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

1. Hot-Head Hop, Crocodile Cauldron

Hot-Head Hop is the sixth level in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and the first level of Crocodile Cauldron. It is the first volcanic level in the game. There are many pits of lava, and the Kongs can only cross many of them by jumping from Krockheads, who make their debut in the level. One of the Animal Friends, Squitter, also debuts in the level. Squitter can create web platforms to help the Kongs cross lava pits or reach hidden areas. There are a few Klobbers, and they attempt to knock the Kongs into the lava.

Layout

The Kongs begin the level outside of a tunnel with a dark treasure chest, which contains a green Extra Life Balloon, on it. Another treasure chest is ahead of the tunnel that contains the letter K. After the heroes pass a Neek and a Klobber, they come up to a pit of lava with a few Krockheads in it, whom they can use as platform to cross. Once they reach the other side of the pit, they come up to a solid area of ground with a raised piece of land in the center of it. A DK Barrel sits in front of the raised platform, which a Klampon walks along. At the end of this area, the primates can find a Klobber and then a pit with three Krockheads in it.

The last of the Krockheads can bounce the heroes high into the air so they can reach another solid piece of land with a treasure chest and a Klobber on it. Inside the treasure chest, they can find a Banana Coin, or, in the Game Boy Advance version of the game, a golden feather or a Banana Bunch. Two more Krockheads stick their heads out of a lava-filled pit ahead of here, and both of them fling the Kongs into the air when jumped on. They can send the heroes onto a high platform shooting out of the lava.

A wider pit of lava containing four Krockheads is ahead of here, and once it is crossed, the primates reach an area with a DK Barrel and a raised piece of land with two Klampons around it. One of the Klampons is in front of the raised piece of ground, and it guards a treasure chest with a kannonball in it. An additional Klampon marches on the raised platform, which the letter O floats above. The duo can find a lava pit ahead of here that they can cross with two Krockheads that fling them into the air when landed on.

A small platform that holds a Klampon is on the other side of the pit, which is followed by an additional pit containing two more Krockheads that can fling them into the air. Another small platform is after this pit, and it holds another Klampon. There is a larger platform near here that supports a kannon and a Klobber. If the Kongs make their way to a pit east from here, they can find two Krockheads in it that can fling them to a nearby Star Barrel positioned high in the air.

After the primates cross this pit, they can find a DK Barrel and an animal crate containing Squitter ahead of them. Next to the crate, the heroes can find a formation of bananas that form the letter Y (or the letter B in the game's remake). Some Neeks march along the path ahead of here, and after they are passed, the group reaches another formation of bananas that create the letter A (or the letter R in the Game Boy Advance remake). A Banana Coin floats above the letter A, which is followed by a small pit with a single Krockhead in it.

The letter N floats above this pit, and once it is crossed, the primates make their way up a few steep ledges with Klampons on them to reach the top of a large structure. At the top of this structure, they can find a trail of bananas leading them toward a pit the contains two Krockheads and a Zinger that flies between the two reptiles. The Krockheads can fling them over the Zinger and across the rest of the abyss, where they can find a flat pathway with a Klobber on it. In the Game Boy Advance version of the game, this Klobber is in possession of a photograph.

Once the heroes make it to the end of the flat pathway, they reach a pit of lava with two Krockheads in it and a single Zinger flying over it. The Krockheads, who are able to fling the Kongs in the air, can help them cross the pit, which is followed by a platform with a Kruncha on it and the letter G above it. A group of bananas and Banana Bunches are also above the letter G. The primates can find a long pit ahead of here; they can either cross it with a pair of Blast Barrels, or with Squitter's web platforms. If they use the spider to help them cross, they find a few Zingers in their path on the way. However, they can find many bananas and some Banana Coins in the area between the Zingers. Once the group crosses the pit, they reach an area of land with two Klampons on it.

A Bonus Barrel is in view above these foes, who are followed by a No Animal Sign that makes Squitter disappear if he comes up to it (there are actually two, with an invisible one being underneath the real one in an attempt to block players from using Squitter's web platforms to crawl underneath the sign). If the Animal Friend is successfully led to the sign, the Kongs are also awarded with a red Extra Life Balloon. They can find a small pit of lava ahead of here with a Krockhead in it, who can bounce them onto a nearby End of Level Target located on the opposite side of the pit. Additionally, if they land on the target from the nearby Krockhead, they either win a banana, Banana Bunch, or a Banana Coin for a prize.

K-O-N-G Letters

K: Inside the first Treasure Chest at the start of the level, just ahead of the starting point.

O: On the platform with the second DK Barrel, there are two Klampons, one of whom is on a higher platform. The letter O is above the Klampon on a higher platform.

N: After the Squitter Crate, the Kongs (and Squitter) must pass three Neeks. The letter N is floating above a red Krockhead, and it can be reached with Squitter's web platforms.

G: After the second Bonus Level, the Kongs and Squitter must continue onward until they encounter a Kruncha. With Squitter's web platforms, they must go above the Kruncha and collect the letter G.

Key items

Cranky's Video Game Hero Coin: Right after the Star Barrel, the Kongs can find the Squitter Crate. They must open it and ride Squitter. Just overhead there are a group of bananas shaped as a (or in the Game Boy Advance version). This indicates the button that the player must press to have Squitter create temporary web platforms. With these platforms, Squitter and the Kongs must continue up, where they can find the Video Game Hero Coin located between many bananas.

