-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Astro Bot Vs. Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze
- Thread starter Hemingwayoffbase
- Start date
Dacvak
No one shall be brought before our LORD David Bowie without the true and secret knowledge of the Photoshop. For in that time, so shall He appear.
This is a really tough question imo. Both are basically 10/10 games for me, but for different reasons. I probably slightly give the edge to Astro Bot, since I love 3D platformers and it’s soooooo rare to get a good one not from Nintendo.
kevboard
Member
I have platinum...
also that's absolutely not true lol. the enemy variety is pretty low, the variety on powerups/items is relatively low as well, and the most boring ones got used the most often, while interesting ones like the shrinking one only gets used in a single level.
Last edited:
Dacvak
No one shall be brought before our LORD David Bowie without the true and secret knowledge of the Photoshop. For in that time, so shall He appear.
Almost every single stage has a novel gameplay gimmick. What the hell are you talking about?
You’re right that the general movement and traversal mechanics aren’t as versatile as any of the 3D Mario games, but that does not mean the overall gameplay isn’t varied or has no depth.
But that’s not the intention of the game. It obviously revolves around the wide variety of stage gimmicks, and in many cases even outpaces some of Nintendo’s own 3D platformer gimmicks.
DaleinCalgary
Member
Okay then, I respect everyone's opinion if you have the plat. I just don't see how you can say this game the game is shallow, I would say the opposite.
Ogbert
Member
No, it doesn’t.
I’ve platinumed it and it’s my game of the year, but you’re mistaking power ups for platforming mechanics. AB is actually a very basic platformer. There are zero jumping mechanics to master.
I really don't think the reception comes from the references, outside of the few dedicated levels that are important. The game is just so well made from start to end, accessible and designed so you never get bored, i'm not surprised people like it. They clearly understand what they had to do to get great scores.
Although I do think it's fundamentally shallow yes.
Last edited:
Lucifers Beard
Member
Astro Bot by a country mile. I couldn't get on with DK, too bloody frustrating.
Topher
Identifies as young
kevboard
Member
did we play the same game? I'm pretty sure the game has at most like 10 power up gimmicks, while having around 90 levels.
other than these powerups there's not much happening Leveldesign wise.
maybe the ghost levels where you have to light the way could be counted as an 11th gimmick, but that's about it.
and sadly, IMO, the most boring powerups are the ones reused the most. while the mouse is only in a single level.
well, shallow in the sense that Astro Bot himself can't do much. you can jump, hover and attack. that's it. and there's not much challenge to 99% of the game either.
VeganElduderino
Member
this should be Astro vs Mario Odyssey
DaleinCalgary
Member
You must be much better than I am, this is the first game that made my hands sweat in a long while
sloppyjoe_gamer
Gold Member
Astro Bot all day....how the fuck is this even a question?
Synastry
Member
Can you image this place if Astro bot wins goty.Sad because others don't share your personal opinion?
Just for that this years game awards are a must watch at least for me.
diffusionx
Gold Member
because TF is better?
brenobnfm
Member
I started on the NES and it was a revolution when 3D arrived for real with the PS1 and N64, it's literally another dimension added to games. Actually seems like you are the one who started playing with these pixel art indie games on the last 10 years.
BlackTron
Member
It's difficult to appreciate what is lost in the transition from 2D if you were not already intimate with it. There is golden gameplay there that can't be replicated in a 3D game (and vice versa). While SM64 is certainly more technically impressive and impactful, if I had to pick one to be stranded with I'd probably choose Mario Bros. 3 as I simply think it's a more fun game.
If you play games more for the exploration aspect with less focus on gameplay changes I can see 3D being nothing but an upgrade in any series.
Dafegamer
Member
Yikes, you consistently have bad takes. Mediocre in what? The tight near perfect controls, or the insanely varied and imaginative Level design? Or the earworm worthy soundtrack. Which of it mediocre? At least elaborate in what makes the gameplay "mediocre". People love using that term without explaining themselves
Dafegamer
Member
He literally said Astro's Playroom is the better game, that's how much you know that his opinion is... Weird to say the least
Dafegamer
Member
I agree, but to me no Platformer (2D or 3D) will ever beat Super Mario Galaxy 2, that game is basically Perfect. One of the few I consider timeless
Ironman_Bad
Member
The one that's about to win Game of the Year
Dafegamer
Member
ASTRO BOT has way more actual gameplay mechanics than DK Tropical Freeze, it's also more varied, but yeah tropical freeze is the "deeper" game regarding challenge
Dafegamer
Member
Why do people think "hard = better game"??? That logic never made sense to me, a game is made of different things like the mechanics it has, the variety it offers or how unique the level design is. Plenty of hard games that are mediocre as hell. If all you need for a game to be challenging to be good then wow, I now understand the hype Wukong got lol 
(I'm joking)
(I'm joking)
Aldric
Member
No.
