Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze

Remember when you first played Super Mario Galaxy 1 on the Nintendo Wii? Remember how amazingly fun that game was due to how different and unique the game played? Most of all, I am sure you remember the fact that Mario Galaxy 1 was pretty easy? Even though it was easy, it was still a GREAT and FUN game to play because Nintendo did a great job with making the Wii Remote/Nunchuk controls work really well with Super Mario Galaxy 1. After you collect all the stars, re-beat the game with Luigi, etc there is not much else right? Finally Super Mario Galaxy 2 is announced and eventually released. Super Mario Galaxy 2 BLEW anyone that beat Super Mario Galaxy 1 socks OFF! Super Mario Galaxy 2 is what the dedicated Mario gamer was looking to play because not only did Super Mario Galaxy 2 blew Super Mario Galaxy 1 away, it also gives you that GREAT satisfaction feeling of completing the levels/game due to how challenging Super Mario Galaxy 2 was at the time. Anyone that has completed Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 will know that Super Mario Galaxy 2 was hands down the best of the two thanks to how awesomely creative, challenging, rewarding and FUN the game was to hardcore nintendo mario gamers. Now fast forward to Donkey Kong Country Returns for the Nintendo Wii because if you are reading this, then you will know how much fun that game was to play on the Wii, correct? Most of all, it was a LONG time coming because there has yet to be a great Donkey Kong Country game since the first three Donkey Kong Country games on the Super Nintendo were absolutely phenomenal. Besides how great and fun Donkey Kong Country Returns was for the Nintendo Wii, it did felt easy for true hardcore nintendo donkey kong fans. Even though we still loved and praised the game, we just can't help but think that the game could of been a little bit more harder or challenging ya know? Well guess what? Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is HERE and YES the hype is true! I, myself and others I am sure were on the fence about buying Tropical Freeze because of how easy Donkey Kong Country Returns for the Wii was back then but I am glad I bit the freaking bullet.....I mean BANANA...because Tropical Freeze is absolutely SPECTACULAR! BUT most of all, Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze is the CHALLENGE that you have been waiting for since Donkey Kong Country 3 for the SNES because when I say Tropical Freeze is challenging, I ain't kidding! You ever notice when you play the first few levels, you always collect EVERY letter, balloon or the puzzle pieces as well because you just want to find them all before you complete the level? I always end up doing that and have been successful at that for a LONG time until Tropical Freeze first level was completed, I realized I was STILL missing 2 puzzle pieces! This shocked me because every single Donkey Kong Country game that I have played, I always end up successfully finding the hidden stuff in the first few levels due to wanting to explore, take my time, enjoy, etc. but when you play the first level of Tropical Freeze, I am going to bet 99% of the people do not end up finding all of the Puzzle pieces or KONG letters or both during their first time completing the level! Of course they will probably be able to find whatever they are missing the 2nd time they replay the level but I am not kidding, I honestly believe you will not find all those puzzle pieces or kong letters during you're first attempt of completing the 1st level or more levels of world 1. what else? well I know there is sadly, WAY too many negative nancy's that care more about the graphics than the GAME itself wanting to know if the graphics are good or whatever. Read my words, are you kidding me!??! THIS IS DONKEY KONG COUNTRY FOLKS! OF course the graphics are going to look good, so QUIT worrying about that and focus on the more important part of the game which is the GAME itself! The music? HOLY CRAP! If you always enjoyed Donkey Kong Country soundtracks since the first DKC game for the Super Nintendo, then you are in for a VERY special treat my fellow DKC gamer! Also, did I mention there is alot of great extras/unlockables? I wont spoil that part cause trust me, you will want to see it in person by yerself rather than cheating by watching a full playthrough of the game via youtube or whatever lol. If you are skeptical about buying Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze, then do not worry because there is no excuse to not buy DKC Tropical Freeze since this brand new spanking game is only $49.99!!! Smart play and decision by Nintendo because I can't be the only one thinking that this game could or should of been $59.99 but that's not the case. Also, for the record if this game was $59.99, I would of still bought it! I am absolutely SHOCKED that Nintendo did not promote the online mode for DKC tropical freeze. I know what you are thinking, "WAIT WHAT? DONKEY KONG COUNTRY HAS ONLINE MODE???" Then guess what? YES! It is true! DKC tropical freeze DOES indeed have online mode. First off, do NOT get sad about the fact that online mode does not include co-op gaming because if you really think about it, Donkey Kong Country already has co-op mode locally! Plus, I don't see myself playing a co-op game of Donkey Kong Country with some random player I don't even know. Anyways, why did I mentioned that Donkey Kong Country tropical freeze has online mode? Well, after