Bonus Levels

Collect the Stars!: Right below the letter O, there is a Treasure Chest containing the kannonball. After breaking open the chest, the lead Kong must pick up the kannonball and carry it past two brown Krockheads and a Klampon on a platform. They must then get across two more brown Krockheads and a Klampon. After passing the second Klampon, the Kongs must jump into the kannon with the kannonball, activating it and taking them to the Bonus Level. The objective is for Diddy and Dixie to collect 60 stars within 20 seconds. They must bounce from four brown Krockheads in the lava to collect the stars. Once the Kongs obtain every star, the Kremkoin appears on the platform to their right with the exit.

Find the Token!: After the letter N, the Kongs and Squitter must pass a few Klampons and then use Squitter's web platforms to get across a lava pit. After landing on the next ground platform, Squitter must create more web platforms and follow the direction of the three pairs of two bananas, which lead northeast into the Bonus Barrel. In the Bonus Level, the Kongs and Squitter must obtain the Kremkoin within 20 seconds. With Squitter's web platforms, they must move upward (as indicated by the bananas shaped as an up arrow) and collect the Kremkoin at the top-center.

Find the Token!: Just before the No Animal Sign, there are two Klampons and a Bonus Barrel hovering above them. It can either be reached with the Kongs' team up move or by Squitter's web platforms. In the Bonus Level, the Kongs and Squitter have 20 seconds to move across a wide pit of a lava and collect the Kremkoin on the other side. If Diddy and Dixie entered the Bonus Barrel with team up, Squitter appears at the start for them to mount. With Squitter's web platforms, they must continue northeast and land onto an elevated ground platform with the Kremkoin. Over the pit are three groups of four bananas each in the shape of a square.

Warp Barrel

When starting the level, the Kongs should use their team up move to throw one another on top of the nearby tunnel that they begin the stage next to. If they use their team up move again on this tunnel, they can reach a hidden Warp Barrel that leads them to a Bonus Level, which contains a No Animal Sign and a group of bananas that form an exclamation mark. Once they exit the Bonus Level through the tunnel to the right of the area, they land in the main level on the final Krockhead in the level, who is located immediately before the End of Level Target.

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2. Kannon's Klaim, Crocodile Cauldron

Kannon's Klaim is the seventh level of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and the second level of Crocodile Cauldron. It is the first level set in a mine shaft. Like the rigging levels from Gangplank Galleon, the level involves Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong traveling a vertical path to reach the top of the level. To progress through the level, the Kongs must jump from wooden platforms and blast from Blast Barrels and some Arrow Barrels. Kannons make their first level appearance as the main and titular enemy: their attack is to either blast cannonballs or barrels at the Kongs. Mini-Neckys also make their first in-game level appearance in Kannon's Klaim.

In the Game Boy Advance version's Sound Test, the background music for mine shaft levels is also named Kannon's Klaim.

Layout

The Kongs begin the platform on a wooden platform with two Neeks walking along it. There is a Blast Barrel above here that can blast the heroes up to a DK Barrel and then back down onto the platform. If the heroes head to the end of the platform, they can find some bananas hidden above an abyss that form that shape of an arrow pointing east where a Bonus Barrel is located. A Blast Barrel is also near here that can blast them onto a higher platform with a barrel-shooting Kannon on it.

A Banana Bunch is to the left of the platform in the air, while a hook is above the platform for the heroes to grab onto. They can find a Blast Barrel above the Kannon, and it can be used to blast them to another barrel, which can then send them onto a solid platform with two Neeks and a Kruncha on it. To the right of these foes, they can find a pair of explosive TNT Barrels. After the primates pass the Kruncha, they can find a few Blast Barrels ahead of them that they must use to blast over a wide abyss. The letter K and some bananas are above the barrels, which are followed by a small platform with two Klomps on it.,/p>

A Blast Barrel is above them that can shoot the Kongs onto a platform with a Kannon on it. They can use the barrels shot by this foe to reach a nearby DK Barrel placed high in the air. Several Blast Barrels are to the right of the Kannon, and the heroes must use them to rise through the level. As they shoot upwards with the barrels, they reach a Flitter that is surrounded by a Zinger. They can use the Flitter to bounce to a hidden set of barrels that can shoot them in a circle to many bananas and a Banana Coin. If the primates shift to the left when the blast out of the Blast Barrel to the left the previously-mentioned Flitter, they can land in another barrel on the main path of the level.

They can use this barrel and the barrels ahead of it to reach a platform higher in the level. As they approach this platform, they come up to a Flitter that they must bounce on to cross a gap between two of the barrels. Once the platform is reached, the heroes can find a TNT Barrel and another platform that supports a barrel-shooting Kannon. The letter O is high above this platform, which is followed by two more platforms. The first of the platforms holds a Klomp, while the next one carries a Kannon that shoots kannonballs at the Kongs. If the heroes shoot upwards with the Blast Barrel above this foe, they can reach a platform with a DK Barrel on it and a Star Barrel over it.

A Zinger is to the left of here, and it guards a Blast Barrel that can shoot the heroes toward more Blast Barrels. As they travel to the west above an abyss with these Blast Barrels, they must also watch out for a few Zingers. Soon, the primates reach a barrel that can blast them higher up to a platform that holds a TNT Barrel. As they head across this platform, a Mini-Necky dives at them. After they pass the enemy, they reach a Zinger that guards two Blast Barrels. The first of the barrels is aimed to the north toward a higher platform, while the second, which floats under a Banana Coin, is positioned toward the first barrel.

