I think this is the first game where I've only heard people say "it's among the best, if not the best of its genre" and after finally playing it myself I can only say "true".

Donkey Kong as an IP is in an incredibly bizarre spot right now. It's getting its own theme park offshoot and features prominently in what is now the best grossing video game movie of all time, yet it's gone without a new game for itself in nearly a whole decade

It's heartbreaking that this game was as good as it is and yet not a single follow-up has happened in the past 10 years.

It’s really funny, but kind of weird to think that 2014 was almost 10 years ago. And it’s even stranger to think that we didn’t get a new DK game ever since. Tropical Freeze is such a good game that it feels brand new, even almost a decade later. So, at least we went out with a banger, I guess. Retro is such an special studio and, fitting for their name, I can’t think of a better one to revive these old Nintendo series that have always clicked more with the western audience. I love Metroid and I’m happy Prime fans will be getting their dreamed fourth entry in the series. But I would be lying if I said I’m not a bit disappointed with the lack of a new Donkey Kong Country on the Switch. It’s Nintendo’s most popular home console and DK deserved to have a place in it.

It's criminal how underrated this game is. Sure, how can it be underrated when many say it's the best 2D-style platformer -- but not a single gamer of the many in my modern life has played it.

I really hope Retro does something with the Kremlings in a future entry, I would love to see what they choose to do with that gang of kharachters, bc they’ve clearly shown that they have a love and care for the series and its cast of unique characters.

This is going to be a hot take but I genuinely think this entry is the best in the series.

This is my favorite triple A game of all time. There are a few indies that I like more nowadays but it’s one of the highest quality gaming experiences out there

This game is definitely my favourite platformer. Thanks for covering it!

I remember reading, maybe from an interview or just a Tweet, that Seashore War was David Wise's favorite song he composed for the game, and you definitely helped sum up why it's probably the best in the game as a result. I don't think it's as "listenable" a track as some others (I could listen to a loop of Windmill Hills or Busted Bayou for a long while, but if I stick with Seashore War too long I'd worry that some of the magic would be lost), but even taken by itself it's definitely something special.

Just replayed it on the switch and still i can't fit in words how much this game pulls me in. Havind played every mario and dk platformer since the snes for me this is the best one they ever made. It rly deserves more credit. If a massive company like nintendo can even have a sleeper hit then i think this is it.

BEAUTIFUL! Truly astounding work! I think you did an amazing job talking up Tropical Freeze than I've ever seen nay than I ever could do. Really really great work here. I was watering up towards the end. I really hope we see another Donkey Kong game, so in the very least you can make another DK video.

Id argue this is one of the greatest games ever. Easily top 50 at the very least.

Fantastic video. I love that to this day people continue to talk about this incredible game and series, despite the last original release being almost a decade ago at this point. Just got done playing through DKCR and DKCTF again as well as listening through all my favourite tracks from DKC, DKC2, DKCR and DKCTF and man there truly is something special about this series. The amount of love, care and passion that oozes throughout every aspect of it is incredible. The amount of detail in Tropical Freeze is incredible, it is such a rich, organic, lively game with beautiful setpieces, backgrounds and off course, Music. This series easily has some of my favourite Video Game OSTs of all time. Unbelievably gorgeous music in every single game. Tropical Freeze itself is just so incredibly immersive, that playing it always gives me such immense joy, relaxes me so deeply, helps me cope with stress at any time. The levels never get old, how each one is crafted so meticulously to be fun to play casually, while exploring and trying to find every collectable, speedrunning and trying to find new faster routes and jump-combos or playing on Hard Mode, the levels always remain fresh and a blast to play the entire game through. Sawmill Thrill, Horn Top Hop, Frantic Fields, Reckless Ride, Blurry Flurry, Cliffside Slide, Amiss Abyss, Grassland Groove and my personal favourite, Scorch 'n Torch, all fantastic examples of levels that impress me to my core every single time I play them. Geniuinely believe the DKC series are some of the best platformers of all time, they're just so beautifully and brilliantly crafted. This game and series mean so much to me, have given me so much joy and inspiration over so many years, I will never forget it and keep loving them til the day I die. Always makes me very happy to see other people share their enthusiasm and love for this game and series, so thanks a lot. Maybe one day Retro Studios and David Wise will get to work their magic with this series once again

First time I played Grassland Groove, I got to the end of the level and just waited and watched and suddenly the music went all like “DON-KEY KOOOOOOOOONG” just made me tear up. One of my favourite memories in my 30 years playing video games. So many people miss that glorious part of the level Kuz they just go straight for the goal.

