Music Madness

Music Madness is the fifty-third level in Donkey Kong Country Returns, as well as the seventh level in the Factory world.

The level's music has a unique beat with a loud clap being heard every now and then. The obstacles in the level also move to the beat of the music, such as hammers smashing the platforms at the clap and platforms moving every clap as well. The platforms are also shaped like instruments such as drums and cymbals. The Kongs have to study the movement and beat of the music if they want to get to the end. Enemies in this level include Tiki Buzzes, Buckbots, and Pyrobots.

In the Time Attack mode of the game, a time of 1:40:00 is needed to get a gold medal, a time of 1:45:00 for silver, and a time of 2:15:00 for bronze.

Overview
The level begins with a straight pathway leading to some large, drum-like platforms. The first two of these platforms have hammers on them that hit the drum platform at the beat of the music. A cymbal object also hits the third platform to the beat. Another drum platform with a hammer is ahead, being followed by a fifth drum platform with a cymbal object similar to the one found previously. It has the letter K of the K-O-N-G Letters above it. A button is located on a flat area after a small gap with a Tiki Buzz flying in it. If the Kongs pound on it three times, a Barrel Cannon appears to blast the heroes onto a higher area nearby. Many more drum platforms are in this area, each with a small gap and a Tiki Buzz between them. Additionally, the drum platforms are being smashed by the flat, rectangular platforms found earlier. The Tutorial Pig at the checkpoint waits on a set of girders. An explosive Buckbot is also here.

There is a Barrel Cannon placed nearby that can shoot the primates onto another set of girders on the other side of a wide abyss. Here, there is a DK Barrel, a Buckbot, and a Pyrobot. The area ahead features many platforms placed over a wide abyss. The platforms quickly move to the left or right when the clapping sound is heard in the music. Throughout this part of the level are many Banana Bunches, a few Tiki Buzzes, and even a Puzzle Piece. The letter O is also under a platform near the end of the area. Once the primates jump off of a platform that moves in a vertical path at the end of this area, they are able to reach a set of girders with the Tutorial Pig on the first of them. When the Kongs reach the Tutorial Pig, the checkpoint is marked.

Other girders in this area hold two Buckbot enemies, a Pyrobot, and a Tiki Buzz. Five drum-platforms are after this part of the level with five hammers smashing them. The hammers smash them in a certain order, starting with the first hammer and ending with the last in a wave-like motion. Another section with five drum platforms is located after a girder and a Pyrobot, with five hammers smashing them at the beat of the music. The first, third, and fifth hammers hit the platforms at different beats than the second and fourth hammers and they alternate. A set of two thin platforms that move up and down at the beat follow this area. Between them is the letter N, while below them is an area of ground that supports a chicken robot, a Pyrobot, and a group of bananas. There is then a set of hammers that smash seven different platforms that are spaced out with a small gap between each of them. The hammers hit them in a wave motion from first to last similarly to the first set of hammers from the second checkpoint. When the Kongs pass this area, they reach some girders with the Tutorial Pig, the checkpoint, and a chicken robot enemy.

The primates continue their way through the level by first coming up to a section full of machinery that shoots out fire or liquid. The Kongs must avoid the fire-shooting mechanisms, but only when they are shooting the fire. After the occasional clapping sound is heard in the music, the flames stop shooting until the next clap and the liquid from the other mechanisms, which are all placed between the fire shooting objects, begin to shoot out. They are harmless to the heroes but can push them into the air for a few moments. Once the Kongs cross this area, they reach another set of two thin platforms that move up and down to the beat of the music. The letter G, along with a fire-shooting and liquid-shooting mechanism, are between them. The second platform helps the primates access a high girder with two more platforms above it moving horizontally back and fourth to the beat. Above them are flame shooters that alternate the times that they shoot fire. A liquid-shooting object ahead can boost the Kongs into the air so they can reach a platform that moves them towards another liquid-blasting device at the beat. This shoots them onto another platform near a drum platform that is being beaten by a giant hammer. Two flame-shooters are ahead with three stationary platforms beneath them that appear as switches. Below the platform in the middle is a liquid-shooter. Another liquid-shooting object is nearby that pushes the duo into a Barrel Cannon that blasts them into an area with a few large drum platforms. These platforms are repeatedly being pounded on by huge hammers. The hammers hit them so hard that if the Kongs are standing on the platforms when they are hit, they are bounced into the air. With the ability to do this, they are able to climb the area full of these giant hammers to progress to the Slot Machine Barrel high in the air. The hammer under it can bounce them into it so they can finish the level.

K-O-N-G Letters

 * K: Near the end of the first set of hammers and cymbals-like platforms, the Kongs can see the letter K on top of the second cymbal platform. They can only reach it by shooting from a hidden Auto Fire Barrel placed in a nearby gap with a Banana Bunch in it, or by jumping on the cymbal as it smashes the ground.
 * O: The letter O is in the area of platforms immediately before the second checkpoint moving under a platform. The Kongs can grab it by jumping up from the below platform.
 * N: The letter N is between two moving platforms after the second set of mallets following the second checkpoint. The heroes can reach it if they jump to it at the platforms' highest points.
 * G: The letter G is located between two moving platforms after the first set of flame and liquid blasters. A fire blaster and a liquid blaster are around it, so the Kongs must only go after the letter as the liquid is shooting out.

Puzzle Pieces

 * 1) At the beginning of the level, the Kongs should head backwards and pull a vine switch to open a door that leads to the first Puzzle Piece.
 * 2) After the heroes shoot from the first Barrel Cannon and reach an area full of cymbal mechanisms, they should bounce off of a nearby Tiki Buzz to reach the top of the first cymbal. Here, there is a Barrel Cannon that blasts the heroes into a Bonus Level, where they must shoot out of a moving barrel several times to collect fifty-seven bananas, two Banana Coins, and an Extra Life Balloon within thirty seconds to make the second Puzzle Piece appear.
 * 3) In the section full of platforms just before the second checkpoint, the primates should notice the third Puzzle Piece appearing between two platforms at the bottom of the area. They must grab it by using their roll jump technique.
 * 4) An object that can be pounded open to reveal a Puzzle Piece is on the girder after the first set of mallets following the second checkpoint.
 * 5) The Kongs should pound on the floor tiles directly under the letter N to find the fifth Puzzle Piece and a Barrel Cannon that shoots them back upwards.

Rocket Switch

 * If the Kongs pound on the floor tile in the middle of the area of ground shortly after the letter G, they fall through the floor and are sent into a hidden area with a giant, red button. If they pound on it, the circuit in the background closes and helps power up the rocket in Lift-off Launch.