Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze is a marevelous game. Originally released on the Wii U in 2014, the game was doomed to a small audience from the start. Which was a shame because players who passed it up (or simply didn't want to invest in a Wii U to play it) missed out on one of the greatest sidescrolling platformers in recent memory. With great challenges, great platforming and some of the best level design ever witnessed in a side scrolling platformer, I'm glad to see the game was given a second chance to appeal to a broader audience. This is Donkey Kong Country at its best. It's far better than Donkey Kong Country Returns (which was already an excellent game) and at times even exceeds the best of the original trilogy on the Super Nintendo. And part of that is because it's such a well designed game, even if it's greatness was recognized perhaps a little too late.
Tropical Freeze, like most platformers, doesn't really have a story so much as it has a setup. That being that a bunch of animals and other critters come by and cover DK Island in ice and the land becomes frozen. It's now up to Donkey, Diddy, Dixie and Cranky to save the island. And this is going to be an arduous task. Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze is known primarily for its difficulty. The first couple of levels will be fairly simple and straight forward but once you've got your bearings and the training wheels come off, Tropical Freeze is an unrelenting challenge where your abilities will be tested. Stages will begin one hazard, throw new hazards at you, combine them and end with a third completely different hazard if you let it. The levels are also lengthy and varied. One amusing aspect about Tropical Freeze is that no level you play ever really feels like any other level you play. They all feel unique in their own way. And just when you're positive a concept in a level is being repeated... they toss in a twist. Oh sure, you've been on a mine cart before and the first one is simple... but then you get to ones where water spouts raise platforms and you have to jump between two tracks. while avoiding sharks. That's not an exaggeration either, that level exists. It takes the familiar concept of the mine cart ride and adds so much spice to it that even the concept of a mine cart stage feels different. And if the game wasn't so good at establishing such a crazy, goofy tone you might think some of the concepts you experience are absurd but they're not.
Most levels are extremely difficult, though that you'll find yourself retrying levels over and over again. And sometimes the only way to really master the level is to fail at it several times. This kind of trial and error gameplay can be a little off putting for some gamers, but the game compensates for this by being fairly liberal with extra lives. And once you get the patterns of a level down it can be liberating to finally best that difficult stage. The player can feel a sense of accomplishment. Of course, this challenge may still be a little too steep for some players. The Donkey Kong Country games are known for their difficulty in general, but Tropical Freeze takes it to a whole new level. Even the bosses are more difficult than previous games. Getting the best of Tropical Freeze's levels, however does make for a good feeling because the challenge is so high in some of them that finally beating them feels like an earned victory.
Donkey Kong is not alone on his adventure. He has a few buddies along for the ride who provide some abilities for him. Diddy Kong allows DK to hover for a bit, Dixie has a helicopter spin which allows her to propel DK upwards and Cranky has a cane bounce that allows him to damage certain enemies. Each one is useful in different situations and they'll add two hearts to DK's health. But if you lose two of those four hearts your buddy is gone and you no longer have access to their abilities. This makes the game easier, but only marginally so. You're more likely to be grateful for two more health points as opposed to the abilties your buddy grants you some of the time. On the other hand, many of your deaths will come from stage hazards and pitfalls rather than through most of the normal enemies, many of whom are easily dispatched.
Even if you find it just a little too challenging, however, you can play the new Funky Mode which allows you to play Funky Kong who can sustain more hits before he perishes and can go on some of the more harsh terrain (such as spikes) that the other kongs can't. This makes for a much easier go at the game. It's a great mode to try out, but I strongly suggest putting it aside and trying your hand at the standard mode first. It's a much more rewarding and invigorating experience that way, but if you need a slightly easier go at the game, it's nice to know the option is there.
Visually Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze is pretty beautiful on the eyes. One of the highlights of Returns was jumping between the foreground and background and it's the same thing here, but in many of the stages there's usually more going on and a much greater visual flair. Textures pop out more and are brighter and more detailed than they've ever been, and the cartoon like art style helps sell the insanity that some levels might bring to light. But what really sells some of the visuals are that there can be so many things going on at once in a given level. From weather hazards to platforms collapsing... and the game handles just about all of it without dipping in frame rate or missing a beat.