Your passion for these games is always so infectious. Had a huge smile on my face hearing you talk about Grassland Groove - and again in the way you closed this out. Although I've only played the older DKC games, I started my channel for similar reasons, because of creators like you. So, it was meaningful to hear that perspective. In a way, the fact that you've gotten the big games done just makes me more excited for what you come up with for next year.

DKCTF is one of the best games I’ve ever played. Awesome video!

Great vid. Pretty much agree w everything said especially about the level design/aesthetic/life. I would sell my soul to play Grassland Groove for the very first time again. Holy cow the way you move through that level with the music and the motion of the level, it brought me to euphoria. Metroid and DK are my 2 favorite nintendo game series. I hope retro is secrectly working on a new DKC game alongside with Prime 4. I will add my 2 cents and say that once you get good at Tropical freeze you will realize that it is in fact Cranky who is the best and most fun Kong companion. Also being able to speed run the hidden templar levels with no kong companion is one of the most satisfying experiences ever

Watching this makes me want to play it again. It’s been many years, but I still remember it fondly. Great analysis!

Loved this video, I couldn't agree more with your points about why it is so dang impressive.

The whole DKC series is very nostalgic for me, especially the music.

I complete mario wonder and i think this game is waaaaaay better

Why have I never heard about you? This was an excellent video. Tropical Freeze is one of my favorite games ever. Subbed

I'm really missing out with this game. I loved playing the DKC trilogy on the SNES as I was growing up in the '90s and I still played them from time to time today on the switch. I did play some Donkey Kong country returns when it first came out for the Wii. Blockbuster still existed so I actually rented the games from there instead of having to wait for them to ship from GameFly. And yes I'm aware there is one last blockbuster in existence in bend Oregon but that's not where I live so please I don't need a correction on that. I even uploaded footage of the game back then was new. Anyways my wife actually got me tropical freeze on the Wii U but I don't know what it was I think there was just a whole lot going on in my life and I just didn't really have time and I had never played the game unfortunately. But every time I hear about this game I always hear about just how incredible the game it is and how it's like the best song country game ever and yet I still haven't played it. Another thing that doesn't help is over the last few years my Wii U was in a storage unit. Out of principle I didn't bother to get the switch port because I already had it on Wii U but I just never played it. I didn't want to you know waste money on a port of the same game I already have.

Great video. Thank you for sharing. I have a copy of Tropical Freeze for Wii U because I'm one of the dozen owners of a Wii U, but I've barely played it and have been meaning to get a copy of it for Switch to finally motivate myself to finish it. For some reason I think of it primarily as a game for coop play-maybe I bought it for coop play and that's why I haven't come back to it. Having it handheld on the Switch might address that mindset. I loved DKC Returns on 3DS. It was so tight, and a compelling ride all the way through, which is really saying something for me becauss I tend to struggle to keep up momentum playing stage-based 2D platformers and really most 2D platformers generally that aren't named Metroid or Castlevania. I'll be having fun, get a little bit in, and then just not play again. Might be the genre with the most games I've started but not finished.

God I really need to play this game, you make it look and sound *so* fun. Great video!

Another great video. It was nice to hear your thoughts on this game.

Seashore war is something that struck me the second I heard it,I've love it ever since and play it with relaxing or Studying it's magical truly

Very well said, great video!

Hey Alex! It’s Matt, not sure if you remember me, but we used to work at Dunkin Donuts together in Pgh. Found your channel through chance recently and remembered your username…going through these videos has brought back a lot of memories. Hope you’re doing well man!

You can tell that thos game has one of the best OSTs of all time when he doesn't even mention funky waters, busted bayou, scortch and torch, mountain mania, snowmads theme, frozen frenzy, freezie breezie, trunk twister, wing ding or every other original song or remix.

I feel a little bad for not really even considering buying this game... I like DK but the franchise has never been _particularly_ close to me personally. But I enjoyed DK Country Returns and this one has Funky Kong, the best DK character (I'm only half joking btw). It looks stunning and the gameplay is fluid, and yet I just never seemed to have much interest, and there are a LOT of games to play already. But after watching this video, yeah I think I'll consider buying this sometime in the future.

Holy crap this game looks so good! I cant believe i overlooked this one

Dont forget that in both returns and tropical freeze if you have a companion then you can roll infinitely as long as you keep shaking the wii remote in returns on spam the roll button in freeze

Glad this game is getting love, I still find myself playing it to this day!

I have played most of the DK games (except Jungle Beat) and this is hands down the best in the series. An absolute gem! Excellent analysis!!

if you told me this guy's voice is secretly Steve Blum...id believe it

7:27 In my mind, this song fits perfectly in Sonic Frontiers.

