Snow Barrel Blast

Snow Barrel Blast is the seventeenth level of the popular Super Nintendo game, Donkey Kong Country. It is also the first level of the Gorilla Glacier area.

Taking place on a snowy landscape, the Kongs must trudge up and down steep slopes and cross wide abysses. The only way to cross these abysses, however, is by the use of barrel cannons. With good aim and skill, the heroes have to blast over the gaps, trying not to hit into any enemies or fall into a pit. This can be tricky, though, as the barrels move in several directions and make it hard to shoot right into the next barrel. To make matters worse, a storm develops over time in the level and makes it harder for players to see the screen. Enemies in this level include the flying foes, Neckys, along with Klaptraps, Zingers, Gnawtys, and a single Krusha.

Level Layout
At the start of the level, the heroes emerge from an igloo near a small hill with a Necky slowly flying over it. They can find a Barrel Cannon at the top of the slippery slope. If they aim and shoot towards a banana trail, they land on a flat piece of land. As the Kongs approach a small alcove in the ground, a trio of Neckies fly by that can be bounced off of to reach an Extra Life Balloon. Two Klaptraps march along a flat surface below these bird enemies. If they continue ahead, they can find a piece of ice floating in an abyss. A Zinger orbits this platform. A downwards slope can be found nearby with a Barrel Cannon at the bottom of it. Although a trail of bananas is placed straight above it, the heroes must shoot diagonally with it to cross a gap and land back on land. A Zinger stands in their way as they shoot across. Upon landing back in solid ground, a Necky flies towards the Kongs. A steep ledge and a snowy hill are ahead, and Klaptraps walk along them. The letter K is just before a Barrel Cannon at the bottom of the hill. This helpful barrel can be used to send them over an abyss. However, it cannot shoot them all the way across, but there are two other Barrel Cannons in the gap assure that they get over. They are placed diagonally from each other.

Once the third barrel shoots the primates back into land, Donkey and Diddy head up a small hill with a few Klaptraps at the top of it. After the heroes tread over this flat pathway, they reach a Barrel Cannon that aids them in crossing another gap. A Zinger surrounds it. Three other Barrel Cannons are placed over the abyss diagonally from each other. The Kongs must use them to blast of the gap, which has a steep hill on the other side of it. A steel keg stands on the top of this hill, which is followed by another steep hill with several Gnawties crawling along it. A Necky and another gap are at the bottom of the slope. An Auto Fire Barrel also floats at the beginning of the gap that blasts the primates to another Auto Fire Barrel above it. This barrel them shoots them towards a Necky above solid ground. Once the Kongs land back on the ground, they can find a long, steep, and slippery slope ahead of them that leads to a Barrel Cannon in a gap. The cannon can blast them to an Auto Fire Barrel. This barrel then shoots them towards two more Auto Fire Barrels, which fire them a long distance over a large section of land. The heroes land on the Star Barrel.

They will have to shoot through a short chain of barrels to cross the abyss. When it is crossed, the Kongs should travel over the path a defeat a few more Klaptraps to find another barrel. With it and some other barrels, they must blast over another wide abyss. When they reach the other end of the ledge, Donkey and Diddy will have to walk through the deep snow and beat a line of several Gnawties. Once they do this, the heroes must get in a few barrels and blast over another wide gap. When they do get over it, they must head down a steep, slippery slope to another barrel. It will shoot them through a long chain of barrels over a pit. The last barrel will blast them a far distance into the Star Barrel.

Halfway through the level, the Kongs must travel east again and blast to a ledge in a barrel. Once this is done, they will need to head down another slope and jump across several small platforms to reach another barrel. This time, they will shoot in a strait and long line, trying not to blast into a pit or hit a Zinger. When they get over this gap, also grabbing the letter N, they must journey a little farther to find another barrel. The barrel will blast the group into a very long line of barrels. As these barrels spin around when used, it can be hard for the heroes to aim. It can also be hard to get over the pit as they shoot around the many barrels because of the Zingers in the way. Soon, they monkeys should be able to get over the pit and have to jump across a few small platforms. Once they do this, they will need to climb up and then slide down a large hill area, beating some Klaptraps on the way. If they travel over the cold landscape a little more, they will find an exit sign. Farther on is the way to the next level.

K-O-N-G Letters

 * K: The letter K is before the third Barrel Cannon in the level.

Bonus Levels

 * When the heroes enter the level, they can discover a Necky flying towards them. They should then jump up on the igloo behind them and bounce off of it when it comes near. They land in a hidden barrel that shoots them to the first Bonus Level. Here, they need to watch as an Animal Token of Winky the Frog moves around four barrels. When it stops on a barrel, it disappears. The Kongs then must be up to the challenge of choosing which barrel it stopped in. Once they do so, they are awarded with the token and then be able to leave the stage.
 * After the primates pass the Star Barrel, they should head west and jump over a Krusha. If they fall into a nearby pit with a banana trail in it, they land in a barrel. It takes them to the second Bonus Level, where they have to blast out of a spinning barrel to grab many bananas and the letter O. Once they miss the barrel upon trying to land in it, they are taken back to the main level.
 * Just before finding an Animal Token of Rambi the Rhinoceros, the Kongs find themselves in a barrel near a Zinger. There, they should blast downwards and land on a platform with the letter N. After this is done, they must simply jump into a nearby barrel to enter the third and final Bonus Level in Snow Barrel Blast. There, the need to shoot through several spinning barrels in a strait line to grab some special items. At the end of the area, the group can walk into a nearby opening to exit.