Set Difficulty	Slightly above average vanilla DK64 difficulty...except for the final section...
Approximate time to master	2-5 hours (but very skill dependent)
Minimum number of playthroughs needed	1)
Number of missable achievements	N/A
Hardest Achievement	Grapes. Melons. Oranges and Coconut Shells! (10)

Note: this guide was written prior to the discovery of a significantly improved strategy for the games final challenge. This makes this set exceptionally easier and less ridiculous to complete. I have updated the final section with an addendum to add the better strategy, but leaving the old way for those who want to torture themselves doing that.

"Anyone who [masters this game] is cracked."

Kong Quest is (to my knowledge) the first ever true DK64 mod/romhack, meant to showcase a program created by the hack's developer to make DK64 mods. While the toolset itself is quite technically impressive, the hack itself is a bit...lacking. Everything used is a recycled asset and the levels themselves feel fairly incohesive, with obstacles and collectibles just kind of thrown all over. I can understand it is meant more as a tech demo of romhacking tools rather than a bonafide game, so I can cut it some slack. It is fairly playable all in all...with one very major exception at the very end, which is still playable but really stretches the boundaries of the definition of playable...but we'll get to that later.

Kong Quest is a fairly short, linear game. There are five levels (one for each Kong), all taken straight from the original DK64 with different assets added/removed. Each contains 1 golden banana, 25 regular bananas, and 1 banana coin, as well as a banana barrel that takes you to the next stage (or in the final level, the game completion screen).

To beat the set, you will need to grab all of each stage's collectibles. For the mastery, you will need to do this in a single session, 25 minute speedrun. This guide will assume you're going for the speedrun and will route each stage to be as efficient as possible. You will find the 25 minute time limit is fairly generous and your run will mostly come down to not making mistakes and having to redo sections more than need to cut every corner.

I'm going to warn you - the first stage is the second-hardest of the game. It's truly not that bad once you understand what you're doing, but it does require one sorta-glitch and one definite glitch to complete 100%.

After picking a new game file, you'll start in a cave. Run to the left (avoid the big banana peels all over the ground, they'll cause you to slip and waste time) and enter the barrel at the end. Immediately shoot out of it to land on a platform that does not at all look out of place.

Grab the first banana on the ramp (1/25) and get ready for the first glitch - the moon kick! It's really not too terrible to perform - just head toward the ramp, holding forward on your directional stick/input the whole time, jump at the ramp, attack in midair right before you hit the ground, then attack again while repeatedly hitting attack to perform DK's running kick. Do it right and DK will launch high in the air, allowing you to make the jump to the grassy alcove directly across from you which contains a 5 banana bundle (6/25).

If you start the moon jump early enough on the ramp and you fail, you should be able to bail out and get back on the platform before you fall off. If you do fall off, I recommend restarting to avoid losing time.

If you need more help getting down the moon kick, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFm9rfWH49k

After moon jumping and grabbing the bananas, drop down to the cave entrance directly below. There is a single banana here (7/25). You'll need to backflip to grab it - hold Z to crouch before jumping to do so. I recommend rolling as much as possible to move faster - hold Z and press attack while holding your control stick in the direction you want to go.

After grabbing that banana, move/roll out of the cave and head forward left toward a question mark box. Backflip jump on top of it for another banana bundle (12/25), then keep moving forward to another circular area with a barrel. Enter the barrel, then wait for it to aim at the gold banana in front of DK's Treehouse and fire. Congrats, your first gold banana!

He's the Leader of the Bunch, You Know Him Well (2)
Collect Donkey Kong's Golden Banana

Once you grab that, roll straight away from the tree house to another cave entrance. At the end of this, there will be another stray banana (13/25). Grab it and backtrack out, then head for the water. Climb the ladder, jump in the barrel from the start, and launch to the same platform we moon kicked off of. To the left of the ramp are a bunch of dangling platforms. You will need to carefully backflip jump up a whole series of these until you reach DK's banana coin.

His Coconut Gun Can Fire in Spurts (1)
Collect Donkey Kong's Coin

On this same platform, look out to the right and you will see a stray banana in mid air. Jump to grab it (use your midair attack to hover and control your jump a bit), then push right to try and land on the platform ramp to save some time. Then backflip jump back up to the same platform where the coin was.

Here's the second sorta-glitch you'll need to do. Line up on the platform with the floating tree. Run toward it, then do a running attack/kick as close to the edge as possible. Do it right, you'll be able to jump as you're falling mid-kick. Once you jump, midair attack to get the last bit of distance you need to grab the tree and climb it. If you miss and fall, you'll need to head to water, shoot up to the platform, and start all over.I would give yourself 2-3 retries before considering a reset if you keep missing.