you complete any levels in the game, the level itself will unlock a time trial option but the best part is the fact that you can UPLOAD you're fastest completion time of whichever level via ONLINE! After you upload you're best completion time for whichever level, the game will display an online leaderboard ranking! Plus, it will show the person that is playing what they are ranked as right away! But that's not all! Have you ever wanted to see how fast any of the levels can be beaten? Well, the online leaderboards allow the players/gamers to select ANYONE that has submitted their best times and you have the option to WATCH THE ENTIRE REPLAY of the fastest player beating any of the DKC levels! Let me tell you something, you will be SHOCKED and AMAZED on how insanely fast some of the best Donkey Kong Country players in the world can do. It is seriously pure shocking to watch the reply, you will FULLY understand what I mean and feel after you watch you're first replay video of whichever level you want to see being completed in record times by hardcore DKC players! Before I end this review, please do yourself a favor by purchasing Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze for the Nintendo Wii U by either buying the retail disc box version OR please visit the Wii U Eshop and download the game to you're Wii U because i promise you that Donkey Kong Country tropical freeze is a game that you can proudly have stored on you're Wii U main channel page with all of the other games/apps you may have downloaded. I got this game as a gift via disc retail package, even though I am just a TINY bit disappointed about that because I wanted to download Tropical Freeze to my Wii U, so that I don't have to change discs if ya know what I mean hahahaha. In conclusion, Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze is a MUST buy game for any Wii U owners that are looking for something to keep them playing for months due to how rewarding and challenging this game is compared to the Donkey Kong Country Returns Wii game back in 2010. Were you left wanting more levels, more challenging and more rewarding feelings from completing the game/levels? Then buy Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze ASAP or you might as well just get rid of you're Wii U since you're Wii U doesn't deserved to be played if you didn't put in some DKC tropical freeze time in the Wii U. I am not joking, if you do not play Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze on you're Wii U by the end of this month, then you should be arrested, plain and simple! Cheers everyone and BUY Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze, the Wii U needs that Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze lovin! Please wear a hoodie or warm clothes when playing Tropical Freeze because you will literally start to become VERY cold when playing the snow/winter levels, trust me on this one! Peach out! ps. Why are you reading this? GO BUY DONKEY KONG COUNTRY TROPICAL FREEZE NOW or you will be REPORTED!

Bonus points for any who caught the Brian Regan reference in the title... In the past five or so years, two previously dormant video game icons have made major comebacks, starring in some of the best 2-D platformers in decades. Of course, I'm referring to Donkey Kong and Rayman . Both characters offer games that are about as awesome as 2-D platformers get these days, and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is yet another modern DK masterpiece to add to the list ( Rayman Legends was also stellar). This game is simply stupendous, in so many ways. Not only is it filled with nostalgia for the DK of my childhood, but it also adds a ton of new ideas that are not only cool for DK, but for 2-D platformers in general. This game is a real treat. Once again, Retro Studios has nailed it, and this game actually soothes some of the sting I felt at learning they were not developing a new Metroid game (Not gonna lie, it still hurts a little). If you don't like somewhat longer, detailed reviews, then give this one a pass. You've been warned. The story in DKCTF is very unique for the series. Once again, Retro has created an all-new villainous force for DK and co. to face called the "Snowmads," a ragtag army of arctic animals with a major Norse/viking theme. They rudely crash DK's birthday party with an invasion, driving all our favorite Kongs away from their home island while also redecorating it to suit their snowy tastes. Needless to say, they brought a polar vortex of their own, transforming DK's island paradise to a frigid arctic playground. Thus, DK and three of his closest companions begin a trek across several unique and totally different islands to take back his home. The premise is cool and all (Like that pun? No...? I'll see myself out...), but like all platformers, the story is there to introduce the platforming action and then take a step back to let the gameplay shine, and it does so well here. The graphics in DKCTF are, putting it bluntly, drop-dead gorgeous. There's so much vibrant color and imagination in this game, it's fantastic! Because you'll be traveling across several different islands, you'll be treated to a huge variety in locales, all of which look awesome. From DK's frozen island, to an island filled with flaming boars, massive mountain crags, and Viking Owl villages, all in a beautiful autumn, to an island strewn with the wreckage of countless boats, planes, and ships (including Samus' starship cleverly hidden in the canopy