Crystal Caves

Not to be confused with Secret cave, which has "Crystal Caves" as an alternate name.

Crystal Caves
Entrance requirement	65 Golden Bananas
Boss	Army Dillo
Boss requirement	350 bananas
Trapped Kongs	None
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Crystal Caves is a level in Donkey Kong 64. It is officially the sixth level in the game, though the player can choose to enter and complete Creepy Castle before it if they have enough Golden Bananas. It is a cavern complex filled with light blue crystals and jagged ore deposits. Wooden cabins, an ice castle, and an igloo are found here. A Giant Viking Kremling lurks in the highest part of the caves, raining stalactites down on the unsuspecting Kongs. This level's boss is a rematch with Army Dillo, the boss from Jungle Japes, and requires 350 regular bananas to give to Scoff and allow Troff to unlock the door to the boss. Entering Crystal Caves requires 65 Golden Bananas: After Dogadon is defeated a second time and the key is taken to K. Lumsy, his jumping up and down will cause vibrations that explode a rock out of the right ear of DK Isles. The Crystal Caves lobby can typically be reached with Tiny Kong's Ponytail Twirl or with Diddy Kong's jetpack, though it also works with precise jumps from the other Kongs.

Geography

Starting Cave

A small cave that leads to the Starting Area, there's a even smaller side-cave behind a cracked ice wall that Chunky Kong can open up.

Starting Area

The biggest area of the level with a waterfall and a river that divides the area into two halfs, the half with the Starting Cave includes the 1 and 2 Pads. Snide's H.Q. is located nearby but hidden behind a cracked ice wall. Cranky's Lab is on the same side but can only be reached either through a narrow pathway from the other side or through the steep slope by using Lanky Kong's OrangStand. The other side of the river includes Funky's Store on a bunch of rocks with a narrow pathway that connects to a cave for Mini-Tiny, next to the pathway is a tall stalagmite with the 5 Pad on it. Following this river side from Funky's Store leads to another bunch of piled-up rocks with another narrow pathway that leads to the ice castle. Walking past that leads to a gentle slope, at the end of it is an opening to a cave that Chunky Kong can open up, opposite of that is a narrow pathway connecting to Cranky's Lab, next to that is a small stalagmite with a 4 Pad on it.

Igloo Area

The river under Cranky's Lab continues to a bigger cave. It features a lake, which is the end of the river, a bunch of stalagmites, a big igloo in the center and two smaller ones near it, three smaller islands include the 1 and 3 Pads on them. Above the big igloo is a DK Star that, when passed through, reveals Music Pads around the big igloo that allows the Kongs to enter it. One of the smaller igloos features a Monkeyport Pad which is the only way to enter and leave it, the other small igloo will explode after Chunky Kong collects a certain Golden Banana.

Cabin Area

Following the river to the other end leads to another big area behind the waterfall. The river once again divides the area into two halfs, the half in the back starts with a big, tall cabin with five doors and a 5 Pad. Further along is Candy's Music Shop and even further are a bunch of rocks which leads to a set of narrow pathways, one of which leads to a smaller cabin for Donkey Kong, another leads over the final waterfall, and the start of the river, the the last cabin for Lanky Kong.

Upper Area

High-up, in a seperate area of the level only accessable by a Monkeyport pad from the Igloo Area, are a couple narrow pathways connecting in the middle with a dirt pile and the Giant Viking Kremling that, once defeated, stops creating stalactites.

Enemies

• Flame
• Gnawty
• Kasplat
• Klaptrap
• Klobber
• Klump
• Kosha
• Kritter
• Kroc
• Zinger
• Giant Viking Kremling (mini-boss)
• Army Dillo (boss)

Golden Banana locations

Donkey Kong

Images	Description	Type
	At the end of the Barrel Cannon course, accessed by using the Baboon Blast pad on the narrow pathway near Cranky's Lab.	Busy Barrel Barrage!
	On an alcove near the Ice Castle. Defeat the yellow Kasplat and give their blueprint to Snide.
	Navigate through the ice maze found in Donkey's section of the big igloo to find the Golden Banana in the center. It's recommended to get all melon upgrades from Candy Kong to make this easier. To unlock the big igloo, fly through the DK Star above the igloo using the Rocketbarrel Boost barrel next to Cranky's Lab.
	Inside Donkey's room of the Cabin with Five Doors, defeat all Zinger in the room without using Bongo Blast. It's recommended but not required to use the Homing Ammo for this.
	Enter Donkey's sole cabin near Candy's Music Shop, once inside Simian Slam two panels with the same color, repeat until all colors are covered up within 50 seconds. Use the gray switches on the sides to turn the room.

Diddy Kong

Images	Description	Type
	In a waterfall near Funky's Store, use the Rocketbarrel Boost barrel in front of Funky's Store to reach it.	Mad Maze Maul!
	Inside a cave only Mini-Tiny can access, use the Bananaporter #4 on a stalagmite near Cranky's Lab to enter the cave. Defeat the red Kasplat and give their blueprint to Snide. To unlock the Bananaporter #4, enter the tiny cave entrance on the other end of a narrow pathway connecting to Funky's Store.
	Jump into the Rocketbarrel Boost barrel next to Cranky's Lab and fly through the DK Star over the big igloo, this unlocks the Music Pads to enter each Kong's section for the big igloo. Use the just-revealed Guitar Gazump pad to enter Diddy's section of the big igloo and throw the barrels in the correct order according to the number below the barrels to receive a Golden Banana.
	Inside Diddy's floor 1 room of the Cabin with Five Doors, defeat all enemies within 49 seconds without using Guitar Gazump.
	Inside Diddy's floor 2 room, defeat both Viking Kremlings to reveal a Simian Spring pad, use that to reach the Rocketbarrel Boost barrel which is located slightly next to the pad. Once in the air, fly over each of the three candles to light them up, the Golden Banana will then appear.

