It's stunning to me how the levels work both in the story mode and in time attack runs so incredibly well. Each platform, enemy, and obstacle was surely carefully considered and placed by Retro Studios' level designers to make speed runs work flawlessly. Not only are levels designed for simply getting through normally, but they are also created with the capability for speed run sessions. Speaking of which, the numerous amount of breathtaking locales, helped visually by some of the most detailed and inspired backgrounds ever seen in a 2D platformer, make Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze's levels a blast to play. There's even the return of swimming sections from the original Donkey Kong Country trilogy, as well as levels where DK, the enemies, and the foreground are cast in shadow, making for some really beautiful and artistic levels. One level you're bouncing off jelly platforms, another you're riding across zip-lines over bottomless pits, while another you're putting out fires in a burning jungle setting. Each introduces its own special type of obstacles to overcome. The greatest asset to Tropical Freeze is its masterfully crafted level design. Reach the daily recommended servings of fruit. On the fifth island DK and friends will easily The secret exits usually require a certain Kong to reach them. In addition to this, there are various alternate exits, ten total, that open the way to otherwise locked levels. While there are indeed fewer worlds than in its predecessor, Tropical Freeze boasts more levels per world. Kong Pow isn't a mandatory move, and it really doesn't do anything all that exciting to prove its necessity to be in the game.ĭonkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is made up of six unique islands, each with their own variety of environments and levels to master. Depending on which character is with Donkey Kong, the enemies will either leave in their wake 1-up balloons, yellow hearts, or banana coins. This move, Kong Pow, destroys all enemies on the screen instantly. New to the series is a special move that is able to be unleashed when enough bananas have been collected. This is a needlessly clunky way of doing things when you consider that Super Mario 3D World allowed players to press one button to back out and quickly switch to whichever character they wanted. An oversight that drags multiplayer down is that if the second player wants to change what Kong they're playing as, they have to drop out of the game, come back in, and select which Kong they want to change to, a process that takes at least 20 seconds on a good day. In multiplayer mode, the two monkeys are individuals, but are able to team up on certain tricky platforming sections that would be difficult to pull off with two players moving separately from one another. Usually the barrels alternate between Kongs, allowing the player to pick up the barrel when they see the character they wish to partner with. Several DK barrels allow him to change his partner. In single player, Donkey Kong has one of the given Kongs on his back. Some areas in the game are only accessible if the player has a particular Kong with them. Finally, Cranky Kong goes all Scrooge McDuck, making the surprisingly competent old Kong curmudgeon be able to use his cane as a pogo stick, reaching new heights and bouncing off spikes effortlessly. Dixie Kong can twirl her hair like a helicopter, giving her the ability to slowly float downward as well as get some extra air. Diddy Kong can use his rocket pack to hover across gaps for a limited amount of time. No, Dixie Kong who debuted in Donkey Kong Country 2, and Cranky Kong, playable for the first time in the DKC series, join the two characters. It won't be easy, but seldom anything worthwhile ever is.ĭonkey Kong doesn't just have his best bud Diddy along for the adventure this time. Now, DK and the gang must move from island to island, hoping to return their iced over homeland and kick out the Snowmad forces occupying it. A new enemy has arrived at DK Island, the Snowmads, and with a blow of an ancient horn, the entire island freezes over, and in the process, blows DK and pals far, far away. As DK is about to blow out his cake candle, a strong burst of arctic air comes in. While many can argue it's not the game the Wii U needs to move console units, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is as close to platforming nirvana as one can get.ĭonkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong, and Cranky Kong are all at a birthday celebration for Donkey Kong. It's now 2014, and on a console already spoiled with platforming riches, Retro Studios is at it again with a followup to 2010's Wii entry, this time on the Wii U. While they didn't receive a game from the original creators themselves, Retro Studios more than proved themselves worthy of taking over the Donkey Kong Country name with 2010's Donkey Kong Country Returns. Donkey Kong Country fans waited over a decade for a return to Rare's beloved formula.
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