Climb to the top of the floating tree, then line up with the first floating tree stump. Jump and use a mid-air attack to get enough distance to land on the stump, then do the same jump/attack to traverse the remaining stumps.

When you get to the final stump in the front of the disembodied grandfather clock pendelum, you'll need to do the same jump kick-jump-jump attack combo to grab it like you did with the tree. Be careful - the edges of tree stump are a little deceptive and you may lose your footing if you get too close to the edges.

Once you grab the pendelum, we're basically done with this level's difficulty! Keep climbing (you'll clip through the sky) and grab a banana bundle (19/25), then jump from the top of the pendelum to the floating platform. Enter the barrel and launch to another set of floating platformers, as well as right into another 5 bundle of bananas (24/25). Head to the next part of the platformer, backflip jump up onto it, and clip through the sky again.

You may want to play it safe and run rather than roll most of this final section, but it shouldn't be too stressful. Watch out for the giant banana peels as you head upward. The final yellow banana is here (25/25), along with the barrel to start level 2.

He's Finally Back to Kick Some Tail (3)
Collect all 25 of Donkey Kong's Bananas

This is a significantly easier level than DK, so rejoice! Head to the left back corner where you start to jump onto a box, then backflip to grab your first red banana (1/25). Then run through the tunnel straight ahead covered in flames (the flames on this stage won't hurt you).

When you enter the larger second area, you'll notice several enemies scatterd about. I wouldn't pay these or any enemies in other levels much mind. They can't damage you, so don't waste your time fighting.

Head up the stairs toward the shack. Go to the left of the shack to grab a 5 banana bundle by a tiny tunnel (6/25). Then head to the right of the shack and jump at the wooden pole awkwardly sticking/clipping through it. When you grab it, you can climb through the wall and claim Diddy's gold banana at the top.

He's Back Again and About Time Too (2)
Collect Diddy Kong's Golden Banana

Drop from the pole and run to the left of the shack's interior for another banana bundle (11/25), then grab the pole to crawl backwards out of the shack.

There will be another box outside a tiny alcove containing a red banana. Backflip up to get it (12/25), then keep moving around the perimeter until you find some steps leading to two similar alcoves with a red banana in each, along with a red banana floating outside the second. Definitely grab the first banana here (13/25), then try once to get the second with a jump-jump attack hover. If you get that one, try for the last one in mid air as well. If you miss either time, don't try again - we can grab them in an easier, quicker way in a moment.

Go to the tower of jumk in the middle of the row and find the floating Diddy pad near the bottom. Backflip up to that and continue backflipping and running to climb to the top - specifically, to a Diddy barrel. Jump in and it will automatically propel you into another barrel.

You need to do a simple "minigame" where you grab and throw 5 barrels of varying sizes. Button mash through the dialogue, then turn around and run through the blue eletricity to find a semi-hidden barrel. The rest are very obvious and inside the electric circle. For some reason, you can zoom and grab a barrel well before you're touching it by mashing the attack button, so do that to save a little time.

Once all barrels are thrown, the game will end and you'll be shot back out to the top of the junk tower with your jetpack. In the night sky, there are two 5 banana bundles at opposite ends (23/25, possibly 24 or all 25 if you got the few before). Once you get those, let yourself fall BUT KEEP THE JETPACK. Hit the jets by holding A once you get around the tower's midpoint. Circle the perimeter for another alcove, this one with Diddy's banana coin. Grab it with the jetpack but DO NOT TOUCH THE GROUND. Hold A to keep yourself from touching the floor even in the alcove.

He Can Fly Real High With His Jetpack On (1)
Collect Diddy Kong's Coin

Coin in hand, head back to the floating red banana you probably didn't get earlier. Grab that with ease with the jetpack, along with the last remaining banana in the second alcove you also likely did not get earlier. If you hit the grouund and still need the second banana, the jump from first alcove to that isn't too difficult. The floating banana is also possible without the jetpack, it's just much trickier.

And This Time He's in the Mood (3)
Collect all 25 of Diddy Kong's Bananas

With everything snagged, go to the tunnel entrance blocked by two wood barrels. Hit the ground and grab/throw one of them with your new barrel throwing powers to proceed. In the next room, run behind the croc head statue to jump in the next barrel and proceed.

Lanky is a little trickier than Diddy, but still not too bad. If you crouch (hold Z) and press B, you will handstand walk as long as you hold Z. You move a bit faster and need to do this to be able to walk on the sloped snake statues throughout this level.

