Squawks's Shaft (Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest)

Squawks's Shaft is the tenth level of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Donkey Kong Land 2. It is the fifth area of Crocodile Cauldron in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and also the fifth area of Krem Cauldron in Donkey Kong Land 2.

As the level's name implies, Squawks's Shaft takes place inside of a mine shaft, and Squawks the Parrot (in his first playable appearance) can be found throughout the second half of it. Krooks make their first appearance in this level, and they, along with a large amount of Zingers, try to defeat the Kongs throughout the whole level. Other enemies include Klomps, Kannons, Klampons, and, exclusively in Donkey Kong Land 2, Flitters. During the first half of the level, the Kongs must dodge many of these enemies while traveling upwards with the use of many Barrel Cannons and Auto Fire Barrels. In the second half of the level, Squawks must lead Diddy and Dixie Kong upwards to the top of the shaft, while dodging additional enemies.

''Donkey Kong Country 2
The Kongs begin the level on a platform next to a treasure chest that contains the letter K. A raised platform is ahead of here that holds a Krook, who stands under a trio of bananas. At the edge of the starting platform, the heroes can find a Banana Coin with a platform above it that holds a Klomp. They can find a Barrel Cannon above here that they can aim to blast them towards a few small platforms that they must climb to reach a long platform, which supports three Klomps and a DK Barrel. Two more platforms are to the left of here, and they both hold Krooks. A Banana Bunch is to the left of the second platform, which stands below a Barrel Cannon that can blast the heroes to a group of three platforms. They must climb to the top platform to find another trio of Klomps and a Barrel Cannon. If the primates roll-jump to the right of here, they can find a hidden Barrel Cannon that can fire them into another Barrel Cannon that is surrounded by Zingers and a Bonus Barrel.

If the Kongs blast through the non-hidden Barrel Cannon, they can reach an additional barrel, which is able to blast them onto a long platform with a slightly smaller platform above it. Krooks are on the ends of both of these platforms, and the Krook on the lower platform guards a Banana Bunch and a treasure chest that contains a red Extra Life Balloon. A smaller platform is located to the left of these enemies, and a Dixie Barrel is above it that can blast the heroes towards some more Barrel Cannons. These cannons can shoot them into many bananas, two Banana Coins, and, in the Game Boy Advance version of the game, a Golden Feather. If the heroes travel east from here, they reach a Barrel Cannon that they must aim to blast them upwards, where there are two more cannons that they must shoot through to progress. As they blast between the last two of these barrels, a Zinger tries to get in their way and flies back and forth between them in a horizontal path. The third barrel in this area is able to blast the two friends to a pair of small platforms that carry one Klampon each. A Barrel Cannon floats next to the platforms, and it can blast the heroes towards several more Barrel Cannons. As they shoot through these barrels, they come up to a Zinger that they must avoid and many bananas. Eventually, they make their way onto a platform with a Star Barrel above it and an Auto Fire Barrel that can blast them to a Bonus Barrel to the left of it.

To the right of here, the duo can find a small platform with a Barrel Cannon above it. The cannon is able to shoot them past a pair of Zingers that move parallel to each other and then to another Barrel Cannon, which can then send them to a platform. This platform supports a Krook, who guards the letter O. An additional platform is to the left of here, and it holds an Animal Crate that contains Squawks the Parrot. After the heroes free the parrot, they must grab onto to him so that the bird can lift them through the remaining part of the level. As the heroes begin to ascend, they come up to a DK Barrel in a small gap between two platforms. Above these platforms, the heroes can find a group of bananas that form the letter Y (or the letter B in the Game Boy Advance version of the game). Some more platforms stick out of the side of the area on the way up this part of the level; the first platform holds a yellow Zinger, the second holds a red Zinger, and the third carries a Krook. These three platforms are followed by a group of Zingers that consist of two stationary red Zingers that float under the letter N and two yellow Zingers that hover next to these red, wasp-like foes.

