Stage 2-4: Sawmill Thrill — Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze eGuide

Stage Basics

On your way through this stage, you’ll use Mine Carts and cut lumber to race along a variety of terrain. The tracks will only carry you so far. Be prepared to pass through sliced logs and leap onto falling debris. The map’s flooded segments provide new challenges. When it’s not possible to hop over an obstacle, you’ll need to pass under it—when you jump from the surface of the water, the force of your landing results in a short dive. Dipping under the water also allows you to collect submerged items, access a bonus room, and reach the map’s secret exit.

When you begin the stage, enter the hollow tree to the left. When you do, the bark vanishes to reveal a grassy surface. Climb to the top of the grass and leap to the nearby platform to collect a Puzzle Piece.

The first KONG Letter is floating just past the split log at point 2. Leap from the end of the log to collect the K as you return to the track.

Avoid jumping onto the platform at point 3. Instead, stay on the track and duck into the Mine Cart to pass under the platform and through the nearby Puzzle Piece—just make sure you jump over the upcoming saw blades.

The second KONG Letter hovers above the platform at point 4. If you’ve been leaping across the nearby platforms, just drop down and grab the O. Otherwise, make sure you jump up and collect it before you return to the lower path.

The third KONG Letter appears under the water as you approach point 5. Jump up and dive into the water just before you reach the nearby Puffton to grab the N. When you return to the surface, jump back onto the track above you and continue to the next area.

There’s a Puzzle Piece behind the window at point 6. Instead of ducking under the spikes, jump up to grab the Puzzle Piece as you pass through the structure.

As you approach the Puffton at point 7, jump up and dive into the water to pass under the enemy and into a bonus room.

Once you enter the bonus room, you have 30 seconds to collect all of the available bananas. If you succeed, a Puzzle Piece appears near the bottom of the room.

The map’s last Puzzle Piece floats high above the track. Instead of jumping over the block at point 8, hop onto it and leap to the next platform to pass above the spikes. Jump from the end of the platform to collect the Puzzle Piece before you return to the track.

The last KONG Letter is floating under the track at point 9. To traverse this area, you must jump along bits of falling debris. Stay on the last piece of debris until it passes under the G, then jump up to collect the KONG Letter on your way into the next area.

To reach the stage’s secret exit, you must take the lower path toward the end of the map. Instead of jumping across the gap at point 10, allow the Mine Cart to roll right off the end of the track. As you fall, press and hold the jump button until you bop the Puffton below you. The resulting bounce should allow you to reach the lower tracks.

Ride along the lower tracks until you reach the blue portal at the end of the map. Jump through the portal and strike the Slot Machine Barrel in the hidden room to unlock stage 2-A: Crumble Cavern.