMPLETE: Take your wrath out on the Zingers until the Kremkoin appears.

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6. Kleever's Kiln, Crocodile Cauldron

Enemie: Kleever

This guy can be really scary to deal with. Six Kannonballs will destroy him, but watch out for his giant fireballs (carefully jump over them when you have room) in the first half of the battle while waiting for a Kannonball to fall out of the sky. When a Kannonball drops or you find one on the other side of the arena and back, throw it at Kleever before he can launch another fireball shower.

After his fake demise, Kleever will lunge at you and chase you around on the hooks that appear after dodging his first lunge after the third hit. This is done by standing back and letting him come to you, then jumping over him as he charges. This time, hit him in the hilt with the Kannonball you see, then repeat the process. On the final hit, stand with your Kannonball directly underneath Kleever as he descends to get him to hit the projectile while he drops down.

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