"DKCR" - Cliff Trivia Quiz

Answer: By beating the ground repeatedly

As the Kongs leave the Forest they head up to the Cliffs of the island, immediately immersing themselves in an almost-prehistoric landscape containing nothing more than structures built too long ago and the bones of old dinosaurs. One notable part of this level is the introduction of tar, an oozing substance which Kongs can either sluice through or, in better scenarios, avoid it entirely. Should DK accidentally cover himself head to toe in tar, he can get it off by smashing the ground several times. Until that happens, he can't roll or jump too high.

Answer: In a mine cart

Prehistoric Path is the only level in the Cliffs area to require a vehicle of some sort, and it's probably for the best considering the precarious location. Although Donkey Kong starts on foot, the rest of the stage is completed in a mine cart (not on top, as happens in some levels). Throughout, DK has to maneuver different shoddy structures, riding along them from one end to the other, but the catch is that they'll be sinking the entire time.

They will, however, rise from the tar below if you jump, removing the weight from the track.

Answer: Platforms

As the Kongs ascend into the mountainous region before them, paths start to get even trickier to navigate. Heading into Weighty Way it becomes apparent that the only way across to the boss is going to be fraught with dangerous machines-- this entire level contains weighted and counterweighted platforms that can be destroyed if dropped too far.

While later platforms will lock on more complex mechanisms, much of the difficulty of this level stems from the Kongs needing to properly assess each platform and jump to avoid a tragic fall.

Answer: No

Boulder Roller keeps Kongs in the rocky, dinosaur bone-infested world that is the Cliffs, but most of the level actually takes place in caverns throughout the mountains. In this level, DK and Diddy need to jump along narrow gaps while avoiding getting hit by giant, spiky boulders which seem to fall endlessly from the walls. One hit can take out a good chunk of life, and there's no way to destroy them as they head your way, so it all comes down to timing and good evasion to get through.

Answer: One

Like all areas before and after it, the Cliffs can make use of the Key purchasable from Cranky's shop, and in this case the option to use it appears after you complete Weighty Way (6-3). While the trail heads straight through Boulder Roller (6-4) you can instead head north, up and over that level to complete Precarious Plateau instead; it only allows you to skip 6-4 and nothing else.

This level is one of only four in the game to feature Rambi the Rhino, and while the animal buddy can help you bash through things quite easily, he can prove a bit heavy-handed for some of the obviously destroyable platforms underfoot.

Answer: False

Crumble Canyon is as dangerous as its name implies; the level is filled with platforms and cliffs that will shatter as you slide down them to what one can only assume is an immeasurably awful end. In addition to this, the further along in the level you go, the more absurd the obstacles get; tar makes a gooey reappearance while a gigantic and obviously-irate boulder will start squashing you if it rolls close enough.

After the level is complete, though the Kongs were close to the boss level on the map, they'll have to take the long way around; the map will reform since the entire area fell to pieces. You can only blame yourself.

Answer: Crabs

After heading down to the south end of the map in the Cliffs you'll end up coming across a part of the stage that brings you down to the water where, as it seems, the wrecked boats of earlier levels have become further-decimated by the destruction of the landscape.

In Tippy Shippy, DK and Diddy have to climb and jump their way through the wreckage while using opening and shutting cannons to avoid falling into the waters below. The level sees the reappearance of crab and squid enemies, the latter of which are shot from cannons and can be electrified.

Answer: False

While Clifftop Climb focuses your attention on constantly moving upward through the level (to regain altitude after the horrible, crumbly debacle of level 5-6) much of it is also set on making sure you fall to your death. Almost every platform found in the level, including springboards, can crumble away either every couple seconds or with repeated jumps on their surfaces.

This obviously forces you to be quick on your feet. That being said, there are a few (though very sparing) platforms which will not break; many of these contain checkpoints in case you do make a fatal error.

Answer: Lava

This sixth Banana Temple level is the only one that aims the Kongs at a goal directly upward from the starting point. In the level, unlocked if you collect all of the K-O-N-G letters from around the Cliffs, you make your way up through a difficult stage chased by ever-rising lava levels.

The platforms you'll need to take will consistently shrink as you advance until, towards the end, all you'll have are a couple of springboards. There are also very few enemies in the level; a few electric bugs will wreak havoc if you let them.

At the end is an orange orb.

Answer: Thugly

Mugly was relatively easy in comparison; the Kongs simply had to bide their time until the boss was open enough to get jumped on. In Thugly's case, however, things are a bit different. Heading to Thugly's Highrise (6-B) you'll notice that this boss is an improved counterpart with an armored back.

In addition, Thugly will have superior fire power-- literally. Thugly shoots flame blasts and heats his metal components to hold back the Kongs. Additionally, his brute strength can cause rockfalls and shockwaves, so as you descend into the deeper levels of the highrise, you'll need to keep your guard up.