"It feels like the level designers are in a constant arms-race to outdo one another." They ARE! In an Iwata Asks for DKCR, Retro said they made their levels by competing amongst themselves and ranking their creations. They used their own internal critiques to refine each level, and I'm sure they did the same with this game.
DKCR was hard compared to this one. I’m sure there were a few challenging stages in Tropical Freeze, but MY GOD, there were a number of levels in DKCR that had me pulling my hair.
Dunnex V yeah I’m replaying through returns and I indeed did not remember it being so far from tropical freeze’s level of difficulty. So... many... pits......
@@lightbrand_ Returns is not much more difficult at all, besides maybe the Rocket and minecart levels in normal mode, but then in hard mode, Tropical freeze is overall harder because no checkpoints.
legrandliseur tri i do not factor hard mode into the picture because it’s something you unlock only after doing 100%, and besides, although Returns’s mirror mode does leave checkpoints intact, you can only play as DK and with stages being reversed it’s a bit more confusing, but yeah hard/mirror mode is another discussion, main game of returns is harder than Tropical freeze and i don’t think you can argue with that
Agreed. Speaking as someone who spent over a decade straight counting _Metroid Prime_ as his favorite game of all time (and whose favorite overall series ever is still _Metroid), Tropical Freeze_ blows all three _Prime_ games completely out of the water. It's not even a contest.
Even if it's really good, that doesn't matter because no one is going to buy an entire console to play this one game. They need to release this for Switch.
Problem is that when we get a game from wiiu on switch people whine about switch being a port machine and nintendo hating wiiu users, no matter how good the game actually is
What's that, another criminally underated game on the Wii-U? DK Tropical Freeze is arguably one of the best platform games ever made and with a soundtrack that in my opinion is David Wise best output. Absolutely sensational game highlighted by an amazing video. Great stuff as always Mark.
Absolutely, rarely any modern game makes me question my nostalgic biases of old games. They are still master pieces but man... i think retro did beat rare at its own game, pun intended.
2023 here and this title remains a golden standard, to a point where I believe Super Mario Bros Wonder took a bit of inspiration from it (it’s a marvelous platformer as well btw). Looking forward to the next DKC entry, and Wise has to be back as composer again
Something that might be fun to explore is the idea of "flow" in a 2d platformer. The idea that a level encourages you to move forward at all times, and rewards you for being on the edge the whole time. Donkey Kong and Dust Force do that well, but I think the best example is Rayman Legends, I can't count how many times I felt like a speedrunner in that game through natural gameplay.
linkthegreen234 Agreed -- this would have to come up if he looks at Rayman Legends. The levels are paced way more quickly than MARIO or Donkey Kong, making you feel like a speed runner as you say
"[...] but I think the best example is Rayman Legends, I can't count how many times I felt like a speedrunner in that game through natural gameplay." - I couldn't put that to words any better. :-)
The Bit Trip Runner series is another fantastic example of this as you are constantly moving forward through the level and you have to make quick decision inputs depending on what sort of enemy or barricade is up ahead. I highly recommend it if you haven't played it before.
It's very weird to see a DK game going relatively unnoticed, even more after the success that DKC Returns was, maybe it was the console it was launched on, or because people expected a Metroid game from Retro Studios. Tropical Freeze is arguably the best DK game, and i hope the Switch gets a new title as good too.
I really think it's mostly because it launched on the Wii U. Even I'm guilty of overlooking it, although it's more because I bought a Wii U very late in its' life cycle, and then eventually sold it to help pay for my Switch, hoping that the few Wii U games I missed out on would get ported, Tropical Freeze included. It's a bit of a shame, because the Wii U really did have a lot of fantastic games, more than a lot of people think. Unfortunately, quite a few of those titles were completely overlooked because of the low console sales, and people being unwilling to buy one due to the reputation it garnered. Anyway, I'll definitely be picking the Switch version up in the next few weeks, and I seriously can't wait to play it!
Can we all just agree this game is amazing. Every stage is fun, epic... And my Lord that World 6. If you played Returns, World 6 means a lot more, it's basically a remake of highlights from that entire game in just one world with ice physics, and these ice physics are actually good. David Wise's music=TOP.
I'd say this game should be listed as having the best level design out of any platformer ever, but it does have a problem with how much of a crutch Dixie can end up being. She can suck a lot of the intensity out of sections and can make solo DK feel powerless. She's completely optional, but I would be more confident saying this is the best platform game of all time if it only had Diddy and crankys mechanics with funky as a clear easy mode
@@davidolinger3948 Dixie was basically the casual mode, there was no need for Funky. Plus, she rarely is the most practical option for time attack, so I'm ok with her.
@@legrandliseurtri7495 I am too, but even the tiniest of problems have to be considered when saying a game is the best of all time for it's genre. I just wish she didn't change the rythm of landing on platforms on harder stages so much
Wow, what you said about the fruity juice island from Tropical Freeze just blew me away... :O I already knew that the stages were amazing and filled with unique gimmicks, but I had never thought they'd go to the extent of making the entire world progress in such a logical way. :D
Tropical freeze blew me away. The levels always looked and felt fresh and the high difficulty while frustrating at times keept me encouraged. It really is a shame so few people picked it up.
Tropical Freeze is one of my favourite games of all time and is one of the most sorely overlooked Nintendo games ever. Everybody needs to play this game!
Ever since I played it, I knew it was one of my favorite games, and that it was probably my favorite DKC game. But after watching this video, I realized why. I hadn't noticed all the cool things it does with its levels, but at the same time, I could feel while playing it that it had an awesome level design, especially combined with the music. Great video!
One of my favorite games of all time. I can't believe how underrated / overlooked this game seems to be. I was a huge fan of the original SNES DKC trilogy and while I enjoyed Returns, this game was DKC perfection.
One of my favorite platforming levels is actually from Tropical Freeze. Busted Bayou is one of the first secret levels you unlock, and it's incredible. I love the theme of wrecked planes in the forest that really comes to a head here, it's a silhouette level, and it has some of the best music in the game.
The one major con I find with this approach versus Mario’s is memorability. I remember every single NSMB and Wonder enemy, whereas if I played Tropical Freeze again today it’d be like I was playing for the first time again (and for NSMB and TF it’s been roughly the same amount of time since I played either). When more is thrown at me personally, it all just melds together into this sense of “fun” or “not fun,” versus really sticking with me. Where Tropical Freeze shines is that it cranks that “fun”grade all the way up. Great video and thanks for giving me a different angle to look at this top-notch game!
snomaN Gaming Hey! You're the other guy that does these analysis videos! I just wanna shout out and say awesome stuff! You too, @Mark Brown! :D Loved the Zelda series!
I know many people are a bit irked at the amount of Wii U ports the Switch is getting, but if there's any game that deserves to be on the Switch, it's this game! It's really criminal that such a masterpiece went unnoticed. The Switch already has a ton of users, so giving this game a new chance on this console would be surely appreciated. Heck, right now I feel like the Switch is kinda lacking on tight platformers (a rare sight on any Nintendo hardware), aside from Shovel Knight. Hopefully we get to see this wonderful game rise from obscurity, I'm sure I'd pick it up for the Switch.
Ever since Nintendo stopped releasing a Super Mario game at the launch of their consoles, most of their consoles have been starting off without tight platformers.
