Hot Air Balloon

Hot Air Balloons (also parsed Hot-Air Balloons ) is the name given to objects used in air transportation in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Donkey Kong Land 2.

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Hot Air Balloons are first used in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, where they appear as blue inflated balloons about the size of the Kongs. They are only encountered in Red-Hot Ride, where they can be mounted on top as a platform and used to cross large portions of lava throughout the level. The Kongs can abandon a Hot Air Balloon by jumping off it, but trying to walk or run on the edge of the balloon will instead move it in the corresponding direction. Hot Air Balloons are held up in the air by thermal columns that rise out of the lava, but will go down slowly when not in contact with a thermal. The Kongs must maneuver the balloon through an obstacle course and reach the next thermal, Hot Air Balloon, or a piece of land before the balloon sinks along with them into the lava. Most Hot Air Balloons are initially positioned at the top of a thermal to allow the Kongs to mount them anytime. Some Hot Air Balloons also sustain elements such as objects (a DK Barrel in this instance) and enemies (a Kruncha and a Neek).

Donkey Kong Land 2
Hot Air Balloons return in Donkey Kong Land 2 with the same use and appearance. They reappear in Redhot Ride, as well as in Fiery Furnace.