Wow, well I’m convinced to pick up this game now! Also, while I’m not sure what it means for the games, I think DK being a main char in the new Mario movie as well as the DK expansions coming to the universal studios parks means he’s not going away anytime soon!

DKC tropical freeze is the peak of amazing that the series can go. The DKC series needs more love 🦍💛🍌

Man, and here I have my copy, still stored in my game holder with all the other Switch games, while I play my PS5 or PC. I gotta rekindle my love for the Kong.

I'm glad this video is blowing up.

Would you consider reviewing Super Mario 64 DS? I really like your analytical in-depth videos. I'd find it interesting to see your view on stuff like the D-Pad controls - of which I do think they tried their best. Or Super Mario 3D World and Bowser's Fury are also games I really like! :)

Love when u upload!

Damn I gotta play this again. One of my favorites of all time

I love this game. Playing it on PC at 120 fps in ultrawide resolution makes it even better.

It's funny, by no means am I a fan of the genre - my 2D platformer enjoyment aside from this game extends to pretty much just Shovel Knight and Kirby - but Tropical Freeze thoroughly impressed me. It just *feels* so good to play. It controls really nicely and comfortably, the level design is wildly memorable with (what feels like) an absurd amount of unique assets and bonkers ideas, and backed by a phenomenal audio and visual presentation. It's a constant joy to take in and rarely becomes frustrating, which I sadly couldn't quite say of Returns. I think this game in particular was what made me realise how bland 2D Mario had become to me, at least at the time. Really, the only knock I give this game, aside from the partner imbalance is that I think the bosses overstay their welcome sometimes. ...With all this game does well, I find that to be pretty forgiveable.

I think a lot of people miss how useful Diddy Kong can be. When I was replaying through the levels a few years ago to complete hard mode, I found myself saying "hmm... this level would be easier with Diddy." While most people would disagree, I think Diddy tends to be better than Dixie in many situations. His hover is much better for quick platforming than Dixie could ever be. You maintain horizontal flow, so it's easier to chain movements together. And you can cancel Diddy's hover at any time, while Dixie will _always_ finish her upward movement (height/length varies on how long you hold the button, but by comparison, Diddy's is instant). The secret K levels especially benefit from Diddy's movement. And fighting Lord Fredrik is so much less frustrating with Diddy. Despite my praise for Diddy, he's pretty situational. Dixie can help in most levels Diddy can, but help better. But there are many, many levels where Diddy makes things much easier, imo. Cranky is still my most used partner though, lol

Terrific video on some of the best 2D platforming work ever created!!

I REALLY hope a future dk game allows 4 player simultaneous. The chaos that would ensue would definitely be a sight to behold

Tropical Freeze isn’t just peak platforming, it’s peak gaming in general with an unmatched OST

Incredible look at an incredible game. God I hope we get another DK game soon because I always look forward to your DK coverage!

As someone who is doing a challenge run of DKCTF where I am trying to beat the game jumpless, I have to disagree with one thing, that being Cranky Kong is by far the best kong because of his bouncing ability. In all seriousness nice retrospective on the game!

I was wondering, would you have ideas (besides the obvious stuff like better bonus rooms) for a potential new DK game?

Wait, what? I knew the jungle world told a story about how ice-creams were made along the way but I didn't realise it was a showcase of the snow people's goal with the islands they conquered. Wow, that's a great realisation! Thanks for sharing that! I wonder if beating the boss fights at the end of the worlds also means freeing those islands from the snow people. We don't get to see any cutscenes that really confirm that.

Tropical Freeze is a game that everybody who’s played it says is fantastic, but not nearly enough people have played it

I disagree on cranky being situational, there are all sorts of hazards to bounce off of and spikey enemies everywhere, plus extra jump height is extra jump height. He also has the bonus of retaining speed while bouncing so if you want to go fast he's usually the your guy. Also great in boss fights. I think Cranky and Dixie are both equally great while Diddy is underwhelming in general and obsolete if compared to Dixie, unless you're in a water stage at which point Diddy is the best for going fast.

This is up there with Rayman Origins as one of the greatest platformers I have ever played.

I wonder if Retro might make remasters of the first 3 Donkey Kong Country games. That would be cool.

I really love your take on this game. Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze is amazing! There’s some assets I wish they did better with such as animal buddies, bonus rooms, and some boss fights, but it's still the best 2D platformee I've played.