Three additional platforms are above here, and they all hold one Krook each. A DK Barrel is located just above the third platform, and it is followed by a few Mini-Neckies that swoop down at the heroes to attack. After the group passes these small vulture enemies, they come up to four platforms that stick out of the wall. Two of these platforms, which are positioned across from each other, hold Krooks that both throw their hooks at the heroes. To the right of these Krooks, the heroes can find a Banana Coin and a hidden area that contains another Krook on a platform, two groups of bananas that form arrows pointing upwards, a Bonus Barrel, and a DK Coin. If the Kongs and Squawks continue upwards from the location of the previous two Krooks, they reach a platform with a Kannon on it. The heroes must pass under this enemy to progress, but as they do so, they must watch out for the kannonballs it shoots at them. Once the group passes this foe and heads farther upwards, they reach a pair of red Zingers moving back and forth in a horizontal path around a Banana Bunch. A few more Mini-Neckies are ahead of here, and once the trio continues past them, they reach long platform that holds a No Animal Sign. If they pass the sign, Squawks disappears and they are given a Banana Bunch. An End of Level Target is near here, and the Kongs must jump on it to complete the level successfully. Additionally, the Kongs can win a prize from the target if they hit it immediately after shooting out of a nearby barrel.

''Donkey Kong Land 2
From the start of the level, the Kongs need to go east and hop into a barrel in the air. It spins in circles when entered, so they must be very careful on their aim. When they shoot up to the next platform, there is a villainous Krook who tries to attack the monkeys. They can easily beat him with a jump, and then hop into the next barrel. It shoots them up to another barrel, which blasts them even higher. When they reach the next platform, they should find yet another barrel waiting to be used. When they jump in, they must carefully aim up to another platform to the left. There, they have to repeat this step to get to the next platform above. In this area, there is another barrel to travel into. The Kongs do not have to aim in this barrel, as it does not move, but there is a Zinger in their path. Once it moves to the left or right, they should shoot out of it to get to the next barrel above carefully. Eventually, they make it up to the next platform. Again, the heroes must jump into a barrel and shoot to the following barrels with cautious aim. Once they move on and get to the next platform, they should get in another barrel nearby. Aiming carefully again, they should shoot to the above-left platform. Here, there is a Krook to defeat, as well as another barrel to hop in. Using it, they are again shot barrel-to-barrel, watching out for a Zinger and landing on a higher-up platform, where a Star Barrel is waiting.

Halfway through the level, the Kongs must shoot though more barrels. This time, there is a Zinger and a Flitter in their path. If they can maneuver around them safely, they can get to the next platform, where they have to avoid a few more land enemies and get into an Animal Barrel, turning them into Squawks. As the bird, the heroes must fly up between two platforms. The animals must travel upward more and watch out for many Zingers flying by. There are many bananas to help direct them which way to go. Krooks also throw their hooks at the heroes as they ride up, while a large group of Flitters collide with them and attack. Eventually, the animals should make it to the top platform, where there is a "No Squawks" sign. It makes Squawks disappear when passed. After passing a Kannon, a spring is in view. It takes the Kongs out of the level when jumped on.

K-O-N-G Letters

 * K: The Kongs find a treasure chest containing the letter K immediately after they being the level. They must throw the chest at an enemy to open it.
 * O: The letter O is located behind a Krook found immediately before Squawks's Animal Crate.
 * N: Shortly after the heroes find Squawks, they come up to a pair of red Zingers with the letter N above them.
 * G: The letter G is one of the prizes given from the End of Level Target. At the end of the level, they must shoot out of a nearby Barrel Cannon to hit the target in order to earn a prize. The prize given depends on the time they hit it.

Bonus Levels

 * At the second part in the level where the Kongs discover three Klomps marching in a row, they must super-jump (or hover with Dixie's ponytail) to the right to reach a hidden Barrel Cannon. They must then shoot over a Zinger and into another barrel with this Barrel Cannon. Once they blast into the second barrel, they can find a Bonus Barrel to the right of them that is placed under a pair of Zingers. If they shoot into the Bonus Barrel, they are led to a Bonus Level, where they must search for a Kremkoin, which is hidden inside of one of the many treasure chests located throughout the area. They can break the chests by throwing them at a red Zinger in the center of the Bonus Level. The second chest in the right side of the area holds the Kremkoin, and once they break it, they can grab the coin. The heroes have 20 seconds to find the Kremkoin and collect it.
 * The Kongs should travel to the left of the Star Barrel to reach an Auto Fire Balloon that can shoot them to a Bonus Barrel when they jump into it. The barrel sends them to the second Bonus Level, where they must shoot through several Barrel Cannons in order to reach the top of the area, where a Kremkoin is located. They have 25 seconds to find and collect this coin.
 * On the Kongs' way up the shaft with Squawks, they can, after passing the letter N, discover two Krooks standing on separate platforms across from each other. The heroes must go in between the two of them and then move east past the Krook on the right to access a hidden area. A Banana Coin is located near this Krook to hint the primates that they must travel this way. In the hidden area, they can find a Bonus Barrel that is able to transport them into a Bonus Level, where they must fly through a mine shaft with Squawks while defeating eight Zingers to find a Kremkoin. If they defeat all of the Zingers within 30 seconds, the Kremkoin appears in the right side of the area of grab within the remaining time.