Start by heading to the top of the grassy slopes to find a banana bundle (5/25). Then climb the snakes up two "tiers" to get to another set of platforms. A single blue banana is over a gap - jump the gap, grab the banana and continue along (6/25). Something to note - anywhere you see those hanging lamps, there is a small gap underneath. Make sure to jump it, as it can be tough to see. Proceed to the Cranky Kong barrel.

Another training/mini-game, this time swinging across vines to grab a coin. Backflip to the top of the question mark box to reach the first vine. Then it's pretty simple, just press your control stick toward the vine and hit A as you swing is closest to the vine you're jumping to. You can chain it quick to do it super fast, or take a swing to ensure you get the timing down.

Once that's complete, you'll be returned to the same spot with chain "vines" to swing across and continue. After those vines, your next blue banana is waiting (7/25). Go across the next few platforms (use the jump attack hover for a boost), then jump to the platform at the base of a floating sloped snake and handstand walk up it carefully and grab banana 8 (8/25).

On the nose of the snake statue, look to your right to find vines. Swing jump from the first to the second, then just swing (DO NOT JUMP) to get Lanky's coin.

He Can Handstand When He Needs To (1)
Collect Lanky Kong's Coin

Once you get the coin, you can swing back to the snake. The direction your Kong is facing doesn't matter, just what way you are pushing your control stick, so you can swing "backwards" with no issue. If you fall, it's a decent-sized time loss, but keep moving and your run can likely still be salvaged.

Back at the snake, look to the left for a bunch of floating mushrooms. Hover attack jump to get across these and get to the top of the large question mark box for another banana bunch (13/25). Jump off the box to your right (the same side as the mushrooms) to continue upward.

Eventually you'll reach a giant mushroom that you can climb on and through a vine floor. Get to the top of the mushroom, then backflip jump to the top of the platform just above you to grab Lanky's gold banana. Be careful of the bomb-dropping Zinger bees - they still can't damage you, but the bombs can easily knock you off the platform or mess up your jumps. Try to jump to the platform either as soon as you climb to the top or wait a few seconds and listen for the bombs to drop/explode - that's your window to make your jump!

He Has No Style, He Has No Grace (2)
Collect Lanky Kong's Golden Banana

Get back down to the viney floor and run to the corner where the Krusha enemy is probably lurking. There's a small gap you should jump attack hover over for a 5 banana bundle (18/25). Then go to the golden structure that looks like an ankh for another banana (19/25), and then to the purple croc head statue for another blue banana (20/25). By this banana is a ladder you can climb, with the last blue bananas waiting for you in a single bundle (25/25).

Th-Th-Th-This Kong Has a Funny Face (3)
Collect all 25 of Lanky's Bananas

Right next to these final bananas is one last snake statue to handstand walk up and the next level's barrel.

The difficulty ramps up a tiny bit for Tiny compared to our last two stages, but not by too much.

Start off by jumping (you can use her hair twirl hover by holding A when jumping) and running across the railroad-like pathway for 2 bananas (2/25) and Tiny's gold banana. Hey, that was easy!

This Kong's Got Style, so Listen up Dudes (2)
Collect Tiny Kong's Golden Banana

From where the gold banana was, hover over to a coal pile for another purple banana (3/25). Then run back to large metal platform and backflip up the box and coal pile for yet another purple banana (4/25). Off to the distance is Tiny's banana coin hovering in mid-air - use her hair twirl to jump and hover to it. Another easy one!

She's Quick and Nimble When She Needs to Be (1)
Collect Tiny Kong's Coin

Unfortunately, this is where things get a little tricky for Tiny. Head back to the platform you started the level on. You'll want to hover toward the thin platform right after the pole. The pole is surprisingly great at making you miss your target, so be prepared to try this a few times. The Zingers also don't help - they don't have bombs this time, but they do love to hone in on you and knock you off the platform.

Once you get on the thin wooden beam, hurry to the larger barrel platform to grab a 5 purple banana bundle (9/25), then go back to the pole. Grab the single purple banana at the base of the pole if you didn't while landing before (10/25), then backflip to climb the pole. Get to the top, then line yourself up so your back is directly in line with the first of several hovering vines, then jump hover to grab the first one. The next few vines are the same as the vine swinging we did last stage, but the last one makes the camera go completely bonkers (you'll know what I mean when it happens). Jump almost immediately as the camera switches and keep pushing forward on your control stick and you should land in the next area safely.

The worst is (mostly) over for Tiny. Run forward to grab the banana bunch (15/25), then head to the coal pile for 1 banana (16/25), then keep going straight into the partially caged-off area for two more bananas (18/25). Backtrack to the coal pile and head over to the second caged off area. Backflip up the right-most boxes to get another banana (19/25), then backflip up the left most boxes for another banana and get to a metal platform (20/25).