Lanky Kong

Images	Description	Type
	Hit the blue Lanky Kong switch in front of the Ice Castle and enter it. Once inside talk to Ice Creature and start the game, flip as many tiles as possible within 57 seconds to win a Golden Banana. It's best to focus on flipping Ice Creature's tiles rather than the empty ones.
	Hit the blue Lanky Kong switch next to the Ice Castle to open up the tip of the castle, use the two Baboon Balloon pads at the back to reach it within 30 seconds. Once inside, race Beetle (character) and collect 50 coins while still winning the race to receive a Golden Banana.
	Defeat all the enemies inside Lanky's section of the big igloo to unlock a Baboon Balloon pad, use it to climb the crystal until the Golden Banana at the top is reached. To unlock the big igloo, fly through the DK-Star above the igloo using the Rocketbarrel Boost barrel next to Cranky's Lab.
	On a tiny platform accessed using the Bananaporter #5 on the Cabin with Five Doors. Defeat the blue Kasplat and give their blueprint to Snide. To unlock the Bananaporter, use the Rocketbarrel Boost barrel as Diddy near Funky's Store and land on the nearby platform with the Bananaporter on it.
	Inside the sole cabin only Lanky can enter near Candy's Music Shop, use the Baboon Balloon pad next to the cabin to reach the Trombone Tremor pad above the cabin to open the door. Once inside, use the Baboon Balloon pad to reach the Orangstand Sprint barrel which allows you to walk over the gray button and reach the Golden Banana within 3 seconds.

Tiny Kong

Images	Description	Type
	When at Funky's Store, walk over the narrow pathway in front of it, use the nearby Mini-Monkey barrel and go through the tiny hole in the ice wall. Once inside, use the Monkeyport panel to land in a small igloo with a Golden Banana in it.
	Past the river near Cranky's Lab, use the Mini-Monkey ability to go through a tiny hole, inside it is a Bonus Barrel. Collecting the Golden Banana spawns a Bananaporter #3 inside the cave.	Krazy Kong Klamor!
	Inside Tiny's section of the big igloo, Simian Slam the red target on the ground to start the 30 second timer, hit the target another 3 times and a Golden Banana appears. To unlock the big igloo, fly through the DK Star above the igloo using the Rocketbarrel Boost barrel next to Cranky's Lab.
	Inside Tiny's room of the Cabin with Five Doors, defeat all purple Klaptraps without using Saxophone Slam.
	On a higher platform near Candy's Music Shop. Defeat the purple Kasplat and give their blueprint to Snide.

Chunky Kong

Images	Description	Type
	Destroy a cracked ice wall in front of the levels entrance using Chunky's Primate Punch, once inside use the Gorilla Gone pad and a Golden Banana will appear.
	Chunky must pick up a rock near the Ice Castle, walk up a nearby plank and put it down on a gray switch. In the ice cave on the opposite side of Cranky's Lab you can now pick up the newly-appeared boulder and put it down on yet another gray switch nearby. Finally, a small igloo exploded near the big igloo, collected the Golden Banana inside it.
	On the big igloo. Defeat the green Kasplat and give their blueprint to Snide.
	Inside Chunky's section of the big igloo, protect Rabbit for 28 seconds by defeating the Flames before they reach the TNT Barrel. To unlock the big igloo, fly through the DK Star above the igloo using the Rocketbarrel Boost barrel next to Cranky's Lab.
	Inside Chunky's room of the Cabin with Five Doors, Simian Slam the 3 targets on the floor while carefully avoiding the spotlights. The Gorilla Gone pad that then appears can be used to not get spotted despite being in the spotlight.	Searchlight Seek!

Colored Bananas

Main article: List of Bananas in Crystal Caves

There are a total of 500 Bananas (100 for each Kong) to collect.

Banana Coins

Main article: List of Banana Coins in Crystal Caves

There are a total of 58 Banana Coins across all five Kongs and 1 5-Banana Coin to collect.

Banana Fairies

Image	Description
	Inside Tiny's section of the igloo, the Banana Fairy will only appear after the Golden Banana is collected. Open the big igloo by flying through the DK Star above it using Diddy.
	Inside Diddy's floor 2 room of the Cabin with Five Doors, the Banana Fairy will only appear once the Golden Banana inside has been collected.

Battle Arena Pad

Image	Description
	Inside Donkey's cabin near Candy's Music Shop, use the gray switch to the left to turn the room in order to reach it.

Gallery

Areas

• 

  Igloo area

• 

  Cabin area

• 

  Upper area

Sub-areas

• 

  Igloo

• 

  Cabin

• 

  Ice castle

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	クリスタルどうくつ[?] Kurisutaru Dōkutsu	Crystal Cave
French	Caverne-Cristal[?]	Crystal Cavern
German	Kristall Kaverne[?]	Crystal Cavern
Italian	Grotte di Cristallo[?]	Crystal Caves
Spanish	Cueva Cristalina[?]	Crystalline Cave

Trivia

• The stalactite theme was originally composed for Banjo-Kazooie, and was given the title of "Big Foot" by the composer of both Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong 64, Grant Kirkhope.

Big Foot

File infoMedia:Big Foot.oga ​

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