REVIEW: Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Platform: Wii U

Reviewed By: Giuliano V, Matteo C

Gameplay: 8.5, 8

Giuliano- Retro proves again why Donkey Kong proves to be the better 2D plat former in Nintendo's arsenal. The unique depth that the new characters add to the way the game is played create a refreshing experience. Mine carts and rocket levels return and are better and harder than ever before. The boss battles are actually a good mix of fun and challenging, offering very simple ways to defeat the bosses but in actuality, being a lot tougher than they look. However, the lack of multiple animal buddies that was a huge problem in the first game continues. While the multiplayer is fun, the game seems to punish players for playing in two player, as some obstacles require a certain partner and others, such as mine cart levels, only have one player controlling yet still removes two lives for a death.

Matteo- I am happy they got rid of the blowing mechanic and am happy they added the ability to pluck items out of the ground. I would have preferred to have another character that would replace Donkey Kong, rather than have three characters be complimentary to Donkey Kong. Nonetheless, all three characters had their advantages, disadvantages and balanced the game as each level would cater to each characters strengths. The lack of new animal buddies was disappointing, especially since Enguarde would have been a perfect addition with the new water levels. 

Story: 7, 8

Giuliano- As with all Nintendo platformers, there is not much of a narrative. However, the game provides a context in which the player progresses through the levels and that is truly all a game like this needs.

Matteo- By far, this is the greatest way DK got his bananas stolen. Aside from simply getting his bananas stolen, he was also thrown from his home island, giving the ape more of a quest than in previous games. The Snowmads in general, while not as bad as the Tikis, were not as loveable as the Kremlings.

Sound: 9.5, 9.5

Giuliano- Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze has an absolutely amazing score. Mixing both original and new tracks from the entire series, Tropical Freeze offers a soundtrack that sets the mood for each of the fantastic levels, and definitely raises the bar for music in Nintendo games.

Matteo- David Weiss did a fantastic job of creating new tracks and remastering old tracks such as the Water Ambience and Jungle Hijinx. It was a very smart idea on Retro's part to bring back the original composer. Funky Kong's voice was also extremely disappointing, making him sound odd.

Presentation: 8.5, 8.5

Giuliano- All of the worlds are based on different types of jungles, whether they be tropical, forest or mechanical. The last world in particular was a fantastic nod to Donkey Kong Country Returns, with each level being based off a different world from the previous game. While there were fewer levels than in the predecessor, the levels were more than double in size and could actually take up to fifteen minutes to complete each one.

Matteo- Extremely detailed environments and character models that really stood out. On the other hand, the dynamic camera feature that was hyped did not feel as revolutionary as they made it sound. I like how the last world encompassed the features of the better levels in Returns. 

Lasting Appeal: 7, 7

Giuliano- While the game can last you a good 12-15 hours and a subsequent play through with friends, there is not much incentive to collect anything in the game. Even though there is a hidden world, it is not unique enough to actually make me want to go out of my way to collect tons of things in each level to unlock it. 

Matteo- Aside from collecting Kong letters, puzzle pieces and trophies, there is not really much else to do in the game. You can replay the levels, but many can become tedious on subsequent playthroughs. The lack of a boss battle mode is unfortunate as the boss battles were one of the highlights of the game. There really is not much incentive to replay the game after the first time. 

Final Verdict: 8.4 / 10

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is a strong title on Wii U and a great addition to the franchise, but also lacked certain elements from the past that could have made it more memorable. It is highly recommended for a Wii U owner, but if you choose to pass up on it, there is not much you are really missing out on that you wouldn't find in Returns.