Tracker Barrel Trek

Tracker Barrel Trek is the fourteenth level in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! and the fourth level of Cotton Top Cove.

Summary
Tracker Barrel Trek takes place at a waterfall and is a vertical level as Dixie Kong and Kiddy Kong must get to the top. As stated in the level's name, the Kongs frequently have to use Tracker Barrels to progress, either by crossing gaps or reaching higher ledges. Green Buzzes serve as both the main enemy and obstacle of the level, and each of them are behind the waterfalls during Tracker Barrel sections. During the land portions of the level, the Kongs encounter some Bristles, Krumples, and Re-Koils. Knik-Knaks are only found in the second Bonus Level.

Shortly after the Star Barrel, the Kongs can optionally jump into an Ellie Barrel to transform into Ellie the Elephant. Ellie can suck in water from her trunk and spit out water projectiles at enemies. It is the only way that Buzzes cat be defeated in the level. A No Animal Sign is just before the end of the level. By crossing it, the Kongs return to normal, and a Steel Barrel appears from the sign. The Kongs have only one chance to use the Steel Barrel to defeat the level's Koin.

Layout
The level begins with the Kongs heading down a long pathway behind a large waterfall. If they move farther into the level, they find the first Tracker Barrel, which assists them into grabbing the letter K and crossing a small gap. After this, the group travel to a couple of Krumples, whom can only be defeated by Kiddy Kong. Heading in front of the large waterfall, the monkeys move across a rather straight pathway to a small platform behind the waterfall. The platform leads to a Tracker Barrel, which blasts the heroes over a large abyss, dodging a lone Buzz. Soon, the Tracker Barrel blasts them into a Barrel Cannon, which then fires them to a higher area of land. There, the apes need to take the route behind a waterfall to grab the letter O, guarded by a Buzz. After moving around the falls, they head into another Tracker Barrel, and it takes them over a Buzz to an area with the Star Barrel.

About halfway into the level, the Kongs curve along a short pathway to find another Tracker Barrel. The barrel blasts them up and down until they reach a Barrel Cannon above them. Still behind the waterfall, Dixie and Kiddy run out from behind the falls to find an Animal Barrel. Entering the barrel turns them into Ellie. Ellie then passes a few Krumples and Re-Koils as she travels down the long pathway. Soon, the elephant take a small pathway stretching behind a waterfall to grab the letter N and shoot through an Auto Fire Barrel. Once she lands in a higher area, she finds herself moving to a separate slant of land and get into a nearby Tracker Barrel over a waterfall. While shooting over the falls, Ellie finds a few Buzzes to defeat. If she manages to avoid the enemies safely, she gets back on land to spot the next Tracker Barrel. Attacking some Buzzes as she blasts over the waterfall with the barrel, she grabs the letter G and some bananas to find another Auto Fire Barrel. It shoots her to another Tracker Barrel, which she must use to get back on land. After hitting a DK Barrel there, she hops into another Tracker Barrel and blasts over the next abyss. Back on land, the Animal Friend uses a curvy pathway to travel behind a large waterfall. At the end of the pathway, she passes the No Ellie sign, turning her back into the Kongs. Once this is done, the apes need to get back into a Tracker Barrel to the right. This time, they blast over a large waterfall without any way to defeat Buzzes, who infest the whole area around the monkeys. Shooting around the several Buzzes surrounding them, Dixie and Kiddy soon find refuge near a flagpole, which takes them out of the level once its flag is raised.

Trivia

 * In the Super Nintendo version, if an enemy is defeated behind the waterfall, their defeated animation is shown in front of it. This was fixed in the Game Boy Advance remake, where their defeated sprite is behind the waterfall.