Red-Hot Ride

Template:Level Red-Hot Ride is the ninth level of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Donkey Kong Land 2. It is the fourth area of Crocodile Cauldron in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Krem Cauldron in Donkey Kong Land 2.

The level takes place within a volcano, but unlike in Hot-Head Hop, solid ground is hard to come by. The Kongs must cross the lakes of lava by riding atop Hot Air Balloons, which are exclusive to this level. The Kongs must be careful though, as the balloons slowly descend into the lava unless they're on top of the thermals found throughout the level. Rambi can also be found and used throughout the first half of the level. Klomps, Klobbers, Flitters, Krunchas, Zingers, Click-Clacks and Neeks are all be found here.

Level Layout

Donkey Kong Country 2

From the start, Diddy and Dixie need to travel east and hop onto the the Hot Air Balloon, while jumping over an evil Klobber. They should cruise over the pit of lava on the balloon and reach land again. Not long after, the Kongs have to get on yet another balloon and ride over the burning-hot lava. When they get back on the ground, the monkeys can break open a Rambi box and gain the ability to ride on Rambi. Eventually, the group meets up with another Hot Air Balloon over the fiery lava. They must ride over it on the helpful balloon and attack Zingers on the way over. Rambi can beat the pests with a single touch, but if the monkeys have lost the buddy, they must maneuver around the wasps. There are also some steam geysers on the way, which can push the Kongs' balloon higher in the air, keeping it from falling into the fire. After the heroes face those obstacles, they need to get back on land and defeat a few enemies. Nearby, there is a Star Barrel that they can break.

Halfway through the level, the heroes should jump onto the next Hot Air Balloon and ride across the fire pit. There are Zingers and other insects on the way, as well as more steam geysers to keep the balloon in the air. A TNT Barrel also waits upon another balloon that can beat three Zingers, allowing the monkeys to get a hidden Banana Coin. They can finally get back on land after this, but not long after, they need to get on another balloon nearby. Over the burning lava, the Kongs need to avoid more enemies and also hop balloon-to-balloon, as not many steam geysers are around to hold up one balloon the whole time. They monkeys eventually have to go under three Zingers, but while being pushed up by steam geysers. This makes it quite tricky to pass. However, if they wait long enough and get close to the lava below, they can just make it without hitting any Zingers above. Dixie can also flutter over them. Finally, the heroes can hop off a falling Hot Air Balloon and finish the level.

Donkey Kong Land 2

From the start of this level, the heroes must travel east and watch out for a few enemies, then hop on the Hot Air Balloon. On the balloon, they need to simply continue in the same direction over the boiling lava. A few moments later, they end up back on land. Here, the Kongs must jump up to a raised piece of land and get on top of another balloon. On this, the small group should move along and jump on the next balloon nearby. This is followed by yet another balloon to hop on, right next to a Zinger. When they get back on solid ground, they must move forward and get into the Animal Barrel. It turns them into Rambi, who makes the level a bit easier. The rhino needs to jump on the next Hot Air Balloon floating by and travel over to another balloon nearby. After jumping balloon-to-balloon, the animal must hop on Flitters and other insects until he gets to the letter O, where he can fall down and land on solid ground, safely. Eventually, Rambi crosses the "No Animal Buddy" sign and turns back into Diddy and Dixie. These two heroes must then break open the Star Barrel.

At this point, the Kongs are about halfway through the level. They need to go to the right and get on the nearby Hot Air Balloon, then jump over a Zinger and land on another balloon. Once they travel all the way back to the ground, the monkeys must move on and jump across two Flitters. Then, they should jump on the next Hot Air Balloon. The heroes need to they move a little east, then jump over a Zinger and bounce off of a Flitter, landing on the following balloon. Afterwords, the group must jump on another balloons and then hop off of three insects to get to the next balloon. This one finally takes them back to solid ground, where they must beat some Klobbers and other enemies. Unfortunately, they have to jump on another Hot Air Balloon and ride across the fire pit, followed by a second balloon there. Finally, the heroes hop off a Flitter and back onto land, where they can exit the level.

Secrets

Donkey Kong Country 2

Bonus Level(s)

• At some point, the heroes should see two Krunchas and a "No Rambi" sign. Right before this part, they should use Rambi's special move to ram a wall open. The Bonus Level is inside. Here, the group needs to simply defeat all the Klomps and Flitters around the area. When they are all bested, a Kremkoin appears.
• Right under the Star Barrel, Diddy and Dixie should notice a banana under the rocks they are standing on. There is a Bonus Barrel under that banana. However, since it is underground, they can obviously not reach it from where they are now. So, the monkeys must hop onto the Hot Air Balloon, and go to the left, instead of the right. They should go through the ground and be ale to access the Bonus Level. Here, the heroes must get onto another balloon and grab stars as they travel above the burning pit below. Once all the stars are collected, the Kremkoin appears.

DK Coin

• After leaving the stone platform with the Star Barrel on it, the Kongs must travel across the pit of fire, where they eventually see two Zingers lined up with a Hot Air Balloon right between them. If the heroes can jump over these bees (possibly sacrificing a monkey), they should come up to the DK Coin and grab it.

Warp Barrel

• A Warp Barrel can be found near the beginning of the level. To find it, the apes must head to the second Hot Air Balloon, located just before the letter K, and jump into the top area of the screen. They should land in a hidden Warp Barrel, which takes them to a small area with several bananas forming an exclamation mark. Once they leave the area, they find themselves on a Hot Air Balloon right next to the end of the level.

Golden Feather (GBA Only)

• This Golden Feather is quite easy to find. To get it, the Kongs must find the letter G. If they travel backwards from there, the feather is right above a steam geyser in plain sight.

Photograph (GBA Only)

• At the Star Barrel, the monkeys will see a Kruncha. They have to defeat it to get the photograph. To do so, they should use their Team-up move and throw a monkey at him. Once the strong foe is beat, the Kongs are given the photograph. This gives them another picture to add into Wrinkly's Scrapbook.

Donkey Kong Land 2

Bonus Level(s)

• Right after the first fire pit past the Star Barrel, they Kongs must get up to a slightly higher elevation and jump to the left, using Dixie to flutter over with her ponytail. There should be a Hot Air Balloon that they can land on. On this, they must continue west and hop into the Bonus Barrel, leading to the Bonus Level. Here, the heroes need to collect stars in the air on a balloon. They must act fast, though, as the balloon is falling fast. When they get all the stars, they can obtain the Kremkoin.

DK Coin

• When going over the third pit of fire after the Star Barrel, they group must get on the second balloon. Here, they should see a banana below them. If they fall down a little bit on the Hot Air Balloon, the DK Coin should be in sight for grabs.