This article is about the large vehicle fromDonkey Kong Country Returns. For other uses, seeRocket Barrel (disambiguation).

Rocket Barrel
A Rocket Barrel fromDonkey Kong Country Returns HD
First appearance	Donkey Kong Country Returns (2010)
Latest appearance	Mario Kart World (cameo) (2025)

“Rocket what? In my day, we had to walk uphill both ways to get around the island!”

—Cranky Kong,Donkey Kong Country Returns instruction booklet

ARocket Barrel is a flyingbarrel-based vehicle. Rocket Barrels are typically used as a mode of transportation, usually being ridden by characters. Whilea barrel-like rocket has been used inDonkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! before, Rocket Barrels work dramatically different in comparison.

History[edit]

Donkey Kong Country series[edit]

Donkey Kong Country Returns (3D /HD)[edit]

Donkey Kong moving a Rocket Barrel between pistons inGear Getaway

Rocket Barrels mark their first appearance inDonkey Kong Country Returns, itsNintendo 3DSport, and itsNintendo Switchport, serving as an aerial equivalent to aMine Cart. Initially, a Rocket Barrel resembles aBarrel Cannon but with red hoops and no symbol on the front. When the player hops inside, they have to mash the button to power it up. Each press sends out a loud blast of exhaust, and if the player does not press the button again soon enough, the Rocket Barrel resets back to its initial state. The Rocket Barrel launches after the button is pressed five times (three times in the 3DS version), which not only causes it to gain a rocket-like nose and red fins, but also brings theKongs out of the craft to hold on from the outside. Once activated, Rocket Barrels move automatically across the entire level in autoscrolling scenarios, with the player steering to collect items and avoid hazards. Much like a Mine Cart, a Rocket Barrel explodes on contact with anything that is not an item or a balloon of aMole Guard. This instantly defeats the player. In the New Mode ofDonkey Kong Country Returns 3D and the Modern Mode ofDonkey Kong Country Returns HD, an equippedCrash Guard can protect the Rocket Barrel from two hits. Mercy invincibility is provided as normal, but likeBanana Juice the protection of a Crash Guard is not replenished if Donkey Kong dies after using them.

The controls for a Rocket Barrel may vary based on the level. In more common side-scrolling levels, the player holds the button or button to rise up, and lets go of to let the Rocket Barrel descend. At the top edge of the screen, the Rocket Barrel enters a holding pattern instead of leaving the screen. The bottom of the screen will destroy the barrel. Once the player approaches the final platform of the level, the Rocket Barrel runs out of gas and drops to the ground. While it explodes, this is an cutscene safely delivering the player to the area with theSlot Machine Barrel. In the much rarer vertical-scrolling levels, the player can use or to move left or right, though the controls are more slippery compared to when on on foot. Holding the or button makes the Rocket Barrel boost higher on the screen. If the button for boosting is not held, the Rocket Barrel descends back to the bottom of the screen. The player cannot leave the screen, being held up by the bottom edge and repelled by all other edges. The bottom edge and top edge prevent the Rocket Barrel from getting as close to them. There are only two vertically scrolling Rocket Barrel levels:Lift-off Launch andTiki Tong Terror. Both of them end arbitrarily: the first has the player rise into the clouds, while the second ends on a cutscene leading to the next part of the level. Lift-off Launch starts with the player entering a giant rocket that reacts to input like it is a Rocket Barrel, but the final input has the top half of the rocket open up to allow a Rocket Barrel to fly out.

There are two themes associated with the Rocket Barrel. "Mine Menace" is used for most horizontally scrolling levels.Hot Rocket plays a different arrangement of "Mine Menace". "Mole Patrol" is used forMole Patrol and Lift-off Launch. The latter has a variation, titled "Red Rockin'", which only plays in Tiki Tong Terror. This second composition associates "Mole Patrol" ever so slightly more with the vertically-scrolling levels. These themes only start when the Rocket Barrel launches, and have a lower intensity version that plays once the player lands.

Levels

• Peaceful Pier
• Mole Patrol
• Crowded Cavern
• Gear Getaway
• Lift-off Launch
• Hot Rocket
• Tiki Tong Terror (first part)

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze[edit]

The Kongs on the Rocket Barrel inBlurry Flurry

The Rocket Barrel appears next inDonkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and its Nintendo Switchport. It is mostly the same as inDonkey Kong Country Returns, but can take up to two hits before exploding (three in theNintendo Switch port's Funky Mode), which can once again be further extended by means of the returning Crash Guard. Likewise, the player can collectHearts on the way to restore part of the vehicle's hit points. In Hard Mode, the Rocket Barrel explodes from taking one hit, just like inDonkey Kong Country Returns.

"Mine Menace" is once again utilized as the main music track in the majority of Rocket Barrel stages, appearing in all of them except for Rocket Rails. In addition, the theme's instrument composition varies between each level.

Levels

• Rodent Ruckus
• Twilight Terror
• Reckless Ride
• Blurry Flurry
• Rocket Rails

The Super Mario Bros. Movie[edit]

Donkey Kong firing one of his kart's Rocket Barrels at the Koopa General's bulldozer inThe Super Mario Bros. Movie

Donkey Kong and Mario riding the other Rocket Barrel

InThe Super Mario Bros. Movie, a pair of Rocket Barrels, retaining their design fromDonkey Kong Country Returns andDonkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (with the addition of a stylized depiction ofDonkey Kong's face charred on the sides), appear as part of Donkey Kong'skart. Donkey Kong uses one to destroy theKoopa General's kart onRainbow Road, andMario and Donkey Kong later use the other Rocket Barrel to escape from aMaw-Ray.

Mario Kart World[edit]

Asticker of a Rocket Barrel can be unlocked by completing the "Check out the secret back-road barrel shortcut!"mission in the Free Roam mode ofMario Kart World.

Gallery[edit]

• 

  Donkey Kong Country Returns

• 

  Donkey Kong Country Returns

• 

  Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

• 

  Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

• 

  The Super Mario Bros. Movie

• 

  Donkey Kong Country Returns HD

• 

  Mario Kart World

Names in other languages[edit]

References[edit]

• Barrels
• Aircraft
• Explosives
• Projectiles
• Donkey Kong Country Returns objects
• Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze objects
• The Super Mario Bros. Movie objects