Vulture Culture

Vulture Culture is the eleventh level in the classic Super Nintendo game, Donkey Kong Country. It is also the first level in the Vine Valley area.

In this forest level, the Kongs must make their way through a large forest infested with Neckies. To do so, the Kongs make use of many Barrel Cannons, and even bounce off the Neckys themselves. In fact, many of the Neckies in this level only serve as platforms. Vulture Culture also introduces the new type of enemy, Mini-Necky, who spits nuts at the Kongs whenever they are spotted. Not only these dangerous vultures, but also red and yellow Zingers, populate the level, and they are another large threat to the primates.

"Vulture Culture" is the name of a popular album by The Alan Parsons Project (released in 1985). The name of the title track was a play on the term "culture vulture," which is used for people well versed in the fine arts.

Level Layout
From the start of the level, the heroes must head east and pick up a barrel to throw at a Mini Necky. Once at the edge of a cliff, the Kongs must jump in a barrel and blast into a Necky. They will bounce off of it and land on the other end of the abyss. From there, they should continue east and hop into another barrel. Repeating the same steps to getting over another abyss, the heroes will cross the gap by shooting into a Necky and safely land on land. There, they must defeat another Necky and shoot across a wide pit with some barrels, as well as a flying Necky. When they get over it, the heroes will need to walk down some ledges to find the next abyss. It must be crossed in a similar way to the other gaps. After this, the monkeys must walk along the path to reach yet another gap. With the barrels and Neckies inside it, they should travel over carefully and soon encounter another gap, along with a Mini Necky. This foe must be beat, and then the heroes will have to jump into a barrel. It and a ground of Neckies will help them get over the abyss. At this point, the Kongs must journey east and jump in a barrel to reach the Star Barrel.

Halfway through the level, the heroes must dash under two nut-throwing Neckies and find their way to the edge of a cliff. As usual, they should use some Barrel Cannons to get over it. This time, the barrels will tilt left and right, so they must use good aim. Over the abyss, the Kongs will have to hop along two platforms and jump into a barrel. They must carefully aim and shoot to the Neckies to the right to cross the large gap below. Once they are done doing so, the monkeys will need to watch out for a pair of Mini Neckies and hop into another barrel. They should cautiously blast to a nearby Necky, orbiting a blue-colored Zinger. When they bounce over the whole abyss, the group will find themselves next to yet another pit. They must use several barrels to blast across it, trying not to hit into the Zinger lurking around. This abyss is following by another one, and the heroes will find it after passing a Necky. When they get over this abyss, they will have to beat a Mini Necky to find the final gap. With many barrels tilting east to west, they must blast over this pit. As they go, they will need to beware of some Zinger trying to attack them. Soon, they Kongs will get over the abyss and see an exit sign. Farther on is the way out of the level.

Bonus Levels

 * When the Kongs find the level's first Necky, they should defeat it and push the tire to the left off the small ledge they are on. They must push it to the edge of the cliff found to the right of the area and bounce off of it there, following a trail of three visible bananas. If they bounce high enough, they land in a barrel. It shoots them to the Bonus Level, where they must hit a few K-O-N-G Letters orbiting the center of the stage. If they hit the letters in the correct order, they are awarded with an Extra Life Balloon. Once done, they end up back in the main level. Additionally, they are forced out of the bonus if they fail to hit the letters correctly.
 * Before the Star Barrel, the heroes cross an abyss while bouncing off of several Neckies. They soon reach a small area of land where a Mini Necky attacks. When this enemy is jumped off of, the heroes must land on a small spot on the ground to find a barrel. They should use it to blow away the nearest wall. If they walk into the opening they have created, they are sent to a Bonus Level. There, they have to defeat two Klaptraps. These foes are not like other Klaptraps and require more hits to get rid of. As they are jumped on, the Kongs are given Banana Bunches as an award. Once they defeat or get hit by these enemies, the bonus ends.
 * Around the end of the level, the heroes can discover a Necky perched on a high platform. If they hop jump from the platform it occupies and land on a strange area on the ground, a barrel is released from the ground. They should use it to destroy a wall near where the Necky stands. They can walk into the created passage to make their way into a Bonus Level. There, they must shoot over a wide abyss with the use of several Barrel Cannons. As they go, they collect some bananas and the letter N. After they make it over the gap, the primates can exit the area through a nearby opening. They are also forced out of the bonus if they fall into the abyss.