Tippin' Totems

Level
Tippin' Totems
Level code	5-4
World	Forest
Game	Donkey Kong Country Returns (3D)
Music track	Forest Frenzy Returns
<< Directory of levels >>

Tippin' Totems is the thirty-second level in Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, as well as the fourth level in the Forest world.

This level is set in a forest where Totem Poles are the main platforms. These Totem Poles move up and down in a diagonal fashion. However, they do not make a steep angle, so the Kongs cannot fall off them if stationary. However, some of the Totem Poles travel from side to side and then fall down. There are a few totems that try to crush the Kongs too. Common enemies here are Squeeklys, shooting Chomps, and Tiki Goons.

In the Time Attack mode of the game, a time of 1:02:00 is needed to get a gold medal, a time of 1:31:00 for silver, and a time of 2:11:00 for bronze.

Overview

The level begins on wooden platforms surrounded by trees. In the tree trunk behind the Kongs is a hidden area with a Banana Coin, while ahead is a shooting Chomp at the edge of the platform. Three tilting totems are in a large abyss after this, being followed by a solid platform with a Squeekly flying over it. Plants that hold items and a spring that can be released from the ground by pounding on it are on the platform. The spring can help them reach another platform hidden in the canopy with a Banana Coin on it. Another totem is tipping in a nearby gap, and ahead of it is a platform with three Squeeklys flying towards it. Two totems are in the gap after this, helping the primates reach an area with two platforms separated by a small gap with some leaves in it. A shooting Chomp and the letter K of the K-O-N-G Letters are above the gap. If the heroes jump in this gap, they land in a hidden area behind the canopy with Banana Bunches and a Puzzle Piece. The edge of the second platform has a Tiki Goon, who stands near a large abyss with more totems in it. The totems move across the wide gap, so the Kongs can ride on them to progress. Bananas are above the totems in a long line. When the totems begin to fall, they can find a tilting platform with some Squeeklys flying around it. Three stationary pillars are placed in a gap nearby with Tiki Goons on each of them. The Tutorial Pig waits at the checkpoint on the following platform on the other side of this abyss.

Donkey Kong prepares to land on a Bopapodamus

There is a large, Tiki-like pillar after here that opens and closes its mouth repeatedly. When it opens it, a passage is made to the next area for the duo to go through, but when it closes, they can get crushed if in it. The following platform is slightly longer than the previous platforms, although it holds nothing but a single plant that the Kongs can blow on. Another giant abyss is farther ahead, with totems moving in it. The Kongs must jump along the totems, moving quickly so that they can travel forward, as the totems are moving the opposite way they want to go. Bananas and Banana Bunches are placed above the totems. A tilting platform stands at the end of the abyss, aiding Donkey and Diddy in reaching a tunnel area full of small, pillar-shaped platforms and many shooting Chomps. The letter O is near the beginning of this area above a thin platform with a spring on it. The spring can only be released from the ground of it is pounded on. Plants, some of which that contain items, are on some of the platforms as well. Another tilting platform is outside of the tunnel area with a Bopapodamus and a two totems after it. Squeeklys fly around here, and the two totems can help the Kongs access a solid platform with the Tutorial Pig and the checkpoint on it.

An abyss with a tipping totem in it follows the checkpoint. A stationary platform is after this that is placed next to a fan-like object connected to a giant pillar that takes up almost half the screen. If the primates blow on the fan, the pillar opens to create a passage for them to travel through, before the pillar closes the passage and crushes them if they are in it. Four totems tip in an abyss ahead of this pillar that are followed by some darker totems that can move across the rest of the wide abyss. The can lead the two heroes to the letter N high in the air and a bigger, tilting platform that Squeeklys fly past. More moving totems are ahead of this platform. They travel across a large abyss, bobbing up and down on the way. Ceilings covered in green, grassy turf are above the totems that have plants growing in them that contain items. The heroes can grab onto the turf and break open the plants to reveal the items. Eventually, the duo can reach a turf-covered ceiling that they can climb along to reach a platform with a DK Barrel on it. Next to the barrel is a plant that contains an item, while above it around the canopy is the letter G. A group of four bobbing totems follow this platforms, and a tilting platform with Squeeklys flying around it is after them. Five Bopapodamuses that the Kongs can bounce on and many bananas are also ahead. The last hippo obstacle bounces them onto a solid platform with a giant button on it. Hitting it five times makes a pillar nearby open to reveal the Slot Machine Barrel above a hole.

Enemies

Image	Name	Count
	Bopapodamus	6
	Squeekly	24
	Shooting Chomp	8
	Tiki Goon	9

Items

Image	Name	Count
	Banana Coin	12
	DK Barrel	1
	Heart	1
	Red Balloon	1

K-O-N-G Letters

Image	Letter	Location
	K	The letter K is beneath the second shooting Chomp in the level above a small gap.
	O	In a tunnel area shortly after the first checkpoint, the primates can find the letter O high in the air around many shooting Chomp enemies. They must pound on the ground below it to make a spring appear that can help them reach it.
	N	While the Kongs ride upwards on some totems just before the area where they must ride under grassy turf on other totems, they can find the letter N in the air. If they bounce on a Squeekly, they can reach it.
	G	The letter G is shortly after the first DK Barrel near the canopy. The Kongs can roll-jump off of the nearest totem to reach it.

Puzzle Pieces

Image	Number	Location
	1	The Kongs should drop into the gap under the letter K to land in a hidden area behind the canopy with the first Puzzle Piece.
	2	In the first area where the Kongs must ride on totems to cross a gap, the heroes should grab all of the bananas above the totems to make a Puzzle Piece appear.
	3	The primates should pound on the round panel immediately after the first checkpoint to fall into a Bonus Level. There, they must shoot through a Barrel Cannon in order to collect fifty-seven bananas, two Banana Coins, and a Red Balloon. If everything is collected within thirty seconds, a Puzzle Piece appears.
	4	The Kongs should grab onto the second ceiling of grassy, climbable turf after the letter N to find a plant that they can break open to reveal a Puzzle Piece.
	5	Immediately before the first and only DK Barrel in the level, Donkey and Diddy should drop into the abyss behind them, where a banana floats. Below the banana is a Barrel Cannon that can shoot them into a Bonus Level, where they must collect 78 bananas and two Banana Coins while climbing on numerous stationary platforms. If they grab everything within thirty seconds, a Puzzle Piece appears.
	6	The Kongs should roll jump from the totem shortly after the first DK Barrel and head towards the letter G while in mid-air. If they continue past the letter G, they can land on a hidden platform behind the canopy, where a Puzzle Piece sits.
	7	Near the end of the level when the duo reaches the group of five Bopapodamuses, they should collect all of the bananas above the hippos to make a Puzzle Piece appear.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	トーテムポールならんだ！[?] Tōtemu Pōru Naranda!	Totem Poles Side-by-Side!
French (NOA)	Totems Troublants[?]	Troubling Totems
German	Totemtaumel[?]	Totem Dizziness
Italian	Fosso puntadipiedi[?]	Ditch Tiptoe
Spanish	Totem Revolutum[?]	Pun on "Totum Revolution"