DK Coin

 * As the Kongs must do to find the third Bonus Level, they must head east past a Krook found shortly after the letter N to access a hidden area that contains a Bonus Barrel. A DK Coin is to the right of the barrel.

Warp Barrel

 * There is a secret Warp Barrel in Diddy's Kong Quest that is hidden in this level. To find it, the Kongs must start at the beginning of the level and head east to find a Banana Coin under a platform. The Kongs should super-jump (or hover with Dixie's Helicopter Twirl) past the coin and over a pit to reach a hidden Auto Fire Barrel that can blast them farther to the right, where a Warp Barrel is placed. Upon being accessed, the Warp Barrel sends the heroes to a Bonus Level featuring bananas in the shape of an exclamation mark. If the primates exit the area, they appear at the end of the level in a Barrel Cannon located near the End of Level Target.

Golden Feather (Game Boy Advance version only)

 * Near the beginning of the level, the heroes should see two Krooks above and below each other on separate platforms. If they jump on the platform that holds the higher Krook and then hop onto the platform to the left of it, they can find a Dixie Barrel that can blast them to a Golden Feather and some other collectibles. Only Dixie Kong can enter this barrel, but it is too high for her to reach with a normal jump. Therefore, Diddy Kong must throw her into the barrel in order for them to reach it and be shot to the Golden Feather.

Photograph (Game Boy Advance version only)

 * Early on in the level, the heroes can find the second group of three Klomps in the level. One of the Klomps sports a camera icon above its head, meaning that it is in possession of a photograph. If they defeat this foe, they are given a picture of a Klomp for the first page of their scrapbook.

K-O-N-G Letters

 * K: The Kongs can find the letter K next to the level's first Bonus Barrel, which can be reached by shooting out of a Barrel Cannon near the level's beginning.
 * O: The heroes must blast upwards with the first Barrel Cannon after the second DK Barrel to find a hook, which they must grab onto to find the letter O to the right of them.
 * N: Shortly after the heroes turn into Squawks, they must fly to the top-right corner of a wide area of find the letter N.
 * G: The Kongs can discover the letter G in the rightmost side of the area that is located immediately before the No Animal Sign.

Bonus Levels

 * Immediately after the Kongs shoot out of the second Barrel Cannon in the level, which shoots them upwards, they should shift to the left in the air, instead of to the right, in order to be shot towards a Bonus Barrel. This barrel can shoot them into a Bonus Level, where the Kongs must run across a few long platforms to find Neeks that they must defeat. If these Neeks manage to attack them, they are forced back into the main level. The primates can travel from one platform to the next by using Barrel Cannons found along the sides of the area. If they defeat all six Neeks within twenty seconds, a Kremkoin appears at the top of the area to grab within the remaining time.
 * Near the end of the level in an area found shortly before the No Animal Sign, Squawks can find a Bonus Barrel in the right-hand side of a wide room. The barrel can send him to the Bonus Level, where Squawks must defeat all of the Zingers scattered around the stage with his egg-spitting abilities. A Kremkoin appears at the top of the stage to grab if the parrot manages to defeat all five of the foes. Squawks is given a time of 20 seconds to complete this Bonus Level, and if he hits into any of the enemies in it, he is sent back into the main level.

DK Coin

 * Starting from where the Kongs land after they finish the first Bonus Level, they must hop into the Barrel Cannon to the left and shoot to the next platform. If they drop off of the left end of this platform, they land on a different platform with a DK Coin above it.