in one level, which is awesome! ), to a jungle during harvest time filled with jelly, rivers of juice, and other food items (Yummy), there's no shortage of interesting level themes. Remember the beautiful silhouette levels from DKCR? They return in full-force here, making some levels look like they'd belong in a sweet art house indie game. Lots of creativity in this game visually, you'll never be bored. Seriously people, this game is gorgeous, and it runs at a smooth 60 fps which is awesome. The new enemies are also really neat and full of character. While it's easy to miss the Kremlings, Retro has made up some equally charismatic and iconic villains to replace them, if you ask me. I love the Snowmads. Really, the charm in this game is everywhere. I love how Donkey will sit down and start playing a 3DSXL if left idle. I love the different personalities of the main characters. This game is full of charisma. The sound design in the game is also fantastic. Lots of nostalgic sound effects return. I also really enjoy the voice actor's work on DK and the rest of the characters, even if it's all relegated to shouts, grunts, howls, etc. Best of all, this game sees the return of David Wise, the brilliant composer behind the original Donkey Kong Country trilogy's incredible music. Remember the unspeakably awesome atmosphere of songs like "Aquatic Ambiance" and "Stickerbrush Symphony?" This game has songs of that caliber (Both of those in addition to other fan favorites actually show up gloriously remixed, and the latter is evoked in the incredible "Alpine Incline"). Remember the bop-your-head-to-the-beat awesomeness of the original "DK Island Swing" or the dramatic epicness of "Flight of the Zinger?" Yep, that kind of greatness is here too. I would start listing off awesome tracks from the game, but pretty much *every* single song is stellar. No joke. I love David Wise's music so much. He hit it out of the park with this one. Recruiting him was very smart on Retro's part. Thank goodness he agreed to come back to the series. As a matter of fact, I'd go as far as to say the soundtrack is a major, major selling point for this game. If they ever release this game's soundtrack, I WILL buy it immediately. I don't care if I have to import it from Japan, I *need* this game's soundtrack. The gameplay in Tropical Freeze is, at its core, the same great formula introduced almost two decades ago, with even more of the refinement and freshness that DKCR introduced to the mix. You'll be enjoying a 2-D platformer with a tangible rhythmic quality to it that is very satisfying, with controls so tight you can bounce a quarter off the game and make change. Alongside Rayman's recent outings, you will not find a platformer with such great controls and unique, challenging level designs. You'll be collecting red balloons, banana coins, and literally hundreds upon hundreds of bananas. KONG levels and puzzle pieces are hidden cleverly in the levels. Mine carts return to turn you into a sweat-drenched, adrenaline-drained husk. Make no mistake, this game is ridiculously challenging, perhaps infuriatingly so for some gamers, which is something to keep in mind. DKCTF is a game that hearkens back to a time when dying in the same spot a couple dozen times in a row was due to a lack of player skill, not the game being "cheap" (so many games these days coddle gamers, it's nice to see old-school challenge in my opinion). Boss fights are a highlight as well. Most of them have multiple parts, each of which requires you to take a new and different approach. This makes boss fights super hard, but also very engaging and challenging, which I appreciate. DKCTF also introduces quite a few new ideas to the DKC mix. For the first time since DKC3, DK and friends can swim. In my opinion, the controls in these segments are much better than they were in the old DKC games. Underwater levels in this game are actually awesome thanks to more than just the music this time. There's a lot more emphasis on 2.5-D in this game. During many barrel segments, the camera will change to a full-on 3-D view, which makes for some mind-bending challenge and exciting set-pieces. Even mine cart segments have some 3-Dish moments, which is awesome. The biggest change to the game is the introduction of two new characters. DK and Diddy return and play exactly as they did in DKCR. New to the game are *drumroll* DIXIE KONG, who plays similarly to Diddy but has a double jump of sorts that gives you some extra distance and height. Totally new to the series is CRANKY KONG (He hasn't been the star of a game canonically in a loooong while), who essentially uses his cane in true DuckTales pogo fashion. Cranky's style is particularly unique, and so fun to use. While player-one can only ever play as DK, each of the three supporting characters add really fun and unique benefits to your move-set. All the characters are fun to play, whether DK for player one or the other three for player two, and the increased variety is really nice for people who love co-op gaming like my wife and I do. Overall, there's a lot of new ideas in this game, too many to count here. Suffice it to say, this is a major step forward for the DKC series, and most definitely not a rehash. Let's face facts, this game rules for the most part, but there are some subjective aspects that some may not like. These should be pointed out for the sake of objectivity. Like I said earlier, this game is ridiculously hard, especially after you get past the first couple