The transition to animate showing a RUclips channel at 6:27 is the single greatest video transition ive ever seen. It's really simple but so well done. Really nice work.
And you didn't even touch on the fact the levels are layered to account for different paths and secrets using different kongs and their abilities. Such an amazing game.
I've often heard that _Tropical Freeze_ is among the best platformers made. I had no idea it was _this_ good! I looked over it because as much as I enjoyed _Donkey Kong Country Returns_ I expected it to be more of the same. I didn't know I was so wrong!
Thank you for covering this game! DKC is my favorite franchise of all time and Tropical Freeze bringing back Dixie and David Wise made it one of the most exciting gaming announcements of my life. Come to find that the game improved on DKCR in every way and shows that there's still plenty of juice left in both the DKC games and platformers in general easily makes it my favorite game on the Wii U and lands right next to DKC2 as my favorite game in the series.
It's so strange but awesome that I keep seeing all these videos describing how great and underplayed Tropical Freeze was. The game came out in 2014 and it's finally getting the attention it deserves! What gives??
donkey kong returns and tropical freeze are my two favorite platforming game in the world. And i play a lot of platorming games. These games deserve recognition indeed.
I wonder what Retro Studios is up to now, especially since it's not Prime 4. Whatever it is, I'm excited for it, Retro has my trust because of games like this one and the Prime Trilogy.
I'm glad someone said it. Tropical Freeze is an insanely great game. Top 20 all time stuff for sure (at least for me!). Every level feels like an unique and overflowing adventure AND it's ACTUALLY challenging! Which can be unusual for nintendo!
... sad face i just dont get it to me dkc and dkc2 were the best then dkc3 happen and sweet hell it just got worse dkcr and tropical freeze. i hate the new dkc titles with every fiber of my being. the graphics the music the clunky delayed feeling controls all really generic and over all cheap looking/feeling. i wonder weather every one that says these are good games ever really played the 1st 2 dkc titles properly....
Always great to see this unsung masterpiece gets its due recognition. Playing Tropical Freeze for the first time felt like rediscovering video games. I'm immensely eager to find out what Retro has been working on since they completed this gem, and if it's "just" another Donkey Kong Country game, sign me up.
I think what makes these videos so amazing are that they're very informative and Mark's voice gives a somewhat serious tone to the whole thing, solidifying that he has done his research on these games (the little credits whenever he shows footage of a game, reminiscent of citations in formal documents really boost the reliability aspect of these videos) and at the same time, the little jokes and references thrown in every now and again (0:1310:0610:35) breaks up and prevents the video from becoming too formal and boring. I feel like this style is similar to 8:47 where these jokes don't serve the purpose of the video, but they break it up and not let it become too samey. Keep up the good work, Mark. These videos are awesome.
Shoutouts to Bopopolis, which you showed a few times but never name dropped. A wickedly hard level, and one I'll never forget. All around Tropical Freeze is a brilliant game. Glad to see it get some much needed love. Great video, Mark.
Finally the most innovative and overlooked platformer ever made is getting it's recignition. CRIMINALLY UNDERRATED gem that does more in a few stages that make your mouth drop open than most platformer games accomplish in an entire game. I was one of the people upset that retro wasn't doing a new metroid game when this was announced, but I bought it right after release and was caught up in it for the next several weeks
Hey Mark, I started to notice the brilliant level design in this game after watching your video about 1-1 mario bros. For instance at 10:05 that's not just background, it tells you about a new enemy in the next level that can eat you from afar. Also when you dive into the time attacks you'll notice that it is not only designed for casual playthrough, coop and hard platforming (kong stages) but also a tremendous speedgame.
For me, the best platformer ever created. I'm praying for a Switch release just so a wider audience can experience this title. Quite unfair that it had to release on the WiiU to such a small audience!
Tropical Freeze succeeds as a Donkey Kong game because it recreates what was most appealing about the old DKC games: spectacle. Whereas the SNES games did this with killer graphics and sound for the time, TF does this through bombastic level design, swooping camera angles, and more emphasis on how DK's strength can affect the level's mechanics. It's great how Retro "gets" DKC and reinterprets its spirit in the current day.
I really hope you give Rayman Legends some proper treatment. It does some really cool things Origins doesn't do. Origins is harder sure, but it lacks the flow that Legends has. Legends shows this off in it's music levels, but that flow is actually present throughout the game. In fact, that's why they only give you one life, to help you learn to do levels in a single go, and get a feel for that flow, and once you manage that it's super fun. Origins doesn't quite find it's identity I feel, and as such the levels don't quite flow and you sometimes have to kind of go out of your way, which kills that flow. I also feel that the murphy levels are actually bad on the Wii U, but brilliant on, say, the Xbox. They add a dynamic to the levels that actually super cool, but it's kind of awkward in the first few levels. Once it starts flowing with the game and the levels get harder (it's worth trying the competitive online randomly generated mode to really appreciate this), you realize murphy is just a way to adjust the levels as you play them. That's a crazy good idea. It's not implemented perfectly, but for the most part it's great. Some of the roman levels are amazing because of this, and I'm sad that that quick management of skills is not present in pretty much any other game. Because it's genius. Also, people say Origins is harder, and...I mean it is...kind of? Legends starts out easier, and it has a bit less content, but it gets way way harder, and especially if you want to do well (such as doing the short savior missions), the finesse it requires is beyond anything Origins ever required.
I can deal with invasion levels, but those dark rayman ones especially the one in 20,000 lums under the sea killed me about 200 times before I realised that it was about flow, not necessarily avoiding dark rayman. 10/10 game. Mario can take the backseat.
This is the best 2D platformer of all time. It being so overlooked completely changed my perception of what it takes to sell a video game. It made me wonder what other masterpieces in plain sight I have missed in the past. Great video. Everyone needs to play this gem.
This is absolutely fascinating. I now understand why I loved Tropical Freeze so much more than Returns... and why the New Super Mario Bros. series bores me even though I love Mario games so much. Thank you!
Tropical Freeze is one of my top 5 favorite games of all time. It’s the only game that I been able to show my dad and that he actually enjoyed watching me play.
What a great video. I recently re-played this game and I loved it just as I did the first time, but watching your video makes me appreciate the game even more. I really hope we get another installment.
That's the best explanation I've heard of the 2D Mario games, I've always heard people complaining about the series feeling stale but then dismissed it because each level brought something new.
I think your title is very appropriate: It's an evolution of Mario's level design. I'm not so quick to say it's above the actual DKC trilogy, though. This game has next to nothing in common with them (that other other 2D platformers don't already share); it really is just another Mario game.
Very on point. The only thing that would've been cool to talk about is that the type of game Tropical Freeze is in comparison to Mario because of their design. The Super Mario series tends to lend itself for speed running as the developers make a point of creating paths to speed through and dodge obstacles. Tropical Freeze (and Donkey Kong Country series overall) is the opposite, and actually rewards players for taking a moment to watch what is going on ahead of them and will usually punish players for rushing ahead with out thinking. As patterns for moving objects are made this way or chopping and falling block hazards as well move in ways to discourage this behaviour in the player. It's likely why some players felt he game was unfair and too tough initially. They thought that they would just find patterns and easily bounce off enemy heads and over and past obstacles and that running would allow them to simply run past hazards before they could be triggered.
