Oil Drum Alley

Oil Drum Alley is the twenty-third level of Donkey Kong Country. It is also the first level of the Kremkroc Industries, Inc. area.

The Kongs must navigate their way through a dangerous factory, guarded by Kritters, Gnawties and Manky Kongs in this level. This can be tough as the area is cluttered with many Oil Drums. These Oil Drums can burn the Kongs with their constantly shooting flames. Normally, it would be recommended to avoid the drums. As the level progresses, the Kongs must use these Oil Drums as platforms to cross abysses. Therefore, they eventually have to touch the fiery drums. Luckily, in a small gap near the midway point, the Kongs can find Rambi the Rhino, who can help them defeat their enemies and reach one of the Bonus Areas.

The music that plays here and the other factory level is titled Fear Factory, which is likely a reference to the metal band of the same name.

Overview
At the beginning of the level, the Kongs can find a Gnawty walking on a cylindrical platform with a rope hanging next to it. After passing a TNT Barrel in a gap, they can find a pair of Kritters hopping up some stairs. The first DK Barrel here wobbles at the edge of a ledge nearby. An Oil Drum with a hot flame on it stands in front of the ledge. Two Kritters hop in an area below it, moving away from a small gap with the letter K above it. An Oil Drum sits on a raised platform ahead that the Kongs can only get onto if they use a bouncy tire. The primates can find some stair-like structures ahead with a trio of Gnawties on them. A ledge is at the end of this area. If the duo drops down it, they can find a tire that can be used to jump over an Oil Drum at a higher elevation.

Another tire follows this drum with a second Oil Drum after it. Once they hop over this, they come up a small stairway with bananas along it. Stair-like structures lead farther down the area area ahead. Gnawties are on some of the stairs, and an Oil Drum is on every other ledge. A DK Barrel is located in the ground after the last stair platform. The two friends can find a small gap nearby with a Kritter hopping next to it on some smaller stairs. It is followed by an Auto Fire Barrel that shoots the heroes onto a high area. Here, the primates can find sets of small stairs leading towards a flat pathway with a few Oil Drums on it. Kritters jump up the stairs. The duo soon comes up to the flat pathway, supporting four separate Oil Drums with flames shooting out of them. The letter O hovers above the last drum, and Kritters attack the primates as they cross the area. The level's Star Barrel is ahead on a raised platform.

If the heroes continue, they can find an Oil Drum on a cylindrical platform. It is followed by a gap, containing an Animal Crate holding Rambi, and another area with a cylindrical platform and a Manky Kong. After passing a gap next to the ape enemy, the heroes run up a flight of stairs with a pair of Kritters near the top of them. If they drop off of the ledge at the top of the stairs, they can find a Manky Kong standing on a raised platform shaped like a cylinder. Two Kritters approach this platform, trying to attack the Kongs. Farther ahead, Donkey and Diddy can find an Oil Drum floating above an alcove. They can use the drum to reach a higher ledge with two more Manky Kongs on it. Both of the foes stand on dark, cylindrical platforms. A pit is ahead with an Oil Drum in the center of it. The drum is required to cross the gap, but it can only be jumped on when its flame is out.

The Kongs can find a Kritter and another pit on the other side of this abyss. As before, an Oil Drum must be used to cross it and reach a tall platform with a DK Barrel on it. An abyss much wider than the previous is located nearby with two Oil Drums in it. When the flames on the Oil Drums fade, they must use them to cross. Two Kritters attack the primates upon accessing the opposite end of the pit. A gap that must be crossed with an Oil Drum follows. Once it is crossed, the Kongs can find a stairway leading up to a Manky Kong, who hurls an unlimited supply of barrels at them. After dropping down a small ledge placed after the enemy, the heroes find a large abyss and a sign that indicates that the level is near complete. Several Oil Drums fill the gap, and the primates must watch the pattern that the flames go out on with them; the flames only slightly diminish most of the time, but then they disappear long enough for the Kongs to cross safely. A few tires are also scattered in the pit to help the heroes pass the abyss as well. Once the two friends cross the pit, they can find a pathway leading to the exit.

Enemies

 * Gnawty: 6 (gray)
 * Oil Drum: 26
 * Kritter: 19 (blue)
 * Manky Kong: 5

K-O-N-G Letters

 * K: The letter K is above a pit found shortly after the first DK Barrel.
 * O: The letter O is located above an Oil Drum just before the Star Barrel. A Kritter must be bounced on to reach it.
 * N: The Kongs can find the letter N at the end of the fourth Bonus Level as they shoot through some Barrel Cannons.
 * G: From the final Oil Drum in the level, the Kongs should jump onto a certain part of the floor to the right to release the letter G from the ground.

Bonus Levels

 * At the beginning of the level, the Kongs must swing on an above rope, reachable by a nearby platform, and ride over the area with it. Once the rope stops, the Kongs must jump off and land on a small marking on the ground. When they do so, a TNT Barrel pops out of the ground. The heroes should pick it up and carry it to the first Oil Drum they see. If they blow the drum up with the barrel, they gain access to a thin gap. Once they jump in it, they are blasted to a Bonus Level, where they have to shoot through a barrel to grab many bananas. If they miss the barrel upon trying to land in it, the bonus ends.
 * Near the start of the level, the Kongs bounce on a few Gnawties and end up on the edge of a ledge. There, they should jump down and land on a small mark on the floor below to find a TNT Barrel. They should carry the explosive barrel to the left and blast away the wall. After that, they must walk into the created opening and enter the Bonus Level, where they must hit three barrels so that the pictures in them match. Once done, the primates are awarded if they get a match, and then they exit the area.
 * Located inside of the second Bonus Level, this hidden bonus is found in a unique way. To find it, the Kongs must match three bananas on the barrels. If all three barrels display a banana, the group is awarded with a barrel. They should pick it up and jump to the wall on the right (making sure to dodge the silver plating on the floor) to blast it away. Once this is done, the entrance to the third Bonus Area is revealed. There, they must hit several rotating letters to spell out the name, "DONKEY KONG COUNTRY". If the whole bonus is completed by the heroes, they are given a total of six Extra Lives. Afterwards, they exit the area.
 * At some point after the Star Barrel, the duo can see a Manky Kong next to a barrel. The heroes should defeat the Manky Kong and then pick up the barrel, carrying it to the right. At the first wall that blocks the Kongs, they should throw the barrel to create a passage. Alternatively, they can also use Rambi to charge the wall. Walking into it takes them to a Bonus Level, where they have to blast through several barrels. As they go, they grab some collectibles, including the letter N. Eventually, they make their way to the stage's exit.

Theme
The level's theme, "Fear Factory," is reused in Blackout Basement. It also makes appearances in later Donkey Kong Country games.