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Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze |OT| There's always money in the banana stand
- Thread starter Frolow
- Start date
3-1 not only looks amazing and sounds amazing, but it's super-fun to play. The rhythmic swaying of the trees allows for platforming that is lively but easy to follow. And I love the serpent-shaped platforms at the end -- ample opportunity to roll around, catching some airtime and getting a sweet panoramic view of the savannah with each jump.
3-1 not only looks amazing and sounds amazing, but it's super-fun to play. The rhythmic swaying of the trees allows for platforming that is lively but easy to follow. And I love the serpent-shaped platforms at the end -- ample opportunity to roll around, catching some airtime and getting a sweet panoramic view of the savannah with each jump.
The attention to detail in animation is amazing. The world just feels so alive. That goes for all levels I've played so far, but 3-1 really stands out.
DirtyLarry
Member
Speaking of 3-1 is the music not a cover of some famous heavy metal song about 60% in?
Also good advice about watching Time Attack runs. I did not even realize we could. I definitely added a few people the other day from the list. Accept if I have please.
Also good advice about watching Time Attack runs. I did not even realize we could. I definitely added a few people the other day from the list. Accept if I have please.
Been forced to use the gamepad, but I found this easter egg amusing when finding the secret exit in
1-3
Did you know you can activate it?
The perfect Dark
Banned
Are there any other easter eggs in this game?
I figured you could, but was too lazy to figure out how, I'll try when I go back for the remaining puzzle pieces
Ground pound. The real Easter egg occurs when you activate it.
In Busted Bayou,
you can see Samus' gunship
In various World 6 levels,
you can see DKCR characters frozen in the ice (like the Giant Bat)
TheSpaceBetween
Member
Yeah that was awesome. When I saw that shit I was like haha asshole!. I'm sure Retro knew people hated that fucker.
The perfect Dark
Banned
Ground pound. The real Easter egg occurs when you activate it.
In Busted Bayou,you can see Samus' gunship
In various World 6 levels,you can see DKCR characters frozen in the ice (like the Giant Bat)
Wow, I have to replay this level now.
Nocturnowl
Member
You could say I'm a fan of one of World 2's most prominent visual themes, what a majestic
In terms of difficulty all I can say is I've so far gotten three of the relics, and save for some very rare occasions where I bought extra lives to recoup on a number of multiplayer game overs, a large majority of the 99 lives I'm carrying haven't been from purchases. Maintaining the lives count in this game has been surprisingly easy for me to do, and the K levels in particular, while the hardest levels of the bunch, are hardly structured in unfair ways. If anything, they are the most predictable levels of the entire bunch and introduce a fair share of their mechanics bit by bit.
I wouldn't claim that the levels don't prepare you for elements either. Most of them that don't do this don't punish you by death but by missing a collectible, but most of the time when you're prepared for a perilous stretch, the game will always either; a) prepare a rest stop for you while your path lies in the distance, showing what appears to be a straight shot with the possible addendum of a dangerous-looking object behind you (the first Rambi level in World 2 comes to mind), or b) have the next elements slowly build themselves while you come into an empty area.
The dynamic elements don't tend to punish you immediately either if you decide to take time to deliberate on some of the level gimmicks. When they do, they're introduced as straightforward platforming elements early on in the level that tend to collapse without much consequence during your first encounters. What follows afterwards is a combination of employing the physics based platforming to your advantage and utilizing proper reaction times.
The game is hardly more unfair than its peers. What it does is demand more of your abilities to employ the game's physics intricacies, as well as taking the time to take note of what makes the level design "tick". The game very much introduces unpredictable elements; and that's a good thing, because those elements keep the game feeling new and fresh, and they're never pulled out in a way that patronizes the player's ability or even works against them as a cheap obstacle.
I wouldn't claim that the levels don't prepare you for elements either. Most of them that don't do this don't punish you by death but by missing a collectible, but most of the time when you're prepared for a perilous stretch, the game will always either; a) prepare a rest stop for you while your path lies in the distance, showing what appears to be a straight shot with the possible addendum of a dangerous-looking object behind you (the first Rambi level in World 2 comes to mind), or b) have the next elements slowly build themselves while you come into an empty area.