They can use the first barrel to blast onto the higher platform, where they can find two Mini-Neckys, a DK Barrel, and, to the left of the platform, a Bonus Barrel. A platform is to the right of here that sits under a Blast Barrel, which can blast the heroes past a Zinger and to some more Blast Barrels. These barrels shoot them in a curvy path into many bananas and then into one last barrel that can shoot them a small distance into the air.

A platform and a Zinger is to the left of this barrel, and the platform holds a TNT Barrel. Another platform is ahead of here that supports a Kannon that shoots kannonballs to attack. The duo can find a Blast Barrel behind it that can blast them upwards to more barrels. As they climb upwards through the shaft with these barrels, they must watch for a few Zingers that hover over the barrels. Soon, the primates are blasted onto a solid platform with a Mini-Necky near it. A platform is placed to the right of this foe that holds a Diddy Barrel with the letter N above it. The Diddy Barrel can blast Diddy Kong, but not Dixie Kong, to a few Blast Barrels that can fire them in a circle to many bananas and a Banana Coin in a hidden area. To the left of the aforementioned Diddy Barrel, the heroes can find a trio of Blast Barrels lined up under a Zinger that hovers over them.

If they manage to dodge this enemy and reach the last of the three barrels, they are blasted upwards onto a platform with another Blast Barrel above it. A gap is to the right of here, and on the other side of it, the heroes can find a hidden platform with a barrel-shooting Kannon and a Bonus Barrel on it. If the primates enter the nearby Blast Barrel, they are shot up to a platform with a Treasure Chest that contains the letter G on it. As they head across the platform, Mini-Neckys attack them. There are two more platforms ahead of here, and once the heroes reach the second of the platforms, they can find an End of Level Target with a golden feather (found exclusively in the Game Boy Advance version of the game) above it. If they hit the target, they complete the level successfully. Additionally, they can bounce off of a nearby Mini-Necky and then hit the target to win a prize from it. The prizes include either a Banana Bunch, a Banana Coin, or a Red Balloon.

KONG Letters

K: After the first Kruncha in the level, Diddy and Dixie must blast from two Arrow Barrels. From the second Arrow Barrel to the left, the Kongs must blast to the right to reach the letter K.

O: After the first Flitter, the Kongs must blast from two Blast Barrels to land on a wooden platform with a TNT Barrel. To the right, the Kongs must jump on a slightly higher platform, which has a Kannon firing barrels. The letter O is hovering to the top-left of the platform, and can only be reached if the Kongs use a team up throw or bounce from a barrel.

N: Some time after the Star Barrel, the Kongs must blast from a group of three Arrow Barrels while avoiding the Zinger hovering between the second and third Arrow Barrels. After this, Diddy and Dixie are blasted up to a platform where a Mini-Necky swoops at them. The letter N is hovering above a Diddy Barrel, which only Diddy can enter. The Kongs are blasted between a few more Blast Barrels, which some bananas and a single Banana Coin appear between. After this, the Kongs are blasted back to the main path.

G: After the letter N, the Kongs must blast from three more Arrow Barrels to land on a wooden platform. Another Arrow Barrel is above the wooden platform, and it blasts the Kongs onto a higher wooden platform which with a Treasure Chest. It contains the letter G, and the Kongs can break it open by hitting it into a nearby Mini-Necky.

Key items

Cranky's Video Game Hero Coin: At the very start of the first Bonus Level, Dixie must continue right and use her Helicopter Spin to cross a wide gap and land on a platform with the Video Game Hero Coin. A Dixie Barrel is hovering above the Video Game Hero Coin, and it blasts Dixie upward and back onto the main path. Not counting the Lost World levels, Kannon's Klaim is the only level that has its Video Game Hero Coin hidden within a Bonus Level, though the reward is still a Kremkoin.

Bonus levels

Find the Token!: At the very start, the Kongs encounter two Neeks. Instead of jumping into the Arrow Barrel above, Dixie must use her Helicopter Spin to cross a gap to the right, following the direction of bananas arranged in the shape of a right arrow. This leads to a Bonus Barrel at the bottom right. In the Bonus Level, the Kongs have 30 seconds to obtain the Kremkoin. A DK Barrel is at the start of the Bonus Level, as both Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong are needed to blast from the respective Diddy & Dixie Barrels. From the first pair of these barrels, either Kong must enter their barrel to blast up onto a few small platforms, taking them to the next pair of Diddy & Dixie Barrels. Following this is four small platforms, and entering the Dixie Barrel blasts the Kongs onto a small platform, where a Diddy Barrel. The Diddy Barrel blasts the Kongs onto another small platform with a Dixie Barrel, which finally blasts the Kongs to a long platform, where they can collect the Kremkoin to the very right.