islands (and even those can be challenging!). This game will not coddle you. No, this game will kick your @$$ six ways to Sunday, and that will undoubtedly turn some gamers off. As much as I love co-op, you have to be so in tune with your partner to succeed, and the slightest mistake will ruin everything. My wife loves playing DKC with me. For us as a couple, DKCR and now this game have been majorly bonding at the best of times, and end-of-the-world fight inducing at the worst of times (I'm only partially kidding, lol). All I'm saying is the punishing difficulty and co-op don't always mix too well. Also, when playing co-op, they did not make a way for player-2 to quickly switch characters or drop in/out. You have to pause the menu, select the drop out option, then reconnect to pick a new character. That's a major pain. Perhaps worst of all, or least worst of all depending on your opinion, they did nothing to utilize the Wii-U's features in any meaningful way. Don't expect any interesting implementation of the touch screen, gyroscope, etc. The gamepad's screen isn't even on if you select to play off of the T.V, in fact. Rather than a Wii-U showpiece, this is just an awesome traditional hardcore DK experience that happens to be exclusive to the Wii-U, which I'm perfectly happy with. Focusing on the core experience in development is always better, I say I don't know how Retro does it, but every game they make is just pure gold. They must employ Midas or something. I've played for many hours by now, solo and with my wife, have reached several islands, conquered several bosses, and I'm really thinking that this is the best Donkey Kong game I've ever played. I'm not just blowing smoke or using hyperbole. This game is just pure, refined 2-D platforming gold, and I absolutely love it. DKCTF makes DKCR look like an extended demo in comparison, and I LOVE DKCR, so that really is a testament to the greatness of Retro's work on Tropical Freeze. I love this game, and if you are a fan of old-school gaming challenge, platformers, Donkey Kong, Nintendo, or just awesome games in general regardless of genre, then get this game immediately. Buy it, prepare an epic trek across several islands, and save your precious home and banana hoard from the Snowmads!

Everything about Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze is improved upon from its direct predecessor Donkey Kong Country Returns. We experience the realm of DK for the first time in High-Definition. The graphics and worlds are so much more lush and there is so much to explore and unlock in each level. Retro Studios couldn't go wrong by bringing back David Wise, the composer from the original DKC series in the mid 1990's, and it really shows with how immersive and memorable the music is. The worlds and enemies are distinct from each other and this has always been a strongpoint of the DKC series when compared to other platformers. I'm enthralled by the return of Dixie Kong this time around and I hope she is here to stay. Cranky Kong is also a playable character but I try to avoid using him as I find his abilities harder to control than Diddy Kong's jet-pack or Dixie's hovering ponytail. As for the animal buddies, we are still left with just Rambi The Rhino and some background appearances from Squawks The Parrot. I sorely miss using Enguarde The Swordfish during the underwater levels among some of the other animals which had extremely useful abilities to help you soar through levels. Retro Studios did away with the hoard of Tiki characters from DKC Returns and instead replaced them with Nordic Animal Vikings threatening to freeze DK Isle for good. While I like the Viking enemies much better than the Tiki characters that were used before, many of us DKC veterans are still left longing for the return of the rightful villains to the DKC universe, King K. Rool and the Kremlings. Are they really owned by Rare? Is this the reason for their unexplained absence 2 times in a row? My only other complaint, and this is a massive one, is the extreme difficulty of the game following the same issue with DKC Returns. Now, you're hearing from someone who completed all 3 DKC games from the original series on the SNES and the GBA versions respectively. Even the Donkey Kong Land series on the Game Boy and the Game Boy Color version of the original. Yet something in the translation from straightforward 2D to 2.5D has made these games nearly impossible to master in the later stages of the game. Same thing with DKC Returns, except they gave us Super Donkey Kong to complete the levels for us if we were unable to do so ourselves after multiple attempts. Such feature is absent this time around and there was really no reason to remove it because of how hard this game becomes. Even in the early stages, you can sense how hard this game is going to get later on. It's not even funny, I was stuck on the 5th World for over a year with this game. I'm not removing any stars for this, but simply pleading with Retro Studios to make the game more accessible for beginner to intermediate players in the next sequel. Now in 2018, with the upcoming port of this game coming out the Nintendo Switch, perhaps the inclusion of Funky Kong as a playable character will make this game easier to master. I can only hope. This was an incredibly hard game where I didn't exactly feel like I accomplished anything significant once I beat it, just sheer exhaustion. Still, this is an awesome game and memorable addition to the longtime series.

