Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is an upcoming side-scrolling 2.5D platform game in development by Retro Studios for the Wii U. It is the fifth game in the Donkey Kong Country series and the direct follow-up to the Wii game Donkey Kong Country Returns. What is currently known is that Dixie Kong will appear as a playable character, similar to Diddy Kong's role in Donkey Kong Country Returns, and that the main antagonists, the Snowmads, will be based on stereotypical Vikings. The Vikings seem to appear as animals like penguins, walruses, and owls. The game was originally slated for release during November 2013 before being pushed back to December 6; it was later pushed back again to February 2014.

Gameplay
The gameplay of the title is very similar to that of its predecessor, Donkey Kong Country Returns. Still, it features more playable characters, including Dixie Kong, who can use her ponytail to go up in midair and glide, and Cranky Kong, who can use his cane to destroy some obstacles, such as Spikes. The game also presents ice and underwater levels, which were absent in the Wii game. The swimming ability returns in this game; in the Wii game, touching water meant instant death. A new air gauge is implemented in water stages, requiring the Kongs to find air bubbles to avoid drowning.

For the first time in the series, the camera angle can change dynamically in some levels where Blast Barrels or minecarts are found, showing more areas and perspectives of the scenery. A new feature in this game is the Kong POW attack, which turns all enemies on-screen into items. This move can only be performed when 100 bananas have been collected, and when there is another character on Donkey Kong's back.

Similarly to Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, the player can choose an easier mode giving each Kong three health hearts instead of two. Minecarts also have these hearts, enabling the player to be hit once without losing a life.

Playable characters

 * Donkey Kong
 * Diddy Kong
 * Dixie Kong
 * Cranky Kong
 * An unknown possible fifth character.

Other characters

 * Funky Kong (owns the item shop )
 * Tutorial Pig

Enemies

 * Snowmads
 * Penguins who act similarly to Tiki Goons.
 * Penguins wearing horned helmets.
 * Archer penguins who shoot fish.
 * Red archer penguins who shoot fiery fish.
 * Penguins that carry spears.
 * Orange Penguins that carry "melon bombs" on their backs.
 * Big Penguins that help the Boss Seal.
 * Flying penguins wearing pilot headgear.
 * Viking owls.
 * Giant viking owls.
 * Burly walrus-like Vikings that require three stomps to defeat.
 * Smaller walrus-like Vikings.
 * Bouncing rabbit Vikings.
 * Blue and red toucan enemies that act similarly to Awks.
 * Mantis enemies that act similarly to Frogoons.
 * Snail enemies.
 * Turtle enemies that retreat into their shell after being stomped on, like Koopa Troopas.
 * Platforms with a carnivorous plant acting similarly to a Chomp under them.
 * Strawberry Chomps.
 * Blue fish.
 * Fire Hedgehogs that are defeated by throwing water fruit.
 * Flying Chicken like enemies.
 * Sea Urchins that appear in the Boss Seal battle.
 * Big fish that appear in the Boss Seal battle.
 * Burning Screaming Pillars.
 * Jellyfish enemies.
 * A giant catfish with facial hair that hides in the background of an underwater level.
 * Snaggles
 * A large shark-like creature that can eat the minecart track.
 * Mimics

Bosses

 * A giant viking seal.
 * A polar bear with a big hammer

Worlds and levels
The game is confirmed to have six islands that the Kongs must traverse before reaching Donkey Kong Island.
 * Lost Mangroves
 * 1-1: Mangrove Cove: A level featuring water ponds.
 * 1-4: Trunk Twister: A minecart level.
 * 1-B: Big Top Bop: The viking seal boss level.


 * Autumn Heights


 * Bright Savannah
 * 3-2: Frantic Fields: A level inside a hurricane, where lightings strike and mini tornadoes appear.
 * 3-6: Cannon Canyon: A cliff level with many Barrel Cannons.


 * Sea Breeze Cove
 * 4-4: Irate Eight


 * Juicy Jungle


 * Donkey Kong Island
 * 6-1: Homecoming Hijinks: A snow-themed level somewhat similar to Jungle Hijinxs.
 * 6-6: Cliffside Slide

Confirmed

 * Scorch 'N Torch: A burning forest where the player must use water fruit to douse the fire.
 * High Tide Ride: A cavern level where the Kongs ride minecarts, jumping from rail to rail.
 * Alpine Incline: An ice level with many stone structures.
 * Acquedut Assault: A mountain-themed level which contain elastic balloons.
 * Jelly Jamboree: A jungle stage with bouncy gelatinous trampolines.
 * Bramble Scramble
 * An underwater silhouette stage featuring jellyfish enemies.
 * A canyon containing giraffe and zebra-esque poles.

References to other games

 * Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest: Enemies in this game were designed as pirates, which are somewhat similar to Vikings. Dixie Kong returns from this game, which marked her first appearance. Bramble levels return.
 * Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!: The ability to water skip returns. In the remake of this game Cranky has his own minigame at his dojo which was his first playable appearance in the series.
 * Donkey Kong Country Returns: Being the direct follow-up to this game, the gameplay in this game is similar to its predecessor.
 * Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D: The "New" game mode originated here and was borrowed for this game.