Wooden Barrel

To see the disambiguation page for barrels, see Barrel.

Wooden Barrel
Artwork of a Barrel from Donkey Kong Country Returns
Purpose(s)	defeating enemies, discovering Bonus Rooms
Game(s)	Donkey Kong (arcade) Donkey Kong Country Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! Donkey Kong Country Returns Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
First Appearance	Donkey Kong (arcade) (1981)
Latest Appearance	Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Nintendo Switch) (2018)

Wooden Barrels (also known as simply "Barrels") are the most basic and common barrels seen in the entire DK series as a whole. Debuting in the original Donkey Kong arcade game, they were then used as a base weapon in games.

Impact and History

Early Donkey Kong getting ready to throw a wooden barrel.

Debut

Barrels in the original Donkey Kong were rolled down the construction site, down support beams and ladders, by Cranky Kong, or Donkey Kong Snr. Barrels were the main weapon used in 25m. Jumpman had to jump over them, with each successful jump earning 100 points. If he missed the jump, he would lose a life. Their only weakness was a Hammer, usable by Jumpman.

Donkey Kong Country series

Donkey Kong would later carry on the tradition of throwing barrels as weapons in the popular Donkey Kong Country trilogy. Here, the base wooden barrels appear commonly, here Donkey or Diddy Kong could pick them up and toss them, which would roll into enemies or walls, and could break bonus rooms. Barrels here came in many different forms, such as the TNT Barrel, a destructive and explosive version, or the Auto-Fire Barrel, that could launch Kongs across levels.

Enemies in later versions of the DKC games would use the types of barrels as their own weapons, such as the exiled Manky Kongs, which would toss unlimited amounts. Klobbers and Knockas would hide in barrels and ram into Kongs with them, and the TNT Knockas were much worse, as the slightest touch when they're running would explode them.

Manuel

Donkey Kong Country (SNES)

"These common barrels make a great projectile weapon against enemies. They smash into splinters upon contact. Steel rimmed barrels roll over enemies until they hit a wall."

Donkey Kong Country (GBA)

"Use regular barrels to knock out enemies or uncover secret bonus areas."

Donkey Kong 64

Donkey carrying a Barrel as part of his training.

Wooden Barrels only appear in Donkey Kong 64 in the very beginning for Cranky's training segment. Because of this, only DK can carry them. In this training mission, he is required to pick up and carry all 5 Barrels to complete the task. DK carries the barrels the same way he does in the original Donkey Kong Country.

Donkey Kong Country Returns

Wooden Barrels appear in Donkey Kong Country Returns as very rare items, only appearing in a few levels. They act the same as the previous Country titles, being used as an offensive weapon when being held or when thrown at an enemy.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Wooden Barrels return in Tropical Freeze, once again rarely appearing. They serve the exact same role.

Spin-Offs

DK: King of Swing

A lone wooden barrel in Cactus Woods.

Wooden Barrels appear commonly in King of Swing, containing either a single Banana or a Banana Bunch when broken.

DK: Jungle Climber

Several selectable barrels in the Bonus Level.

Wooden Barrels appear in DK: Jungle Climber, serving the same role from King of Swing. They also appear in Bonus Levels, where Donkey Kong is able to select a randomly sized barrel to collect bananas. The larger the barrel, the more bananas he can collect.

Gallery

A wooden Barrel in Slipslide Ride.

Dixie carrying a Wooden Barrel in her ponytail.

A vertical line of wooden barrels in Kremling Kamp.

The Barrel in Jungle Climber.

A Wooden Barrel in Tidal Terror.

A Wooden Barrel in the Fruity Factory level.

The old wooden barrel render

Kiddy Kong tossing a wooden barrel.