Precarious Plateau



Precarious Plateau is the fifth level in the Cliff world in Donkey Kong Country Returns. It is an optional level, and can be unlocked by buying the world's Map Key. The level is one of the shortest in the game.

Layout
The level starts off on a fairly small rock platform with a poundable cactus and an overhanging ledge. The player must bounce on a nearby Tiki Buzz with good timing to reach it, which will reveal an Animal Crate with Rambi in it. Then the player will hop across some fragile platforms and then jump across some bigger ones hanging by thick ropes, and swinging back and forth. Some of these hanging platforms are seen shaking, and will fall upon jumping on them. This and a few Tiki enemies are what the Kongs must face until the first checkpoint.

Then the player will encounter some more of these swinging platforms, along with a couple of Flaming Tiki Buzzes. More of the roped platforms are unstable this time, so the player will need to use extra caution. After reaching a big rock platform, the player will dispatch a few Skellyrexes, and optionally choose to enter an aclove with a Puzzle Piece inside it. Then after a few more platforms, the Kongs must enter an Arrow Barrel, and blast into the background, where they will run on slowly descending platforms past a fort resembling the arena for Thugly's Highrise. The stadium has some holes in it, where Tiki Tanks fall out, making that section harder. After jumping across more platforms, the Kongs will reach a solid platform with many stone blocks with Rambi's symbol on them, which can be charged through to access a Puzzle Piece. Pounding the DK Plate that appears right after reaching the platform will make an Arrow Barrel appear, blasting the simians into the background once more. There are rings of Tiki Zings, and Flaming Tiki Zings, some guarding bunches of bananas. After passing them, the player can jump to the end-of-level barrel.