Love this video! What a great take, I never really thought about the dynamic camera angles like that!😊 Tbh, I Kind of wish they would recreate DK64. Not copy with new graphics, but maybe same concept new maps/characters/etc.? (Except they better leave Chunky Kong in the game, he was my fave and I haven’t seen him in a game in forever.)❤

It’s crazy this series went away for so long

Ask science fiction question: Who are holding the giraffe- and zebra-shaped wooden figures in the Grassland Groove level? Or are they alive and moving on their own? I'm wondering because overall the world of this game feels so real, so an explanation for this would be neat!

One of my favorite games!

im getting a switch this friday after wanting one for 6 years, i grew up with donkey kong country returns on the wii and when tropical freeze came out i really wanted to play it but never had a wii u, im super excited still :)

I played this for the first time on Switch after GameXplain (before Andre, the channel owner, was cancelled) kept going on about how amazing it was, and after playing it I 100% agreed with them! The art style, controls, music and level designs were so cool, especially worlds 3 and 5. DK Island being the final world, destroyed by the snow brought by the Snowmads was a great touch as well, it's so cohesive for a genre that generally isn't. Easily the best 2D platformer I've ever played!

Yes yes, you are correct and I agree. Can I have my Kremlings back now?

Kinda curious if you would do DK mario Rabbids.. i watched the video analyzing it in how its DK's "Finest Hour" ...and honestly i HAVE TO AGREE. 1. ...he looks soooo good, young and clean too! ..like he stands upward instead of hunched down like yoshi brawl. 2. He mainly tries to look after the team, kinda like in the DK rap.. hes the leader of the bunch. 3. THE MUSIC... DUUUUDDEE 4. REFRENCES, THEMES, AND CHARACTER. 5. ...a well fun adventure too!

hella underrated game

great video, puts into words what i've felt through this game and indeed even though dk will never be as relevent again, in an artistic way it has surpased many of its contemporaries and its heirs, DKCTF is still the apex of 2d platforming, killed off by too many new super mario bros and not enough of this. At least there will always be people that recognize that true masterpiece that is this game and it is our duty to make it recogniable to others.

Ngl I thought this video was gonna explain about why this game or the DKC series was dead, but somehow brought back to life thanks to the fans for some reason or Nintendo publicly teasing a new game. I wasn’t thinking this video was gonna be about the life and quality of the game within. 😅

15:34 "The game doesn't push the gimmicks quite as far as I would've liked (...) like its SNES counterparts." Do you have examples of such kind of gimmicks?

As a fan of the DK country saga, my favorite being DK country 3, that was until i play this game in nintendo switch lite, and to me, it surpasses the 3rd, DK tropical freeze is a perfect game and one of my favorite games, and i dare to say is also one of the best nintendo games ever

To be brutally honest, I don’t think any 2D platformer even comes close to Tropical Freeze. It’s level design, collectibles, score and aesthetics are immensely impressive and so passionately designed. This game is, in my mind, the most underrated Nintendo game ever made: a hidden treasure

The donkey kong themed offshoot is the reason why I think nintendo is still holding back donkey kong games. Starting with the yearly june direct I think nintendo will give us a little bit of donkey kong content every direct just like they did with the Metroid series for the last years. Possibilyties: - Funky + Diddy Kong for next Mario Kart 8 wave together with a new Donkey Kong themed track. - Donkey Kong Country Returns Remaster for Switch - New third Donkey Kong Country Game from Retro Studios (with King K. Rool Comeback) - New 3D Donkey Kong Game - Spin-Offs

I think yet another thing that makes DKCTF so good (and the earlier parts of the series) is, again, it feels alive. The levels aren't made of static repeating blocks anywhere, the background comes into play too, and every single thing seems to be animated and moving, even if only slightly. On the other hand, Mario games (however fun they still may be) often repeat components and themes level after level which makes them feel more bland sometimes, and although this allows for things like Super Mario Maker and the like, the gameplay doesn't quite feel as nice. (I want Donkey Kong Maker but alas, it's probably almost impossible.)

I always saw Tropical Freeze as like the same kind of scale as Rayman: Origins. Gorgeous game, great levels, a truly great entry in their respective series. Refreshing is the word? But this is also coming from someone who only completed Rayman: Origins, I haven't beaten a Donkey Kong or any other Rayman games. For me it's nice to know these good series that I may not have attachment to are still able to give their fans a good experience even like a decade later, since that's what I want out of my favorite series too

I never really thought about it that way but yeah, Tropical Freeze actually made me excited to play auto-scrollers. And I always hated auto-scrollers.

Say what you want, but I firmly believe that tropical freeze is the best 2D platformer ever made. It without a doubt surpasses even the original DKC trilogy in just about every way, and no mario game has ever held a candle to it.

