With the help of Diddy, Dixie and Cranky, Donkey Kong must defeat the Snomads, a Viking tribe who have invaded Donkey Kong Island and brought an eternal winter with them (hence the title ‘Tropical Freeze’). Donkey Kong must travel across 6 islands, with a boss at the end of each island, in order to reclaim his home back.
The inclusion of Dixie Kong was much appreciated by me because it made Elizabeth very happy to have a girl character to choose from. It was the same when we played Super Mario 3D World as Elizabeth was able to choose a female character in the form of Princess Peach. So it was a big hit from a young girl’s perspective.
If you’re playing this game with two players then the second player will be able to take control of Diddy, Dixie or Cranky. Diddy uses his barrel jetpack for crossing large gaps, whilst Dixie can use her ponytail to act as a helicopter propeller to reach high places and slowly descend through the air. Cranky’s ability is very similar to Scrooge McDuck in ducktales, in that he uses his cane to bounce on dangerous areas such as thorns. He can also defeat certain enemies that other characters can’t.
Carrying on from the previous games there are still the collectable Kong letters and puzzle pieces, which can unlock hidden bonuses or additional levels. You can also fill the Kong POW meter that allows Donkey Kong and his partner to perform a special move that will defeat all enemies on screen and convert them into special items.
The game looks amazing in High Definition and I hope that Nintendo continues making more games like this. You can play the game on the TV or on the gamepad using the off-TV play feature. If you decide to play the entire game on the TV then it will completely turn off the gamepad screen, thereby increasing it’s battery life and allowing you to game for longer. I prefer though using the Wii U Pro Controller, which is a great device and feels more familiar to a modern controller.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is a challenging game that requires precision execution, so expect to hear your younger gamers asking for help once in while. Personally I preferred playing this game as a father/daughter project. It’s another must have title for any family Wii U owners!
