DKC Atlas Forum

[Qyzbud]

This is only in the Game Boy Color version that I know of, but I found a strange exit sign in the smack middle of Croctopus Chase itself.

Image for clarification;

Donkey Kong Country (US).png (4.55 KiB) Viewed 29538 times

Why is this? Anyone have suggestions?

[Katastrophe Kong]

Isn't that a Halfway Through sign? And you said you found it "smack in the middle"? What's so weird about that?

[Gaz]

Halfway Through Sign? I never heard of that... I thought it was a misplaced exit sign.

[Katastrophe Kong]

It's that annoying stick in the ground that tells you when the level is about to become extraordinarily difficult.

[Qyzbud]

This is only in the Game Boy Color version that I know of [...]

Actually, the SNES version has essentially the same midway area configuration:

Croctopus-Chase-midway-arrow-sign-(SNES).png (18.41 KiB) Viewed 29492 times

[...]but I found a strange exit sign in the smack middle of Croctopus Chase[...]

That's not an exit sign, it's an arrow sign; exit signs (rather fittingly) have 'EXIT' written on them.

Here's the end of Croctopus Chase, with both the arrow and exit signs visible for comparison:

Croctopus Chase end area (SNES)

Croctopus-Chase-end-area-(SNES).png (53.03 KiB) Viewed 29497 times

So, although your terminology is incorrect, you draw attention to an interesting point - Croctopus chase has not one, but TWO arrow signs! I'll have to check my maps to confirm, but I think this might be the only level with two arrow signs. Fascinating.

I believe this is to prevent a player coming back at the star barrel and being disorientated. All other underwater levels use an arrow made of bananas to achieve the same effect - just with an additional boost to the banana tally.

DKC-underwater-midway-banana-arrows-(SNES).png (65.48 KiB) Viewed 29497 times

As for why Croctopus Chase gets an arrow sign instead... who knows? Perhaps the designers thought it'd be cramped with the larger 'banana arrow' in place, so they opted to give this level an extra arrow sign for aesthetic reasons.

[Simion32]

Could have been a sprite memory limitation? No idea.

Yes, Croctopus Chase does have 2 arrow signs, and it IS the only level with 2 arrow signs. I just scanned through the levels with RE to check.

Not to be left out, Slipslide Ride has the only left-pointing sign.

[Qyzbud]

Not to be left out, Slipslide Ride has the only left-pointing sign.

I remember noticing this a while back... I think SsR might be the most unusual level in the trilogy, all told.

[Tailikku]

Not to be left out, Slipslide Ride has the only left-pointing sign.

I remember noticing this a while back... I think SsR might be the most unusual level in the trilogy, all told.

In more ways than one:
1) The only Ice Cave
2) The only level with Ice Cave Chant
3) One of the few levels if not the only one, with ice ropes.

[OneOf99]

1) The only Ice Cave

Uh what about all the levels in DKC 2? Black Ice Battle, Clappers Cavern, and that part of animal antics.

[spaceman2028]

I think he meant in DKC1, not in DKC2 or any games after.