I would give the zero stars if I could the disc does not work

It is here, Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze! So far, it is an excellent game. Here is my initial review of the game so far. I’ve completed level one to bring you this review as soon as possible after waiting until 1PM for the UPS guy to deliver it. I might come back to add to the review once I’ve beaten the game to give more details about how many levels and sublevels there are. There are some SPOILERS, so be warned! . . Game Files: There are three of them like always. It tells you what level you are standing on, how much of the game you have completed and how many lives you have. Clicking on one brings you to a scroll that has you choose between playing on the TV or the Gamepad. Then you select one or two player (second player controls Diddy, Dixie or Cranky). Story: I like this story, which is not just the “They stole our bananas, get them!” story we usually see in the DK Country series. I like that there are invaders and there is no mention of stolen bananas anywhere. I think this adds to the game, making it more interesting. Basically, invaders from the artic kick the Kongs out of their home and make it an icy place. I like it. Starting the Game: When you start a new file, it immediately goes into a cut scene. The cut scene is the trailer where you see DK’s birthday party but with some more added on. You start the very first level right away (won’t tell you how ) so be prepared to take action. Controls: I have only used the Gamepad so far and will try out the other controllers later. But, the controls feel good. They are not awkward at all and you get used to what button does what pretty quickly. Here’s how they work: Just DK: A/B jump, X/Y ground pound, X/Y + left or right is rolling, ZR/ZL grabbing. With Diddy and Dixie Kong holding A/B becomes hover mode, while tapping the A/B button twice then holding with Cranky lets you jump higher on his cane (but you can’t jump and then do it, it won’t work). With all three, pressing R/L when the meter to the left gets full causes them to high five and kill enemies around you by turning them into life balloons, hearts (red or gold), coins or bananas. You can use the left C-stick (the right one does nothing) or the D-pad to move around. I’m assuming that the Pro Controller is the same while the Wii Remote/Nunchuk will include some motion control like in DK Country Returns. Touch Controls: There are no touch controls. You cannot touch anything on the Gamepad, even in the menu, to do something. I’m a little used to New Super Mario Bros. U and Super Mario 3D World which uses touch controls for some things. That is a little disappointing. They have this touch screen device and they should have used it! Music: Like always, the music is upbeat and fun, even when things get a little hairy. Outside of the level, the music is pretty loud, but you can kind of hear the background noise of the island you are on. You can change this in the options. There is also some retro music from the original DK Country, won’t tell you where, you’ll have to find it for yourself! But even then, the music reminds me of the music in the original DK Country. Graphics: The cut scene graphics are very detailed. You can the individual hairs on DK’s arms blowing in the wind! Everything looks great. I have seen no pixilation anywhere. Even the DK you play is very detailed. I’d say the graphics are a lot better than DK Country Returns. For instance, the water in and out of the level looks so real. The graphics have gone up a lot. Map Layout: You remember in DK Country Returns how there was a coin with DK’s picture on it instead of there being the actual characters running around on the lap like all the other had games? That is gone and DK and Diddy are back to walking around on the map. The layout is much like the New Super Mario Bros. U map with uncompleted sublevels being red and completed being blue, and with forks in the path you travel on. Although, I do wish DK would pound his chest and yell when you leave him alone for a while on the map like he did in DK Country. He just seems to bob along to the music. I like this layout better than DK Country Returns. It kind of has the same feel as the original, if you know what I mean. Candy Kong and Save Points: She’s not here, again. There is no need for her since you don’t have to beat a boss or a certain level to save your game. It automatically saves every level you beat, so you do not need to worry about losing your progress when you quit. But, I’ve always liked Candy Kong Save Points, I wished they’d bring her back like in the first DK Country where once you get to her in a level, you can go back to her time and again to save. But, oh well, maybe next time she’ll be back. Level Starts: A scroll appears with two options—Play Level and Inventory. Y’all know what Play Level means (it does lead to another scroll that has you confirm that you want to play a level or not). Inventory is new. Apparently you can choose three items to take with you that you buy from Funky Kong. Time Attacks: When you have completed a level and replay it, there is now another option—time attacks. You go back and try to beat the level within a set time limit. There are three, the fastest gets you the gold, the second silver and the third bronze. What happens is that your score is then sent to the leaderboards online for everyone to look at. Time attacks are hard. I have yet to even get a bronze medal for level 