Cannon Cluster

Template:Level Cannon Cluster is the eleventh level in Donkey Kong Country Returns, as well as the fourth level in the Beach world.

Located on the ocean shore of Donkey Kong island, this level features many ships that shoot cannonballs at Donkey and Diddy Kong. In many areas of the stage, the Kongs must dodge the cannonballs by simply running past them or taking shelter under large boards. Additionally, many wooden crates appear around the level, some of which block the Kongs' path or contain collectibles. Pinchleys and Snaps serve as common enemies in this level, along with some electric jellyfish enemies known as Jellybobs and Tiki Buzzes.

In the Time Attack mode of the game, a time of 0:50:00 is needed to get a gold medal, a time of 1:01:00 for silver, and a time of 1:23:00 for bronze.

Overview

The level begins on a flat bridge that leads onto a beach area. When the primates head over the beach, they a greeted by a Snap and a platform that can be pounded into the ground to reveal a similar platform nearby. There is another Snap farther ahead, followed by some more after a pair of crates. After the Kongs head down a small hill, they come across a flat area that is constantly being shot by cannonballs from the ships in the background. Before a raised area right after the section of land that the cannonballs hit is a DK Barrel. If the Kongs climb up the ledge next to it, they enter an area with a few bridges that lead over water. Gaps are in them, and Jellybobs jump out of them. A larger gap is after the second Jellybob, which holds the letter K of the K-O-N-G Letters and a Tiki Buzz in it. A raised section of the bridge is above this gap and the letter with a treasure chest, some bananas, and a Banana Coin on it. After another gap in the bridge placed near a Pinchley is a long, flat area of the bridge that is placed slightly above the sand. Cannonballs shoot in this area that the heroes must avoid. A gap with water inside of it is following this section of cannonballs with a Tiki Buzz in it.

File:CannonCluster265.png

The primates approach a gap with a Jellybob in it.

On the other side of the gap is a raised bridge that is on top of the sand from the beach. The Kongs can jump off of the end of this bridge to reach the beach area, where there are some Snaps and a treasure chest. Farther ahead of them, and also immediately before them, are some wooden platforms that can be pounded into the ground to reveal a similar platform nearby. One of these platforms has a fan next to it that makes a section of ground rise when blown on. After this fan is a small gap with a Jellybob in it. On the other side of the gap is a bridge that leads back onto land. The primates can find crates here, followed by a raised area that is being shot by cannonballs. A wooden board is above a treasure chest here that they can take shelter under from the cannonballs; the letter O is on top of the board. If they heroes progress onto a large wooden object and climb across it before they are shot by too many cannonballs, they can reach the Tutorial Pig with the checkpoint on a straight, flat bridge.

From the checkpoint, a gap located immediately after a lone barrel can be found with a Jellybob in it. On the other side of the gap is a vessel part that floats on top of the water. Another floating ship part is after the gap placed nearby, which has a Jellybob in it like most pits in the level. On this vessel section is a wooden crate, and above the gap right after it is the letter N. A Jellybob jumps out of the gap under the letter. There is yet another floating ship part on the other side of this gap with three bananas above it. The gap that is located after this ship part has another Jellybob in it and leads to a small, buoyant platform. The Kongs can reach an area of land near this floating platform, which has some crates on it. After the crates is a flat area that is shot by many cannonballs from the background. At the end of this area is a wall that the Kongs must go under by pounding a few crates apart to access an alcove below it. They can reach the letter G by jumping off of these crates. When they get under the wall, they come up to a curvy area of land covered with Pinchley enemies. Farther ahead of them is an area that is constantly being shot by cannonballs. They must run across this part of the level while trying to avoid the cannonballs to reach a raised piece of ground that can aid them in reaching a large, wooden ship part. Above an abyss next to the vessel is the level's Slot Machine Barrel; the level is completed when it is hit.

Secrets

K-O-N-G Letters

File:CannonCluster-G-DKCR.png

The letter G is found around a cannonball attack.

• K: The letter K is in a wide gap located in a bridge area in the beginning part of the level. A Tiki Buzz surrounds it that can be bounced on to reach the letter without falling into the pit.
• O: In the area of land that the cannonballs shoot at just before the checkpoint, the letter O can be found on a wooden board.
• N: In the part of the level where there are ship parts floating above the water, the heroes should jump off of a crate to reach the letter N above a Jellybob.
• G: When the Kongs reach the crates right after the second-to-last area of cannonballs, they should jump up to reach the letter G.

Puzzle Pieces

File:CannonCluster165.png

The Kongs in the first Bonus Level.

1. At the beginning of the level, the Kongs can find a wooden platform sticking out of the sand. They should pound it into the ground to make another one appear nearby. If they pound this into the ground, the previous wooden platform pops back out of the ground with a Puzzle Piece on it.
2. Just before the letter K is a platform surrounded by two Jellybobs. The primates should blow on a strange plant there to reveal the second Puzzle Piece.
3. Shortly after the letter K is a wooden platform sticking out of the sand. If they pound on it, another one appears behind them on a raised bridge area. If they stand on this wooden platform they can find a Puzzle Piece high in the air that they can reach with a jump from the platform.
4. The Kongs should pound on the wooden platform located after the wooden platform found previously under the third Puzzle Piece to make another appear next to a fan. The Kongs should stand on the object and blow on the fan to make a section of land rise from the ground. They can use the land to reach a Barrel Cannon that is able to shoot them into a Bonus Level. There, they must move along two large, moving platforms in order to collect forty-seven bananas, two Banana Coins, and an Extra Life Balloon. If everything is grabbed within thirty seconds, a Puzzle Piece appears.
5. The Kongs should destroy the crates placed immediately before the letter O to reveal a Puzzle Piece.
6. A barrel is located after the checkpoint. If they primates pick this up and use it to break open the wall on the wooden structure behind them, they can access a room in it with a Puzzle Piece.
7. In the area after the letter G is a barrel that is placed near some Pinchley foes. The Kongs should pick the barrel up and carry past an area of cannonballs to find a wooden ship part right before the Slot Machine Barrel. Using the barrel, they can smash a wall on the wooden object to reveal a passage into a Bonus Level, where they must bounce on a moving trampoline to grab some flying Banana Coins and bananas. If everything is collected within thirty seconds, the seventh Puzzle Piece appears.