Misty Mine

Misty Mine is the thirty-first level in the game Donkey Kong Country. It is also the third level in the Chimp Caverns area.

Taking place, as its name suggests, in a misty mine, this level is littered with many Oil Drums. These Oil Drums are not like the Oil Drums found previously, as they spit out enemies instead of flames. These enemies include Slippas at the beginning of the level, and then Gnawties, Klaptraps, and Armies. The level's mist effect also makes the area a little less clear and harder for the Kongs to see. One of this level's most unique features is the placement of its K-O-N-G Letters. Each letter is hidden near the other, all put into the first Bonus Level of Misty Mine. If the primates are able to find this Bonus Level, they also meet Expresso the Ostrich, who helps them progress through the level.

Level Layout
The Kongs begin the level next to a TNT Barrel with a Slippa-producing Oil Drum ahead of it. After they pass the obstacle and the snake foes it shoots at them, they can find a DK Barrel on a higher piece of ground with another Slippa-shooting Oil Drum at the end of it near a second raised piece of land. An alcove with a rope dangling above it is nearby. The primates must use the rope to swing over the alcove, which contains a TNT Barrel and an Oil Drum that spawns Gnawties. Two more Oil Drums that release Slippas are ahead, and a wide alcove and a TNT Barrel are located between them. Another TNT Barrel stands on the edge of a ledge just before an Oil Drum that creates more Slippas. If the primates progress down a small ledge, they can find an Oil Drum above a small gap containing an Animal Token of Rambi. Another Oil Drum stands nearby on the edge of a cliff that can be crossed with a straight rope that begins to move to the right when touched. On the opposite side of this abyss, they can find an Oil Drum that shoots Slippas and then a DK Barrel and a TNT Barrel next to each other on the edge of a ledge. Two more Oil Drums releasing Slippas stand ahead on the end of long strips of land. The Kongs can find a large pit immediately after the second Oil Drum. After using two ropes to cross the abyss, they duo reaches a long pathway holding a Slippa-shooting Oil Drum and the level's Star Barrel.

After the primates pass two Slippa-releasing Oil Drums, they encounter a wide abyss containing a long, straight rope that begins to pull them over it once it is grabbed onto. As the primates glide over the pit, they are brought towards a group of bananas in a V shape and a DK Barrel. An Oil Drum sits on the other side of the abyss, shooting more Slippa enemies. Several Gnawties march along a long pathway ahead of here, being spawned by an Oil Drum. After climbing up two stair-like structures, the two friends approach an Oil Drum located next to a small abyss with another Oil Drum, which releases Klaptraps, following it. An Animal Token of Expresso floats above the enemies. The next Oil Drum, shooting more Klaptraps, can be discovered in a large alcove that also contains a bouncy tire sticking out of the ground. A TNT Barrel stands on the edge of the alcove that can be used to destroy a Klaptrap-shooting Oil Drum placed farther ahead. Once the duo passes over a small, empty alcove near here, they encounter another two Oil Drums that spawn Klaptraps.

A DK Barrel wobbles above another Klaptrap-shooting Oil Drum found ahead, which is followed by an abyss containing a floating Oil Drum releasing the same enemies. With the use of this Oil Drum, the two friends can cross the pit and access a higher area supporting another Oil Drum that releases Armies. After passing a wide alcove, the primates reach another Oil Drum that shoots Klaptraps. They can find another alcove next to this that is followed by an Oil Drum that spawns Armies. An abyss is immediately after this obstacle, and once they cross it, they can discover four more Slippa-shooting Oil Drums, each being placed in the ground. Once the Kongs continue past the drums, they approach a trail of bananas and then an exit sign with the level's outlet beyond it.

Bonus Levels

 * After passing the Star Barrel, the heroes need to grab onto a long rope. As they ride along it, they have to climb downwards to the bottom of the area to find a small cave. They should walk into it to enter the first Bonus Level. In this special Bonus Level, the heroes can grab onto a rope and swing over a wide abyss. As they go, they can notice the letter K at the top part of the area. After they snatch it, they come up to the letter O below them, then the letters, N and G. Once they pass every K-O-N-G letter, they are able to jump off of the rope and break open a crate on a solid area of land. In it, they find Expresso the Ostrich, whom they can ride on for the rest of the level.
 * A while after the Star Barrel, the primates find a TNT Barrel around several Klaptrap-spitting Oil Drums. The heroes should pick it up and carry it to a low area where a wall can be found. After blasting away the wall, the primates should walk into it to access the next Bonus Level, where they need to hit three barrels so that the changing pictures of Animal Tokens displayed on them all match. If this is done correctly, the Kongs are awarded with the Animal Token matched on the barrels. Afterwards, they exit the area automatically. They are also forced out of the bonus without a prize if they fail to march all of the barrels.

Photograph (Game Boy Advance version only)

 * After passing a long line of Gnawties found shortly after the level's Star Barrel, the Kongs should stand on a nearby Oil Drum and turn to the left to put a camera icon in view. If they grab it, they earn a photograph of a Bitesize in the seventeenth page their scrapbook.