Topic: Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze (Switch) PAX East 2018 Preview

[perry]

This new port is still looking gorgeous, and funkier than ever.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/hands-on-preview/46944/donkey-kong-tropical-freeze-switch-pax-east-2018-preview

Everyone knows that the Wii U overall had a terrible fate, but boy did it have some amazing games. One of these games was Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze, made by the team at Retro Studios. Coming to Switch years later, the  changes made from the original aren’t all that numerous. But as they say: “If ain’t broken don’t fix it.” And one thing’s for sure - this game definitely ain’t broken.

From what I played at our appointment with Nintendo, this port plays and feels just as good as it did on the Wii U, while also loading quicker and faster in between levels. It can not be overstated enough that the quality of platforming here is top-tier (and on a personal note could be my favorite platformer of all time).

If you haven’t played Tropical Freeze yet know this: it is incredibly hard. So it comes as no surprise that the main addition to this Switch version tries to assist any struggling players out with the new Funky Mode. While already having Donkey, Diddy, Dixie, and Cranky available to play as, now the radical Funky Kong is here to glide and ride his way through the campaign. Using him powers up the player, boosting their 3 life hearts up to 6, and also letting them double jump, glide in the air, swim faster and easier, and even fall on spikes without damage. While not making the game a cake-walk, this seems to be a fantastic way to play the game if you are afraid of the difficulty. And in all seriousness here - who hasn’t always wanted to play as Funky Kong? (Yes, I remember Mario Kart Wii)

When thinking of games from the Wii U that deserve a second chance on the Switch, Tropical Freeze is unarguably one of them. The new addition of the Funky Mode is fun bonus for players, and if an easy mode isn’t your style remember - is also a great option for friends playing in co-op mode or for people who maybe want to play through the game again quickly.

Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze launches on May 4.