Sticky Situation (Donkey Kong Country Returns)

Sticky Situation is the thirty-eighth level in Donkey Kong Country Returns, as well as the first area of the Cliff world.

This level takes place on a high mountain, where there is tar filling gaps in the rock floors. Many of the bone platforms seen in this level float in the tar, but they sink in with Donkey and Diddy Kong's weight, making them tilt. If the Kongs are to fall into this, they are unable to jump high until the tar falls off by them Ground Pounding. Another major obstacle in this level is its many falling platforms that seem to ride along the tar. The platforms all fall at different rates, so the Kongs have to be careful of where they step. The enemies in this level consist mostly of Skellyrexes, Skullyrexes, and Firehead Neds who all take a maximum of one or two hits to defeat.

Overview
The level begins on a large rock area with a dandelion and a wooden platform at the end of it. Two small platforms, one with a Skellyrex and another with a Skullyrex, are ahead, with a single row of falling platforms sticking out of tar between each of them. The letter K of the K-O-N-G Letters is at the end of the last of these falling platforms high in the air. A short trail of bananas after a cactus leads the Kongs above a tar pit and onto a large dinosaur bone that is floating on it. A Skellyrex is on this bone, while a pair of Skullyrexes are on the following bone platform in the tar pit that appears to be part of a rib cage. There is a skull-shaped platform farther ahead with a cactus and a Firehead Ned on it. Another trail of bananas then leads over the end of the tar pit to some falling platforms being pulled down by tar. Five rows of these platforms are present, and each platform has a Banana Bunch on it. The fourth and fifth row are separated by a small wall of spikes that the primates must jump over. After this is the Tutorial Pig with the checkpoint.

Ahead is a single row of falling platforms that can help the heroes reach a high ledge and a wooden platform with the first DK Barrel on it. A Firehead Ned is on the raised area of land next to the barrel, who is in front of a cactus. Two more rows of falling platforms are after this, leading the heroes to a wooden plank with two Skullyrexes and a dandelion on it. Two more rows are farther ahead of this place, and the Kongs must climb up the level with these two rows to reach a passage that goes between the remains of a dinosaur skeleton. On the other side of the slanted passage is a wooden plank with Skullyrexes on it. A Barrel Cannon is near here that can shoot the Kongs towards another tar pit. They land on the skull of a dinosaur that is followed by another platform that appears to be part of a rib cage. Skullyrexes are on it. The platform that is located after this has rib-like bones that support another platform above it with a Firehead Ned on it. A wooden bridge with the letter O under it is after this with some Skellyrexes on it, and a raised plank is above this with a barrel on it. A longer wooden plank follows this that stretches out over a gap that has platforms and tar falling into it. The Kongs must climb up the two rows of tar to reach the Tutorial Pig again and another checkpoint. If they climb the platforms fast enough, they can reach an Extra Life Balloon that is between the two rows.

At the edge of the wooden platform that the pig is on is a Barrel Cannon that can blast the group in the air. While in mid air, they Kongs must maneuver over a wall with spikes on it and dodge a Tiki Zing that is orbiting it to reach another barrel that can shoot them to a solid rock platform with a Skullyrex and a cactus on it. More Barrel Cannons are ahead that, like before, must blast the primates over walls that are being orbited by Tiki Zings. The letter N is above the first of two cannons here, and after shooting out of the second Barrel Cannon, the heroes can reach an area with a steep passage in the mouth of a dinosaur skull. The passage leads into a cave, where there are many rows of falling platforms with tar. Skellyrexes, Banana Coins, and the letter G are on some of these platforms, while many walls are placed around the room to get in the Kongs' way. The last row of platforms, which is placed right after a low wall with spikes on it, takes the primates to a passage with to Skullyrexes and a Barrel Cannon nearby. The cannon shoots them above ground, where there is a bone platform with two bone parts raised above its base part being supported by rib-like structures. Skullyrexes are on the bottom base section of the large bone, which floats in a pool of tar. The primates must tilt the bone to give them a lift to a wooden platform on a wall, which can be roll-jumped off of to reach the level's Slot Machine Barrel. The level is completed when this is hit.