1.1. But it is fun to try. Check Points: Again, this is run by a pig instead of breaking open a barrel. I don’t get it. No, seriously, what it with the pig? If they wanted to put someone there for the mid-level check points, why not have Candy Kong? When you die and come back at a checkpoint or even the beginning of the level before you have reached a checkpoint, you float down on a balloon. That’s cool, but I liked when he used to burst out of the barrels. Collecting Items: Bananas- Like always, get a hundred bananas you get a life. Sometimes, when you collect a group of individual bananas in a level they turn into a coin. Coins- You use them to buy items for your inventory. Puzzle pieces- I have no idea what happens, I have never collected all of them before. KONG- Collect the letters and you get a life. I kinda like how they added the coins and puzzle pieces because it gives you more to do in a level. Bonus Games: Collect all the banana you get a puzzle piece, a red balloon and a coin. They’re a little hard than previous games. Lives in the Level: Like in DK Returns, you get two hearts with DK and four with DK and Diddiy/Dixie/Cranky. You lose two hearts with Diddiy/Dixie/Cranky, they take off. With Dixie, when you do the L/R high five slap, enemies turn into gold hearts which gives you an extra hit. Level Endings: A barrel overs in midair and has several items whirling by. You hit it to get an item and that ends the level. Hit a banana, you press X/Y quickly to get as many as you can. After that happens, you see the characters on a pedestal next to a results scroll that show you if you collected all of the KONG letters and puzzle pieces. It’s more interesting that running into a cave at the end. Also note, like with Mario games, some levels have more than one exit. I like that, because it makes you explore the level instead of rushing through it. Water Warning Spoiler: You know back in the day when characters could breathe underwater for forever? You never had to worry about how quickly you were going or having to get something to give you more time. Not anymore. DK has an air indication next to where the lives are, run out and you die. You gotta get to air bubbles to refresh the indicator. I’m not sure if I like this. But, DK swims like a champ, much better than in the original. Enemies: There are new enemies in this game, just like there were in DK Country Returns. A few of the enemies don’t make sense to me. The invaders are creatures from icy climates, yet you have some birds and bugs that seem out of place. But I like the new enemies, they are different from the other games which is refreshing. Funky Kong: He’s here and he’s huge, like, as big as DK! Didn’t he used to be a skinny dude? Whatever. His plane is back, but you don’t hop on it to get to another island, but instead, you can buy stuff from him. Green Balloons (will sometimes save you when you fall) or Blue Balloons (extra air), a bird (finds puzzle pieces), a shield (protection), a bottle (makes you temporarily invincible), heart (extra health), Diddy Kong/Dixie Kong/Cranky Kong Barrels (lets you start a level with them or the appear if you lose the one you have). And you can collect toys. I love the DK Country series. The only one I never got was the N64 game because I could never find it. A lot of things are the same, some have been lost, and a lot has been added. The game is fun and I can’t wait to get further along. It is a great addition to the series and if you love DK, you’ll love the game.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze was originally announced at Nintendo's E3 2013 Press Conference. A sequel to Retro Studio's highly praised Donkey Kong Country Returns, it had a lot to live up to. But, does this game live up to it's successful franchise's past, or does it fall short? Well, yes, and no. First things first, if you're on the edge of getting this game, I can answer one question for you. Get it. It's lower price and amount of content make this game worth getting. Anyways, back on track, let's start by talking about where this game truly shines. This game is gorgeous. It's a delightfully detailed game that keeps you "oohing" and "aahing" throughout while still managing to impress you with it's superb level design. You'll be hopping through a safari full of singing and dancing wildlife and shooting through a canyon full of enemy fortresses the next. You can tell the developers were having a lot of fun while making this game. Not to mention the controls and platforming are solid, with a natural-feeling difficulty curve that never feels too fast or too slow. The final few levels of this game will test your skills and leave you almost snapping your Gamepad in half. But, nothing feels quite as satisfying as when you finally smash your big furry hands through that DK barrel floating at the end of every level. Donkey Kong also has a few new friends along for the adventure this time, too. Not only has the original duo with Diddy returned, newcomers like Diddy and, for the first time ever, Crankey add to the gameplay quite a bit. Diddy can still hover, but Dixie and Crankey have brought to the table their abilities, giving you a double-jump-like boost in the air, and using their cane to hop over obstacles at a fast pace such as enemies and spikes. While they don't sound like much, they add a whole new way to play. Even better, every Kong has realistic fur effects. Not much, but a nice touch. But, this game does dissapointed in a few areas. At the