The music, however, is probably the best and most rewarding aspect of Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze. Fans of the original Super Nintendo will be happy to know that David Wise returned to compose most of the music here. His melodies are well known from Donkey Kong Country and Donkey Kong Country 2 more so than anything (particularly tracks such as Aquatic Ambiance and Stickerbush Symphony) and he hasn't really been back to Donkey Kong Country in over twenty years. Now he's back and working with some of Nintendo's best composers: Daisuke Matsuoka (Donkey Kong Country Returns), Minako Hamano (Super Metroid) and Shinji Ushiroda to compose what is easily the best soundtrack in Donkey Kong history since 1995's Donkey Kong Country 2. Though Returns was a great soundtrack it was mostly remixed tracks. Here much more of it is original and it's absolutely amazing to listen to. They're great tunes and it works out just fine.
The only real thing that holds Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze back is that some players may find it too much of a challenge. The level design is top notch, but also designed in such a way that dying is inevitable. If you're easily frustrated then Tropical Freeze may not be for you, but if you're up for the challenge then it can be rewarding.
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From the manufacturer
Swing into action—anytime, anywhere
Barrel-blast into a critically acclaimed Donkey Kong adventure as this beloved franchise makes its Nintendo Switch debut with a banana-bunch of new features. Traverse islands packed with platforming perfection and nonstop action as the classic Kongs in the original game, or mix things up by playing the story as Funky Kong in new Funky Mode!
Arctic invaders have turned Donkey Kong Island into their personal frozen fortress, and it’s up to you to save the day. Play as Donkey Kong in Original Mode and team up with Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong, and Cranky Kong—each with unique abilities—to overcome platforming challenges and frosty foes. For a more accessible experience, start a game in Funky Mode to enjoy a range of gameplay updates and a new main-character option, spectacular surfing simian Funky Kong! His extra hearts and unique abilities make for a more relaxed gaming experience. And no matter which mode you choose, a wealth of collectibles and two-player co-op round out the fun!
Features
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Seek out a wealth of collectibles that’ll enable you to unlock additional content and stock up on useful items. |
Overcome challenges, battle frosty foes and bosses, and reclaim the Kongs’ stolen home. |
For the first time ever in the Donkey Kong Country series, play as Funky Kong! |
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Funky Kong has extra hearts and helpful abilities like double jump, hover, infinite rolls, infinite underwater corkscrews, and spike resistance. |
Share the adventure with a friend! During two-player co-op gameplay, each player can use a single Joy-Con controller, so no additional accessories are required. |
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Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze - Nintendo Switch
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Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze Is A Classic!
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One of The Best Switch Games? - My Honest Thoughts
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Very Fun Game!
I just got my Nintendo switch not too long ago. I have never owned my own gaming system as an adult. I wanted an easy and fun game. This Donkey Kong game definitely is a winner. My four year old son love to play as well. The graphics are very nice and crisp and the game is easy to maneuver through. I highly recommend!!!
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Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2024
Platform For Display: Nintendo SwitchVerified Purchase
I just got my Nintendo switch not too long ago. I have never owned my own gaming system as an adult. I wanted an easy and fun game. This Donkey Kong game definitely is a winner. My four year old son love to play as well. The graphics are very nice and crisp and the game is easy to maneuver through. I highly recommend!!!
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Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2023
Platform For Display: Nintendo SwitchVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2023
Platform For Display: Nintendo SwitchVerified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
Sassy_Kathy
Awesome game
Reviewed in Canada on January 11, 2024Platform For Display: Nintendo SwitchVerified Purchase
Henrique Dias
O melhor DK já feito.
Reviewed in Brazil on May 6, 2021Platform For Display: Nintendo SwitchVerified Purchase
Henrique Dias
Reviewed in Brazil on May 6, 2021
O jogo não é exatamente uma novidade: trata-se de uma remasterização (que está mais para conversão) de um lançamento de 2014 para Wii U.