God, I love this game so much, and as usual, you do a great job at explaining some reasons that it's so great. The tepid reaction to it from the gaming media was an absolute crime. Only an 83 on Metacritic (which isn't bad for most games, mind you, but is insulting for a game that could easily be argued to be the best 2D platformer of all time), wasn't really considered for any GotY awards, and even its godlike soundtrack was left off most soundtrack of the year lists. It kinda felt like there was a vendetta against it due to a mix of, "Ugh, another 2D platformer from Nintendo? When will they give us some proper 3D games?" and, "What do you mean Retro is making another Donkey Kong instead of a new Metroid?" and just generally not really caring about the Wii U. I hope they port it to the Switch so it gets a second chance, both in reviews and sales.
PopulusLove I don't even think it's about the modern era. It's just that TF came out during a time when people weren't very happy with Nintendo, and it colored the reception of the game. I think if it came out today, it would have a much warmer reception. Nintendo just gave us an amazing open world Zelda, with a similarly amazing looking 3D sandbox Mario in just a few months, so people don't feel like Nintendo's only putting out 2D platformers and not satisfying the itch for big, deep, open 3D games. Metroid Prime 4 has been announced, as well as Samus Returns, so they wouldn't feel like DK was taking away their Metroid just by existing. And people seem to actually really like the Switch unlike the Wii U, which is something that I think can subconsciously sway someone's opinion.
Kevin Stevens i absolutely agree with you, and let's also consider 2D platformers and platformers in general are making kind of a comeback, not just Nintendo, but indies, Sony and even Microsoft, maybe people wouldn't see Tropical Freeze as "just another 2D game from Nintendo" again.
I played Returns & Tropical Freeze recently, those games are so great. Also, while I loved Tropical Freeze, I really enjoyed Returns as well and want to give a shoutout to World 5 This world not only has the level teaches you it's mechanism and expend upon it but also the whole world keeps pushing forward the mechanisms of the previous levels in the other ones, so every stage has it's own mechanisms but you also get to expend those already learned and in the last levels, it's so rewarding to platform with all those different gimmicks reuinted together for a level that feels like the ultimate gauntlet of what you've learned during the whole world yet every level feels different anyway! I feel like it's not something that's done a whole lot but it's indefinitely gratifying and totally my favorite world of Returns!
I have all big platformers on switch. But topical freeze is the one game my son and me always come back to. It's just a perfect game for us. Sad, it didn't get the recognition it deserves. Even sadder there is no sequel.
after watching this video, it's always fun to go watch Gamespot's review of the game where the reviewer bemoans the "derivative level design". Perfectly sums up video game journalists and what little they actually know about video games.
I had to stop and marvel at how slick that editing was on bringing in the RUclips pages, excellent work. I really need to get around to playing Tropical Freeze, I've got it but it's one of the many games that I've never really gotten around to yet.
David Wise's soundtrack for Tropical Freeze served me well for my commutes to and from work. I drive on parkways for one of them so the ambiance tends to create a much more relaxing drive.
When level design works hand-in-hand with thematic design, it creates the most memorable experiences. This is why it's a shame to see how New Super Mario Bros. and the last two 3D Mario titles (with 3D World, a personal favorite despite this,) leaning so heavily on the "standard themes." Tropical Freeze manages to take its icy theme across other locales, and while they don't always have a very chilly focus, there's so much room to navigate within the thematic boundaries that Retro knocks it out of the park with the resulting "gimmicks." I've never been all that much of a fan of the DKC games, but man, was I fortunate enough to get Tropical Freeze for FREE as a late Club Nintendo reward! The game absolutely blew me away. Great video as always, Mark. Looking forward to you tackling some other platformers. Might I recommend another favorite of mine, Jools Watsham's Mutant Mudds duology?
Get ready cause those bosses are going to wreck you. It's probably the only platformer were i actually had trouble and fun with the boss fights. Of course defeating them without being hit, was an absolute nightmare.
... I question the universe sometimes. Just as you said, "Donkey Kong Country, Tropical-..." my computer froze. Blue screened, dead, needed to repair itself. 10/10 video, would get a psychic reading again.
As someone who has been a die-hard Donkey Kong Country fan ever since receiving the original for xmas back in '94, it does my heart good to see someone shining a light on this sadly overlooked gem. My personal favorite Wii U game, bar none. I also feel you are spot on with your assessment of the modern Mario games. I'm really hoping the creativity on display in Odyssey carries on in the games to follow.
Sure it's easy to compare platformers to each other, but there's something you have to remember. Mario and DKC are made with two different purposes in mind. Mario games only explore one or two concepts per level because they are intentionally shorter and easier, making the game more accessible to players of all skill levels. Mario games are amazing because they don't overwhelm the beginner, while also being so well thought out that a master at a Mario level can easily be picked out from among the crowd. DKC was not made to be accessible, it was made to be bonkers. And this is reflected in every part of each level's design. The levels are longer, the concepts explored have both more depth and breadth, the game itself is visually and audibly stunning, and most of the levels are more challenging. These were intentional choices that molded the atmosphere of DKC into exactly what the developers wanted. The same can be said about Mario. So before you compare two amazing platformers and say one is better than the other, think about the purpose behind each of them, and see if each one completed that purpose, rather than pit them against each other. P.S. I agree with you completely in regards to New Super Mario games feeling a little lazy, that's why I appreciated Super Mario 3D Land/World and (hopefully) will appreciate Super Mario Odyssey. I have been and always will be a die-hard Nintendo fan, but even by my standards there appears to be a Nintendo renaissance of sorts going on right now and it's amazing!
I just want to say that I love it when channels that delve deeper into games have shout-outs to one another. You've helped me discover so many great channels with these simple recommendations.
Tropical Freeze is a phenomenal game. Since Metroid Prime 4 is being made by another team, I hope Retro Studios is working on another Donkey Kong platformer. Preferably a 3D one, but I'll take a third Country style game.
Totally agree on attempting a new 3d DK. I understand their apprehension due to the first try on the 64 being not so great, but I think DK has seriously big potential in 3d if they approach it from a different direction. I'd love to see a focus on vine swinging, that captures the magic that was Spider-Man 2's webslinging, for instance.
I'd prefer another 2D game just so we can cap off another trilogy, and then a 3D one. Although, if Nintendo wants to be topical, a 3D DK game now would be the way to go, considering all the other 3D games that are being released.
I am so glad you finally got around to looking at the design of my favorite game of all time! Tropical Freeze just has this perfect interplay of theme and mechanic, where each plays off each other to make a level which you showed amazingly well. I couldn't have said it any better myself.
This is my favorite video you've done. Tropical Freeze arrived unwanted and overlooked, but became a cult classic for some of the relatively few who played it. You show and tell why some found Tropical Freeze so exciting, and illuminate the diverse experiences 2D platformers can offer.
I think the big problem with Tropical Freeze is that at the time it didn't seem to be terribly exciting. Like, yeah reception to Returns was good but this just seemed to be more of the same and the addition of Cranky and Dixie wasn't enough to catch people's interest. Now that more time has passed people have had the time to get hungry for a donkey kong game and sink their teeth into it, and many have said since then that it's one of the best donkey kong platformers. wish i could play it myself but i don't have a wii u...
Donkey Kong Country is one of my favorite series of games. So glad it’s coming to Switch. Looking forward to playing Tropical Freeze again. The failure of the Wii U led to a lot of people overlooking this gem. It’s time for this game to get more attention.