original E3 conference last year, they gave a lot of focus to the new Dynamic Camera. A camera that changes perspective every so often to give you a new look on your surroundings. As cool as this sounds, it's not used nearly enough to make an impact on the game. But when it's used, it is pretty neat. Another shortcoming is the amount of worlds. Instead of the last game's 8, this title only offers 6. But, in the long run, levels are longer, usually lasting 10-15 minutes, and there are plenty of secrets and shortcuts to be found in all of levels. Also, as picky as this sounds, the loading screens are kind of ridiculous. They sometimes last 15-20 seconds per level. And as often as you'll be hopping from level to level, it begins to add-up. And another picky thing is, as much as it's built up, the final few levels and the final boss aren't as climatic as they try to make it feel. And finally, I can't exactly pinpoint why, but after I collected all the KONG letters scattered across each letter to collect every item I can, I still haven't found myself going back and replaying these levels. Aside from the one or two that I would play through to show friends the beauty of this games, I can't bring myself to go back and play it some more. A bit of a disappointment, considering how cool these levels are. All in all, Doney Kong Country: Tropical Freeze lives up to it's predecessor in every way imaginable and is a fun experience from when you pop the disc in for the first time to when the credits roll. It's beautiful, the characters are charming, the levels are intricate and filled to the brim with details after details, and it's collectibles will surely keep you here for a while; even though it won't be too long. With that said, I'm giving DKC:TF a rightfully deserved 8/10. (NOTE: I didn't mention the multiplayer aspect of the game because it remains largely unchanged from the original. The camera is a bit annoying and some of the levels are clearly designed for one player to be playing at a time. Also, I didn't write about the feature where if you collect enough bananas you can do a screen-swiping move that either changes all the enemies to Banana Coins, Ballons, and Hearts, depending on what partner you have, as I don't feel it adds or detracts from the overall feel of the game.)

For those that have played Donkey Kong Country Returns and didn't like it, don't expect your experience to be any different from Tropical Freeze. They play the same, so odds are you won't enjoy this one either. But my god. This game is fantastic. Besides the multiple controller options (Wii U Pro Controller all the way), the music in this game is well-done. I'm not kidding. To give you a glimpse of what a masterpiece David Wise, the composer, did with the soundtrack, there is a level in the game that automatically reminds you of something of the sorts like Lion King. It's literally a safari, jumping from giraffes to zebras with poles attached to them, while trees make platforms using their branches. You can only imagine the music in the background... Anyway, as you may know, Donkey Kong Country games are difficult and this one is no exception. Do not expect to roll through this game like a breeze, especially if you try to go for every KONG letter and hidden puzzle pieces. One of the reasons why this game is so hard is because timing is everything. If you collect every KONG letter in each level for each world, you will unlock a special 'K' level. These have no checkpoints what-so-ever and will make you throw your controller across the room. They take at least 15+ deaths/tries to reach the end, not to mention they are not short at all. But you will want to reach the end of the 'K' levels in each world as they reward you with new levels afterwards. If you have yet to guess by now, you play as Donkey Kong in single player. However, you can get one of three characters that ride on the back of DK: Diddy, Dixie, and Cranky. Each of them have a special talent bringing a new mechanic to the game. I won't go into detail because it's not really worth the time explaining each. To wrap it up shortly, this game will get your money's worth. Finding the every puzzle piece is no easy task, but you can buy help from Funky's Store using the currency 'Banana Coins'. If that isn't enough, there are time trials you can take part of. This time around, you can view the leader boards and even watch a replay of the fastest time. Nifty! Be careful though, you can drain way too much time into this! Too put a quick summary, here are my pros and cons of this game: Pros: - No more waggle controls. Even though I was okay with them, I still prefer to use buttons instead of beating the Wii remote like an ape. - HD Fur - Difficult seems fair | Don't have to memorize any patterns - Boss battles have improved in this game Cons: - Boss battles have no checkpoints, which is not a bad thing until you realize that they last at least a good 7 minutes long and sometimes even longer. And if you die, which will happen, you have to start all back over and it just makes you mad. - Water sections/controls. The problem with water parts is that the camera is zoomed in too much. Having said that, there is a move that DK uses to speed up. Once you use that, you can't stop until a certain distance is covered, so you use that move and then out of no where, a spiked fish comes on the screen and hits you. And if you don't use this move, DK travels slower than my grandmother. There is no in-between, which is a real shame.

