Warp Barrel
| Warp Barrel | |
|---|---|
 Artwork from Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! | |
| First appearance | Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (1995) |
| Latest appearance | Donkey Kong Bananza (DK Island & Emerald Rush) (2025) |
Warp Barrels[1][2] are an uncommon type of barrel that appears in the latter two Donkey Kong Country and Donkey Kong Land games. They are usually distinguishable from the "W" painted on them. As their name suggests, Warp Barrels warp the Kongs to the stage's goal. Warp Barrels are usually hidden off-screen or in out-of-reach areas. A Warp Barrel is invisible until the Kongs enter it. Warp Barrels are optional, and the Kongs are not required to enter them to finish a level.
History[edit]
Donkey Kong Country series[edit]
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest[edit]
Warp Barrels appear in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest with the appearance of a Barrel Kannon in the SNES version. When a Warp Barrel is entered, Diddy and Dixie are sent into a warp room. The warp room usually takes up only a single screen, and in the center is a group of bananas in the shape of a large exclamation mark. The Kongs can exit the warp room to their right. Only the levels in Gangplank Galleon and Crocodile Cauldron have Warp Barrels in them.
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble![edit]
In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, Warp Barrels have a W decoration on them. Unlike in the previous game, Dixie and Kiddy are not sent into a warp room, so by entering the Warp Barrel, the Kongs are instantly warped in front of the Level Flag. Lake Orangatanga and Kremwood Forest are the only worlds whose levels have Warp Barrels.
Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Advance)[edit]
In the Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country, Warp Barrels replace the Blast Barrels that sent Donkey Kong and Diddy near the end of the level in previous versions. There are many more Warp Barrels than the original barrels, and appear in levels of Kongo Jungle and Monkey Mines, as well as in Trick Track Trek. Warp Barrels were redesigned to sport a "W" on an explosive red design, which would be reused for the sequel's remake. Entering a Warp Barrel takes the Kongs to a place with an ice walkway in a black void and bananas arranged to spell the word "WARP." There are also floating screenshots traveling across the background. In all versions, Stop & Go Station has an off-screen warp point that functions like a Warp Barrel, which is found by walking into the entrance to the left at the very start.
Donkey Kong Land series[edit]
Donkey Kong Land 2[edit]
In Donkey Kong Land 2, Warp Barrels share a sprite with Bonus Barrels, and none of the warp rooms have bananas shaped like an exclamation mark, unlike in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest. Warp Barrels appear only in levels from the first world, Gangplank Galleon.
Donkey Kong Land III[edit]
In Donkey Kong Land III, unlike Donkey Kong Land 2, the Warp Barrels are marked with a W. Unlike in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, the Warp Barrels take the Kongs to a small warp room, which they can exit from the right to reach the End of Level Flag. Warp Barrels appear only in the first world, Cape Codswallop.
Donkey Kong Bananza[edit]
Warp Barrels reappear in the Emerald Rush mode in the DK Island & Emerald Rush DLC from Donkey Kong Bananza. In this game, it is a purple version of the Barrel Cannon. It can be used to warp to a checkpoint on the map. Although limited, choosing the "Barrel Bump-Up" perk will increase the number of Warp Barrels by one. Using a Warp Barrel plays the transition sound effect from Donkey Kong 64 alongside a similar transition animation, albeit with Void Kong's logo instead of the "DK" logo.
Profiles[edit]
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble![edit]
- Guide:
- English:
Warp Barrels are conveniently placed in most of the levels in the first two worlds. They will allow you to quickly bypass these simpler levels to reach the challenges ahead.[2]
- English:
Gallery[edit]
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest artwork
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! sprite
Donkey Kong Land III (Game Boy Color) sprite
Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Advance) artwork
Donkey Kong Country and Donkey Kong Country 2 (Game Boy Advance) sprite
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italian | Barile magico[3] | Magic barrel |
Notes[edit]
- Although Donkey Kong Land has no Warp Barrels, a few levels have a hidden alternate exit at the very start: Arctic Barrel Arsenal, Sky High Caper, and Skyscraper Caper.
References[edit]
- ^ Miller, Kent and Paul Shinoda (1995). Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 18.
- ^ a b Owsen, Dan, Kent Miller, and Paul Shinoda (1996). Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 14.
- ^ 2003. Donkey Kong Country (GBA) European booklet. Nintendo of Europe (Italian). Page 103.
