Star Barrel
A Star Barrel is a wooden Barrel with white stars painted on it. This type of barrel first appeared in Donkey Kong Country, and can be found in every single Donkey Kong Country and Donkey Kong Land title. The Star Barrel acts as the midway point of a level. These barrels always float in mid-air, and will break upon contact. Upon being broken, a shower of colorful sparkles rains upon the Kongs, indicating the barrel is activated. If the heroes happen to lose an Extra Life before completing the level, they will restart the level at the mid-way point where the Star Barrel was activated (instead of at the beginning of the level like normal). However, if the Kongs lose all their extra lives and get a game over, the heores must start over from the last place they saved the game.