Find the Token!: Shortly after the Star Barrel is a platform with a TNT Barrel and a Mini-Necky. They must jump to the right into an Arrow Barrel, which blasts them up to another platform. From the left edge of the platform the Kongs must use a Team-up throw to enter into a Bonus Barrel. Alternatively, the Kongs can enter the Bonus Barrel by continuing in the level until they land on a small platform with the TNT Barrel. From there, they must jump down to the left to land into the Bonus Level. Diddy and Dixie have 25 seconds to collect the Kremkoin at the top. To do so, the Kongs must blast from ten Arrow Barrels. The last Arrow Barrel points northeast to the Kremkoin, which is hovering over a small platform, where the Kongs exit the Bonus Level.

Find the Token!: After the letter N, the Kongs must blast from three Arrow Barrels to be sent up onto a higher platform. To the right, a Kannon is on another platform, firing barrels at Diddy and Dixie. The Kongs must bounce from the barrels to reach the Kannon. The Bonus Barrel is sitting on the platform, to the right of the Kannon. In the Bonus Level, the Kongs have 10 seconds to collect the Kremkoin. They must bounce from six Flitters to get across a large gap and reach the Kremkoin, which is hovering over a platform to the top-right.

Warp Barrel

When the Kongs encounter the first Kruncha, they must roll jump into a gap to their left and jump to the right to land into an invisible Warp Barrel beneath the wooden platform. The Kongs must go through the warp room, which has a group of bananas shaping an exclamation mark. By exiting from the right, Diddy and Dixie are sent back into the main level, onto a Mini-Necky right before the End of Level Target.

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3. Lava Lagoon, Crocodile Cauldron

Lava Lagoon is the eighth level of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and the third level of Crocodile Cauldron. It is the second level set inside a cargo hold of a shipwreck, the first being Lockjaw's Locker. It is full of bright red lava, though a few Exclamation Point Barrels along the way can make them temporarily immune to the lava's harmful effects. Several Clappers appear throughout Lava Lagoon, and the Kongs can jump on them to temporarily cool the lava into water. The Kongs must quickly swim through the water before it turns back to lava, and they can escape from it by either returning on land or swimming onto the next Clapper. This level introduces an underwater pufferfish enemy, Puftups. While on land, the Kongs encounter a few enemies like Klampons and Click-Clacks. There is a hidden animal crate containing Enguarde just after the Star Barrel. Just like Lockjaw's Locker, there are certain parts of the walls which the Kongs can optionally swim through; doing so is required for the Kongs to reach Enguarde.

Layout

The Kongs begin the stage on some large crates and barrels with a small pit ahead of them that is full of hot water. A DK Barrel and some bananas float above this pit. After the heroes pass a nearby Neek and climb over a pile of crates, barrels, and other objects, they can find a Clapper and a large pool of water. By jumping on the seal, they can cool down the hot water so that they can swim through it. In the water, they can find a Flotsam, some bananas, and a single Banana Bunch. Some large crates float on top of the water, and a Klampon walks along them. If the heroes continue to the east from here and make their way to the other side of the water area, they come along some more large crates and past a lone Klampon. Soon, they discover another Clapper next to a pool of water, which they must cool down with the seal buddy. As they swim through the wide, underwater area, they come past a few Flotsams and some bananas.

A Banana Coin is also hidden in this area in an alcove that is guarded by one of the Flotsams. Once the primates make their way to the other end of the water area, they reach a few more large boxes that they can walk on. They can find a Clapper with a DK Barrel above it in this area near a pool of water. As they travel through the water, with the help of the Clapper who can cool it down, they approach the letter K and some bananas in a few small alcoves. One of the alcoves, which contains several bananas, is guarded by a Flotsam that moves back and forth in a horizontal path. After the Kongs pass this Flotsam and another alcove that contains a Banana Bunch, they head up a passage leading to the north with an additional Flotsam in it. If they continue upwards from here, they reach the surface of the water, where they can find two large barrel platforms with a Blast Barrel on one of them.

The Blast Barrel can blast them upwards into a higher area with another Blast Barrel in it, which can then shoot them onto some crates. As they shoot through the barrels, the water level quickly rises. Additionally, after shooting out of the first of the Blast Barrels, the primates can move along the left side of the wall to head through a crate and into a thin area that contains another Blast Barrel, which can blast them onto the higher crates and to a Banana Coin. After the heroes reach the top of the area with either of the two paths, they can find a Klampon and another Clapper next to an area of water. Once the seal cools down the water, they can safely swim through to find some bananas along the ground.

Some Flotsams and two Lockjaws also swim through the water, which the letter O is located above in an alcove. A small gap is also placed at the top of the underwater area, and if the primates jump through it, they can find an area above the water that contains an Exclamation Point Barrel. If they continue through the water from here, they soon reach a Banana Bunch in a small alcove and a passage leading upwards, where the heroes can find some large crates above the surface of the water that hold a Klampon. A Star Barrel is located above these crates.

Two small gaps full of water are ahead of here, and a Kaboing jumps on the thin platform between them. There is a Clapper placed after the pits, and the heroes can bounce on the helper to cool down a nearby area of water. As they swim through this water, they come up to a DK Barrel and a few crates in the bottom-right corner of the area that they can swim through to find a hidden room with an animal crate containing Enguarde in it.

A Banana Bunch is also located next to this crate. If the primates head west through the underwater area, they make their way past some bananas and Puftups. After they pass the foes, they make their way up a passage that take them to some large crates and barrels positioned above the surface of the water. A Clapper is on these objects, and once the heroes approach it, the water level rises. After the water rises, the heroes must make their way through a passage that is placed above a group of bananas that form an arrow pointing upwards. If they follow the arrow and head upwards, they make their way into a large area full of Lockjaws.