On the metal platform, press C-Up to look in first person mode. See the hazy lighting around the two hanging lamps? You need to hover between those lamps to reach the next platform. Touch the haze and you'll get knocked off and have to try the jump again. It's a little frustrating but nothing terrible.

Once you get across, you have a small, easy jump to a next platform with a pole. Backflip to climb on the pole, climb to the top, and jump over to the vent for the final 5 bananas for Tiny (25/25).

She Can Shrink in Size, to Suit Her Mood (3)
Collect all 25 of Tiny Kong's Bananas

Run through the end of the vent (DO NOT JUMP) and you'll walk right into the barrel for the next level. If you try to jump, there's a chance you will somehow miss the barrel and will have to redo the lamp jump again...d'oh.

UPDATE: Thanks to player Pikur, there is a much better strategy than the previous plan I outlined. I'm keeping the old strategy at the bottom for posterity, but highly advise the following as a much more consistent route.

You should be making fairly good time for meeting the speedrun. Run past Krusha and the gold banana floating just out of reach. There are 4 bananas in a line between your start and the entrance to another cave - grab them (4/25) and the two bananas in the tiny caves nearby (6/25).

Break the ice wall with a Chunky Punch (hold Z and press attack near the cracked wall) and grab the green banana right past the broken wall (7/25). Now grab the metal barrel near you and backtrack to the golden banana near the start. Drop the barrel under said banana, then backflip jump on top of the barrel and again to grab the final golden banana.

This Kong's So Strong, It Isn't Funny (2)
Collect Chunky Kong's Golden Banana

Head back toward the lava cave and turn left to head up the ramp. Grab two green bananas in the mini-caves (9/25). Then head up the middle ramp where another lone barrel sits. Pick up the banana bunch hiding underneath the barrel (14/25), then look right to find some floating trees. Jump and jump attack for a little extra hover boost to grab the first tree. Climb and jump tree to tree, then jump to the floating metal platform. The smooth-looking platform is very slippery, but don't take that to mean you should take it slow and cautiously - it will sense your fear. Just keep moving forward while you jump and before you land and you should make it to the non-slippery metal grate walkway right next to it.

Grab a 5 banana bunch (19/25) and jump down to the second platform. Go down until you are above where Chunky's coin is floating. You'll need to do a semi-tricky jump - jump attack hover to grab it before you fall. Get the coin and repeat the tree climbing, slippery platforming part to get back to this platform.

Can Pick up a Boulder With Relative Ease (1)
Collect Chunky Kong's Coin

Grab the stray banana at the end of the platform (20/25), then jump down to the last barrel near the final bunch of bananas (25/25).

Can Make a Kremling Cry Out for Mummy (3)
Collect all 25 of Chunky Kong's Bananas

Pick up the barrel (you can use any of the barrels for the next part) and return to the lava cave entrance.

While carrying the barrel, walk to the walk right next to the right ice crystal flanking the lava cave entrance. Make tiny movements to turn around until Chunky's back is touching the wall and he's facing out in the vague direction of the mini-caves. Drop the barrel, DON'T MOVE, and pick it up again. Repeat this several times, not moving at all, just pressing A to pick up the barrel, and eventually you will partially clip through the wall out of bounds. Eventually you can force the camera to track you out of bounds and travel (barrel still in hands) to the back behind where the level end barrel is in the lava cave. When you're close enough to the level end barrel and the platform it hovers over, set the metal barrel you're carrying down, take a small jump on top of it, and then jump-jump attack over to get to the barrel and finish the game. If you made it in 25 minutes, congrats!

Just a note: if you mess up at any point and touch the lava, you will need to recollect everything in Chunky's stage again.

Grapes. Melons. Oranges and Coconut Shells! (10)
In a single session, from a new file, complete the game 100% in less than 25 minutes (Time starts when file is selected)

W-W-W-Walnuts. Peanuts. Pineapple Smells (10)
Beat the game having collected 100% of all bananas, golden bananas, and coins

Old Chunky level strategy

Good news - you've reached the final stage! Bad news - you are very likely to start really hating this hack.

Chunky's stage has several things going for it, and I don't mean that in a good way... -The hack's final challenge is a barrel-placing puzzle-platforming challenge the game's physics and camera are clearly not intended for. -You will need to collect 4 barrels across the stage, including one that involves some time-consuming platforming. -The barrels you need can explode if you fall too far or drop them too much and won't respawn unless you die. Oh yeah, speaking of... -You can die in this stage! It's the only one in this hack where it will happen. If you do, you will respawn at the start of this stage, thankfully, but... -All your collectibles are reset for this level. So if you want to get that 100% achievement, you need to do everything in one life essentially. And do it under 25 minutes for the speedrun achievement...

