#lagoon layer

After tanking the plunge from Ingot Isle, the banana-hunting pair land themselves on the Lagoon Layer, an idyllic landscape of gentle yellow grass and soft brown stone, alit with monkey shapes and inhabited by scrappy salvagers who don't take kindly to an unfamiliar face. But once we knock some enemies around and shatter the seals Void Co left to hamper the water flow of the lower sublevels, these colorful monkeys learn why it's nice to have a big strong Kong around like the surface monkeys do.

Invited to a big ol' party, a Bananza, the cool grooves and DK's rhythm awakens Pauline's musical abilities, freeing herself from her Odd Rock form, and granting DK his first Bananza form to boot, the powerful Kong Bananza to blast through concrete, and just generally be everything DK already is, but stronger... And faster, too...

From there we confront Void Co, battle one of Grumpy Kong's creations, and make our way down to the next layer, on the advice of the Elder Kong to reach the planet core, to get Pauline and DK's greatest wishes granted before Void Kong and his goons can get there. But they have a clear lead, so it's a rough task ahead.

I am in LOVE with Lagoon Layer. The colors are vibrant and enticing, the water is crisp and inviting... And the platforming is top tier. The first sublayer is incredible design for basic exploration, with multiple seals leading to the second and tons of fun secrets hidden in the ground. The way the upper and middle sublayers are intrinsically linked for the area's quest, each one leading to a plug to smash to raise the water level and reach more areas in sublayer two, is fun and intuitive. While the third sublayer isn't much, basically a path leading to the boss encounter, it serves as a present little dessert rather than tanking the tight level design present above.

The exotic yet nostalgic color choices of bright yellow grass and deep green metal, alongside a peppy, oceanside bop of an overworld theme, make exploring for treasures here, pure bliss. Which is a good thing, because this layer introduces the rest of the gameplay loop, adding to the basic platforming and hunting for Banandimonds; the fossils, and shops. Now there are common, rare, and unique fossils scattered across the major layers, which can be traded in for new clothes. DK's ties and pants, and Pauline's outfits, carry different benefits, which can be upgraded by buying them again. Pauline's outfits even have two recolors available, which carry the same effect as you upgrade the original. Fossils are a big drive to explore, responding to the hand slap sonar and scattered truly all over. It's not just gold and banandimond chips found off the beaten path anymore, tons of fossils and banandimonds are waiting.

By and large, Lagoon Layer is an absolute treat of an environment. I love how the local monkeys start off hostile, but as you demonstrate your usefulness and help them out they eagerly embrace you, helping you find banandimonds and partying at the Bananza. It's great to see not only that DK has so many ingot isle monkeys happy to see him, but also to see he makes fast friends everywhere. It's not just his bond with Pauline, he's such a a nice and fun Kong even the distrustful salvagers warm up to him quickly.