A hidden passage over some crates is in the top-left corner of this wide room, and it leads the heroes to many collectibles, including bananas, two Banana Coins, and the letter N. As they head through the passage, they can also, in the Game Boy Advance version only, find a hidden room with a Lockjaw in possession of a photograph in it. If the primates do not travel through this hidden path, they must instead head through a wide room full of Lockjaws. Some bananas and another letter N are located around the area for the heroes to grab. Eventually, the Kongs make their way to the surface of the water, where they can find some large crates and barrels that they can walk on. A No Animal Sign is in this area; once it is passed, Enguarde disappears, and the heroes are awarded with a red Extra Life Balloon. There are some large crates, one of which that holds a barrel, ahead of the sign, and the heroes must climb over it while dodging a single Click-Clack to reach a small gap and a DK Barrel.

Once they drop into the gap, they can find a thin passage leading to the west that is full of Click-Clacks. At the end of the passage, they can find a Clapper next to a pool of water. As they swim through this water, they come past several Puftups that rise and fall in the water. Alcoves are also scattered throughout the area, and they contain bananas and a Banana Bunch. Soon, they Kongs make their way into a thin passage that leads to both a small area with the letter G in it and another room with a Clapper in it. A hidden area can be accessed if they swim through the crates to the right of the Clapper, and it holds several bananas, an Exclamation Point Barrel, and a Video Game Hero Coin.

A Blast Barrel is also located at the end of this hidden room to blast the heroes out of the water before it burns them. If the primates do not take this hidden path, they must instead swim upwards through a narrow passage to reach the surface of the water, where they can find some large crates and barrels with a Klobber on them. The End of Level Target is just ahead, and the Kongs can use team up to enter a Barrel Cannon (or Dixie Barrel in the Game Boy Advance version) to land on the target for a prize. The prizes include either a Banana Bunch, Banana Coin, or a Red Balloon.

KONG Letters

K: After jumping on the third Clapper, the Kongs must swim all the way down in the water. The letter K appears in an alcove on their left.

O: In the third section of water, the Kongs encounter a group of Flotsam. They must swim above the first Lockjaw and collect the letter O overhead.

N: Lava Lagoon, unlike most other levels, there are two letter N's: One of them is in an alcove above the third Lockjaw from the Star Barrel, and the other one is placed in a vertical, narrow passage just before the Lockjaw, also featuring two Banana Coins and 14 bananas.

G: After the Bonus Level, Diddy and Dixie must swim past a few Puftups. Afterwards, they must go down a vertical gap. The letter G appears in an alcove to the right.

Key items

Cranky's Video Game Hero Coin: After the letter G, the Kongs must continue swimming up to find the last Clapper of the level. To the right of Clapper is a gap which Diddy and Dixie can pass through. It leads into a large, enclosed space with an Exclamation Point Barrel, followed by a DK Barrel. The Kongs must continue swimming up, as they follow a trail of bananas, to find the Video Game Hero Coin, which appears in the center of the area. The Kongs can exit the area by swimming into a Blast Barrel at the top-left.

Bonus Level

Destroy them All!: After the Star Barrel, and swimming past some Lockjaws, Diddy and Dixie appear in front of the No Animal Sign. They must pick up the nearby barrel, then jump down, and run it into the wall located directly right from the No Animal Sign. A lone banana appears just before the wall as a hint of its location. This creates an opening for them to enter into. The object is to defeat ten enemies within 35 seconds: six of them are Puftups and four are Flotsam. Enguarde appears at the start of the Bonus Level for the Kongs to ride, because they cannot defeat the enemies without Enguarde. Afterward, they must continue forward through the narrow maze, set between large crates and barrels, and defeat the underwater enemies with Enguarde as they go along. At the end of the path, the Kongs and Enguarde stumble upon a Puftup blocking the entrance into an enclosed space with the No Animal Sign and level exit. After defeating the Puftup, the Kremkoin appears in the enclosed area, past the No Animal Sign but before the exit. After collecting the Kremkoin, the Kongs swim through the opening to exit the Bonus Level.

Warp Barrel

At the start of the level, the Kongs must go onto the platform with the first Klampon. From the right corner of the platform, the Kongs must perform team up and throw the other Kong straight up to enter the Warp Barrel. This leads them into a single-screen, narrow area. The Kongs must walk down the two large barrels, then pass the bananas arranged in an exclamation mark shape, and exit from the right. This takes them back into the main level, where they appear just before the End of Level Target.

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4. Red-Hot Ride, Crocodile Cauldron

Red-Hot Ride, also parsed as Red Hot Ride,[1] is the ninth level of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and the fourth level of Crocodile Cauldron. It is the second level to take place in a volcanic setting, the first being Hot-Head Hop. A lot of the level involves Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong riding on Hot Air Balloons to cross wide pits of lava. However, each Hot Air Balloon slowly descends into the lava, so the Kongs must constantly move above thermals along the way to keep it afloat. Diddy and Dixie often have to jump from Hot Air Balloons as they move across the lava. There is a Rambi Crate just after the letter K, allowing the Kongs to ride Rambi up until the No Animal Sign, which comes just before the Star Barrel. Many Zingers appear, mostly during sections where the Kongs have to navigate the Hot Air Balloon around them while above the lava.

