Lightning Lookout

Lightning Lookout is the 33rd level in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! and the third level of KAOS Kore. In the Game Boy Advance remake, Lightning Lookout became the 39th level, owing to Pacifica being a newly implemented world in the game. It is the last riverside level in the game.

Description
Lightning Lookout takes place during a thunderstorm, and as Dixie Kong and Kiddy Kong travel through the level, they must avoid being being struck by lightning, else the lead Kong gets injured. The player can determine where the lightning bolt will strike when the tip of it appears overhead. As a result, the Kongs must not rush through the level, which risks them being struck by lightning. About two seconds later, the lightning strikes the surface in the exact location. If the lightning strikes while the Kongs are swimming in the water, then the lightning bolt electrocutes them. The lightning also has the capability of defeating most enemies, except for the red Buzzes and the level's Koin. The Kongs can stand underneath a Buzz or Booty Bird to shield themselves from a lightning strike, and they can also shield themselves by picking up a Knik-Knak or a Barrel.

Both red and green Buzzes are the most common enemies in the level, and the second most common are yellow Knik-Knaks. Aside from a few Booty Birds, there are no other enemies that appear in the main level. A few red Knik-Knaks appear in a Bonus Area.

Layout
When the Kongs begin the level, they walk down a dirt pathway and move under some Buzzes, avoiding lightning strikes. Soon, they meet several flightless yellow Knik-Kniks. Defeating these enemies and hopping over small gaps, they cross a small lake to find the letter K. Continuing on, they pass more Buzzes, Knik-Knaks, and lightning strikes until they find a wall of Buzzes. With the help of the lightning, they are able the defeat these enemies and head on. Soon, they cross some gaps and grab the letter O, passing over another lake with the help of barrels bobbing out of the water. After walking down a long pathway and avoiding more enemies, including Booty Birds, they find the Star Barrel near a ledge. About halfway into the level, the Kongs walk down more of the pathway and defeat another pair of Buzzes blocking their way. Farther on, they find the letter N between two Buzzes, and then make their way into the a pool of water to get under some red Buzzes. The monkeys get through more of the level by passing some Knik-Knaks on raised platforms. Moving under some more Buzzes, they eventually use more barrels to cross a small body of water. On the other side of the water, they go under a few Buzzes to progress and find the letter G. Moving on, the group cross another large lake with bobbing barrels, and then leap over a small gap to meet two more Buzzes. They need to hop between these enemies to continue, where they run down a long pathway and meet another pair of Buzzes. Once they get between these foes, they find a flagpole. After raising the flag on it, the level ends.

Game Boy Advance differerences
A few notable changes were made to the level in the Game Boy Advance version:


 * There is a longer delay between the lightning strikes (roughly 4 seconds as opposed to the original's 2 seconds).
 * The level is brighter and no flash occurs when lightning strikes on-screen. Also, the background is pitch black, except in the first Bonus level.
 * In the SNES version, the Kongs' skeleton can be seen briefly when they are struck by lightning; in the Game Boy Advance version, this only occurs if they are hit while underwater.
 * The red Buzz guarding the second Booty Bird is now green, making it easier to get the Steel Keg needed to defeat Koin.
 * The first Bonus Area is smaller, and the player must defeat 6 Knik-Knaks rather than 7.

Trivia

 * This level is the farthest from the last level of the same type, Bobbing Barrel Brawl, which is only on the second world.
 * In the original version, if the player pauses the game just as lightning strikes, the lightning's animation still proceeds despite the game being paused.
 * If Dixie is the only Kong onscreen and is hit by lightning, the life icon also flashes.