The dynamic elements don't tend to punish you immediately either if you decide to take time to deliberate on some of the level gimmicks. When they do, they're introduced as straightforward platforming elements early on in the level that tend to collapse without much consequence during your first encounters. What follows afterwards is a combination of employing the physics based platforming to your advantage and utilizing proper reaction times.
The game is hardly more unfair than its peers. What it does is demand more of your abilities to employ the game's physics intricacies, as well as taking the time to take note of what makes the level design "tick". The game very much introduces unpredictable elements; and that's a good thing, because those elements keep the game feeling new and fresh, and they're never pulled out in a way that patronizes the player's ability or even works against them as a cheap obstacle.
The perfect Dark
Banned
You could say I'm a fan of one of World 2's most prominent visual themes, what a majesticbeakpeak!
Where's DK? Hard mode?
I loved DKCR and this is even better, but I'm disappointed they didn't really fix the control issues. It's also annoying that you can't switch between the d-pad and analog without going to the options.
Visually, it's a mixed bag. I think the level design and art direction are excellent, but technically, it feels like only a slight step up from DKCR. After playing platformers like LBP and Puppeteer, this looks pretty basic.
Visually, it's a mixed bag. I think the level design and art direction are excellent, but technically, it feels like only a slight step up from DKCR. After playing platformers like LBP and Puppeteer, this looks pretty basic.
EatChildren
Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
I'm at the start of world five and have found nothing in the game so far to be a level of difficulty that negatively impacted the game. Yes, it can be tough as nails at times, but it's never unfair. I levied these feelings towards those who claimed "trial and error" was a major component of Returns. I disagreed then and I disagree here. All games are inherently trial and error to a point, but when I think trial and error and unpredictability I picture design that is very difficult if not impossible to conquer without failure leading to a learning experience. This isn't true for either of Retro's DKC games. At times the window of decision making is small, but you're always given enough time to observe a situation and respond logically, failure always at the fault of the player.
Retro's consistency with this design is largely why I liked Returns so much, and am loving Tropical Freeze.
Retro's consistency with this design is largely why I liked Returns so much, and am loving Tropical Freeze.
One heart definitely means.... Hard Mode (*looks at avatar*).
The perfect Dark
Banned
Wait for 6-7 and 6-8
Have you played the K-Level of World 1-4 ? I wouldn't say 6-7 and 6-8 are unfair but they were hard and frustrating (for me at least).
The perfect Dark
Banned
Hahah I love that guy, that's one of my favorite levels in DKCR. He reminds me of my cat!
Nocturnowl
Member
Indeed, though I'm not sure when I'll actually brave the boss battles, I feel like I could go the distance for the 200% this time with no jagged jewels and better boss fights but I don't know if I'll commit to that quite yet.
Surprisingly the lack of checkpoints hasn't been too much of a sticking point so far.
Also I only just found out that if DK has a partner Kong underwater you can spin infinitely like with the roll, not too useful but good to know.
You could say I'm a fan of one of World 2's most prominent visual themes, what a majesticbeakpeak!
Haha if you look back in the thread JC and I were talking abut how this made us think of you....new avatar perhaps?
Yes but whyyyy must they take so long to appear....
TheGreatMightyPoo
Banned
The perfect Dark
Banned
Is everything unlocked in hard mode or do you have to start from the beginning?
Incitemaybe
Member
Ugh! Finally got that gold on 1-1 and cracked that GAF top 8.... From my friends list anyhow ha
Nocturnowl
Member
If I was at all competent making avatars I'd likely be rocking a Skowl one right now.
His rather odd shape makes him tough to avaterize though, I'd probably have to stick with his grouchy looking face.
If anyone rises to this challenge then I'll get started on my Tropical Freeze writeup which is like my posting equivalent of a K stage, WHAT A REWARD!
The Beak Peak would be a decent runner up choice though.
Everything is unlocked, stages you beat on hard mode change to green on the map.
The clenching!Dat...fur!
Where's the GAF list?