Layout

When the heroes begin the level, they find themselves outside of a tunnel with a Banana Bunch ahead of it. A raised area of ground is near of here that they can climb to find a Klobber and a wide pit of lava with a Hot Air Balloon suspended by a thermal above it. A group of bananas are to the right of the banana, and they form the shape of an arrow, which points to the right. Once the Kongs cross this pit, they come up to another high piece of land on a solid, rocky area of ground. They can find a Kruncha here, who is followed by a lava pit with two thermals in it. The first of the thermals holds up a balloon that the heroes can ride on to cross the pit, and the letter K is between it and the following thermal.

After the primates glide past the second thermal, they reach a Banana Bunch and another area of ground, where they can find a rocky hill with a Kruncha and an animal crate containing Rambi on it. The Kruncha stands on a slightly lower part of the ground than the crate, which sits to the right of a Zinger. If the heroes head east from here, they find a Klobber and a small pit with another Zinger above it. On the other side of this small pit, they can find another Klobber on a flat piece of ground and then another wide pit.

A thermal keeping a Hot Air Balloon suspended in the air is at the beginning of the gap, and the Kongs can ride over the pit if they ride on the balloon. Two thermals are ahead of here to raise the balloon, and a pair of Zingers, one of which that guards a Banana Coin, are between them. If the heroes continue forward from here, they reach another thermal with two Zingers above it. They must pass the thermal quickly to avoid being pushed toward the enemies. Once they pass an additional thermal, they reach a Zinger that flies above the letter O. A thermal is behind the enemy that can push the Hot Air Balloon carrying Kongs into it. Four more thermals are farther ahead of here, and a Zinger and a Banana Bunch are above the second of these thermals.

The thermal next to this holds a Hot Air Balloon with a Kruncha on it, who marches under a Banana Coin. An area of land is ahead of these thermals, and it carries a pair of Krunchas and a No Animal Sign. If the primates cross the sign with Rambi, the rhino disappears and they are given a Banana Bunch. On a slightly higher area of ground near here, the primates can find a Click-Clack that walks next to a small pit. On the other side of the pit, the primates can find another large, rocky platform that holds a Kruncha. They can also find the level's Star Barrel above this platform.

To the east of the Star Barrel, the duo can find another wide pit that begins with a thermal holding up a Hot Air Balloon, which supports a DK Barrel. A Zinger is to the right of this thermal, and it is followed by a second thermal. After the heroes pass the columns of heat, they approach a few Flitters that try to fly into them. A small thermal can be found farther ahead of here, and it is followed by a larger thermal that holds up a Hot Air Balloon. This balloon is surrounded by two Zingers, who hover under the letter N and a Video Game Hero Coin.

Once Diddy and Dixie pass another small thermal near here, they reach a Hot Air Balloon that holds a Neek and a TNT Barrel. The balloon is suspended by an additional thermal. They can ride along this balloon or their current balloon to reach another thermal that is located next to a trio of Zingers that the heroes must hover under to pass. They can also defeat some of the Zingers, who guard a Banana Coin, with the nearby TNT Barrel to pass them. On the other side of these Zingers, the primates can find a pair of thermals and a high, rocky platform that holds a Klobber.

A Neek marches along a Hot Air Balloon being suspended by a thermal above a pit near here. They can ride the balloon to approach a Flitter, who they can bounce on to reach another balloon on a thermal. They must control the balloon so that it leads them past a Zinger and to another Flitter with a Banana Bunch above it. A Hot Air Balloon slowly descends to the right of the Flitter, as it is not held up by a thermal. The two primates can find another Hot Air Balloon ahead of here that holds a Neek. Before the balloon falls into the lava pit, they must control it so that it hovers above a small thermal nearby. They can find another thermal farther ahead of here with two Zingers next to it. The primates must hover between these foes in order to safely progress to the next part of the pit, where there is another thermal placed under a golden feather (an item found exclusively in the Game Boy Advance version of the game).

The letter G is near here next to a trio of Zingers who are all positioned above separate thermals. They must head under these foes quickly, as the thermals may push them up into the Zingers if they are too slow. After they pass these Zingers, the heroes approach a thermal next to a Hot Air Balloon that slowly descends toward the lava. They can use this balloon to reach an area of ground with an End of Level Target on it, which they must hit to complete the level. If they hit this target immediately after jumping from the final balloon before descends too much, then they win a prize (either a Banana Coin, Banana Bunch, or a Red Balloon).

KONG Letters

K: Centered between two thermals where the second Hot Air Balloon is located.

O: After the Rambi Crate, the Kongs must continue on the next Hot Air Balloon. Once they pass two pairs of Zingers, the Kongs must lower the Hot Air Balloon and collect the letter O, which appears on a thermal beneath Zinger.

N: Shortly after the Star Barrel, the letter N is hovering above two Zingers which are surrounding a Hot Air Balloon.

G: Late into the level, the letter G appears in front of three Zingers, each of whom are flying above a thermal.

Key Items

Cranky's Video Game Hero: After the Star Barrel, the Kongs must continue onward until they find two Zingers. The Video Game Hero Coin hovers directly above the letter N, and the Kongs can reach it with a team up throw.

