Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze on Nintendo Switch – A Definitive Platforming Experience from Retro Studios

Over the past year, the Nintendo Switch has welcomed an impressive lineup of brand-new titles and successful revisits of celebrated Wii U games.

Among these enhanced ports is Retro Studios’ standout 2D platformer, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.

Known for its meticulously designed levels and signature challenge, Tropical Freeze first debuted on Wii U in February 2014, earning critical acclaim for reinvigorating the classic Donkey Kong Country formula.

The Nintendo Switch version, launched globally in May 2018, brings the platforming adventure to both newcomers and longtime fans on Nintendo’s best-selling hybrid console. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze stays true to its roots, maintaining a light-hearted yet engaging story.

The villainous Snowmads—an army of Viking-themed arctic animals—crash Donkey Kong’s birthday, blanket Donkey Kong Island in ice, and banish the Kong family.

Players must guide Donkey, Diddy, Dixie, and Cranky Kong (plus the newcomer Funky Kong) across six creatively themed islands to reclaim their frozen home. Rather than reinventing the franchise, Retro Studios focused on refining it.

With precise controls and inventive level variety, each world introduces fresh mechanics—whether dodging a colossal sea creature, escaping a jelly-filled factory, or navigating once again the popular (and infamously difficult) mine cart stages.

Every platform and enemy is purposefully placed, embodying Retro Studios’ reputation for exceptional level design.

As noted in coverage from the Nintendo Switch version’s launch, the gameplay consistently challenges without crossing into frustration, rewarding persistent players with a strong sense of accomplishment. Signature Donkey Kong Country gameplay elements abound: rolling attacks, swinging vines, bonus rooms, hidden collectibles (KONG letters, puzzle pieces, coins, and bananas), and the return of trusty Rambi the Rhino.

Donkey Kong can team up with Diddy, Dixie, or Cranky Kong, each offering unique abilities: Diddy’s jetpack and Dixie’s hair spin aid mobility, while Cranky’s pogo-cane pays homage to platformers of old, allowing safe traversal over spikes.

Multiplayer is accessible and intuitive, with two players controlling separate Kongs, and solo adventurers can enjoy their companion’s assistance directly. The most notable new feature for the Nintendo Switch release is the addition of "Funky Mode," featuring the effortlessly cool Funky Kong as a playable character.

Designed as an accessible entry point, Funky Mode offers a suite of helpful abilities: increased health, indefinite rolling, infinite underwater breathing, double jumps, and resistance to hazards.

This mode effectively lowers the barrier for less experienced players, while seasoned fans seeking the original challenge can still engage with the standard mode, now featuring an extra heart for all Kongs as an added tweak. Visually, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze remains impressive, delivering crisp, vibrant graphics at 1080p in docked mode and 720p in handheld mode.

Load times are shorter, and gameplay performance remains smooth.

Perhaps the most enduring highlight, however, is the return of veteran composer David Wise.

The soundtrack seamlessly blends nostalgia with innovation, delivering memorable new tracks and fresh takes on series classics, elevating each level’s atmosphere considerably. While the Switch version’s major update revolves around Funky Mode, some have wished for more substantive new content, especially compared to other enhanced Wii U ports like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

However, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze’s core experience remains superb.

It stands as one of the most accomplished 2D platformers available on Nintendo Switch, combining masterful design, music, and accessibility. For those who missed Donkey Kong’s chilly adventure on Wii U, the Nintendo Switch edition presents a must-play opportunity on modern hardware.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze cements Retro Studios’ legacy, delivering a definitive platforming experience that showcases the enduring appeal of Nintendo’s iconic ape.

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