Thank you for posting this. When the game came out, I tried my darnedest to spread the word. DKCTF was, and is, a transcendent platformer. My favourite Wii U game. I hope it gets ported to Switch alongside a new DKC so more people can play it. You highlighted everything I loved about this game, the themes and varying ideas in each level gave this game a life no other platformer could hope to have, the story was told visually and through David Wise's wonderful score. Retro achieved that sort of visual storytelling with the Metroid Prime games and I really love it. What were your favourite levels?
I almost bought a Wii U for this game (Donkey Kong Country was one of my faves as a kid and DKCR on Wii was fantastic)... But alas, I was waiting and waiting for "Zelda U".... and then ended up just getting a Switch. Now I'm left yearning for a few of the great Wii U games I never got to play. MK8D has been a blast, hopefully Nintendo see it sell well enough to bring more Wii U games over.
Tropical Freeze is a masterpiece. Retro made me cry in some levels, for the first time i had a Donkey Kong Country game actually better if compared with the original trilogy by Rare. And i always say that Nintendo could learn from Retro for the next Mario 2d platformer. DKC: Tropical Freeze > DKC 2 > DKC > DKC 3 > DKC Returns
As soon as I saw this in my sub-box I dropped everything and immediately watched the video! Your content is so high quality. I sometimes rewatch your videos four to five times and I'm still intrigued by them! Keep it up, Mark!
The way this game is designed really reminds me of Rayman Legends. The background, the spectacle, the creativeness. It’s like the game designers were like “fuck it lets just go wild”
DKC: TF is an amazing game, by far my favorite 2d platformer since the days of the original DKCs on the SNES. And don't even get me started on the soundtrack. After 22 years, DKC2 finally has some real competition for the title of best OST. Fruity Factory, Forest Folly, Irate Eight, this game just has too many amazing tracks to list and I hope David Wise will continue to compose such incredible music like this for decades to come.
Isn't it ironic that the main take off of IGN's low rating Review of Tropical freeze was that Tropical Freeze brings "nothing new" to the platformer formula?
I couldn't place why that didn't sit right with me until watching this video. Yeah, I very much disagree with that idea. That said, even if the game were just "more Returns", with shorter, simpler levels, Tropical Freeze still has so much going for it that I'm really surprised it got the negativity that it did.
This kind of level desing was actually pulled of by Sonic Team 20 years ago in Sonic Adventure 2 Theres a level in that game called "Pyramid Cave" in which you have multiple gimmicks to play around with. First you have a Sand Clock which when you activate opens a door that you have to reach in a time limit, then you have Giant rings which you are introduced at the start and you learn that they give you extra points, and then you have poles which you where introduced in City escape and you can use to do some crazy jumps that allow for other paths in the level. I seriously love how seemlesly this level locates its assets like all Sonic stages do. The level puts its assets in a way that the level has flow but also it dosent feel like an obstacle course, it feels like a real environment. That aside, all of the mechanics in the level are first introduced individually and then in conguntion with one another. First you see the giant rings which are restricted to a hallway with walls you can run on, at first you have some easy to reach giant rings and then you have some giant rings that may take a bit more thinking on how to reach. Then after that section you collect some rings and see the first clock which you have to homing attack to activate, and in front of you a door opens linking the doors with the key. Then yo have some poles which if you fail at doing a acrobatic on them you will be sent to another path, but if you succed you will land in another pole and you have the oportunity to do a trick into the clock in front of you and continue on. I could give more examples but this is confusing enough.
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"It feels like the level designers are in a constant arms-race to outdo one another."
They ARE! In an Iwata Asks for DKCR, Retro said they made their levels by competing amongst themselves and ranking their creations. They used their own internal critiques to refine each level, and I'm sure they did the same with this game.
That’s genius, and also hilarious
DKCR was hard compared to this one. I’m sure there were a few challenging stages in Tropical Freeze, but MY GOD, there were a number of levels in DKCR that had me pulling my hair.
Dunnex V yeah I’m replaying through returns and I indeed did not remember it being so far from tropical freeze’s level of difficulty.
So... many... pits......
@@lightbrand_ Returns is not much more difficult at all, besides maybe the Rocket and minecart levels in normal mode, but then in hard mode, Tropical freeze is overall harder because no checkpoints.
legrandliseur tri i do not factor hard mode into the picture because it’s something you unlock only after doing 100%, and besides, although Returns’s mirror mode does leave checkpoints intact, you can only play as DK and with stages being reversed it’s a bit more confusing, but yeah hard/mirror mode is another discussion, main game of returns is harder than Tropical freeze and i don’t think you can argue with that
It's a shame a lot of people think that Retro degraded itself because of the Donkey Kong Country games, because it's just the opposite.
Agreed. Speaking as someone who spent over a decade straight counting _Metroid Prime_ as his favorite game of all time (and whose favorite overall series ever is still _Metroid), Tropical Freeze_ blows all three _Prime_ games completely out of the water. It's not even a contest.
agreed... I personally think that returns and tropical freeze are the best games that I've ever played
"I can't believe this studio worked on this long-forgotten series instead of the forgotten series I prefer!"
Craig Adams ?
@@lilylopnco It's part of the reason why this game took a hit in sales. "Another donkey kong game" is the quote that damaged this game.
Cheers for the shout-out you absolute legend. More people need to play this super overlooked platformer.
actually same hehe
Holy crap just checked out you're channel. Great work man. Quality content. Subscribed
I on the other hand, was expecting him to mention TB. Mark is really a breeze of fresh air in video game essays.
Even if it's really good, that doesn't matter because no one is going to buy an entire console to play this one game. They need to release this for Switch.
Problem is that when we get a game from wiiu on switch people whine about switch being a port machine and nintendo hating wiiu users, no matter how good the game actually is
What's that, another criminally underated game on the Wii-U? DK Tropical Freeze is arguably one of the best platform games ever made and with a soundtrack that in my opinion is David Wise best output. Absolutely sensational game highlighted by an amazing video. Great stuff as always Mark.
Clocked It i agree
Thankfully it's coming on switch
Absolutely, rarely any modern game makes me question my nostalgic biases of old games. They are still master pieces but man... i think retro did beat rare at its own game, pun intended.
2023 here and this title remains a golden standard, to a point where I believe Super Mario Bros Wonder took a bit of inspiration from it (it’s a marvelous platformer as well btw). Looking forward to the next DKC entry, and Wise has to be back as composer again
Something that might be fun to explore is the idea of "flow" in a 2d platformer. The idea that a level encourages you to move forward at all times, and rewards you for being on the edge the whole time. Donkey Kong and Dust Force do that well, but I think the best example is Rayman Legends, I can't count how many times I felt like a speedrunner in that game through natural gameplay.
I love that game to death, probably my favorite platformer out there.
linkthegreen234 Agreed -- this would have to come up if he looks at Rayman Legends. The levels are paced way more quickly than MARIO or Donkey Kong, making you feel like a speed runner as you say
"[...] but I think the best example is Rayman Legends, I can't count how many times I felt like a speedrunner in that game through natural gameplay." - I couldn't put that to words any better. :-)
I was about to mention that game, i havent played it in a while, but the different interacting themes really remind me of it
The Bit Trip Runner series is another fantastic example of this as you are constantly moving forward through the level and you have to make quick decision inputs depending on what sort of enemy or barricade is up ahead. I highly recommend it if you haven't played it before.