Bonus Levels

Destroy Them All!: Rambi is required to access the first Bonus Level. After the Kongs move across the large pit of lava, they must jump return on land. To their right is a breakable wall, which appears just before two Krunchas. Rambi must perform a supercharge to break the wall open and enter the Bonus Level. Here, the goal is two defeat eight enemies (five are Klomps and three are Flitters) within fifteen seconds. After meeting this objective, the Kremkoin appears.

Collect the Stars!: Below the Star Barrel and the ground is a banana meant to hint to the Bonus Barrel that appears right below it. The Kongs can reach and enter into the Bonus Barrel by moving beneath the ground surface, either with Dixie's Helicopter Spin or from a Hot Air Balloon. In the Bonus Level, the Kongs have to obtain forty stars within a time limit of thirty seconds. At the start, there is a Hot Air Balloon hovering above a thermal. The Kongs must ride it in order to reach the stars. After jumping and collecting every star, the Kremkoin appears on a small platform to the right.

Warp Barrel

The Kongs must go onto the second Hot Air Balloon and pass the letter K. Right as the Hot Air Balloon moves onto the third thermal in the level, the Kongs must use a team up throw to enter into the Warp Barrel above. The warp area features several bananas arranged in the shape of an exclamation mark, followed by an exit on the right. Exiting takes the Kongs onto a Hot Air Balloon just before the End of Level Target.

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5. Squawk's Shaft, Crocodile Cauldron

Squawks's Shaft, misspelled as Squawk's Shaft in a Nintendo Magazine System (UK) issue,[1] is the tenth level of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and the fifth and last regular level of Crocodile Cauldron. The level takes place in a mine shaft, where during the first half, Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong have to blast through many Barrel Cannons, while during the second half, the Kongs must ride Squawks, who first appears in the level. Squawks's Shaft is the first level to have Krooks, which appear the most commonly, along with Zingers.

Layout

The Kongs begin the level on a platform next to a Treasure Chest that contains the letter K. A raised platform is ahead of here that holds a Krook, who stands under a trio of bananas. At the edge of the starting platform, the heroes can find a Banana Coin with a platform above it that holds a Klomp. They can find a Barrel Cannon above here that they can aim to blast them toward a few small platforms that they must climb to reach a long platform, which supports three Klomps and a DK Barrel. Two more platforms are to the left of here, and they both hold Krooks.

A Banana Bunch is to the left of the second platform, which stands below a Barrel Cannon that can blast the heroes to a group of three platforms. They must climb to the top platform to find another trio of Klomps and a Barrel Cannon. If the primates roll-jump to the right of here, they can find a hidden Barrel Cannon that can fire them into another Barrel Cannon that is surrounded by Zingers and a Bonus Barrel.

If the Kongs blast through the non-hidden Barrel Cannon, they can reach an additional barrel, which is able to blast them onto a long platform with a slightly smaller platform above it. Krooks are on the ends of both of these platforms, and the Krook on the lower platform guards a Banana Bunch and a Treasure Chest that contains a red Extra Life Balloon. A smaller platform is located to the left of these enemies, and a Dixie Barrel is above it that can blast the heroes toward some more Barrel Cannons. These cannons can shoot them into many bananas, two Banana Coins, and, in the Game Boy Advance version of the game, a golden feather.

If the heroes travel east from here, they reach a Barrel Cannon that they must aim to blast them upwards, where there are two more cannons that they must shoot through to progress. As they blast between the last two of these barrels, a Zinger tries to get in their way and flies back and forth between them in a horizontal path. The third barrel in this area is able to blast the two friends to a pair of small platforms that carry one Klampon each. A Barrel Cannon floats next to the platforms, and it can blast the heroes toward several more Barrel Cannons. As they shoot through these barrels, they come up to a Zinger that they must avoid and many bananas. Eventually, they make their way onto a platform with a Star Barrel above it and a Blast Barrel that can blast them to a Bonus Barrel to the left of it.

To the right of here, the duo can find a small platform with a Barrel Cannon above it. The cannon is able to shoot them past a pair of Zingers that move parallel to each other and then to another Barrel Cannon, which can then send them to a platform. This platform supports a Krook, who guards the letter O. An additional platform is to the left of here, and it holds an Animal Crate that contains Squawks the Parrot. After the heroes free the parrot, they must grab onto to him so that the bird can lift them through the remaining part of the level.

As the heroes begin to ascend, they come up to a DK Barrel in a small gap between two platforms. Above these platforms, the heroes can find a group of bananas that form the letter Y (or the letter B in the Game Boy Advance version of the game). Some more platforms stick out of the side of the area on the way up this part of the level; the first platform holds a yellow Zinger, the second holds a red Zinger, and the third carries a Krook. These three platforms are followed by a group of Zingers that consist of two stationary red Zingers that float under the letter N and two yellow Zingers that hover next to their allies. Three additional platforms are above here, and they all hold one Krook each. A DK Barrel is located just above the third platform, and it is followed by a few Mini-Neckys that swoop down at the heroes to attack. After the group passes these small vulture enemies, they come up to four platforms that stick out of the wall. Two of these platforms, which are positioned across from each other, hold Krooks that both throw their hooks at the heroes.

To the right of these Krooks, the heroes can find a Banana Coin and a hidden area that contains another Krook on a platform, two groups of bananas that form arrows pointing upwards, a Bonus Barrel, and a Video Game Hero Coin. If the Kongs and Squawks continue upwards from the location of the previous two Krooks, they reach a platform with a Kannon on it. The heroes must pass under this enemy to progress, but as they do so, they must watch out for the kannonballs it shoots at them. Once the group passes this foe and heads farther upwards, they reach a pair of red Zingers moving back and forth in a horizontal path around a Banana Bunch.