You may be a middle-aged man trying to act like a teenager, Nintendo, but Donkey Kong Country isn't one of the places that you are showing your age. You first dazzled the world with your 64-bit graphics in Donkey Kong Country for the Super Nintendo. Your WiiU is a bit of an oddity now. Like a middle-aged man wearing skinny jeans, it's functional but it still makes us stop and wonder what you were thinking sometimes. But Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze weaves the same spell over us again as it did when we were kids, and we are delighted by it. The storyline isn't much to write home about. And by that I mean it's the same as Mario WiiU (hero meets bad guy and gets tossed into other place having to fight way back home). Oh and every single Donkey Kong before it. But let's be honest and say that we never play it for the narrative anyway. Where this game shines is in its rich graphics and enjoyable gameplay. The graphics are the best I have ever seen in a Nintendo game. The backgrounds just make you want to stop and enjoy the scenery (gameplay hint: you can't do that while riding a mining cart and have it go well for you). But this marks the first time the DKC franchise really makes good use out of a 3D environment. It's still a side-scroller, but sometimes the gameplay will bring in a 3D environment in a creative way. It's both fun and beautiful to shoot through barrels while soaring through a 3-dimensional canyon. It's also hard. This game is no walk in the park like some of the previous franchise have been. It will present you with a good amount of challenge. But Nintendo also upped their game when it comes to support amid difficulty. They brought in the auxiliary cast of the DKC world in a way that is enjoyable. Instead of being limited to only adding Diddy Kong, you can now play as Dixie or Cranky too. But the great thing is that each has a unique power. Unlike the world of Mario where, let's be honest, Luigi is just another Mario in green suspenders, DKC Tropical Freeze adds a layer of originality to the 2-player experience. Tropical Freeze sounds like the name of a snow cone, and that's just what Nintendo brings us. It makes you feel like a kid again, and like this is your treat. It's a game that helps you enjoy our forgotten ability to play amid a vibrant and intriguing world. Your other products sometimes remind us that you're getting older, Nintendo. But the secret we don't like to admit is that we're getting older too. This game helps us forget that for us both, if only until we collect the all KONG letters.

Best

I have played it twice all the way through. I'm quite glad it's possible to play with the wii remote, as I much prefer that to the unused gamepad. The difficulty curve is just right and the gameplay is just as good as DKC: Returns, if not better. What makes this game truly outstanding in my books is the look and feel. Every part of the design from the menus to the enemies to the environment to each member of the kong crew is so lush and bursting with personality, it's almost impossible to play it without a silly grin on your face. The feeling is greatly enhanced by (what is in my opinion) the greatest video game soundtrack to date, by the incredibly talented David Wise. Levels like Windmill Hills, Grassland Groove, Panicky Paddles, and Seashore War are among the most enjoyable platforming experiences, ever. If you want a hardcore platformer, this is a good buy, especially once you start digging into hard mode and time trials. If you want an experience that is a smorgasbord for the senses, this game delivers like no other.

Es un juego completamente nuevo, no mal interpreten pero su calidad es como los años maravillosos de nintendo, es muy divertido y en pantallas, misiones, niveles como ese que es a contraluz en una pequeña selva (similar a esa de contraluz ya famosa en la playa de donkey kong country return) uno se da cuenta que los años maravillosos de nintendo no han terminado, en un mundo de jugar solo y serio, nintendo sigue haciendonos jugar en grupos enamorarnos de los modos de juego y los detalles, cada nivel dura en verdad 15 min si vas directo al final, si buscas los secretos pues puedes vivir en cada uno, amor inmediato por un juego practicamente regalado.

El de Donkey Kong Country Returns para Wii pudo ser un buen juego pero lo echaron a perder con meterle los controles de movimiento. En cambio este sigue el esquema tradicional que funcionó tan bien en la trilogía de SNES, un gran alivio que no le hayan metido controles de tacto a fuerzas. Los gráficos hermosos y el sonido excelente también, un imperdible para los que gustan de retos de plataformas.

I was never a donkey kong fan, his googly eyes and gorilla demeanor scared me whenever I'd see him in other games like SSB4 or MK8. But I decided to go on a limb for this game because of the glowing reviews from everyone. I know see what they were talking about. Great gameplay that IS ACTUALLY CHALLENGING, other nintendo games (most notably: Super Mario 3D World) have gameplay that is meant for easy and casual playing with family. The bosses are the highlight in this game, it's been awhile since I've been challenged on such a level in platformers. DK moves like a momentum filled boulder, he can dash really quick but not jump really high and that creates a unique play style that I've not seen before (mainly because this is my first DK game). I have no idea how the multiplayer is, just saying. It has a nice aesthetic that varies from world to world and everything runs smoothly. If you were hesitant, like me, go out on a limb and buy this game, you won't regret.