Wonky Waterway
Template:Level Wonky Waterway is the sixteenth level in the game Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, as well as the first level in the Ruins world.
This level begins on a beach, but most the of it takes place in a dilapidated temple. Here, Donkey and Diddy Kong must utilize vine switches that stick out of statues to open passages and progress overall. Additionally, the level features some falling platforms that quickly collapse with the Kongs' weight. They must move fast across these platforms, watching out for the Tiki Zings hovering around the area. The level contains other enemies as well, including Tiki Buzzes, Tiki Goons, and Screaming Pillars; Tiki Bombers and Stilts also make their debut here.
In the Time Attack mode of the game, a time of 1:13:00 is needed to get a gold medal, a time of 1:33:00 for silver, and a time of 2:32:00 for bronze.
Overview
The Kongs begin the level on a long bridge with a DK Barrel that stretches to a sandy beach area. A stone cube is between the bridge and a Stilts as well. A second stone cube can help the heroes reach a raised area of land, where a few Tiki enemies appear. If the golden switch at the end of the short pathway is smashed, the temple's entrance opens. Inside, the Kongs climb along some large stone blocks, passing a Tiki Goon on the way. As they continue along the structures, a Tiki Bomber can be found, along with several Screaming Pillars farther ahead. Another Tiki Bomber is located just after two urns, which contain a Banana Bunch and a Banana Coin. If the vine switch above it is pulled, a small platform shoots out of the wall to aid the Kongs in reaching the green, grassy turf on the ceiling. The letter O is at the end of this turf, and the Tutorial Pig is on the platform right after it, marking the checkpoint.
A DK Barrel is located immediately after the checkmark, along with a bridge. The primates can find a few Screaming Pillars after the bridge, as well as a few small platforms surrounded by spikes. The pillars fall on the small platforms, so the Kongs must jump on the foes to progress and avoid getting smashed. An urn is placed right after this area next to a vine switch. Once it is pulled, the wall in front of the heroes falls to create a pathway over a small gap concealing a Puzzle Piece. As soon as the wall is down, a few Stilts run out, two of which are not on stilts. On the edge of the stone pathway, a Barrel Cannon can be found floating in the air with a trail of bananas after it. The barrel shoots them onto three small platforms that fall as soon as they are touched by the Kongs; the final platform is surrounded by a Tiki Zing, but a Barrel Cannon that shoots the primates to the two falling platforms after it is next to it. Again, one of these platforms has a Tiki Zing hovering around it, but a Barrel Cannon is right after it to blast the heroes to the platforms in the background.
When the primates reach the middle section of platforms, they immediately begin to crumble. The Kongs must quickly travel across the platforms before they fall; however, many of the platforms are very small, and a few Tiki Zings are around them. After the barrel at the end of this area blasts the Kongs to the section of crumbling platforms in the far background, the Kongs encounter a Tiki Zing. The platforms after this foe do not crumble like the previous; instead, they tilt to the side to create a small bridge to the next platform, and then break apart from the impact of hitting the following structures. After passing one more Tiki Zing and one last platform, the Kongs can get in a Barrel Cannon that shoots them back in the foreground to the next Tutorial Pig, marking another checkpoint.
If the heroes pull the vine switch after the pig, they can open a pathway full of bananas and Banana Coins. When they continue out of the tunnel, they meet a few Stilts enemies over a small, stone bridge that stands over some water; blowing out the candles here causes a vine switch to fall that releases collectibles when pulled. Farther ahead is a Tiki Bomber and some Screaming Pillars, who fall on platforms surrounded by small gaps, one of which holds the letter G. If the primates manage to hop along the enemies, they can find the temple's exit, where a Donkey Kong statue can be seen in the background holding a Wii Remote. The path outside of the temple curves in a U shape, with many Tiki enemies flying around it. At the center of the U shaped bridge is a small gap with a thin platform in it. A Screaming Pillar falls on this platform in get in the Kongs' way. If the Kongs climb to the top of the bridge, they can find a Slot Machine Barrel. If they hit the barrel, they finish off the level.
Secrets
K-O-N-G Letters
- K: Immediately before approaching the switch to open the temple, the heroes must bounce on top of a series of flying Tiki enemies to reach the letter K that is high in the air.
- O: The letter O is located immediately before the first checkpoint on the edge of the climbable turf.
- N: As the primates dash across the section of falling platforms in the foreground, they can find the letter N above a Tiki Zing.
- G: Immediately after the sixth Puzzle Piece, the primates come up to some Screaming Pillars. If they pound on the first pillar, along with the pillar on top of it, they can grab the letter G.
Puzzle Pieces
- If the Kongs travel backwards at the beginning of the level and perform a long-jump, they can reach a hidden platform with a Tiki Goon and the first Puzzle Piece.
- Near the beginning of the level, the Kongs can find three candles between two Screaming Pillars. If they blow out the candles, a vine switch appears. Pulling it reveals several collectibles, including a Puzzle Piece.
- Just before the first checkpoint, the Kongs can head left (or right on Mirror Mode) along the grassy turf to find a Barrel Cannon. The cannon can shoot them to a Bonus Level, where they must maneuver around several platforms to grab eighty bananas, two Banana Coins, and an Extra Life Balloon. After all of the items are collected, a Puzzle Piece appears.
- About mid-way through the level, the heroes must dodge a few Screaming Pillars around some spikes. If they pound on the second of the fallen pillars, a Puzzle Piece appears.
- Just before the heroes exit the temple to reach the falling platforms, they can find a Puzzle Piece in a nearby gap located immediately after a vine switch. If they pull the vine switch before collecting the item, a wall falls over the Puzzle Piece so they cannot collect it.
- Before the Kongs encounter the final set of Screaming Pillars, they can break open an urn to reveal the sixth Puzzle Piece.
- At the end of the level, the Kongs should pass up the Slot Machine Barrel and long-jump over the gap after it. They should land on a hidden platform with a vine switch on it. If they pull the vine, the statue nearby throws the Puzzle Piece to them.
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | いせきのエントランス Iseki no Entoransu |
Ruins’ Entrance |
| German | Wackeliger Wasserweg |
Wonky Waterway |
| Italian | Scalo Dondolo |
Rocking chair Slipway |
| Korean | 유적 입구 Yujeok Ipgu |
Ruins Entrance |
| Spanish | Acueducto Agobiante |
Overwhelming Aqueduct |
Trivia
- A statue of Donkey Kong as his very first appearance from the original Donkey Kong arcade game holding a Wii Remote appears in the background. Specifically, this sprite is based on Donkey Kong's sign-holding pose from Donkey Kong Jr. Math, with a few minor changes (such as the addition of a tie).
- The blocks that surround and make up the entrance to the temple have carvings of Donkey Kong resembling his original appearance on them.