MaverickHunterAsh
Member
For awhile there I thought 4-K was pretty hard, until I realized how incredibly short it is. Wondering how 5-K and 6-K will stack up!
This game continues to be amazing. Loving every second of it. Retro is so, so amazing at making each level feel like it has a sense of actual location and cohesion within the game world. The levels aren't just "2-1," "2-2," 2-3," etc. -- each one looks and feels like it logically belongs where in the game you play it. Each stage visually and thematically leads into the following one in terms of the island you're on and the larger scheme of things. DKC Returns was like this too, and it impressed the hell out of me then as well. Can Retro do no wrong? Damn.
Well, they can do a LITTLE wrong. As gorgeous as they are, I honestly can't stand the swimming levels... the controls are just horrid and supremely frustrating. I don't mind a little swimming when it's one element of a larger, regular level, but the levels entirely dedicated to swimming really suffer. World
is almost certainly going to go down as my least favorite for that reason.
This game continues to be amazing. Loving every second of it. Retro is so, so amazing at making each level feel like it has a sense of actual location and cohesion within the game world. The levels aren't just "2-1," "2-2," 2-3," etc. -- each one looks and feels like it logically belongs where in the game you play it. Each stage visually and thematically leads into the following one in terms of the island you're on and the larger scheme of things. DKC Returns was like this too, and it impressed the hell out of me then as well. Can Retro do no wrong? Damn.
Well, they can do a LITTLE wrong. As gorgeous as they are, I honestly can't stand the swimming levels... the controls are just horrid and supremely frustrating. I don't mind a little swimming when it's one element of a larger, regular level, but the levels entirely dedicated to swimming really suffer. World
4
The perfect Dark
Banned
Awesome that's cool.
Where's the "N" in 5-2? I played the last part of this level 16 times to get the "G" only to find out that I missed a letter :/
Watch Da Birdie
I buy cakes for myself on my birthday it's not weird lots of people do it I bet
Hardest part of 4-K is your platforming skills are really dull after the water levels proceeding it. I had a really tough time adjusting to it and 5-1.
It's not just
characters. You can also see various locations from DKCR in the background in world 6 levels. In 6-1 you can see the area of the ruins where you fought the third boss of DKCR and the frog statues that gave you a puzzle piece in 1-1 of DKCR.
Incitemaybe
Member
i believe towards the bottom of the OP, you have to quote to reveal.
Just found this last night. Gonna play more tonight but holy dong ass crackers
1-K is a sunofabeeach!!!
I don't understand the complaints about the swimming in this game. I feel it controls very well. It's fluid, and it's easy to correct your course if you go to far in one direction. You move pretty swiftly. Really swiftly if you have a buddy.
Honestly some of the best swimming controls I've seen.
Honestly some of the best swimming controls I've seen.
MrSaturn99
Member
FINALLY beat that
Also dug the
Listening to Aquatic Ambience as I prepare myself for World 5.
Gotta agree. I was worried they were gonna be stiff ala the original DKC and now I can't imagine TF without swimming.
fucking pufferfish boss. One attempt actually glitched when I received a heart the moment I died...the boss just sat there until I closed the software
Also dug the
3DS easter egg
Gotta agree. I was worried they were gonna be stiff ala the original DKC and now I can't imagine TF without swimming.
TheSpaceBetween
Member
Baron von Loathsome
Member
Finally beat
. I only have the last world to collect all the important goodies in left.
5-K
MvmntInGrn
Member
Personally I'm really glad the blowing mechanic is gone. I also was NOT a fan of being shot into the background in returns. It was just visual flair that made the game momentarily harder to play for the wrong reasons (not tougher level design or new obstacles, just harder to see).
I'm still early in though. Just finished world 1 getting all the collectibles and gold time trial medals (maybe I'll go for shiny golds later).
The perfect Dark
Banned
Thanks, dunno how I missed that despite looking all over the OP for it. Added myself and will add some people when I get off work.
MvmntInGrn
Member
I dunno. The top runs can tell you the best partner to use and all you may have to do it tackle ONE section differently to get the few extra seconds you need to do well.
I got my gold medal on 1-K by just tackling the first part of the level differently. Gave me 3 more seconds.