Poison Pond

Level
Poison Pond
Level code	5 - 4 (SNES & GBC) 5 - 3 (GBA)
Game	Donkey Kong Country
Music track	Aquatic Ambiance
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Poison Pond is the twenty-sixth level of Donkey Kong Country. It is the fourth level of the Kremkroc Industries, Inc., but was made the third level in the Game Boy Advance version due to switching positions with Elevator Antics, therefore making it the twenty-fifth level overall. Poison Pond is the fourth and last underwater level, and it involves Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong having to swim through polluted, green water, though it does not affect the Kongs. Many aquatic enemies appear in the level, including Bitesizes, Chomps Jrs., and Squidges. Mincers are the main hazards and obstacles of the level instead of Croctopuses, which move either horizontally, vertically, or in a clockwise direction. Mincers often move in and out of the small gaps within the reefs. The level has two animal crates with Enguarde, just like in Coral Capers; the first is at the very start, where the Kongs must pass through the reefs at the bottom left to enter an area with the first Enguarde Box. The other is after the Continue Barrel, directly right of a Chomps Jr. and a Bitesize.

Layout

The Kongs progress through the early part of the level

The level begins in a wide area full of Bitesizes with an alcove above it that contains the letter K. As the area starts to become narrower, the heroes approach the level's first DK Barrel, which is followed by a trail of bananas leading through a passage to the north. An optional path to the right of the barrel leads to a Chomps Jr., a Banana Bunch, and then a dead end. If the primates follow the banana trail, they can find a wider area to their right and a thinner area to the left, where two Chomps Jrs. and another Banana Bunch can be found. If they travel to the right, they come past a Mincer and a few underwater enemies, such as a Squidge. After passing a pair of Mincers that both move in a vertical path across the whole area, the Kongs can find a small alcove containing a Banana Bunch that is guarded by a fourth Mincer.

A passage to the north of here leads to an open area with two Mincers grinding across it. A thin channel is to the left of the top of this area that leads the primates into a wider passage containing more Squidges and a DK Barrel. Two Mincers parallel to each other are ahead, and another Mincer moves in a horizontal path above them. Once the Kongs pass these foes, they come up to a few Bitesizes and a group of bananas that are followed by two more Mincers moving in horizontal paths. The Kongs can maneuver around the obstacles to find many Squidges and reach a passage facing north, where the letter O is located. At the top of the passage, they can find a narrow channel with a Mincer in it to the east. The level's Continue Barrel is immediately after the hazard.

From the Continue Barrel, the heroes can discover an arrow that is formed by a multitude of bananas. A few alcoves that Mincers move in and out of are placed along the sides of the passage ahead of here. After the primates pass them, they approach a large area with a pathway to the north and a pathway to the east, where an animal crate containing Enguarde is located. A small pathway below the crate leads to a few Mincers. If the duo travels through the passage to the north, they encounter another Mincer in a tight space. They can use an alcove in the area to avoid the Mincer as it grinds across the passage. A large, open area is ahead with a DK Barrel in the bottom corner of it and a channel running through the north of it. Another large area containing three Mincers that move in a circular patten together area on the other side of the channel. Another channel to the left of here leads into a thin area with a Mincer moving through it.

The group sits in the final part of the level

The Kongs must take refuge in the alcoves around the passage to avoid it. Three more Mincers circle a wider area nearby, which has a passage at the bottom of it that leads to another open area with two stationary Mincers at the bottom of it. Another Mincer moves in a horizontal path above them. Two more open areas are ahead of here, each containing a single Mincer that is orbited by another. A DK Barrel is also in the first of the areas. Once these parts of the levels are passed, the primates can find a long passage facing north with two Mincers traveling throughout them. An alcove in the center of this passage can be used to help the two friends dodge the obstacles and safely reach a channel that leads into a long and wide area containing numerous Bitesizes, a sign indicating that the level is almost over, and the letter G. After swimming between two Zingers farther into the level, the Kongs can journey to the level's exit, located immediately after an exit sign.

Enemies

The following enemies appear in the following quantities:

• 

  Bitesize (31)

• 

  Chomps Jr. (5)

• 

  Mincer (35)

• 

  Squidge (9)

Items and objects

The following items and objects appear in the following quantities:

• 

  DK Barrel (4)

• 

  Expresso Token

• 

  Rambi Token^a

• 

  Life Balloon^a

^a - In a hidden area to the left of three Mincers just after the letter N.

K-O-N-G Letters

The location of the letter N

• K: If the Kongs head north immediately after they begin the level, they enter a large alcove with the letter K in it.
• O: After the second DK Barrel and some Mincers, the Kongs can find the letter O around a few Squidges.
• N: Shortly after the area with Enguarde, the Kongs can find a group of Mincers moving in a circle. The letter N is in an alcove to the left near another Mincer which moves in a horizontal path.
• G: The letter G is placed just before the level's exit behind the last two Mincers in the stage, found in an area with many Bitesizes.

Key items

• Photograph (Game Boy Advance version only): Shortly after the level's Continue Barrel, the Kongs can find two Mincers moving in and out of alcoves. They must maneuver around the second one to go up into an alcove with a photograph. The photograph depicts a Squidge in the third page of the scrapbook.

Gallery

• 

  The letter K

• 

  The letter O

• 

  Diddy finds an Enguarde Box in a hidden area right behind the starting point.

• 

  The group travels under a Mincer.

• 

  Enguarde and Donkey swim next to the Continue Barrel.

• 

  The location of the second Enguarde crate

• 

  The location of the letter G

• 

  Design sheet for the level by Gregg Mayles

• 

  Enguarde swimming next to two Squidges in the Game Boy Color version

• 

  Enguarde near a Rambi Token in the Game Boy Color version

• 

  The Expresso Token in the Game Boy Advance version

• 

  The location of the photograph in the Game Boy Advance version

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	ヘドロのみずうみ[?] Hedoro no mizuumi	Slimy Lake
French	Etang Empoisonné (SNES) Point Poison (GBC/GBA)[?]	Poisonous Pond Poison Point
German	Reiher-Weiher (GBC/GBA)[?]	Puke Pond
Italian	Palude Velenosa[?]	Poison Swamp
Spanish	Charca Venenosa[?]	Poisonous Pond