Topic: Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Switch)

Unfortunately all the level gimmicks in the world can't save a game from being rehashy, that usually comes down to things like new moves, mechanics, etc. DK's never really improved that aspect of its gameplay, all of TF's "new" moves are just things recycled from the Classic Trilogy with slightly different execution (what's next, are they going to bring back Animal Buddies and actual 2 player and expect us to act like those are legitimate innovations?) and pretty much every game is the same old 2D platformer with DK and friends running and jumping through levels, rolling, throwing barrels, climbing, etc. Boring. Isn't it about time DK learns some new tricks instead of just having new levels over and over and over? This is where a game like BotW or Odyssey gets more praise than a game like 3D World or TF. Because those games actually add things to their series instead of being a level pack. Whereas a game like this just feels like DLC of Returns, the gameplay itself just feels like more DK instead of doing something new and constructive with the series.

So yeah, all the raving about the level design isn't going to be enough. The game's problem is conceptual. DK doesn't get a new ability that's related to the Kong Island being frozen over. You can't do anything you haven't done in a previous DK game in general. The level design or game structure hasn't changed. The game flat out lacks ideas on a game wide level that would make it feel more like a legitimate step forward for the series.

I share an interesting video, here:

@Prizm @Octane
I can reaffirm what Octane says.

This is not only one of the best games on Wii U, it's the single greatest 2D platformer of all time. By a landslide. I actually played the game, 100% it, and spent several hundred hours in the time trials. Everything about this game is perfect. From the enchanting music to world class level design, original environments and frame-perfect gameplay.

The music is from David Wise, and it's one of his best yet. It actually tops DKC2, if you can believe it. I have the soundtrack on my phone and used to listen to it on my way to work it was so good. it's an incredible score, and when you're diving deep into the ocean and you hear the soft melodies it brings back memories of Enguarde and crew. It's a real treat.

The level design is second to none. Every single enemy and ledge is placed with incredible insight. It's built for momentum and speed running. But it's so elaborate you can play it like a normal Platformer and never even realize the depth of genius behind it. Once you start digging a little deeper and peeling away the layers you realize just how well-designed this game really is. It's why the game has only become more popular with time for the people who actually played the game and realized how good it is.

And the environments and worlds... so good! From jelly filled jungles to frozen forests, to lightning storms in the savanna to the grasslands in autumn. I can't recall a 2D platformer that has had better world and environments. It's a feast for the eyes, and every single new stage will excite you like Christmas morning, seeing what kind of incredible new vistas the next stage has in store for you. Not to mention, the constantly changing levels make everything so dynamic and exciting.

And let us not forget the gameplay, which is literally frame-perfect. When you jump it feels like you have actual weight. When you run it feels like you have real momentum. When you roll off a ledge you can jump mid air just like the original games. When you run time trials sometimes the difference between life and death will be a single pixel of a ledge you make it to. It's like all the precision of Monster Hunter or Dark Souls baked into a platformer. It's incredibly precise.

This game not only does the series justice, it's the only game I can think of that has no faults. That's perfect in every aspect. Many consider DKC2 to be one of the greatest classics of all time. But this game is better. In every. Conceivable. Way.

@JaxonH Nicely explained. I have so much love for that game and it is good to hear that I am not alone. Now since we are sharing good videos, I have two other videos that explain the history of this game very good:

@JaxonH I'll add this to my new year's resolutions: Do another run of Tropical Freeze this year!

@Bolt_Strike You haven't even played the game yet! You're missing out.

@Octane
Did you play the time trials? The time trials elevated the game to a whole other level. I remember playing on the gamepad too, thinking how awesome it was seeing this game on a handheld. And that was in 480p tethered to an invisible 20 foot rope. I can't wait to see this game on the Switch screen!

@Chandlero
Excellent videos. Thanks for sharing!

@JaxonH I didn't, but I completed most of it. 100% on the first five worlds, but I believe there was a level or two in the last world I hadn't completed yet. Whilst the time challenges sound fun, I don't know if I have the time to put that much dedication into the game. It would come at the cost of playing other games. And with plenty of big open world games coming out this year, I don't know if I have the time.

