Level Flag

Level Flags, also known as End of Level Flags, are objects that appear at the end of every level in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! and Donkey Kong Land III. They are the successor to the End of Level Targets from Donkey Kong Country 2. Level Flags are connected to a flagpole, and can be pulled upward from a rope attached to it. Dixie and Kiddy can pull a Level Flag to end the level and return to the map screen.

Overview
Every incomplete level is marked by a black Krem Flag on the map screen. The Kongs can supersede it by completing a level and activating its Level Flag. This involves jumping and pulling at its rope, which ascends its white flag into the air. As it raises, the flag changes color based on which Kong pulled it: either pink for Dixie or blue for Kiddy, or purple for Dixie or green for Kiddy if the player is using the "COLOR" cheat code. The flag also flies if the Kongs obtain every Bonus Coin of the level.

The Level Flag appears on the map screen as it appeared when being raised. A gold pennant is also displayed if the Kongs defeat Koin and claim its DK Coin. This cannot be seen within a level. The Level Flag artwork shows that "DK" is embedded on the pennant. The status of each Level Flag allows for the player to keep track of which levels were partially or entirely completed.

Once the level is completed, the color of the flag cannot be changed by replaying and completing it with the alternate Kong. However, it is possible in the Game Boy Advance remake.

In Donkey Kong Land III, the End of Level Flag raises automatically if either Dixie or Kiddy walk into it. Because of the Game Boy's limited color palette, the raised End of Level Flag is not color-coded based on which Kong finished the level. End of Level Flags also appear at the end of underwater levels, which does not occur in Donkey Kong Country 3.

Trivia

 * Super Mario 3D World uses a similar method of displaying the levels in the map screen. Uncompleted levels display a black flag with a white symbol. After completing the level, the flag gains the character's color and emblem. The flag turns golden if the player hits its top. Finally, a green star appears at the top of the flag pole if all three Green Stars of the level are collected.