Barrel Cannon Canyon

Barrel Cannon Canyon, also named Barrel Canyon, is the fifth level of Donkey Kong Country. It is also the fifth and last regular level of Kongo Jungle.

Overview
This level takes place in the jungle, and is considered the hardest level of its world, which it is the penultimate and longest one of. As its name suggests, Barrel Cannon Canyon involves blasting Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong across numerous abysses via Barrel Cannons and Blast Barrels. This also occurs in a later level, Rope Bridge Rumble. The Kongs must carefully time when to fire from some of the Barrel Cannons, or otherwise they fall down a pitfall.

The Kongs can shortcut through portions of the level by blasting from a Blast Barrel on top of the level entrance, and then a few more from more Blast Barrels above treetops later in the stage. Each of these treetops are located in between two abysses with a chain of Barrel Cannons.

Upon completing this stage, Donkey and Diddy can enter Candy's Save Point (or Candy's Challenge and Candy's Dance Studio in the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance versions respectively) and the world boss, Very Gnawty in its lair.

Layout
Donkey and Diddy Kong begin the level by exiting a tunnel with a Blast Barrel above it, which can blast them to a treetop farther into the level, where another Blast Barrel is located that can blast them ahead to the second DK Barrel in the level. If the Kongs continue along the main path of the level, they can find two Kritters marching ahead of a Barrel Cannon that is able to fire them into the air and into the letter K. A ledge stands next to the barrel with a piece of the ground that the Kongs can land on to break it and reveal a DK Barrel. A cliff is ahead of here with a hidden area ahead of it, containing a Winky Token, and a piece of land is positioned behind the area that the Kongs can walk along. They are attacked by hopping Kritters as they move across this area, soon reaching a ledge with another Barrel Cannon at the bottom of it, which can blast them over a nearby abyss and into a pair of Kritters.

More Kritters walk in a lower area on the sides of a small pit. The pit is followed by a long, straight pathway with a few more Kritters and a raised piece of land on it. A Barrel Cannon sits on the raised ground, able to be used to blast into a barrel higher in the air that can carry the heroes into some bananas. An abyss containing four Barrel Cannons that move in horizontal paths when entered is ahead, and they can use them to cross it. As they blast over the pit, they fire past the letter O. The final barrel shoots them high into the air onto a treetop with a DK Barrel on it. The heroes can find an alcove ahead of here with a trio of Kritters hopping in it. They can also find an abyss soon after it that contains a mixture of many Barrel Cannons and Blast Barrels, which move in either horizontal or vertical paths. The final barrel in this area blast the heroes over a long pathway and into the level's Continue Barrel.

The primates can find an alcove with a Kritter hopping in it ahead of here. A DK Barrel wobbles on a slightly higher piece of ground next to it. Two smaller alcoves are ahead, with two Kritters jumping around them. The second alcove contains a TNT Drum that can be used to blast open the hidden entrance to a Bonus Level. A lower area consisting of a lone Kritter can be found nearby with a small pit after it. This pit is followed by a large area of land with a raised piece of ground in the center of it. Two Kritters jump on top of it, surrounding a barrel that can blast the heroes to a Blast Barrel, which then sends them to a second Blast Barrel. This barrel then blasts them onto a platform nearby, which contains the letter N that they can break out of it. If the primates do not shoot through these barrels, they come up to a pair of platforms in an abyss, the second platform being the one containing the letter N. A larger piece of land with a Kritter on it follows this area. If the Kongs manage to pass it, they can reach a wide abyss containing many Barrel Cannons and Blast Barrels that move in horizontal and vertical directions. As they shoot over the abyss with these barrels, several Zingers fly in their way. Once they pass the foes and cross the abyss, they find themselves on a long piece of land with a few Kritters hopping along it. A sign indicating that the level is almost done also can be found on the edge of this area. The final Kritter in the level front of a tunnel nearby, located immediately after an exit sign. The letter G can be found on the treetops above here. If the primates enter the tunnel, they complete the level and head to the boss battle against Very Gnawty.

Trivia

 * An additional DK Barrel was added near the letter N in the Japanese version.