Iron Barrel

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Iron Barrel
A steel keg
Artwork of a steel keg from Donkey Kong Country.
First appearance Donkey Kong Country (1994)
Latest appearance DK: Jungle Climber (2007)
“Unlike regular barrels, steel kegs are basically unbreakable. Once you throw one, it will keep on rolling, knocking out any enemies it runs into.”
Donkey Kong Country instruction booklet, page 17

An Iron Barrel, also known as a steel keg (also parsed as Steel Keg),[1] Steel Barrel,[2][3] or metal keg,[4] is a type of barrel first appearing in Donkey Kong Country. Their main distinction is being made of steel.

History[edit]

Donkey Kong Country series[edit]

Donkey Kong Country[edit]

A steel keg from Donkey Kong Country.

In Donkey Kong Country, steel kegs are found as early as the first level, Jungle Hijinxs, but they do not appear in many levels. The player can usually find a steel keg by dropping onto a ground patch from high enough. Steel kegs can be picked up and thrown like regular Barrels, but steel kegs are more durable because they do not break from hitting a wall or enemy. Upon hitting a wall, the steel keg ricochets, and it continues to roll until it falls into a gap or by hitting one of the stronger enemies. The steel keg defeats almost every enemy that it rolls into; as such, it can be used to defeat entire chains of baddies. The Kongs can even jump on top of a rolling steel keg as it travels on the ground and defeats enemies. Steel kegs can be reused, as a Kong can pick up a thrown barrel as it rolls by (and thus carry the barrel to a new location and throw it again).

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble![edit]

Steel Keg

After skipping an appearance in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, Steel Barrels return in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! Steel Barrels are a lot more common than in the first game and are found in every level except boss levels. Dixie Kong and Kiddy Kong are required to use a Steel Barrel to defeat a Koin for its DK Coin. The Koin is always facing the Kongs, holding a shield to protect itself from frontal attacks. The lead Kong must pick up a nearby Steel Barrel and throw it at a surface behind Koin. Kiddy can throw Steel Barrels faster. The Steel Barrel bounces off the wall and rolls behind into the Koin, defeating it and releasing its DK Coin. After the Kongs use the Steel Barrel, another one appears in its place (except for ones that appear from a No Animal Sign). Some Bazukas blast out a Steel Barrel from their cannon, capable of hurting the Kongs. Dixie and Kiddy usually have to jump from the Steel Barrels to cross large gaps. The Bazukas sometimes fire TNT Barrels, which can be changed to Steel Barrels by activating a Switch Barrel. The bottom of Criss Kross Cliffs features a Bazuka blasting Steel Barrels upward.

Donkey Kong Land series[edit]

The role of Steel Barrels in the Donkey Kong Land series is largely based on their games' counterpart in the Donkey Kong Country series, respectively. In Donkey Kong Land, Iron Barrels have the same purpose as in Donkey Kong Country, while in Donkey Kong Land III, their role is retained from Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, though are not in every level since DK Coins appear by themselves in underwater levels.

Donkey Kong 64[edit]

The Steel Keg in Donkey Kong 64.
A model of a metal keg from Donkey Kong 64

In Donkey Kong 64, three metal kegs appear in a mill in Fungi Forest, and they are larger and heavier than in previous games. Chunky Kong is the only Kong with the strength to carry them. He must pick up each one and throw them into a grinder within a time limit to obtain a Golden Banana. They explode when they crash into the grinder.

Donkey Konga[edit]

Steel Barrels also appear in Donkey Konga, where one is used in the unlockable mini-game, Bash K.Rool. To fit the Whac-A-Mole theme, it is referred to as the "Barrel Hammer". In the mini-game, the player's objective is to whack the Barrel Hammer onto King K. Rool's head. Despite its name, the Barrel Hammer is not connected to a hammer handle but rather to metal chains capable of lifting it up and down. Two Steel Barrels appear in the background of Challenge mode, on the bottom screen next to Rambi. The Steel Barrels show which song number the player is on.

Donkey Kong Barrel Blast[edit]

Iron Barrels appear as obstacles in the racing game Donkey Kong Barrel Blast. Racers can destroy an Iron Barrel while invincible.

DK: Jungle Climber[edit]

Iron Barrels appear as obstacles in DK: Jungle Climber. They float in the air, blocking pathways, and Iron Barrels can be destroyed by either using Diddy Kong's hammer, detonating a TNT Barrel near the Iron Barrel, or by throwing a Bomb at it.

Profiles[edit]

Donkey Kong Country[edit]

  • Super Nintendo Entertainment System instruction booklet: "Unlike regular barrels, steel kegs are basically unbreakable. Once you throw one, it will keep on rolling, knocking out any enemies it runs into. You can also throw one of these barrels against a wall and jump on top of the rebound. You'll be in for a wild ride if you can pull off this move!"[page number needed]
  • Game Boy Color/Advance instruction booklet: "Roll steel kegs to take out several enemies at a time. You can also bounce one off a wall, then hop onto it for a smooth ride."[page number needed]

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble![edit]

  • Game Boy Advance instruction booklet: "Throwing one of these is a fantastic way to clear and area of enemies. And they're reusable, too, if you're careful!"[page number needed]

Gallery[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese 鋼鉄製タンク[5]
Kōtetsusei Tank
アイアンバレル[6]
Aian Bareru
Steel-made Tank

Iron Barrel

Italian Barilotto d'acciaio[7]
Barile di Acciaio[8]
Barile d'acciaio[9][10][11]
Barile di ferro[12]
Little steel barrel
Steel Barrel
Steel barrel
Iron barrel

References[edit]

  1. ^ M. Arakawa. Donkey Kong Country Player's Guide. Page 28.
  2. ^ Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! instruction booklet. Pages 19 and 25.
  3. ^ Donkey Kong Land III instruction booklet. Page 18.
  4. ^ Bihldorff, Nate, Jason Leung, and Drew Williams. Donkey Kong 64 Player's Guide. Page 83.
  5. ^ Super Donkey Kong instruction booklet. Page 17.
  6. ^ Donkey Kong Taru Jet Race instruction booklet. Page 22.
  7. ^ Donkey Kong Country Italian manual. Page 17.
  8. ^ Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! Spanish-Italian booklet. Page 53.
  9. ^ Donkey Kong Land III Spanish-Italian manual. Page 48.
  10. ^ Donkey Kong Country (GBC); European booklet. Page 111.
  11. ^ Donkey Kong Country (GBA); European booklet. Page 102.
  12. ^ Donkey Kong Country 3; European booklet. Page 121.