Surface Tension

Surface Tension is the sixteenth level in the Donkey Kong game, Donkey Kong Land III. Located in the north of Blackforest Plateau, it takes place on the banks of the river that meanders through the area. The vegetation, unlike in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble 's river" levels, is rather short and sparse, as it mostly consists of small conifers, mushrooms and lichen.

During this level, Dixie Kong and Kiddy Kong must thread their way on the river banks, through hordes of enemies. Surface Tension is quite similar to Riverbank Riot, but it features many more baddies, making it slightly harder. Although they are likely to be very cold, since the northern area of Blackforest Plateau is occupied by taigas, the waters are infested with Lurchins, Kocos and Bounty Basses. On the banks, the Kongs will encounter Buzzes, Krimps, Krumples, Bristles and Sneeks. This wide variety of enemies will force the player to resort to different attacks, insofar as all those baddies cannot be defeated the same way (for instance, Krimps can only be attacked from the back, while Bristles can only be attacked from the front; Krumples can only be defeated by Kiddy).

Level Layout
The level will begin with a strait pathway into a river of water. Crossing the river, the apes will clamber down a rigid passageway, grabbing the letter K and dodging several enemies. Soon, they will make their way into another pool of water and swim across to get back on another area of land. Again, they will run across a rather flat pathway while dodging enemies. They will eventually move into the letter O and cross a gap to find some ledges. Dropping down on these ledges, they will soon find the next pool of water. Because the river at this point is not to large, the apes will be able to jump across it and hit the nearby Star Barrel.

About halfway through the level, the road will become filled with gaps of water. The Kongs will need to cross these gaps while avoiding some Buzzes and then move up a slanted pathway. At the top of this pathway, the heroes will pass a few more Buzzes to find a barrel. The barrel will blast them across another abyss and to the letter N. Farther on, Dixie and Kiddy will travel done a series of slanted pathways, avoiding enemies such as Krimps and Buzzes. Shortly after collecting the letter G, they will find a flagpole. If they touch the flagpole, they will be taken to the next level

Bonus Levels

 * At the very beginning of the level, the heroes will see a wall of two Buzzes. If they sneak under them without hitting the nearby Krimp, they will find a Bonus Barrel. It will fire them into a Bonus Level where they will need to bounce off of a few Knik-Knaks to cross a pool of water. If they make it to the end of the area in less than fourteen seconds after beating every enemy, they will find a Bonus Coin.
 * About halfway into the level, the heroes will find the letter O over a small gap. If they drop into the area right behind the letter, they will land in a hidden Bonus Barrel. Once it blasts them into the special stage, they will need to run across a long pathway, avoiding Buzzes. After they reach the end of that area, they will fall into a river and swim west through a wide trench. If they make it to the end of this trench undamaged in less than twenty-five seconds, they will earn another Bonus Coin.

DK Coin

 * After the letter N, the group will find a barrel. It will blast them to a platform with a steel barrel on it. If the monkeys carry this barrel down the ledge to the left, they will find a Koin with the DK Coin. They will need to defeat this common enemy to get the special coin. This can be done by standing on the foe's shield, distracting him. Then, they should throw their steel keg into the nearest wall. The barrel will bounce back and hit the Koin on the side, knocking him out. This will give the Kongs his DK Coin.

Trivia

 * This level's name hints at a property of the surface of water.