Oil Drum Alley

Oil Drum Alley is the twenty-third level of the popular Donkey Kong game, Donkey Kong Country. It is also the first level of the Kremkroc Industries, Inc. area.

The Kongs must navigate their way through a dangerous factory, guarded by Kritters, Gnawtys and Manky Kongs in this level. This can be tough, though, as the area is cluttered with many, many Oil Drums. These Oil Drums can burn the monkeys with their constantly shooting flames. Normally, it would be recommended to avoid the drums, however, as the level progresses, the heroes will have to use the flaming drums as platforms to cross abysses. Therefore, they will eventually have to touch the fiery drums. Luckily, in a small gap near the midway point, the Kongs can find Rambi the Rhinoceros, who will help the monkeys defeat their enemies and reach some of the Bonus Areas.

Level Layout
From the start of the level, the heroes must head east and defeat some enemies. After walking down a slanted path and jumping over a lone Oil Drum, they will have to hop over a small gap to grab the letter K. From there, the monkeys must bounce on a tire to bounce over an Oil Drum, and then hop up a few ledges, occupied by the considerably weak foes, Gnawties. After dropping down from a larger ledge, the heroes will need to bounce on another tire to hop over an Oil Drum. Once they get over the following Oil Drum, the Kongs will have to leap down several ledges while dodging more drums and Gnawties. Crossing a small gap will take the monkeys to a barrel. It will shoot them to an area where they will need to walk down a long stairway and hop over a few more Oil Drums. Eventually, the group will reach the Star Barrel on a raised platform.

Halfway through the level, the monkeys must travel to the east and walk down the path to cross a small abyss. After this, the will need to dodge a Manky Kong and get over another gap. From there, the group will have to head up a stairway to be greeted by another Manky Kong. Once it is beat, the monkeys will need to use an Oil Drum as a platform to reach a high ledge. When they are perched on this ledge, they must journey over the long path to encounter a large abyss. With Oil Drums, Donkey and Diddy will need to cross the abyss and the several other abysses after it. Progressing through the level, the monkeys will cross the rather large gaps to find another stairway to walk up. At the top of it, they will need to defeat a lone Manky Kong and travel farther to find a large abyss, one much large than the other pits. With even more Oil Drums, the heroes will need to cross the gap. This can be hard through, as the drums shoot fire in a pattern. The Kongs will have to memorize the pattern and make their way through the air. They will also need to use some tires on their dangerous journey over the pit. Once is it passed, the monkeys will have to simply walk up a slanted path to find the level's exit.

Bonus Level(s)

 * At the beginning of the level, the monkeys must swing on an above rope, reachable by a nearby platform, and ride over the area with it. Once the rope stops, the Kongs must jump off and land on a small marking on the ground. When they do so, a TNT Barrel will pop out of the ground. The heroes should pick it up and carry it to the first Oil Drum they see. If they blow the drum up with the barrel, they will gain access to a thin gap. Once they jump in it, they will be blasted to a Bonus Level, where they will have to shoot through a barrel to grab many bananas. If they miss the barrel upon trying to land in it, the bonus will end.
 * Near the start of the level, the Kongs will bounce on a few Gnawties and end up on the edge of a ledge. There, they should jump down and land on a small mark on the floor below to find a TNT Barrel. They should carry the explosive barrel to the left and blast away the wall. After that, they must walk into the created opening and enter the Bonus Level. There, they must hit three barrels so that the pictures in them match. Once done, the monkeys will be awarded if they got a match, and then exit the area.
 * Inside the second Bonus Level, this strangely hidden bonus is found in a unique way. To find it, the monkeys must hit three barrels in the second Bonus Level to make all the pictures on the barrels become a banana. If all three barrels display a banana, the group will be awarded with a barrel. They should quickly pick it up and jump to the wall on the right, blasting it away. Once this is done, the entrance to the third Bonus Area will be revealed. There, they must hit several rotating letters to spell out the name "DONKEY KONG COUNTRY". If the whole bonus is completed by the heroes, they will be given a total of six Extra Lives, then exit the area.
 * At some point after the Star Barrel, the monkeys will see a Manky Kong next to a barrel. The heroes should defeat the Manky Kong and then pick up the barrel, carrying it to the right. At the first wall that blocks the Kongs, the monkeys should throw there barrel and create a passage. Walking into it will take them to a Bonus Level, where they will have to blast through several barrels. As they go, they will grab some goodies, including the letter N. Eventually, they will make their way to the stage's exit.

Trivia

 * Oil Drum Alley is very similar to a level in the pseudo sequel to Donkey Kong Country, Donkey Kong Land. This level, known as Oil Drum Slum, involves the heroes avoiding and using Oil Drums as platforms, just as in Oil Drum Alley. Both levels are also named in a similar way.