Bonus Barrel

"There are dozens of Bonus Stages found in Donkey Kong Country. Some are easy to find, while some are almost impossible. All will give you extra lives, bananas or other surprise items."

—Donkey Kong Country manual, pg. 23

Bonus Barrels are present throughout several Donkey Kong games, particularly the Donkey Kong Country trilogy. Bonus Barrels are easily recognized by their large "B" and yellow explosion in the center. They have been featured in many platforming DK games.

History

Donkey Kong Country/Land series

Initially, in DKC's Super Nintendo iteration, Bonus Barrels were simply Barrel Cannons that, when entered, would automatically launch the Kongs into a Bonus Stage. However, it was Donkey Kong Country 2 that introduced the Bonus Barrel's design, which was kept for Donkey Kong Country 3 and the original DKC's Gameboy Advance remake. The same was applied for the Donkey Kong Land series and it's sequels as well.

Bonus Barrels were scattered throughout nearly every single stage in the DKC and DKL series (water stages initially did not have bonus barrels). The appearance of a bonus stage varied per type of stage. For example, a walkway stage had a walk way as the main platform for a bonus game. The goal of the bonus games themselves are indicated when entered; a screen will show what kind it is (i.e. "Destroy them All!"). In Donkey Kong Country 2 and Donkey Kong Country 3, you were rewarded coins for completing such challenges. DKC2's bonus coins were Kremkoins, with the notable exception of Lost World's DK Coin reward. DKC3's were Bonus Coins.

In all 3 games, Bonus Barrels were required to get the highest percent of completion. If you got all the bonus barrels in a stage, there was a ! added to the end of a stage's title. In DKC3, the flag flapping high indicates that all the bonus barrels were found.

Donkey Kong 64

Donkey Kong 64, they functioned differently. Instead of the "B" on the barrel, a picture of a Golden Banana is on them, and when approached, purple sparkles appear around them. When a Kong jumps into one of these, they are taken to a special mini-game which rewards them a Golden Banana. In the stage Hideout Helm, the bonus barrels are metallic with K. Rool's face, and when you win the bonus you earn a Banana Medal.

DK: Jungle Climber

Bonus Barrels make their latest appearance in DK: Jungle Climber and they no longer have any coins in them, and are mainly used to get bananas in the bonus game, Banana Bonanza, for bonus lives.