A few more Mini-Neckys are ahead of here, and once the trio continues past them, they reach long platform that holds a No Animal Sign. If they pass the sign, Squawks disappears and they are given a Banana Bunch. An End of Level Target is near here, and the Kongs must jump on it to complete the level successfully. Additionally, the Kongs can win a prize from the target if they hit it immediately after shooting out of a Barrel Cannon. The prizes consist of either a banana, a Banana Bunch, a Banana Coin, or the letter G.

KONG Letters

K: Inside a Treasure Chest at the very start of the level.

O: The letter O is behind a Krook shortly after the Star Barrel and just before the Squawks Crate.

N: After the Kongs mount Squawks, they must continue flying upward. The letter N is floating over a red Zinger centered between two yellow Zingers.

G: Featured as an End of Level Target prize.

Key items

Cranky's Video Game Hero Coin: Floating to the right of the third Bonus Barrel.

Bonus Levels

Find the Token!: From the right side of the platform with the second pair of three of Klomps, either Dixie must use her Helicopter Spin or Diddy has to use a cartwheel jump to land into a Barrel Cannon. A Zinger is placed between it and the next Barrel Cannon, which it turns to face. When the Kongs enter the second Barrel Cannon, it turns to face the Bonus Barrel on the right side, and the Kongs can then blast into it. Alternatively, Diddy and Dixie can enter the Bonus Barrel by jumping off to the very right of a platform just above two platforms that each have a Krook. As they fall, the Kongs eventually land into the Bonus Barrel. In the Bonus Level, Diddy and Dixie have twenty seconds to find the Kremkoin, which is inside one of the seven Treasure Chests. They must throw Treasure Chests at a red Zinger, which is in the center of the area, until they break the Treasure Chest which releases the Kremkoin, which is in the middle-right platform. Most Treasure Chests release a banana except the one at the top left, which releases a Banana Coin.

Find the Token!: Left of the Star Barrel, the Kongs must use team up to enter into a Blast Barrel, which blasts them left into the Bonus Barrel. In the Bonus Level, Diddy and Dixie have 25 seconds to obtain the Kremkoin. The Kongs must blast through a series of Barrel Cannons, which bananas appear between to indicate the directions and path to the Kremkoin. The Kremkoin is hovering over a wooden platform at the top-right of the Bonus Level.

Destroy Them All!: Shortly after the letter N, the Kongs encounter two Mini-Neckys. Two Krooks appear directly above, each on a separate platform. Squawks must defeat the Krook to the right and continue in that direction. Just after the Banana Coin, Squawks and the Kongs encounter another Krook, left of some bananas shaping an up arrow. Squawks and the Kongs must continue in that direction, and when they reach the second group of bananas in the shape of an up arrow, they must continue straight up into the Bonus Barrel. In the Bonus Level, Squawks and the Kongs must fly around a wide area and defeat eight Zingers within 30 seconds. When Squawks defeats every Zinger, the Kremkoin appears at the bottom-right of the area on the wooden platform.

Warp Barrel

At the very start, the Kongs must continue right until they find a Banana Bunch Coin beneath a platform. The Kongs must either perform a roll jump or use Dixie's Helicopter Spin to collect the Banana Bunch Coin and land right into a hidden Blast Barrel, which then blasts them into the Warp Barrel. The warp room has a group of bananas shaped like an exclamation mark like other ones. Upon exiting the warp room, Diddy and Dixie are sent into a Barrel Cannon right before the End of Level Target.

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6. Kleever's Kiln, Crocodile Cauldron

Kleever's Kiln is the boss level of Crocodile Cauldron and the place where Kleever is fought in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.

Concept drawings show that Squawks would originally fight Kleever, and his Animal Barrel would have been hidden in an area behind the starting point. This was changed to Squawks fighting another boss instead, King Zing, in the boss level King Zing Sting.

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.

Layout

Kleever's Kiln takes place in a volcanic area with a ledge on each side and a wide lava pit in the middle. Two Banana Coins are hidden at the top right of the area, and they can be reached by either jumping from hooks at the top right or from Dixie using her Helicopter Spin from the same position. The battle starts with Kleever rising from the lava, held by an arm made of fire. Kleever throws three individual fireballs at Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong. After this, the Kongs have to throw a kannonball at it. When Kleever is hit, a set of hooks fall from the sky, and as the Kongs cross to the rightmost part of the arena, Kleever follows them there while throwing more fireballs in their direction.

After a third hit, Kleever retreats back into the lava before suddenly charging back out, now hovering in midair independently, without the fiery arm. Kleever moves around faster and starts by horizontally charging himself at Diddy and Dixie. Kleever can be dodged by jumping over him. Many rows of hooks drop above the pool of lava, allowing Diddy and Dixie to cross over to the right side. Kleever uses his charging attack again, and after having another kannonball thrown at it, Kleever begins to violently slash for a few seconds. After six hits, Kleever is defeated, his blade shattered into pieces as he spins around for a few seconds before falling into the lava. Diddy and Dixie are rewarded with a Kremkoin and can continue on to Krem Quay.

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