Can Hideout Helm count? I know it's the final level and they're usually excluded from this list, but I think it might fit into the "even by final level standards" category. To review:
1.) You only have 42 minutes to deactivate the Blast-O-Matic, or K. Rool will destroy DK Island. The timer counts down in both cutscenes and selecting a character. (If he destroys the island, I don't know if this screws you over permanently or if you can restart the same as if you died)
2.) You have to fly through five stars as Diddy Kong, with the jetpack controls being awkward, and one of them being near a path that is easy to accidentally touch down upon, ending the flight. With a separate, much shorter time limit. And speaking of time limits, you lose extra time for the cutscenes if you fail and have to activate the stars again.
3.) One of Donkey Kong's two challenges is to hit three targets precisely by launching out of a barrel that's spinning fast. With a very short time limit.
4.) One of Chunky Kong's two challenges is to shoot moving enemies from a distance (even though by now you have the Sniper Scope). Again, with a short time limit.
5.) One of Lanky Kong's two challenges is to shoot some bees flying around. They can be very difficult to hit, and again, there's a short time limit.
6.) As if flying through stars with Diddy's jetpack wasn't enough, one of his two challenges is to fly around and shoot four switches, THEN stomp on the switch. Again, with a short time limit. The amount of tries these four particular challenges can take will also cut deeply into your 42 minutes to beat this level. (At least neither of Tiny's challenges are overly difficult)
7.) As noted on the mention of Frantic Factory, to get through the door containing the eighth and final key to K.Lumsy's cage, you need the Nintendo Coin, which can only be obtained by beating the Donkey Kong arcade game on Level 2 difficulty.
But on the flipside, there are no beaver minigames, and even these pale in comparison to the DK maze in Crystal Caves. (Which, along with Hideout Helm, is my least favorite level and the only two I really disliked, though Gloomy Galleon was less fun to me than the other five)
Can Hideout Helm count? I know it's the final level and they're usually excluded from this list, but I think it might fit into the "even by final level standards" category. To review:
1.) You only have 42 minutes to deactivate the Blast-O-Matic, or K. Rool will destroy DK Island. The timer counts down in both cutscenes and selecting a character. (If he destroys the island, I don't know if this screws you over permanently or if you can restart the same as if you died)
2.) You have to fly through five stars as Diddy Kong, with the jetpack controls being awkward, and one of them being near a path that is easy to accidentally touch down upon, ending the flight. With a separate, much shorter time limit. And speaking of time limits, you lose extra time for the cutscenes if you fail and have to activate the stars again.
3.) One of Donkey Kong's two challenges is to hit three targets precisely by launching out of a barrel that's spinning fast. With a very short time limit.
4.) One of Chunky Kong's two challenges is to shoot moving enemies from a distance (even though by now you have the Sniper Scope). Again, with a short time limit.
5.) One of Lanky Kong's two challenges is to shoot some bees flying around. They can be very difficult to hit, and again, there's a short time limit.
6.) As if flying through stars with Diddy's jetpack wasn't enough, one of his two challenges is to fly around and shoot four switches, THEN stomp on the switch. Again, with a short time limit. The amount of tries these four particular challenges can take will also cut deeply into your 42 minutes to beat this level. (At least neither of Tiny's challenges are overly difficult)
7.) As noted on the mention of Frantic Factory, to get through the door containing the eighth and final key to K.Lumsy's cage, you need the Nintendo Coin, which can only be obtained by beating the Donkey Kong arcade game on Level 2 difficulty.
But on the flipside, there are no beaver minigames, and even these pale in comparison to the DK maze in Crystal Caves. (Which, along with Hideout Helm, is my least favorite level and the only two I really disliked, though Gloomy Galleon was less fun to me than the other five)
Edited by Ghostkaiba297