Gloomy Gulch

Gloomy Gulch is the fifth area of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and the fourth of Donkey Kong Land 2. The area consists of abandoned houses and libraries below K. Rool's Keep. As the area title suggests, the atmosphere of this world is dark and ominous.

Levels

 * Ghostly Grove: In this level, Diddy and Dixie need to get to the other side of a dense forest. Kloaks appear at various points and throw items at the duo. Ghost Ropes occasionally appear to help the Kongs transverse long gaps. These gaps mainly have Zingers patrolling around the gaps.
 * Haunted Hall: Haunted Hall is the second level of Gloomy Gulch. It is set in a an abandoned library, where the heroes must ride a Skull Cart to the end. Haunted Hall is home to Kackle, the ghost of the Hall who chases after intruders, including the Kongs. There is a timer in the level during the time when Kackle pursues Diddy and Dixie. The timer can be adjusted with the use of Plus and Minus Barrels; the Plus Barrel adding time, and the Minus Barrel decreasing time. When the timer runs out, Kackle injures the lead Kong. The Kongs must try to avoid Kackle, and reach gates that Kackle cannot bypass. After a gate, there is usually another gate where a dormant Kackle waits for the Kongs.
 * Krazy Koaster: Krazy Koaster replaces Haunted Hall as the second level of Gloomy Gulch in Donkey Kong Land 2. It serves as a more generic rollercoaster-themed stage. This stage's setting is at an amusement park.
 * Gusty Glade: Gusty Glade is a dense forest level much like Ghostly Grove, but with a twist; heavy gusts and winds interfere with the Kong's way of getting to the end of the level. The wind blows normally at the start of the level, and strongly blows left or right later in the level. The wind has some advantages and disadvantages; the wind allows the Kongs to perform large jumps, but also may blow them into pits or at enemies in the direction it gusts. Rattly can be found at the start of the level if the Kongs use their Team-Up move to reach a hidden area with an Animal Crate of Rattly.
 * Parrot Chute Panic: The level's setting is a beehive. A purple Squawks by the name of Quawks slowly flies down a pit it hovers above when the Kongs grab hold of its talons. Quawks has the inability of flying upwards, hence the level name's being a pun on "parachute panic". Many Zingers and other members of the Kremling Krew patrol the area to pester the Kongs in the level.
 * Web Woods: The final level of the area is another dense forest but with a mist in the foreground. Diddy and Dixie are played as in the start of the level, but Squitter's Animal Barrel can be found in a small room shortly after the level's start. Squitter is now the playable character in the rest of the level, utilizing the ability to defeat enemies with webs, and create web platforms that are temporary.
 * Kreepy Krow: The area's guardian Kreepy Krow is the ghostly spirit of Krow, the boss of Gangplank Galleon, the first world of Donkey Kong Country 2.