The price for this at €60 is a rip-off, if the current price isn't just a placeholder. It can be bought new for less than €20 on the Wii U. Even their rip-off eShop charges €25, but it gets a port onto Switch doing sweet f all and they think they can justify a hike back up to €60? I for one won't be supporting this kind of crap. Besides, I own it on Wii U already. I won't be buying any of these lazy ports. And it's not just this game, it'll be the same story when the likes of SM3DW gets its inevitable Switch port.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE This game is worth 60 EUR or even more. The WiiU version is cheaper and everyone is allowed to buy the WiiU version. This price discussion is always so pointless when someone puts the unsuitable word "rip-off" in the discussion..

See, being honest, I still prefer the original trilogy (well, actually just the original 2 DKC's). I think the controls were tighter on the SNES - something about Tropical Freeze's controls feel ever so slightly floaty to me. Same goes for the one they put out on the 3DS. I never owned a Wii so I don't know about that one, but I would probably say the same thing about that, too.

Still, fantastic game for any platformer fan.

@rallydefault Weird, because I think the games are the opposite of 'floaty', to me DK feels quite heavy actually.

Man, with these two ports, I could be happy as long as XCX, TMS#FE, and The Wonderful 101 got ported. Wooly World, Captain Toad, 3D World, Paper Mario, Pikmin 3 are all in the would be nice to have category still though. I definitely expect at least two more major ports in the second half of the year as well, possibly sharing months with other releases.

Anyways, other ports aside, I'm very excited to finally play Tropical Freeze. I promised myself I wouldn't get it until I finally finished Returns 3D, but I've been holding off for the last few months since I did just to see if it would have a Switch release! With all the good things I've heard about this game, I'm sure I'll get sucked in for a long time.

It doesn't matter whether or not I have. That aspect of the gameplay makes or breaks my enjoyment of a game, I got bored of NSMB Wii and DKCR and never finished them precisely for that reason. If I didn't like those games, what makes you think this game will be any different?

There wasn't much DK in that time, no, but there were a lot of linear platformers in that period which were similarly rehashy. You also had the likes of 3D Land, NSMB2, NSMBU, Kirby Triple Deluxe, Yoshi's New Island, and 3D World releasing around that time. The early 2010s were lousy with those types of games. So why would that game do well when there were so many other similar games in that time? Another 2D platformer simply wasn't what was needed at that point.

Yes it does.

/"discussion"

For those that played the WiiU original, what's the co-op experience like? ..is it fun? ..I know that the game is supposed to be pretty 'hardcore' (compared to, say, New Super Mario Bros Wii) - but could a more casual player pick up the second controller and enjoy it?

@Octane
I'm not surprised, though, because I feel the same way about Odyssey's controls but most people feel the exact opposite lol

I don't know. If it's helpful, my references for tight controls would be Shovel Knight or Super Mario Maker's controls and physics for the original Mario Brothers.

This announcement was really random, but as it's my favourite 2D platformer of all time, I can't help but double-dip. I just wish they included something more to really make me feel better about my decision - Funky Kong being OP just doesn't cut it for me, but I guess that's to cater to the younger demographic (much like MK8 Deluxe's auto-steering and auto-accelerate modes did).

Who knows, maybe closer to release, they might reveal a further new feature of the game?

@SM4SHshorts If anything extra's going to come it'll likely be an expanded secret world. Like the Wii version of Returns, the secret world of Tropical Freeze was rather short and the 3DS version of Returns had an expansion.

@Grumblevolcano Good shout!

@NaviAndMii I played the whole game with my girlfriend and at another occasion with different friends. It works really good and is a lot of fun. One can help each other and it is a lot easier with two players. The not so skilled player uses Dixie Kong where the skilled player uses Donkey Kong. This combination immediately gives a good balance.

This was the best Co-op experience in a Platformer, I ever had. This is not like in the New Mario Bros Series and even in 3D World, where you are always getting in the way, killing your partner accidentally and have other problems. In Tropical Freeze it works really good, only sometimes you have to wait for your partner or there are jumps that don't work for the second player very good, but this is mostly an exception. Only in the very fast paced and hard levels in the last world, it is hard to synchronise. However, that is no problem as long as one player survives. And I recommend to do the minecraft levels in turns and not simultaneous