Stage 1-2: Shipwreck Shore — Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze eGuide

Stage Basics

To traverse this stage, you’ll need to take advantage of the grass scattered throughout each area. Cling to grassy surfaces to move past enemies and obstacles, or to find hidden areas that are well out of your jumping range. Don’t forget to explore the water, however. Many of the stage’s collectible items are hidden below the main path, as is the game’s first secret exit. This stage also contains the first available DX Barrels. Dixie Kong plays an important role in this stage—once you free her, try your best to keep her healthy.

When you first enter the stage, move to the left and hop onto the crates at the edge of the map. Use the Ground Pound move to smash through both of the crates, then pull the revealed handle to find the first Puzzle Piece.

Before you hop onto the large ship, dive into the water and swim to the right. Search the seaweed near the ship to find another Puzzle Piece.

The next Puzzle Piece is hidden below the ship’s deck. Stand on the loose panel, then perform a Ground Pound to drop into a bonus room.

Once you land in the bonus room, you have 30 seconds to collect all of the available bananas. If you succeed, a Puzzle Piece appears at the center of the room.

The first KONG Letter is high above the ship’s deck. Make sure you’ve freed Dixie Kong from the nearby DX Barrel, then hop onto the right edge of the ship. Turn back and wait for the nearest platform to swing toward you. When it does, jump up and use Dixie’s Helicopter Spin to land on the platform.

When the platform to the left swings toward you, jump over and grab the K before it moves out of range.

The second KONG Letter is floating at point 5. Simply grab it as you leap across the platforms. If you opt to search the water before you collect the O, use a Barrel Roll Jump to return to the platforms once you’ve returned to the main path.

The next Puzzle Piece is hidden above the stone arch near point 6. Use the grass to the right to climb into range, then leap across to the ledge hidden behind the stone wall. As you approach, the wall drops away and the Puzzle Piece is revealed.

Climb up to the large flower at point 7. While clinging to the grass, perform a Ground Pound to strike the platform above you. This not only opens the large flower, it also reveals a hidden sandbag.

Bop the Tuff Tucks on the platform to the right, then grab the dazed enemy and toss it into the sandbag. If you’re successful, the sandbag bursts and reveals the Puzzle Piece.

There’s a Puzzle Piece hidden near the air bubbles at point 8. Perform a Corkscrew attack to smash through the planks blocking the enclosure, then swim to the air bubbles. Collect all of the nearby bananas to reveal the Puzzle Piece.

The third KONG Letter is at point 9. Simply grab the N on your way through the area.

As you swim toward point 10, you’ll find several crates floating in the area. Use the Corkscrew maneuver to destroy all six crates and reveal a Puzzle Piece.

Swim down to the seaweed at point 11 to find a hidden container. Corkscrew past the container to reveal the Puzzle Piece inside it.

The stage’s final Puzzle Piece is hidden along the main path. After you activate the raft, use it to collect the bananas floating near point 12. Perform Ground Pounds to launch yourself high into the air—each time you do, try to grab at least one full line of bananas before you land. Collect all of the bananas before the raft moves past them to reveal a Puzzle Piece.

The last KONG Letter is floating at point 13. As the raft approaches this area, perform a Ground Pound to launch yourself into the air, then cling to the grass. Hurry over to grab the G, then drop back down to the raft. As soon as you grab the grass, it begins sliding into the nearby propeller. Move quickly to ensure you collect the KONG Letter before the grass is destroyed.

This stage contains a secret exit. To find it, you must use Dixie Kong to swim down to the portal near point 14. As you follow the main path, look for three Punchy Paddys on some floating crates. Dive into the water and follow the path down toward the secret exit. The passage contains a strong current, so you’ll need Dixie Kong’s Ponytail Propeller to reach this area. Head through the portal and strike the hidden Slot Machine Barrel to unlock stage 1-A: Zip-Line Shrine.