It's very weird to see a DK game going relatively unnoticed, even more after the success that DKC Returns was, maybe it was the console it was launched on, or because people expected a Metroid game from Retro Studios. Tropical Freeze is arguably the best DK game, and i hope the Switch gets a new title as good too.
I really think it's mostly because it launched on the Wii U. Even I'm guilty of overlooking it, although it's more because I bought a Wii U very late in its' life cycle, and then eventually sold it to help pay for my Switch, hoping that the few Wii U games I missed out on would get ported, Tropical Freeze included. It's a bit of a shame, because the Wii U really did have a lot of fantastic games, more than a lot of people think. Unfortunately, quite a few of those titles were completely overlooked because of the low console sales, and people being unwilling to buy one due to the reputation it garnered.
Anyway, I'll definitely be picking the Switch version up in the next few weeks, and I seriously can't wait to play it!
Well... a port.
Cries in Bioshock
Yeah, and if only they’d actually use Donkey Kong’s enemy, the Kremlings, we could get a new perfect DK game.
lemmingscanfly5 we don’t need to pander to nostalgia to make good games...
Although I guess it helps
Can we all just agree this game is amazing. Every stage is fun, epic... And my Lord that World 6. If you played Returns, World 6 means a lot more, it's basically a remake of highlights from that entire game in just one world with ice physics, and these ice physics are actually good. David Wise's music=TOP.
Shit yeah, the first time I heard that Snomads theme as I went back into the Kong Hut in 6-1 hit hard
I'd say this game should be listed as having the best level design out of any platformer ever, but it does have a problem with how much of a crutch Dixie can end up being. She can suck a lot of the intensity out of sections and can make solo DK feel powerless. She's completely optional, but I would be more confident saying this is the best platform game of all time if it only had Diddy and crankys mechanics with funky as a clear easy mode
@@davidolinger3948 Dixie was basically the casual mode, there was no need for Funky. Plus, she rarely is the most practical option for time attack, so I'm ok with her.
@@legrandliseurtri7495 I am too, but even the tiniest of problems have to be considered when saying a game is the best of all time for it's genre. I just wish she didn't change the rythm of landing on platforms on harder stages so much
Wow, what you said about the fruity juice island from Tropical Freeze just blew me away... :O I already knew that the stages were amazing and filled with unique gimmicks, but I had never thought they'd go to the extent of making the entire world progress in such a logical way. :D
Tropical freeze blew me away. The levels always looked and felt fresh and the high difficulty while frustrating at times keept me encouraged. It really is a shame so few people picked it up.
Now it’s coming to the Switch! I’m so excited since i was never able to pick it up on the Wii U and now i can.
Me too! That's why I'm here
I heard that Tropical Freeze was good, but now I have seen the magic of this game! So excited to play this on the Switch when it releases in May!
AwesomeToes good luck dude. This is possibly my favorite platformer.
Jimmy John Joe It’s definitely my favorite 2D platformer.
just two more days.
Tropical Freeze is one of my favourite games of all time and is one of the most sorely overlooked Nintendo games ever. Everybody needs to play this game!
"Mario, my sweet, beautiful boy."
_-Mark Brown, 2017_
Seriously sounds like something a certain McElroy brother would say.
Supertron Its his 1-UP boy
@ 10:36
OwO what's this?
Mark Brown is actually princess peach confirmed.
Yes! This, 100%. This is hands down my favorite 2d platformer ever.
Evenmoresteven you have absolute shit tastes. Your opinion is utter garbage
Aww, little babby is mad not everybody thinks DKC2 is the best one.
+King Bradberry That's a nice meme you got there.
King Bradberry I don't agree with him either but you have no idea how childish you sound
dkc2 cannot be topped
This game is fucking gold.
Ever since I played it, I knew it was one of my favorite games, and that it was probably my favorite DKC game. But after watching this video, I realized why. I hadn't noticed all the cool things it does with its levels, but at the same time, I could feel while playing it that it had an awesome level design, especially combined with the music. Great video!
One of my favorite games of all time. I can't believe how underrated / overlooked this game seems to be. I was a huge fan of the original SNES DKC trilogy and while I enjoyed Returns, this game was DKC perfection.
One of my favorite platforming levels is actually from Tropical Freeze. Busted Bayou is one of the first secret levels you unlock, and it's incredible. I love the theme of wrecked planes in the forest that really comes to a head here, it's a silhouette level, and it has some of the best music in the game.
Not to mention you can see Samus' ship in the background as well
irwegwert one of my favorite music tracks in the game, no less.
The one major con I find with this approach versus Mario’s is memorability. I remember every single NSMB and Wonder enemy, whereas if I played Tropical Freeze again today it’d be like I was playing for the first time again (and for NSMB and TF it’s been roughly the same amount of time since I played either). When more is thrown at me personally, it all just melds together into this sense of “fun” or “not fun,” versus really sticking with me. Where Tropical Freeze shines is that it cranks that “fun”grade all the way up. Great video and thanks for giving me a different angle to look at this top-notch game!
I've never clicked a video so fast.
snomaN Gaming Hey! You're the other guy that does these analysis videos! I just wanna shout out and say awesome stuff! You too, @Mark Brown! :D Loved the Zelda series!
The only other time is when you upload....
;).
You and Mark are the sweetest gaming youtubers by far. Keep up the good analysis ;)
I've never liked a comment so fast.
I was so happy when I saw this video
I know many people are a bit irked at the amount of Wii U ports the Switch is getting, but if there's any game that deserves to be on the Switch, it's this game! It's really criminal that such a masterpiece went unnoticed. The Switch already has a ton of users, so giving this game a new chance on this console would be surely appreciated. Heck, right now I feel like the Switch is kinda lacking on tight platformers (a rare sight on any Nintendo hardware), aside from Shovel Knight. Hopefully we get to see this wonderful game rise from obscurity, I'm sure I'd pick it up for the Switch.
Ever since Nintendo stopped releasing a Super Mario game at the launch of their consoles, most of their consoles have been starting off without tight platformers.
The transition to animate showing a RUclips channel at 6:27 is the single greatest video transition ive ever seen. It's really simple but so well done. Really nice work.
DKCTF is my favorite 2D platformer of all time so it's supper awesome to see you do a video on it.
And you didn't even touch on the fact the levels are layered to account for different paths and secrets using different kongs and their abilities. Such an amazing game.
I've often heard that _Tropical Freeze_ is among the best platformers made. I had no idea it was _this_ good! I looked over it because as much as I enjoyed _Donkey Kong Country Returns_ I expected it to be more of the same. I didn't know I was so wrong!
Remember when gamespot gave this game a 6 for being "bland, uninspired levels and poor backgrounds"
this should have been a much bigger controversy than the IGN "too much water" review
@@WildPork yeah if ign gave it a 6 i couldn't imagine how much backlash they would've got
At least they had the decency to admit their mistake and gave the Switch version a 9.
Remember everyone; if it isnt Mario, it sucks
@@ctpp64 Nsmbu exists
Thank you for covering this game! DKC is my favorite franchise of all time and Tropical Freeze bringing back Dixie and David Wise made it one of the most exciting gaming announcements of my life. Come to find that the game improved on DKCR in every way and shows that there's still plenty of juice left in both the DKC games and platformers in general easily makes it my favorite game on the Wii U and lands right next to DKC2 as my favorite game in the series.