A boa notícia é que "Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze" captura toda a essência da série de maneira perfeita. Tudo aquilo que os jogadores se acostumaram a ver está lá: sequências de alta velocidade, exploração, segredos e a presença de outros personagens que acrescentam novas possibilidades de exploração.
A jogabilidade é simples e extremamente precisa, algo que é fundamental em jogos nos quais o menor deslize significa uma vida a menos. Isso também garante uma boa dose de acessibilidade.
A trama de "Tropical Freeze" começa quando um exército de vikings chega à ilha onde Donkey Kong e seus amigos vivem. Junto com os invasores chega uma nevasca que transforma a paisagem da ilha tropical.
Cabe ao gorila e seus companheiros Diddy, Dixie e até o velhote Cracky entrarem na briga. Aqui, temos a principal diferença em relação aos outros jogos da série no Super Nintendo: o jogador só controla Donkey Kong, assim como ocorre em "Donkey Kong Country Returns", lançado em 2010 para Wii.
Os demais personagens são carregados nas costas do gorila e cada um confere uma habilidade diferente: Diddy Kong tem um jato que permite planar após um pulo, Dixie Kong usa suas tranças para fazer Donkey Kong alcançar lugares mais altos e Cranky Kong usa sua bengala como se fosse uma mola, o que permite atravessar áreas com espinhos.
Isso muda de figura quando o game é jogado no modo multiplayer. Neste caso, cada jogador controla um personagem enquanto exploram o cenário ao mesmo tempo. É um pouco confuso, mas a experiência pode ser divertida.
O ritmo que o game se desenvolve mescla trechos mais calmos com momentos de adrenalina - como quando uma tempestade de raios vai destruindo o chão, forçando o jogador a avançar sem pensar.
Isso, claro, impacta na dificuldade do jogo, com passagens que dão vontade de jogar o controle na parede, mas que se tornam extremamente satisfatórias uma vez que são superadas. As fases são variadas, com itens escondidos, saídas secretas - que abrem estágios escondidos - e áreas que demandam habilidade do jogador para serem acessadas. O mesmo vale para os chefes de cada mundo, que exigem perícia e uso dos mais variados elementos da jogabilidade do game.
Quem quiser uma facilidade maior pode optar pelo modo Funky. Nele, há a possibilidade de controlar o gorila surfista pelas fases e também há outros facilitadores, como uma barra de energia maior. Além disso, cada fase tem um modo "Time Trial", que permite a obtenção de medalhas de acordo com o tempo levado para completá-la - e também classifica o seu resultado em uma tabela de líderes online.
"Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze" já era um jogo bonito no Wii U, mas ganhou alguns detalhes adicionais nesta versão para Switch.
Todos os elementos, sejam personagens, inimigos e cenários, ficaram mais detalhados, e o resultado é um jogo bem colorido que agrada aos olhos. É algo que fica ainda melhor considerando as alterações de ambiente de cada uma das mais de 60 fases.
Em termos de performance, o game agora roda em 1080p e a 60 quadros por segundo, o que deixa as animações bastante suaves. E tudo isso sem gargalos. Já a trilha sonora segue o ritmo "tribal" característico da série e foi composta, em sua maioria, por David Wise, mesmo responsável pelas músicas dos games para Super Nintendo.
Mesmo com o preço salgado e a ausência de novidades em relação ao Wii U, "Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze" é um game praticamente obrigatório para quem curte jogos de plataforma e sentia saudades de uma das principais séries do estilo nos anos 1990.
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David
Juego muy bueno
Reviewed in Mexico on May 30, 2019Platform For Display: Nintendo SwitchVerified Purchase
Amazon Customer
Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 8, 2018Platform For Display: Nintendo SwitchVerified Purchase
Wherllyson Patricio Gonçalves
Ótimo Jogo
Reviewed in Brazil on May 28, 2024Platform For Display: Nintendo SwitchVerified Purchase
