Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, known in Japan as Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze (ドンキーコングトロピカルフリーズ), is a side-scrolling 2.5D platform game developed 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. Dixie Kong and Cranky Kong appear as playable characters, similar to Diddy Kong's role in Donkey Kong Country Returns, while the main antagonists, the Snowmads, are based on stereotypical Vikings, and appear as animals such as 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.

Story
The story begins at Donkey Kong's hut, where the Kongs are celebrating his birthday. Suddenly, one of the balloons flies off the Kong house and over the sea, where Snowmad ships are stationed. Far away from the island, a Pointy Tuck watches over them, locating the Kong house and relaying info to their leader, shrouded in a dark silhouette. Upon the leader nodding their approval, the Pointy Tucks bring him a horn which he blows, creating a large amount of wind, as well as an ice dragon.

Just as he is about to blow the candles out, Donkey Kong notices a mysterious snowflake appear and put out the candle on his birthday cake. He turns away with a frustrated look on his face as he hears an uproar, and he and the other Kongs exit the house. The ice dragon from earlier flies toward Donkey Kong Island, turning the sea under it to ice. The Kongs are then blown away from the island by the ice dragon's intense winds, landing on the Lost Mangroves island. Afterwards, a large ship stations itself where the Volcano from Donkey Kong Country Returns used to be, and the Snowmads seize Donkey Kong Island for their own, turning it into a frosty area with continuous snowfall.

After traversing across 5 islands with each posing its own threats, the Kongs finally arrive at Donkey Kong Island under control of the Snowmads. The Kongs make their way through the frozen fortress until they encounter the leader of the Snowmads, Lord Fredrik, who challenges the Kongs to a final battle deep in the depths of the volcano. After a long battle, Donkey Kong delivers the final punch to Lord Fredrik, which sends him flying out through the roof of the Snowmad's ship, destroying it in the process. The Kongs wander out of the remains of the ship and look out from the mountainside to see the end of Lord Fredrik's fall. Lord Fredrik crashes into the remainder of the Snowmad ships out in the seas of the island, defeating the entire Snowmad clan and freeing the island from their control. Donkey Kong then notices the horn that was used to freeze their island fell out of Lord Fredrik's hands during his fall, which he catches and blows into, producing a breeze of flowers that carries the Kongs to the bottom of the island. The Kongs watch and rejoice as the breeze of the flowers flutter around the island, melting all of the ice and snow, returning Donkey Kong Island to its former glory.

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.

Bosses

 * Pompy, the Presumptuous (Lost Mangroves)
 * Skowl, the Startling (Autumn Heights)
 * Ba-Boom, the Boisterous (Bright Savannah)
 * Fugu, the Frightening (Sea Breeze Cove)
 * Bashmaster, the Unbreakable (Juicy Jungle)
 * Lord Fredrik, the Snowmad King (Donkey Kong Island)

Enemies

 * Snowmads
 * Tucks
 * Speedy Tucks
 * Tuff Tucks
 * Pointy Tucks
 * Archies
 * Boom Birds
 * Painguin Tucks
 * Papa Painguins
 * Big Sphens
 * Soaries
 * Fluffs
 * Tuff Fluffs
 * Hareys
 * Harolds
 * Hootz
 * Hot Hootz
 * Pufftons
 * Tufftons
 * Blue Hootzs
 * Waldoughs
 * Walnuts
 * Walbricks
 * Chum Chucker Charlies
 * Fish Poker Pops
 * Dozies
 * Punchy Paddies
 * Thug Slugs
 * Wild Wendells
 * Sour Dodos
 * Chompasauruses
 * Blue Finleys
 * Red Finleys
 * Mama Saws
 * Porcupals
 * Swooper Doopers
 * Urchins
 * Gordos
 * Jellyfish
 * Fritz
 * Snaggles
 * Yellow Snaggles
 * Mimics
 * Big Mimics
 * Cheesy Chesters
 * Squiddicus
 * Screaming Pillars
 * Lemmingtons
 * Bouncelisks
 * Buckies
 * Buzzies
 * Pufftups
 * Monocle Monicas
 * Schnautzels
 * Toucan'ts
 * Electroids
 * Buffaloafers

Worlds and levels
The game has seven total islands, consisting of six "main" islands and one secret island (Secret Seclusion), which serve as the game's worlds.


 * Lost Mangroves
 * 1-1: Mangrove Cove: A level featuring water ponds.
 * '''1-2: Shipwreck Shore:
 * '''1-3: Canopy Chaos:
 * 1-4: Trunk Twister: A minecart level.
 * 1-Boss: Big Top Bop: The Pompy boss level.
 * '''1-A: Zip-Line Shrine:
 * '''1-B: Busted Bayou:
 * 1-K: Swinger Flinger: A bonus level unlocked by collecting all of the KONG Letters in Lost Mangroves.


 * Autumn Heights
 * '''2-1: Windmill Hills:
 * '''2-2: Mountain Mania:
 * '''2-3: Horn Top Hop:
 * '''2-4: Sawmill Thrill:
 * '''2-5: Alpine Incline:
 * '''2-6: Wing Ding:
 * 2-Boss: Mountaintop Tussle: Skowl boss level.
 * '''2-A: Crumble Cavern:
 * '''2-B: Rodent Ruckus:
 * 2-K: Bopopolis: A bonus level unlocked by collecting all of the KONG Letters in Autumn Heights.


