Slot Machine Barrel
Slot Machine Barrels[1] are a unique type of Barrel that appear in Donkey Kong Country Returns, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and its Nintendo Switch port. They have the same purpose as End of Level Targets and Level Flags from earlier Donkey Kong Country titles, even giant fruits from Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, in that they represent the end of every level (except boss levels and Key Temples).
At first, the Slot Machine Barrel is idle and displays a yellow star on a red background. When the Kongs go near a Slot Machine Barrel, the roulette in its center begins to spin between prizes. They include a banana (which represents five), a Red Balloon, a Banana Coin, or a DK symbol. By hitting the barrel, the Kongs win the displayed prize, and the level ends. Unlike End of Level Targets, the prizes for Slot Machine Barrels are consistent in every level.
If the Kongs hit a Slot Machine Barrel just as it displays the DK logo, the player can shake the Wii Remote (and Nunchuk, depending on play mode) in Donkey Kong Country Returns, or press the 
/ 
or 
/ 
buttons (depending on the control scheme) in Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D to hit the Slot Machine Barrel several times until it breaks. The number of hits given to the barrel provides the same number of a random prize to the Kongs. The count does not exceed 15, even if the Slot Machine Barrel is hit more than 15 times.
In the Time Attack mode, the Slot Machine Barrel displays a checkered flag. By hitting the barrel, Professor Chops waves the checkered flag to stop the timer, and the Kongs finish the level. In Donkey Kong Country Returns, the Slot Machine Barrel of the Golden Temple displays a Mirror Trophy. When the Kongs hit that Slot Machine Barrel, the player unlocks Mirror Mode.
In Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, some levels contain more than one Slot Machine Barrel. These additional barrels mark a secret exit, much like secret Goal Poles from the New Super Mario Bros. series, and they unlock a hidden, alternate path on the world map.
Gallery
Donkey Kong Country Returns
A Slot Machine Barrel as it appears in the game
The Kongs win a red Life Balloon from a Slot Machine Barrel
Donkey Kong hitting a Slot Machine Barrel when the DK logo is displayed
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ゴールバレル[?] Gōru Bareru |
Goal Barrel | |
| French | Tonneau-tombola[3] | Raffle Barrel | |
| Italian | Barile sorpresa[4][5] | Surprise barrel | |
| Spanish | Barril sorpresa[2] | Surprise Barrel |
Trivia
- The jingle that plays just before the barrel spins is the exact same sound effect that plays when a Gōrumondo or Mini Panda is defeated in Donkey Kong Jungle Beat.
References
- ^ Donkey Kong Country Returns instruction booklet, page 18 (North American version), page 23 (PAL version)
- ^ Donkey Kong Country Returns instruction booklet, page 62
- ^ Donkey Kong Country Returns instruction booklet, page 40
- ^ Donkey Kong Country Returns Italian manual, pag. 23
- ^ Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Italian electronic manual, section 9
