Donkey Kong Country Returns
Bonus levels
All levels in a world except Boss levels have hidden K, O, N, and G letters. Collect all four of those letters in all levels in a world to unlock a bonus level. There are a total of eight bonus levels.
Rare Orbs
Successfully complete the bonus level in a world to get a Rare Orb.
Golden Temple
Successfully complete the game to unlock World 9: The Golden Temple. Collect all eight Rare Orbs to open the door to World 9: The Golden Temple.
Mirror mode
Successfully complete World 9: The Golden Temple to unlock Mirror mode. In this mode, all levels are reversed, Diddy cannot be used, and you get only one life and cannot use items.
Secret gallery images
Successfully complete the game and Mirror mode with all KONG letters and puzzle pieces collected to get a 200% game completion and unlock the following gallery images: Mole Carts, Petroglyph, Steamy Adventure, Temple Entrance, Temple Exterior, Tiki Extremes, Tiki Tong Storyboard, Volcanic Ascension.
Music galleries
Defeat the Boss of the indicated island section to unlock the corresponding music gallery at the “Extras” menu. Note: You cannot use Super Kong to complete the Boss fight.
- Beach music gallery: Defeat the Boss of the Beach section.
- Cave music gallery: Defeat the Boss of the Cave section.
- Cliff music gallery: Defeat the Boss of the Cliff section.
- Factory music gallery: Defeat the Boss of the Factory section.
- Forest music gallery: Defeat the Boss of the Forest section.
- Jungle music gallery: Defeat the Boss of the Jungle section.
- Ruins music gallery: Defeat the Boss of the Ruins section.
- Volcano music gallery: Defeat the Boss of the Volcano section.
Infinite DK Coins and lives
In Level 2-2: Sloppy Sands, there is an area just before the second checkpoint pig around the middle of the level with two squid turrets below a bridge. Use Diddy Kong’s jetpack to super bounce from the lower squid to the higher squid shot out from the turrets. After hitting the higher squid, simply bounce again on the lower squid. Repeat this as many times as desired to get unlimited DK Coins and lives.
Extra lives
Resume a saved game with a Wii-mote that has a low battery. Cranky will warn you that your battery is low and give you three extra lives.
Extra rewards
When you collect your prize from the barrel at the end of a level, hold the Wii-mote vertically and make punching motions to get multiple hits, and more rewards.
Using Roll Recovery to get KONG letters
When there is a KONG letter hanging off the edge of a cliff, use the Roll Recovery move to get it. Roll off the edge of the cliff, and then jump at the last second to reach a safe ledge above. Note: This requires precise timing and is not easy to master, but it is the only way to get some collectibles.
Television control in World 1-1
At the beginning of World 1-1, enter the tree house. Go to the television, and shake the Wii-mote to have it display the title screen.
Donkey Kong playing a DS
Allow the game to idle. After approximately thirty seconds, Donkey Kong will start playing a Nintendo DS.
Metroid reference
In the silhouette level of the factory area, the factory equipment in the background forms the shape of Ridley’s head.
Mr. Game & Watch refrenece
Look at the background in World 7-1: Foggy Fumes to see Mr. Game & Watch hammering on some pipes.
Volcano Boss in World 8 reference
The final boss is a giant Tiki head, with hands that extend out to kill you. Nintendo has used this final Boss type in multiple games, including Andross in Star Fox 64 (Nintendo 64) and Magic Hands in Super Smash Bros. Melee (GameCube).