If you've been following this guide and have been doing at least a semi-decent job of not wasting any time, you should have time for at least two decently-length attempts at getting through this stage in under 25 minutes. When you get the speedrun achievement, you will likely be beating it by a lot, not a close call.

Let's get started. Begin by running past Krusha and the gold banana. There are 4 bananas in a line between your start and the entrance to another cave - grab them (4/25), but I wouldn't bother with the other 2 bananas in the small cave-like openings you'll pass yet.

Break the ice wall with a Chunky Punch (hold Z and press attack near the cracked wall). This is the only thing that will remain done if you die. Grab the green banana right past the broken wall (5/25). Now grab the metal barrel near you and take a deep breath...

The barrel platform physics here are borderline non-euclidian. I wish I had better advice here, but you are likely going to fall into the lava, an instant KO, many, many times by taking a jump or tiny tippy toe step when you actually couldn't. I would try to take very light, tiny jumps for the first one, get as close to the edge on the barrel as you dare, and press Z to drop the barrel in the lava. I've also found tiny hops when on the floating barrels seem to make it a little easier to reposition.

After dropping the first one, jump back to the cave entrance (you won't need to jump on the barrels). Head up the ramp, then go to the far side of the second ramp for your next metal barrel. Grab it, drop down and return to the lava room to careeeeefulllyyyyyy jump to the last barrel you placed and drop this one.

Return up the ramp, then go up the second ramp for your third barrel. Grab this one, pick up the banana bunch hiding underneath the barrel (10/25), then go down the ramp and return to the lava cave for another tense dropoff. If you fall into the lava at any point, start from the begining of this section and go at it again...

Return to where the third barrel was and look right to find some floating trees. Jump and jump attack for a little extra hover boost to grab the first tree. Climb and jump tree to tree, then jump to the floating metal platform. The smooth-looking platform is very slippery, but don't take that to mean you should take it slow and cautiously - it will sense your fear. Just keep moving forward while you jump and before you land and you should make it to the non-slippery metal grate walkway right next to it.

Grab a 5 banana bunch (15/25) and jump down to the second platform. Go down until you are above where Chunky's coin is floating. You'll need to do a semi-tricky jump - jump attack hover to grab it before you fall. Get the coin and repeat the tree climbing, slippery platforming part to get back to this platform.

Can Pick up a Boulder With Relative Ease (1)
Collect Chunky Kong's Coin

Grab the stray banana at the end of the platform (16/25), then jump down to the last barrel near another bunch of bananas (21/25). Grab the barrel, drop down to the second tier and grab the three green bananas in the middle cave-like holes (23/25). Instead of returning to the lava cave though, go the opposite way back to the gold banana near your start.

Once near it, drop the barrel on the ground, backflip on top, then backflip again the grab the gold banana.

This Kong's So Strong, It Isn't Funny (2)
Collect Chunky Kong's Golden Banana

Now pick up the barrel and grab the last two green bananas in the caves you pass toward the lava cave (25/25). Note: if you drop the barrel more than two times, it will explode and not respawn. You'll have to take a dip in the lava to restart, as I don't think there's a way to make the final jump without all four barrels.

Can Make a Kremling Cry Out for Mummy (3)
Collect all 25 of Chunky Kong's Bananas

If you're wondering why I waited until the last barrel to do most of the collectibles, it's a little insurance to get as much of the barrel placing stuff out of the way (aka the spot where you can easily lose a life) as possible and hopefully give you a second, third or even fourth chance at meeting the time limit.

Return with the final barrel, carefully jump to the end, and drop the last one. Then careful jump to as far to the edge of the final barrel. The camera should unfix itself, letting you go to first person mode and overall have a little more control with positioning. It's not a huge help, but you'll want any little bit that might work. Position yourself near the edge of the last barrel you placed and wait for the lava to crest as high as it will, then jump forward and jump attack hover. Hopefully you will have placed the barrels far enough and you'll have enough distance to cover it.

If you fail...scramble to try and redo this section as the guide says, and hope you have enough time to make it.

Hopefully, you will have made it to the (fairly underwhelming) completion room screen in under 25 minutes. If that's the case, enjoy your mastery!

Hopefully you found this guide helpful! There's very little info on this game out in the wild, so if you have any strategies I didn't cover (especially regarding Chunky's stage), by all means let me know.