 * Bright Savannah
 * 3-1: Grassland Groove:
 * 3-2: Baobab Bonanza:
 * 3-3: Frantic Fields: A level inside a hurricane, where lightings strike and mini tornadoes appear.
 * '''3-4: Scorch 'N' Torch:
 * 3-5: Twilight Terror: A Rocket Barrel level.
 * 3-6: Cannon Canyon: A cliff level with many Barrel Cannons.
 * 3-Boss: Triple Trouble: Ba-boom boss level.
 * '''3-A: Rickety Rafters:
 * 3-B: Bramble Scramble:
 * 3-K: Precarious Pendulums: A bonus level unlocked by collecting all of the KONG Letters in Bright Savannah.


 * Sea Breeze Cove
 * '''4-1: Deep Keep:
 * '''4-2: High Tide Ride:
 * '''4-3: Amiss Abyss:
 * '''4-4: Irate Eight:
 * 4-5: Sea Stack Attack:
 * 4-6: Current Capers:
 * 4-Boss: Fugu Face-Off: Fugu boss level.
 * '''4-A: Rockin' Relics:
 * '''4-B: Shoal Atoll:
 * 4-K: Spinning Spines: A bonus level unlocked by collecting all of the KONG Letters in Sea Breeze Cove.


 * Juicy Jungle
 * '''5-1: Harvest Hazards:
 * '''5-2: Reckless Ride:
 * '''5-3: Fruity Factory:
 * '''5-4: Panicky Paddles:
 * 5-5: Jelly Jamboree: A jungle stage with bouncy gelatinous trampolines.
 * '''5-6: Frosty Fruits:
 * 5-Boss: Punch Bowl: The Bashmaster boss level.
 * '''5-A: Beehive Brawl:
 * '''5-B: Jammin' Jams:
 * 5-K: Platform Problems: A bonus level unlocked by collecting all of the KONG Letters in Juicy Jungle.


 * Donkey Kong Island
 * 6-1: Homecoming Hijinks: A snow and ice-themed level that takes place in the same location as the Jungle area in Donkey Kong Country Returns.
 * 6-2: Seashore War: A snow and ice-themed level that takes place in the same location as the Beach area in Donkey Kong Country Returns.
 * 6-3: Aqueduct Assault: A snow and ice-themed level that takes place in the same location as the Ruins area in Donkey Kong Country Returns.
 * 6-4: Blurry Flurry: A snow and ice-themed level that takes place in the same location as the Cave area in Donkey Kong Country Returns.
 * 6-5: Forest Folly: A snow and ice-themed level that takes place in the same location as the Forest area in Donkey Kong Country Returns.
 * 6-6: Cliffside Slide: A snow and ice-themed level in a silhouette that takes place in the same location as the Cliff area in Donkey Kong Country Returns.
 * 6-7: Frozen Frenzy: A snow and ice-themed level that takes place in the same location as the Factory area in Donkey Kong Country Returns.
 * 6-8: Meltdown Mayhem: A snow and ice-themed level that takes place in the same location as the Volcano area in Donkey Kong Country Returns.
 * 6-Boss: Volcano Dome: The final boss fight level. The battle is against Lord Fredrik.
 * '''6-A: Dynamite Dash:
 * '''6-B: Icicle Arsenal:
 * 6-K: Slippy Spikes: A bonus level unlocked by collecting all of the KONG Letters in Donkey Kong Island.


 * Secret Seclusion
 * 7-1: Levitation Station:
 * 7-2: Rocket Rails:
 * 7-3: Crazy Clouds:

Funky's Fly 'n' Buy


Funky Kong runs the item shop in place of Cranky in this game. He sells life balloons and other balloons, portable partner barrels, banana juice, hearts, crash guards, and figurines of characters in the game that a player can get at random through a capsule toy machine.

References to other games

 * Donkey Kong Jr.: The levels in Secret Seclusion feature music that originated from this game.
 * Super Mario World: The map styles movements are like in the said game but the worlds however are not connected.
 * Donkey Kong Country: The music theme "Aquatic Ambience" is covered and four of the Kong characters first appeared in this game: Donkey, Diddy, Cranky, and Funky. In the Canopy Chaos level, Cranky's record player from this game can be found and when ground pounded in front of it, it plays this games' title theme.
 * Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest: Dixie Kong returns from this game, which marked her first appearance. Bramble levels and swamp levels return. Part of the music in the Irrate Eight level contains a cover version of Lockjaw Saga from this game. The music theme Stickerbush Symphony is covered. One of Dixie Kong's idle animations in multiplayer involves her playing some air guitar could be a possible reference to her playing her electric guitar from this game.
 * 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 64: Diddy Kong's Jetpack and Peanut Popguns return. The fourth boss is similar in appearance to Puftoss.
 * Donkey Kong Country Returns: The levels in Secret Seclusion have a remix of the music from the single Golden Temple stage in this game (which itself was remixed from Donkey Kong Jr.). Also, the design of Donkey Kong Island is based off its appearance in this game; all of the worlds from this game can be seen. Finally, a number of sound effects from this game are used.
 * Super Mario 3D Land: One of the games Donkey Kong plays on his Nintendo 3DS during his idle animation is this game. During the animation, he can be heard passing a Goomba and collecting a coin.
 * Mario Kart 7: Donkey Kong sometimes plays it during his idle animation. He is heard playing as himself, picking up a Super Leaf item, and avoiding a Green Shell.
 * Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D: The Crash Guard, Green Balloon, and Portable DK Barrels originated from this game. Also, this is one of the games Donkey Kong plays on his Nintendo 3DS during his idle animation. He is heard in Cranky Kong's Shop, as well as activating a secret path in a level.

Trivia

 * In Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Donkey Kong is shown playing a Nintendo 3DS with one of the following games: Super Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7, Animal Crossing: New Leaf, and Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D.
 * Skowl has quite a few similarities to Hoo from Super Princess Peach. They are both the second boss of their respective games, both are owls, both release eggs that spawn smaller owl-like enemies, both are fought atop a tree, and both fly for the majority of the battle.