Sloppy Sands

Sloppy Sands is the ninth level in Donkey Kong Country Returns, as well as the second level in the Beach world.

This level mostly takes place on the ocean shore, where Donkey and Diddy Kong are constantly being attacked by Squidlies and Electrasquids shooting out of turrets. Fortunately, Squidlies can be bounced on to reach collectibles, although Electrasquids which are electric, can hurt the Kongs with one touch. This is also the first level to feature cannons that the Kongs can pound on to shoot out collectibles and help them find a single Puzzle Piece. Additionally, the end of this level takes place inside of a tall tower in which the primates must climb by using buckets full of sand as platforms. A green, grassy turf, which covers walls and turning wheels, also helps the heroes climb to the top of the tower. Other than Squidlies and Electrasquids, the enemies in this level include Snaggles and Snaps.

In the Time Attack mode of the game, a time of 1:11:00 is needed to get a gold medal, a time of 1:26:00 for silver, and a time of 1:57:00 for bronze.

Overview
The level begins with a straight pathway along the sand leading to two wooden pillars sticking out of the ground. When the Kongs pound on the pillars, they fall under the surface and another pair of pillars shoots out of the ground near a Snap enemy. The new pillars can help the Kongs reach a higher platform with the first DK Barrel and a small hill with Snap enemies infesting it. A trio of pillars are after a Squid Shot that the primates can pound into the ground to make another three pillars appear nearby, shooting out items, including a Puzzle Piece, as they emerge. They can help the Kongs reach a wooden platform with these collectibles on it. There is a cannon ahead of the Kongs that can be pounded on to blast a cannonball at a mast in the background. A treasure chest is on the mast that lands in the foreground, spilling out four Banana Coins when it breaks.

The heroes are able to find a small plant growing between two Squid Shots ahead, and it gives an item when blown on. There are also many bananas between the Squid Shots, as well as after them right before another two of these foes. A second treasure chest is after the two Squid Shots that contains an Extra Life Balloon. As the primates try to grab it, squids shoot from a nearby Squid Shot and try to hit them. A raised, wooden platform is after this, with special items placed above and below it. A trio of pillars also stands ahead of the previous Squid Shot, with two more Squid Shots piled up on each other next to it. More pillars appear closer to the squid-shooting enemies when the heroes pound these pillars into the ground. The new pillars can help them jump over the Squid Shots and travel to a bridge area that is above the water. The Tutorial Pig is on it, along with the first checkpoint.

Another DK Barrel and a treasure chest are ahead of the checkpoint, along with a rectangular crate. Near the crate, a Snaggle jumps out of the water below and breaks through the boards, creating a gap that must be jumped over. There is also another crate near here that hides a treasure chest with a Barrel Cannon in it. It can shoot the Kongs into an island in the background with the letter K of the K-O-N-G Letters on a tall, stone pillar and another treasure chest with a Barrel Cannon in it. This cannon can blast the heroes back into the foreground. After the Kongs cross another gap after this treasure chest, they reach a flat bridge area with a Squid Shot at the beginning of it. A Pinchley and a barrel are on the bridge, and a cannon is also under it. A hill is in the area after the cannon that leads towards the letter O that is surrounded by bananas. Squid Shots also wait to shoot at the Kongs next to it. The primates can reach a platform above the letter O by bouncing off of a squid enemy to find a pathway leading over a Squid Shot on a crashed vessel part. Bananas sit under a platform at the end of the large ship piece, and the letter N floats in the air near some crates being suspended in the air by a platform. The Tutorial Pig and the second checkpoint are under the crates.

The third DK Barrel and a giant button are ahead of the Tutorial Pig. If the primates pound the button into the ground, a tower emerges from the water in the background and a Barrel Cannon appears to shoot them there. A treasure chest is inside of the cavernous-like tower, and two platforms are above it that can help the Kongs climb closer to some buckets being conveyed by ropes. Squid Shots shoot at them as they head up the area. Once the heroes manage to get on the buckets, they are transported to the other side of the thin room, where there is a wall of grassy turf. It is climbable, so they can travel along the walls with it. The wall on the opposite side of this turf is covered in the same kind of turf, so it can be climbed on as well. The second wall of turf has the letter G at the bottom end of it, and the primates can climb up the same turf, passing three squid enemies on the way, to access a higher area with another platform that leads to some buckets. This platform also holds a treasure chest with a Banana Coin in it.

The buckets, again being pulled by a group of convey belt-like ropes, are able to aid the Kongs in reaching another high platform after pulling them past many bananas and Banana Coins. More platforms are above this, and a Squid Shot shoots from the side of the area nearby here. When the primates climb the platform, they can find grassy turf on both walls. The turf on the right leads to the next area, but it is too high to reach. So, the Kongs must first grab onto the turf on the left to reach it. While on the left turf, they must jump on a spinning wheel between the walls to be pulled next to the wall on the right. When they reach this wall, they can climb past some squid enemies being shot by nearby Squid Shots in order to reach a moving platform. This platform has the ability to carry them to another wall of turf that leads to a treasure chest and a group of platforms above it. Buckets moving across the area on ropes are above the last platform that can be used to reach a Barrel Cannon. The cannon shoots the Kongs outside of the tower on its roof, where a Slot Machine Barrel is present; the level is complete when the barrel is hit.

K-O-N-G Letters

 * K: If the Kongs break the second crate after the first checkpoint, they can find a treasure chest. If they open it, a Barrel Cannon appears that shoots them onto an island with the letter K on it. The letter is on a tall pillar that they can not jump on, so they must instead roll into it and break the base. This makes the pillar, along with the letter K, fall, putting the item in reach.
 * O: A vessel infested with Squid Shots is right before the second checkpoint. On the left side of this vessel is the letter O.
 * N: The letter N is in the air immediately before the second checkpoint next to some crates. The Kongs must bounce on squid enemies to reach it.
 * G: At the beginning of the tower area, the letter G is on the bottom of the second wall of grassy turf near a Squid Shot.

Puzzle Pieces

 * 1) The first Puzzle Piece is behind the level's start in an alcove, but it is covered by a wooden wall. If the wall is hit with the nearby DK Barrel, it breaks and opens a path to the Puzzle Piece.
 * 2) Shortly after the first Puzzle Piece, a trio of pillars can be pounded into the ground to reveal another group of pillars nearby under a platform. When the pillars emerge, a Puzzle Piece comes out of the sand with it and lands on the platform.
 * 3) Between two Squid Shots just after the second Puzzle Piece is a small flower that can be blown on to make a Puzzle Piece appear.
 * 4) Just before the first checkpoint is a platform raised above a heart item. High above this platform is a Puzzle Piece that can be reached by bouncing off of the nearby pair of Squid Shots.
 * 5) After the first Squid Shot following the letter K is a cannon under a bridge. If the primates pound on it, it blasts the bridge away, leaving a few remains of the bridge on the water. If the Kongs climb along the platforms, they can find a Puzzle Piece.
 * 6) Immediately before the second checkpoint, the primates can find a trail of bananas near the side of a vessel. There is a hidden entrance at the end of the trail in the ship that leads into a Bonus Level, where the duo must bounce on a moving trampoline to reach four Banana Coins and forty-four bananas. If everything is collected within thirty seconds, a Puzzle Piece appears.
 * 7) The seventh and final Puzzle Piece is in a hidden alcove behind a pile of barrels to the right of the last treasure chest in the level.