I see what you did at 0:12
& Knuckles
It's so strange but awesome that I keep seeing all these videos describing how great and underplayed Tropical Freeze was. The game came out in 2014 and it's finally getting the attention it deserves! What gives??
Metroid people, that's what was up, fucking assholes
What a wonderful video. Retro, please, listen, we want DK in Switch.
Tell that to everyone who didn't buy this game, not Retro.
+Jacob Drenski
Returns sold 4.96 million copies, and Nintendo didn't publish Tropical Freeze's sales numbers after it passed 130 000
Switch
Funky Funko
Aaaaaaand wish granted! a tropical freeze port was confirmed in the latest direct.
donkey kong returns and tropical freeze are my two favorite platforming game in the world. And i play a lot of platorming games.
These games deserve recognition indeed.
Well, then celeste happened x)
I wonder what Retro Studios is up to now, especially since it's not Prime 4. Whatever it is, I'm excited for it, Retro has my trust because of games like this one and the Prime Trilogy.
I really do hope it's a follow up to tropical freeze. They are the only studio I feel can carry on the same role as Rare had in the SNES and N64 days.
SillyRobot822 I hope its a third Dk game with Tropical Freeze included like bayoneta + B2 on WiiU
A DK 3D game, no?
they just announced Prime 4? is retro not making it?
Hope it's a new IP
I'm glad someone said it. Tropical Freeze is an insanely great game. Top 20 all time stuff for sure (at least for me!). Every level feels like an unique and overflowing adventure AND it's ACTUALLY challenging! Which can be unusual for nintendo!
It's not Nintendo though
... sad face i just dont get it to me dkc and dkc2 were the best then dkc3 happen and sweet hell it just got worse dkcr and tropical freeze. i hate the new dkc titles with every fiber of my being. the graphics the music the clunky delayed feeling controls all really generic and over all cheap looking/feeling. i wonder weather every one that says these are good games ever really played the 1st 2 dkc titles properly....
@@rachelb.684 retro studios IS Nintendo. They’re just a different division of Nintendo.
@@roastytoasty8559kong issue
Always great to see this unsung masterpiece gets its due recognition. Playing Tropical Freeze for the first time felt like rediscovering video games. I'm immensely eager to find out what Retro has been working on since they completed this gem, and if it's "just" another Donkey Kong Country game, sign me up.
I think what makes these videos so amazing are that they're very informative and Mark's voice gives a somewhat serious tone to the whole thing, solidifying that he has done his research on these games (the little credits whenever he shows footage of a game, reminiscent of citations in formal documents really boost the reliability aspect of these videos)
and at the same time, the little jokes and references thrown in every now and again (0:13 10:06 10:35) breaks up and prevents the video from becoming too formal and boring. I feel like this style is similar to 8:47 where these jokes don't serve the purpose of the video, but they break it up and not let it become too samey.
Keep up the good work, Mark. These videos are awesome.
This is like Game Maker's Toolkit Toolkit and I love it, thanks!
Shoutouts to Bopopolis, which you showed a few times but never name dropped. A wickedly hard level, and one I'll never forget.
All around Tropical Freeze is a brilliant game. Glad to see it get some much needed love. Great video, Mark.
Finally the most innovative and overlooked platformer ever made is getting it's recignition. CRIMINALLY UNDERRATED gem that does more in a few stages that make your mouth drop open than most platformer games accomplish in an entire game. I was one of the people upset that retro wasn't doing a new metroid game when this was announced, but I bought it right after release and was caught up in it for the next several weeks
Hey Mark, I started to notice the brilliant level design in this game after watching your video about 1-1 mario bros. For instance at 10:05 that's not just background, it tells you about a new enemy in the next level that can eat you from afar. Also when you dive into the time attacks you'll notice that it is not only designed for casual playthrough, coop and hard platforming (kong stages) but also a tremendous speedgame.
For me, the best platformer ever created. I'm praying for a Switch release just so a wider audience can experience this title. Quite unfair that it had to release on the WiiU to such a small audience!
Tropical Freeze succeeds as a Donkey Kong game because it recreates what was most appealing about the old DKC games: spectacle. Whereas the SNES games did this with killer graphics and sound for the time, TF does this through bombastic level design, swooping camera angles, and more emphasis on how DK's strength can affect the level's mechanics. It's great how Retro "gets" DKC and reinterprets its spirit in the current day.
This game caught me by surprise so hard. Genuinely got to be one of the all-time great 2D platformers.
As a fan of the DKC series and DK you've really done DKCTF a lot of justice! Well done!
I really hope you give Rayman Legends some proper treatment. It does some really cool things Origins doesn't do. Origins is harder sure, but it lacks the flow that Legends has. Legends shows this off in it's music levels, but that flow is actually present throughout the game. In fact, that's why they only give you one life, to help you learn to do levels in a single go, and get a feel for that flow, and once you manage that it's super fun. Origins doesn't quite find it's identity I feel, and as such the levels don't quite flow and you sometimes have to kind of go out of your way, which kills that flow.
I also feel that the murphy levels are actually bad on the Wii U, but brilliant on, say, the Xbox. They add a dynamic to the levels that actually super cool, but it's kind of awkward in the first few levels. Once it starts flowing with the game and the levels get harder (it's worth trying the competitive online randomly generated mode to really appreciate this), you realize murphy is just a way to adjust the levels as you play them. That's a crazy good idea. It's not implemented perfectly, but for the most part it's great. Some of the roman levels are amazing because of this, and I'm sad that that quick management of skills is not present in pretty much any other game. Because it's genius.
Also, people say Origins is harder, and...I mean it is...kind of? Legends starts out easier, and it has a bit less content, but it gets way way harder, and especially if you want to do well (such as doing the short savior missions), the finesse it requires is beyond anything Origins ever required.
Chettlar I agree with nearly everything you said, but Murphy is waaaay better in the WiiU Version, especially in multiplayer.
I rate this analysis so highly, Origins really never did find it's identity lol
I can deal with invasion levels, but those dark rayman ones especially the one in 20,000 lums under the sea killed me about 200 times before I realised that it was about flow, not necessarily avoiding dark rayman. 10/10 game. Mario can take the backseat.
The way you explained that Mario level made it sound boring as hell and it’s kind of hilarious.
This is the best 2D platformer of all time.
It being so overlooked completely changed my perception of what it takes to sell a video game. It made me wonder what other masterpieces in plain sight I have missed in the past.
Great video. Everyone needs to play this gem.
"Mario Evolved"
reject mushroomity, return to Donke
This is absolutely fascinating. I now understand why I loved Tropical Freeze so much more than Returns... and why the New Super Mario Bros. series bores me even though I love Mario games so much. Thank you!
Tropical Freeze is one of my top 5 favorite games of all time. It’s the only game that I been able to show my dad and that he actually enjoyed watching me play.
What a great video. I recently re-played this game and I loved it just as I did the first time, but watching your video makes me appreciate the game even more. I really hope we get another installment.
Hope there is a switch port. Your videos are awesome Mark!
I'd love a Switch port of this game. Maybe with more levels!