Blue Ranger
Member
I have not played astrobot but i don´t trust the media, i bet it's not GOTY material. The reason is Tropical Freeze is one of the finest 2D platformers of this century, with one of the best soundtracks of recent memory.
Poll result doesn't surprise me since you guys always praise the Ratchet and Clank series and those games are ASS. It just reflects the fact that some of you have not played platformers in years
Poll result doesn't surprise me since you guys always praise the Ratchet and Clank series and those games are ASS. It just reflects the fact that some of you have not played platformers in years
Aldric
Member
They unironically believe Sony first party games have the best gameplay in the entire industry despite the fact their action games don't even have real jumping because they don't trust their audience enough to let them cross a gap by themselves. They're a lost cause.
Ironman_Bad
Member
JimboJones
Member
I'm hoping to see Pokemon Vs God of War next
Aldric
Member
I honestly think Astrobot looks fun but the fanboyism here is insufferable. You know they'd talk shit endlessly about it for being a nothing game for toddlers if it was published by Nintendo.
bender
What time is it?
Dafegamer
Member
Yes easily I'd say. Almost every stage has a unique stage mechanic or a powerup unique to it that is highly utilized. DK Tropical Freeze despite it being some goat 2D platformer, is kinda more like DK Country or the Wii version country returns, meaning the overall Game design is established already, just perfected. Saying it's more varied than ASTRO BOT in it's level design, ideas etc is crazy. You would have a point with Mario Wonder but yeah..
Last edited:
Danjin44
The nicest person on this forum
They are not same games and they are not same type of platformers, is like comparing DMC to Monster Hunter just because the both have action combat and swords.....make zero sense.
Dafegamer
Member
So you think it "looks fun" yet you say Tropical Freeze is more varied??? Ok
Aldric
Member
Every single stage in TF has unique stage mechanics, emphasis on the plural. Have you played the game?
Astrobot has 9 powerups. If you add them to Astro's core abilities it's still not more than TF basic mechanics.
TF has you platforming through an avalanche, in the middle of an african themed carnaval, traverse cheese caves where you have to dodge a giant wheel of swiss cheese while riding a rocket barrel, go through a sawmill in a minecart and has an entire world where you essentially follow the steps involved in the industrial process of tropical fruits to create giant popsicles.
It's one of the most inventive games I've ever played and I don't know how anyone could think that a game that lifts most of its mechanics and themes straight out of 20 year old Mario platformers could surpass its creativity.
Dafegamer
Member
ASTRO BOT power ups
1. Barkster dog boost
2. Frog glove
3. Sponge
4. Octopus
5. Mouse
6. Monkey
7. Chicken boost
8. Penguin
9. Armadillo
10. VR Headset time stopper
11. Iron invincibility suit
12. Teddy Bear
13. Elephant Suction power up
14. Leviathan Axe
15. Aloys Caster thingy
That's without mentioning the several uses of them regarding mechanics(apart from the time stop, and chicken power up, which are more straightforward or simpler in use)
And stage exclusive mechanics like say a magnet, the lightbulb or that flower levitate thing.
The last time I played Tropical Freeze was in 2016 and I don't remember it having the same level of variety Astro bot has at all.
Unknown?
Member
So much like Mario 64, not much to do except jump and punch. Seriously? It's not about how many different things you could do, it's how it is utilized.
Hugare
Member
Apples and oranges
With that said, I preffer Tropical Freeze, by a mile. It has its unique charm and ideas, while Astro feels like a Sony themed Mario Galaxy.
TF is also much more challenging than Astro. And I like my platforms to be challenging.
Poll will be very one sided tho. GAF is a Sony forum and Astro is much more recent than TF.
With that said, I preffer Tropical Freeze, by a mile. It has its unique charm and ideas, while Astro feels like a Sony themed Mario Galaxy.
TF is also much more challenging than Astro. And I like my platforms to be challenging.
Poll will be very one sided tho. GAF is a Sony forum and Astro is much more recent than TF.
Last edited:
PendekarRajawali
Member
Only platformer noobs play Astro Bot. I know I’ll make everyone pissed.
James Sawyer Ford
Member
The guy thinks Odyssey is some massively challenging game. It's not. The core game structure until the end is as simple as it gets. Only once you get to side stuff does it get challenging.
The truth is that most platformers are not enormously challenging, and challenging is not a barometer for quality.
Last edited:
Aldric
Member
I bet you thought this was clever. Mario 64 (which is an almost 30 year old game mind you) has far more moves than Astrobot. As you said though it's "how it is utilized" which is why Astrobot is shallow while Mario 64 is deep: the moves in 64 combine with eachother and can be chained like combos in fighting games to open up new traversal possibilities while there's very little you can do with Astro's moveset besides the intended path devs want you to take.