Discovering every hidden collectible in Donkey Kong Bananza's Tempest Layer can be a daunting yet rewarding task. This treacherous region, inhabited by resilient elephant creatures, is constantly battered by extreme weather, including molten rain and fierce lightning. Navigating these environmental hazards while uncovering the elusive Banandium Gems requires strategic use of abilities, particularly the Elephant Bananza, which is crucial for interacting with the unique terrain. This guide offers a meticulous breakdown of each gem's location across the three sublayers, ensuring players can systematically complete their collection amidst the challenges.
The journey through the Tempest Layer involves mastering various environmental interactions and combat scenarios. From manipulating floating platforms and clearing lava-filled passages to engaging in battles against formidable foes, each gem presents a distinct puzzle. Players must adapt their approach, utilizing Donkey Kong's versatile moveset and the Elephant Bananza's powers to overcome obstacles. This detailed walkthrough aims to simplify the collection process, providing clear pathways and tips for success, ultimately leading players to secure all 70 Banandium Gems and progress through this challenging stage of Donkey Kong Bananza.
Sublayer 900 holds a significant portion of the Tempest Layer's Banandium Gems, with 24 elusive collectibles waiting to be found. Players must navigate dynamic environments, from destroying oversized watermelons to scaling towering elephant statues, all while contending with the unique challenges posed by the Tempest Layer's volatile weather. Success in this area heavily relies on skillful platforming and clever utilization of the Elephant Bananza's suction and manipulation abilities to access secret areas and hidden pathways.
The initial gems in Sublayer 900 are often tucked away in less obvious spots, such as a hole revealed after destroying a large fruit or at the summit of a stone elephant sculpture, requiring precise jumps and environmental interaction. Later gems demand more complex strategies, involving careful management of throwable terrain to activate platforms or venturing into areas patrolled by tornadoes. Additionally, players will encounter the Liftoff Labyrinth, a ruin filled with additional gems that necessitate navigating lava and utilizing liftoff ore to reach elevated sections. Further exploration leads to uncovering gems by feeding Growtones with gold, engaging in combat trials, and burrowing through soft earth walls. One particularly tricky gem is found by draining a secret lava pocket using the Elephant Bananza, highlighting the critical role this ability plays. The culminating set of gems in this sublayer is awarded for completing the game's main narrative and a complex rehearsal challenge, involving the strategic use of salt and glow stone to overcome various environmental puzzles and enemy encounters. The final gem can be acquired through an exchange at the Tempest Chip Exchange, a unique system requiring Banandium Chips and gold.
The subsequent Sublayers, 901 and 902, introduce new challenges and unique opportunities for collecting the remaining Banandium Gems. Sublayer 901, with its 9 gems, builds upon previous mechanics while introducing new combat scenarios and hidden passages. Sublayer 902, the largest with 37 gems, demands a mastery of all learned abilities, including advanced maneuvers with the Elephant Bananza, to conquer its intricate design and uncover every last collectible.
In Sublayer 901, the quest begins after confronting Sinister Blusterwing, with gems appearing in unexpected places like an elephant's trunk-like structure requiring lava to be cleared. Combat challenges like "Revolving-Ring Rumble" and "Iron-Inferno Imbroglio" reward successful enemy defeat, often incorporating environmental hazards like lava. Navigating areas affected by Void Machines and uncovering secrets within metal towers are also key to progression. Meanwhile, Sublayer 902 presents the bulk of the remaining gems, accessible through diverse methods. These include mastering "Shifty Smash" challenges that involve manipulating platforms and terrain, discovering hidden areas within the Jumbo Spa, and interacting with characters like Cranky Kong for conversational rewards. Combat encounters become more complex, requiring strategic use of the Elephant Bananza to defeat enemies by manipulating the ground beneath them. Furthermore, patience is tested with the Fragmentone recovery missions, where players must carefully escort fragments through lightning-stricken terrain. The sublayer also features numerous hidden gems accessible by breaking through walls, locating them beneath water, or using specialized abilities to reach elevated and otherwise inaccessible platforms. Ultimately, gathering all gems in Sublayer 902 requires thorough exploration and adept application of Donkey Kong's full range of skills in this tempestuous environment.