Crowded Cavern

Level
Crowded Cavern
Level code	4-5
World	Cave
Game	Donkey Kong Country Returns (3D)
Music track	Mine Menace
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Crowded Cavern is the twenty-seventh level in Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D and the fifth and final level of the Cave world.

Summary

Similar to Mole Patrol, Crowded Cavern takes place in a cavern where Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong ride a Rocket Barrel throughout the level, having to move between large rocks and boulders. The main and only enemies in the level are a large group of Squeeklys, who attempt to fly into the Kongs. The group includes small Squeeklys that fly at the Kongs, medium-sized Squeeklys that move up or down when approached, and a Big Squeekly that blasts large sound waves from its mouth. The Kongs cannot defeat the Squeeklys while riding the Rocket Barrel and must avoid every one instead. There are seven Banana Coins in the level.

In the Time Attack mode, a time below 1:56:00 is needed to get a gold medal, a time below 2:05:00 for silver, and a time below 2:16:00 for bronze.

Layout

The Kongs dodging several Squeeklys

The level begins on a flat pathway leading to some wooden platforms that the Kongs must use to climb up to a higher area. Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong must walk on a rickety, wooden bridge which breaks shortly after they go on it. When it crumbles, the Kongs (as well as an unused minecart and numerous bananas) fall down to a lower area. They must continue right and jump from a few platforms, where Squeeklys are sleeping in the background. The Kongs then come across a Rocket Barrel, and when the Kongs start it, they wake the Squeeklys, who start to chase the Kongs through a wide passage in the cave. Some small Squeeklies attempt to attack Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong by flying horizontally in front of the Rocket Barrel and then attempting to chomp into the Kongs. This continues until the Kongs reach a narrow area with a trail of bananas and Banana Bunches. The trail curves in a V shape above a tall rock structure and ends with the letter K of the K-O-N-G Letters. At that point, the primates ride over some more boulders as a Big Squeekly begins to chase them. The creature heads into the background as they head past a large waterfall and peeks through a hole in the wall as the Kongs approach the letter O. Many bananas and Banana Bunches are in front of the waterfall. At the end of the group of bananas on the bottom row is the letter O, and a Banana Coin is also located just before that above a rock. Soon after this is the Tutorial Pig, who waits on a large platform at the checkpoint.

In the area farther ahead, medium-sized, chubby Squeeklys attack the Kongs by trying to fly in front of them while moving up or down vertically. At the same time, smaller Squeeklys return to try and swoop into the Kongs. Eventually, the Big Squeekly will burst through the floor. Just next to it is a puzzle piece. Immediately after, another Big Squeekly will burst through the ceiling. Next to it is the letter N. There are some rock obstacles farther ahead. The Big Squeekly starts to chase the Kongs, and just before it can reach them, the Kongs fly through a narrow passage, and the Big Squeekly is knocked back. In the passage, the Kongs can find many Banana Bunches and a few obstacles in their path. The Kongs can a large group of collectibles on the other side of the passage. The Tutorial Pig and the next checkpoint are just ahead.

The Big Squeekly shoots a powerful sonic wave

Big Squeekly gets defeated just before the Slot Machine Barrel

After the checkpoint, the primates enter a slightly narrower area, where there is a crane sticking out of the background, acting as an obstacle. The Kongs can either fly above it or below it. Shortly after this section, the Big Squeekly continues to chase after them. The giant bat then starts shooting powerful sonic waves from its mouth. In their pursuit, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong come up to some collectibles and the letter G. Eventually, the Big Squeekly shoots a more powerful sonic wave across the screen, destroying a large boulder and revealing a large group of crystals in its place. The Kongs must fly over the crystals, which the Big Squeekly crashes into, causing it to scrape against the floor and land on its head. The Rocket Barrel eventually drops off the Kongs at the end with the Slot Machine Barrel.

Enemies

Image	Name	Count
	Big Squeekly	1
	Squeekly	19
	Chū Komorin	4

Items

Image	Name	Count
	Banana Coin	7

K-O-N-G Letters

Image	Letter	Location
	K	When the Big Squeekly starts to chase the Kongs, they must fly in the middle low area and follow a trail of bananas. The letter K is at the end of the trail.
	O	Immediately after the third Puzzle Piece, the Kongs can head to the bottom row of bananas in a large group to find the letter O.
	N	Right after the fourth Puzzle Piece, the Big Squeekly smashes through the ceiling. During this point, the letter N next to its head.
	G	Shortly after the final Puzzle Piece, the Kongs pass two parallel sets of collectibles. After passing them, the Kongs must go to the bottom of the area and collect the letter G while avoiding the Big Squeekly's shockwaves.

Puzzle Pieces

Image	Number	Location
	1	The first Puzzle Piece is at the start of the level. After the Kongs walk on the bridge of wooden boards, they should jump off just as it begins to fall. The Puzzle Piece falls from the top of the screen if they avoid falling to the next area.
	2	After the Kongs fall through the wooden boards at the start, they arrive in a lower area. Instead of going to the Rocket Barrel, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong must travel in the opposite direction to find a hidden opening to a Bonus Level. In it, the Kongs have 30 seconds to collect 99 bananas and three Banana Coins hovering in circular motion. The Kongs can reach the collectibles by high bouncing from a wooden platform which moves horizontally under the collectibles. When the Kongs collect all the items, the Puzzle Piece appears.
	3	Shortly before the first checkpoint, the Kongs come up to a large group of bananas and Banana Bunches. The third Puzzle Piece is on the top row of the bananas.
	4	When the Big Squeekly breaks through the floor, the Kongs can use the Rocket Barrel to dive down near its head to collect the fourth Puzzle Piece.
	5	Similar to the letter G, the fifth and final Puzzle Piece is collected during the Big Squeekly chase at the end, towards the floor.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	コモリンのどうくつ[?] Komorin no Dōkutsu	Squeeklys' Cave
Chinese	蝠蝠的洞窟[?] Fúfú de Dòngkū	Squeeklies' Cave
French (NOA)	Chauve Qui Peut[?]	Pun on chauve-souris (bat) and the expression Sauve qui peut (Every man for himself)
German	Höhlenhatz[?]	Cave Hunt
Italian	Cava affollata[?]	Crowded Cavern
Spanish	Cueva Concurrida[?]	Crowded Cavern

Trivia

• If the Kongs stomp the ground before getting into the rocket barrel, the Squeeklys will open their eyes lazily and fall asleep again.
• When the Big Squeekly appears for the last time, Donkey Kong will do various gestures. Donkey Kong will either wave off the Big Squeekly, point downward, or facepalm.