Crowded Cavern

Crowded Cavern is the twenty-fifth level in Donkey Kong Country Returns, as well as the fifth and final area of the Cave world.

Similar to Mole Patrol, this level takes place on a in a cavern while riding a Rocket Barrel. Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong ride on this object throughout the level, shooting between large rocks and boulders. However, the level's main obstacle is the Squeekly Family, a large group of bats seen around the whole level, who constantly try to fly into the Kongs. These bats include small bats that fly towards the heroes, medium-sized bats that move up or down when approached, and even a giant bat that can shoot dangerous sound waves from its mouth. The Kongs cannot attack on the Rocket Barrel, so they have no choice but to avoid each of the bats taking up the small spaces in the cavern.

Overview
The level begins on a flat pathway leading to some wooden platforms that can be used to climb up to a higher area. A long, wooden bridge is in this area that breaks shortly after the Kongs walk on it. When it crumbles, the heroes fall down to a lower area with a passage leading to a Rocket Barrel. Bats surround the Kongs in this cave, but they are all sleeping. When the Kongs start out the Rocket Barrel, they wake the bats, causing them to attack. As the primates begin their adventure in the rocket, small bats race towards them, until they reach a narrower area with a trail of bananas and Banana Bunches. The trail curves in a V shape above a tall rock structure and ends with the letter K of the K-O-N-G Letters. At that point, the primates ride over some more boulders as a giant bat begins to chase them. The creature heads into the background as they head past a large waterfall. Many bananas and Banana Bunches are in front of the waterfall. At the end of the group of bananas on the bottom row is the letter O, and a Banana Coin is also located just before that above a rock. Soon after this is the Tutorial Pig, who waits on a large platform at the checkpoint.

In the area farther ahead of here, medium-sized, chubby bats attack the Kongs by trying to fly in front of them while moving up or down vertically. At the same time, smaller bats dash towards the heroes as they fly, just as in the beginning of the level. Eventually, the Kongs fly over some wooden boards. Underneath the boards is a giant bat that tries to smash through them. It soon is successful in doing so and sticks its head out of the ground. As soon as the primates avoid it however, another large bat begins to smash through the wooden boards in the ceiling. As the bat before, it sticks its head out of the ceiling and tries to attack. Next to the foe's head is the letter N, and farther ahead are some rock obstacles that get in the way. Soon, another giant bat begins to chase the Kongs again. However, the Kongs manage to fly through a narrow passage of Banana Bunches before it can catch them. On the other side of the narrow passage, the Kongs can find many collectibles in a large group. The Tutorial Pig and the next checkpoint are just ahead.

After the checkpoint, the primates enter a slightly narrower area, where a crane sticks out of the background to get in the way. Soon after passing a Banana Bunch, the Kongs are attacked by another giant bat that begins to chase them; it shoots lasers out of its mouth. In their pursuit, they come up to some collectibles, including the letter G. Eventually, the bat shoots a more powerful and longer lasting laser that shoots across the screen, destroying a large boulder and revealing a large group of crystals in its place. If the primates avoid the crystals, the bat runs into the objects, causing it to fall and become unconscious. Eventually, the Kongs' Rocket Barrel drops them off next to the Slot Machine Barrel. If they hit this barrel, the level ends.