WELL
F U N K Y M O D E
That's the best explanation I've heard of the 2D Mario games, I've always heard people complaining about the series feeling stale but then dismissed it because each level brought something new.
Game makers toolkit :explains why dk tropical freeze has a phenomenal level design
Gamespot:UNiMagINaTivE lEveL DeSIGn
I think your title is very appropriate: It's an evolution of Mario's level design. I'm not so quick to say it's above the actual DKC trilogy, though. This game has next to nothing in common with them (that other other 2D platformers don't already share); it really is just another Mario game.
2:52 "The entire level REVOLVES around these water wheels." GET IT? REVOLVES?!
Oh baby a new video!
I love the alliteration in these stage names! 💎
Very on point.
The only thing that would've been cool to talk about is that the type of game Tropical Freeze is in comparison to Mario because of their design.
The Super Mario series tends to lend itself for speed running as the developers make a point of creating paths to speed through and dodge obstacles.
Tropical Freeze (and Donkey Kong Country series overall) is the opposite, and actually rewards players for taking a moment to watch what is going on ahead of them and will usually punish players for rushing ahead with out thinking. As patterns for moving objects are made this way or chopping and falling block hazards as well move in ways to discourage this behaviour in the player.
It's likely why some players felt he game was unfair and too tough initially. They thought that they would just find patterns and easily bounce off enemy heads and over and past obstacles and that running would allow them to simply run past hazards before they could be triggered.
God, I love this game so much, and as usual, you do a great job at explaining some reasons that it's so great. The tepid reaction to it from the gaming media was an absolute crime. Only an 83 on Metacritic (which isn't bad for most games, mind you, but is insulting for a game that could easily be argued to be the best 2D platformer of all time), wasn't really considered for any GotY awards, and even its godlike soundtrack was left off most soundtrack of the year lists. It kinda felt like there was a vendetta against it due to a mix of, "Ugh, another 2D platformer from Nintendo? When will they give us some proper 3D games?" and, "What do you mean Retro is making another Donkey Kong instead of a new Metroid?" and just generally not really caring about the Wii U.
I hope they port it to the Switch so it gets a second chance, both in reviews and sales.
PopulusLove I don't even think it's about the modern era. It's just that TF came out during a time when people weren't very happy with Nintendo, and it colored the reception of the game.
I think if it came out today, it would have a much warmer reception. Nintendo just gave us an amazing open world Zelda, with a similarly amazing looking 3D sandbox Mario in just a few months, so people don't feel like Nintendo's only putting out 2D platformers and not satisfying the itch for big, deep, open 3D games. Metroid Prime 4 has been announced, as well as Samus Returns, so they wouldn't feel like DK was taking away their Metroid just by existing. And people seem to actually really like the Switch unlike the Wii U, which is something that I think can subconsciously sway someone's opinion.
Kevin Stevens i absolutely agree with you, and let's also consider 2D platformers and platformers in general are making kind of a comeback, not just Nintendo, but indies, Sony and even Microsoft, maybe people wouldn't see Tropical Freeze as "just another 2D game from Nintendo" again.
Don't forget the criticism for not using gamepad.
And also the nostalgy of snes compromise the evaluations. Like not having enough sidekick animals
Just announced for the Switch! hopefully it will get the attention it deserves this time!
I played Returns & Tropical Freeze recently, those games are so great.
Also, while I loved Tropical Freeze, I really enjoyed Returns as well and want to give a shoutout to World 5
This world not only has the level teaches you it's mechanism and expend upon it but also the whole world keeps pushing forward the mechanisms of the previous levels in the other ones, so every stage has it's own mechanisms but you also get to expend those already learned and in the last levels, it's so rewarding to platform with all those different gimmicks reuinted together for a level that feels like the ultimate gauntlet of what you've learned during the whole world yet every level feels different anyway! I feel like it's not something that's done a whole lot but it's indefinitely gratifying and totally my favorite world of Returns!
Wonderful video. To me Tropical Freeze is the best 2D platformer ever. Brilliant game!
I have all big platformers on switch. But topical freeze is the one game my son and me always come back to. It's just a perfect game for us. Sad, it didn't get the recognition it deserves. Even sadder there is no sequel.
after watching this video, it's always fun to go watch Gamespot's review of the game where the reviewer bemoans the "derivative level design". Perfectly sums up video game journalists and what little they actually know about video games.
I had to stop and marvel at how slick that editing was on bringing in the RUclips pages, excellent work. I really need to get around to playing Tropical Freeze, I've got it but it's one of the many games that I've never really gotten around to yet.
Definitely pro Shovel Knight videos, such an awesome game! Just like Tropical Freeze, which has to be one of the best 2D platformers to date.
David Wise's soundtrack for Tropical Freeze served me well for my commutes to and from work. I drive on parkways for one of them so the ambiance tends to create a much more relaxing drive.
Hell yeah, this game's getting a second chance! Don't let it pass you by again on the Switch, people!
When level design works hand-in-hand with thematic design, it creates the most memorable experiences. This is why it's a shame to see how New Super Mario Bros. and the last two 3D Mario titles (with 3D World, a personal favorite despite this,) leaning so heavily on the "standard themes." Tropical Freeze manages to take its icy theme across other locales, and while they don't always have a very chilly focus, there's so much room to navigate within the thematic boundaries that Retro knocks it out of the park with the resulting "gimmicks." I've never been all that much of a fan of the DKC games, but man, was I fortunate enough to get Tropical Freeze for FREE as a late Club Nintendo reward! The game absolutely blew me away.
Great video as always, Mark. Looking forward to you tackling some other platformers. Might I recommend another favorite of mine, Jools Watsham's Mutant Mudds duology?
I'll finally be able to play this on Switch. Thank you Mark for getting me excited! I wouldn't be if it wasn't for this video.
Get ready cause those bosses are going to wreck you.
It's probably the only platformer were i actually had trouble and fun with the boss fights.
Of course defeating them without being hit, was an absolute nightmare.
Yeah I'll be buying this game for a second time on the switch, one of my favorites and now I can take it on the go!! =)
... I question the universe sometimes. Just as you said, "Donkey Kong Country, Tropical-..." my computer froze. Blue screened, dead, needed to repair itself. 10/10 video, would get a psychic reading again.
5:38. No it’s not. The name of the game is Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.
As someone who has been a die-hard Donkey Kong Country fan ever since receiving the original for xmas back in '94, it does my heart good to see someone shining a light on this sadly overlooked gem. My personal favorite Wii U game, bar none.
I also feel you are spot on with your assessment of the modern Mario games. I'm really hoping the creativity on display in Odyssey carries on in the games to follow.
Retro Studios, man. They know how to make games.
My favorite Wii U title by far. Hell, even my favorite Donkey Kong game, and I think DKC2 and Returns are masterpieces.
Sure it's easy to compare platformers to each other, but there's something you have to remember. Mario and DKC are made with two different purposes in mind. Mario games only explore one or two concepts per level because they are intentionally shorter and easier, making the game more accessible to players of all skill levels. Mario games are amazing because they don't overwhelm the beginner, while also being so well thought out that a master at a Mario level can easily be picked out from among the crowd. DKC was not made to be accessible, it was made to be bonkers. And this is reflected in every part of each level's design. The levels are longer, the concepts explored have both more depth and breadth, the game itself is visually and audibly stunning, and most of the levels are more challenging. These were intentional choices that molded the atmosphere of DKC into exactly what the developers wanted. The same can be said about Mario. So before you compare two amazing platformers and say one is better than the other, think about the purpose behind each of them, and see if each one completed that purpose, rather than pit them against each other.