Tropical freeze is amazing. It actually kind of reminds me of Rayman Legends a bit, with how unique and creative the levels are. They are both some of the best platformers, 2d or otherwise, I've played

Bro I’m literally playing it rn

not saying this to be nice at all, you are the best essay video youtuber ive come across. Scott the Woz or Designing4 are close 2nds but yous till reign supreme. Keep it up my guy 👍

I hope a new 2D Donkey Kong is coming soon!

Tropical Freeze is one of my all-time favourite platformers. I played that game before Returns. Returns was okay but less "wow" and the physics feel much less fine-tuned to me. I understand that DK is heavy and stuff but in Returns I died too many times because of the physics imo. I played it on 3DS.

If you're really hungry for some more DK action in a completely different style, I'd suggest the Donkey Kong Adventure DLC for Mario Rabbids Kingdom Battle. The game is XCOM like, but it's great and the DK DLC was very clearly made by fans of the DKC series. And if you like that, then try out the sequel Mario Rabbids Sparks of hope. They're both great games.

It's still baffling to me that this might just be the only 2D platformer that doesn't have... floating platforms. Not kidding, every single platform in this game... really exists, has its reason to be there, is a direct part of the world. There is not single platform that is just floating in the air like in most 2D platformers and realizing that lets you understand just how amazingly designed this game really is. Great video! I love this game to death

I love the Kremling Krew. always will. But I will say the Snomads are a close second. FAR better than some wooden things. Imagine a third game, where they reveal in a trailer the Leader of the Snomads returns and he's looking out at Dk isle. and from the shadows behind him walking into the light is K rool. Bringing back the Kremlings and have them work WITH the snomads. imagine the enemy combinations they could do. The Chief and King K rool now have a common enemy. Be a fantastic way for Retro to create new variations of their enemies, while still giving us kremlings. Either way add them or not (please) I will still play whatever Donkey Kong Country title comes our way. DK for life!

They Need to make one more dkc

Easily my favourite 2D platformer, what an amazing game honestly

I refuse to play this game till I see it for $30 or less. I've been waiting for years!

Bashmaster is too handsome for children!! And to be accompanied by that rock music...... He's just so handsome, gosh!

i would like to see a new dk in 3d open island

Yes! I was ringing this bell when I first completed it on wiiu. Ppl crying about why no Metroid! No, we need DKCR3!

As someone who dislikes this game, it's a very good analysis, I never understood why people liked it so much or how some even said it's the best on the series, this helps me understand why people say those things, I still dislike the game and I still see enormous fails on the philosophy the game was build upon, for me gameplay and good controls for games like this should still be the first priority over visuals or world building, but now I'm able to appreciate how truly committed they were to make something truly amazing visually and harmonically within the world and how much they wanted to make literally everything have some sort of movement, so yeah. I don't like the game and I doubt I ever will, but judging it for what it is and not what it isn't (I really wish they didn't use the word "Country" on the name of these games) I can say, it's truly the most impressive platformer I have ever seen that actually uses visuals and dynamic worlds as part of the gameplay.

GOD, this game is beautiful

I say that on every DKC:TF videos I watch but it’s my favourite Wii U game and one of the best platformers ever. It’s a masterpiece!

Funky Mode is fun for speed running the game though, he is a bit too good though.

I just beat this game a couple months ago, and it's fantastic. But we have to address the elephant in the room. This game is nearly 10 years old, and Nintendo is still trying to charge full price for it. Regardless of how good their games are, Nintendo needs to learn how to drop the price of their older games.

Dude I hope this video blows up. I haven’t played this game before, but you make such a compelling discussion as to why I should :0

It makes you wonder just what it would take for them to greenlight a third game in this "sequel trilogy" ... ooh... as long as we agree never to call it _that_ again. A third game in the _Returns_ Trilogy... even though they dropped that name. According to the CESA Games White Papers, the Wii U version of *Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze* had sold 2.02 million units, as of December 2020; and that the Nintendo Switch version had sold 4.12 million units, as of December 2021. So 6.14 million copies, which is certainly nothing to sneeze at, and would be a huge cash cow at any _other_ company, but Nintendo personally holds all ten slots on the *Switch's Top 10 Best Selling Games* list. So it takes at least 15 million to even catch their attention; like number 9: *New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe* (the game with the "Bowsette" power up) which sold 15.41 million units solely on the Switch. Also, don't forget to sign *The Well- Red Mage's* petition to credit *Grant Kirkhope* for *DK Rap* in the *Super Mario Bros. Movie,* already 15k strong!