Quick Links
Barrels that launch you like a cannonball are a common mechanic in any of the 2D Donkey Kong Games, so it is no surprise to see them in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD. In fact, the fifth level of the first world features them heavily. Of course, you will also need to figure out how to use these barrels to reach the letters and puzzle pieces if you want to 100% Canopy Cannons. Here is where all of these collectibles can be found.
Related
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Reveals Updated Switch File Size
Fans can see how much space on their Switch they’ll need to allocate for the upcoming Donkey Kong Country Returns remaster next week.
All Letter Locations
The first letter can be found shortly after you start the first barrel cannon section. At one point, you will need to smash through the wall to get to the other side. You will hit the ‘K’ while going through the wall, which makes this letter almost unmissable.
The second letter is found almost immediately after the first puzzle piece. At the edge of the platform near the barrel you are supposed to jump into, you will see the ‘O’ floating up in the air. Once inside the barrel, wait for it to be aimed up at the letter and then fire to obtain it.
The third letter is shortly after the checkpoint. There will be a series of barrel cannons that have an item floating around them. One of these barrels has the letter ‘N’ floating around it. To get this letter, you will need to time when you fire the barrel cannon so that you fly into it as you land in the next barrel.
You will see the last letter in the sky above a moving barrel that will automatically launch you to the next area. Time it so that you shoot up and reach the letter ‘G’ while avoding the moving barrel.
All Puzzle Piece Locations
After you clear the first barrel cannon section and successfully land on the other side, there will be a patch of land with a flower. Smash the flower to get the first puzzle piece.
The second puzzle piece is well hidden. After obtaining the letter ‘O’, you will have the option to use one of the barrels to shoot down directly. This may seem like a path to certain death, but it actually leads to a series of barrels that will shoot you back to the first barrel while also giving you the second puzzle piece.
When you land on the large platform after the second puzzle piece, look for a small cracked platform further ahead. Pound the ground to destroy the platform and fall into a barrel that will lead you to a mini-game just like in 1-2. In order to get this puzzle piece, you must get all the bananas and coins without landing in the middle barrel, which sends you falling to your death. While you are at it, you must also get all the bananas within the time limit.
Just past the spot where you found the mini-game, there will be a nearby flower. Smash it to make the fourth puzzle piece appear.
A little after you’ve obtained the letter ‘N’, you will see a series of bananas leading away from the next barrel cannon that you are supposed to land in. Shoot up in that direction to reach a barrel that will send you flying into the last puzzle piece.
Time Attack Tips
While the barrel cannons make this a fairly easy level to complete on Time Attack, the tricky part will be timing with the barrels. If you try to rush or misjudge the timing of a barrel, you can lose a lot of valuable time. Once you have the pattern down, it is easy to make it to the checkpoint with about 30 to 40 seconds on the clock. If you can maintain that pace and not mess up, you’ll be able to at least get the gold if not silver.
- Released
-
January 16, 2025
- Developer(s)
-
Forever Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
- Multiplayer
-
Local Co-Op
, Online Co-Op - ESRB
-
E for Everyone – Mild fantasy violence
- How Long To Beat
-
11.5 hours
- Number of Players
-
1-2
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Strong
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
-
January 16, 2025