P.S. I agree with you completely in regards to New Super Mario games feeling a little lazy, that's why I appreciated Super Mario 3D Land/World and (hopefully) will appreciate Super Mario Odyssey. I have been and always will be a die-hard Nintendo fan, but even by my standards there appears to be a Nintendo renaissance of sorts going on right now and it's amazing!
I just want to say that I love it when channels that delve deeper into games have shout-outs to one another. You've helped me discover so many great channels with these simple recommendations.
Tropical Freeze is a phenomenal game. Since Metroid Prime 4 is being made by another team, I hope Retro Studios is working on another Donkey Kong platformer. Preferably a 3D one, but I'll take a third Country style game.
Totally agree on attempting a new 3d DK. I understand their apprehension due to the first try on the 64 being not so great, but I think DK has seriously big potential in 3d if they approach it from a different direction. I'd love to see a focus on vine swinging, that captures the magic that was Spider-Man 2's webslinging, for instance.
Aaron Schmitz the way To go should be mario 3D world, that style fits perfect for Donkey kong
I'd prefer another 2D game just so we can cap off another trilogy, and then a 3D one.
Although, if Nintendo wants to be topical, a 3D DK game now would be the way to go, considering all the other 3D games that are being released.
I am so glad you finally got around to looking at the design of my favorite game of all time! Tropical Freeze just has this perfect interplay of theme and mechanic, where each plays off each other to make a level which you showed amazingly well. I couldn't have said it any better myself.
Level design is such an overlooked art form
This is my favorite video you've done. Tropical Freeze arrived unwanted and overlooked, but became a cult classic for some of the relatively few who played it.
You show and tell why some found Tropical Freeze so exciting, and illuminate the diverse experiences 2D platformers can offer.
I've been dying to try that game out, and now that it's making a comeback on the switch, I'm a happy man.
Fuck yes, you can't possibly regret it.
Only real complaint i have are the freaking water levels.
The Soundtrack in the end gives me chills everytime. Amazing video - I also let Tropical Freeze kinda down after the release. I need to play it soon!
I think the big problem with Tropical Freeze is that at the time it didn't seem to be terribly exciting. Like, yeah reception to Returns was good but this just seemed to be more of the same and the addition of Cranky and Dixie wasn't enough to catch people's interest.
Now that more time has passed people have had the time to get hungry for a donkey kong game and sink their teeth into it, and many have said since then that it's one of the best donkey kong platformers.
wish i could play it myself but i don't have a wii u...
10:44 finally someone notices. Good video!
The best 2D plate-former of our time. Easily.
Donkey Kong Country is one of my favorite series of games. So glad it’s coming to Switch. Looking forward to playing Tropical Freeze again. The failure of the Wii U led to a lot of people overlooking this gem. It’s time for this game to get more attention.
This game is a gem💎 one of thee best platformers out there that deserves way more attention
I love RUclipsrs like you, not caring about dumb trends and ''drama'' n' stuff, just doing their own thing ( and being actually good at it )
Tropical Freeze has been announced for Switch. Let the dancing in the streets begin!
Thank you for posting this. When the game came out, I tried my darnedest to spread the word. DKCTF was, and is, a transcendent platformer. My favourite Wii U game.
I hope it gets ported to Switch alongside a new DKC so more people can play it.
You highlighted everything I loved about this game, the themes and varying ideas in each level gave this game a life no other platformer could hope to have, the story was told visually and through David Wise's wonderful score. Retro achieved that sort of visual storytelling with the Metroid Prime games and I really love it.
What were your favourite levels?
Three years late, but my favorite level is probably fruity factory.
Mark Brown proves that man didn't evolve from the ape, *but backwards*
Donkey Kong evolved from “many collectibles” to “many mechanics”
I almost bought a Wii U for this game (Donkey Kong Country was one of my faves as a kid and DKCR on Wii was fantastic)... But alas, I was waiting and waiting for "Zelda U".... and then ended up just getting a Switch. Now I'm left yearning for a few of the great Wii U games I never got to play. MK8D has been a blast, hopefully Nintendo see it sell well enough to bring more Wii U games over.
Grats, it's just been confirmed for Switch.
This game is worth every penny, buy this shit as soon as it hits shelves.
Hell yeah, Tropical Freeze is one of my all time favorite games! I'm so glad you're doing an episode on it.
Tropical Freeze is a masterpiece. Retro made me cry in some levels, for the first time i had a Donkey Kong Country game actually better if compared with the original trilogy by Rare. And i always say that Nintendo could learn from Retro for the next Mario 2d platformer.
DKC: Tropical Freeze > DKC 2 > DKC > DKC 3 > DKC Returns
As soon as I saw this in my sub-box I dropped everything and immediately watched the video! Your content is so high quality.
I sometimes rewatch your videos four to five times and I'm still intrigued by them!
Keep it up, Mark!
The way this game is designed really reminds me of Rayman Legends. The background, the spectacle, the creativeness. It’s like the game designers were like “fuck it lets just go wild”
DKC: TF is an amazing game, by far my favorite 2d platformer since the days of the original DKCs on the SNES.
And don't even get me started on the soundtrack. After 22 years, DKC2 finally has some real competition for the title of best OST. Fruity Factory, Forest Folly, Irate Eight, this game just has too many amazing tracks to list and I hope David Wise will continue to compose such incredible music like this for decades to come.
Isn't it ironic that the main take off of IGN's low rating Review of Tropical freeze was that Tropical Freeze brings "nothing new" to the platformer formula?
I couldn't place why that didn't sit right with me until watching this video. Yeah, I very much disagree with that idea. That said, even if the game were just "more Returns", with shorter, simpler levels, Tropical Freeze still has so much going for it that I'm really surprised it got the negativity that it did.
This kind of level desing was actually pulled of by Sonic Team 20 years ago in Sonic Adventure 2
Theres a level in that game called "Pyramid Cave" in which you have multiple gimmicks to play around with. First you have a Sand Clock which when you activate opens a door that you have to reach in a time limit, then you have Giant rings which you are introduced at the start and you learn that they give you extra points, and then you have poles which you where introduced in City escape and you can use to do some crazy jumps that allow for other paths in the level.
I seriously love how seemlesly this level locates its assets like all Sonic stages do. The level puts its assets in a way that the level has flow but also it dosent feel like an obstacle course, it feels like a real environment. That aside, all of the mechanics in the level are first introduced individually and then in conguntion with one another. First you see the giant rings which are restricted to a hallway with walls you can run on, at first you have some easy to reach giant rings and then you have some giant rings that may take a bit more thinking on how to reach. Then after that section you collect some rings and see the first clock which you have to homing attack to activate, and in front of you a door opens linking the doors with the key. Then yo have some poles which if you fail at doing a acrobatic on them you will be sent to another path, but if you succed you will land in another pole and you have the oportunity to do a trick into the clock in front of you and continue on. I could give more examples but this is confusing enough.
COMING TO SWITCH!!!
You have no idea how much I've been wanting you to break down Tropical Freeze's incredible level design. Incredible analysis