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I think that there’s a case for Tropical Freeze being (one of) the greatest platformer ever made

Durden

Durden

Avenger
Oct 25, 2017
12,511
Tropical Freeze is sublime paradise for the true platformer audience. There's so much about it that just...good lord fucking works. I have now played through it, (not 100% each time), 4 times. It is masterful in a platformer sense. Truly.

I'll just bring up a quick tidbits

1. The difficulty. Which I honestly find the discussion around very odd. While it's a tough game, it never felt any tougher than DCK2 to me. And it certainly never felt unfair. I think it struck the perfect line of challenging but enjoyable platformers. Just like DKC2.

2. The music. David Wise. I'll just leave these two things here...





Yes I know there's a lot of new, incredible music in this game that is brought up quite often, which I demonstrate a bit with the new absolutely spectacular Homecoming Hyjinx. For good reason. But...Lockjaw's Saga is one of my favorite video game tracks in history. And Wise's reimagining of it just...kills me. Dead. Pretty much, the game is filled to the brim with great original music AND jaw dropping reimagingings which will blow your nostalgia fucking mind. The entire soundtrack is god damn fucking ACE.

3. The level design, along with the abnormally instinctive and satisfying movement of the characters. Nope. Not even gonna get into this. Done summing up how incredible this game is here because I could type forever and would like to continue living my life. Would also like to get back to drinking beer.

Am I crazy? Cause if I am, you're crazy. Tropical Freeze is fucking godlike.
 
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Dreamboum

Dreamboum

Member
Oct 28, 2017
22,848
It is absolutely true, and I will never get over the negative reception it got from fans. That game is leaps and bounds above Returns, Retro Studios was absolutely right in taking the time to make a sequel, they delivered and I'm glad the game is getting a second life among people who are more appreciative of their work than trying to dictate what game they should make.
 

AndreGX

GameXplain
Verified
Oct 24, 2017
1,815
San Francisco
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It''s a bloody brilliant game in nearly every aspect. The way the world reacts to you makes it feel alive like few platformer before, which the fantastic music also contributes to (and is one of the biggest improvements over DKCR.) Even the water levels were thoroughly enjoyable

NSMBUD is going to be hard to go back to after TF twice over.
 
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NuclearCake

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
9,867
I wish the level design was as strong as it was in Returns and that the game had a few more worlds but it is a fantastic game all the same.
 
DeuceGamer

DeuceGamer

Member
Oct 27, 2017
3,476
I do think it's one of the best platformers ever. Not sure I'm willing to give it the one and only top spot among all time platformers, but I also wouldn't disagree if someone put it as their top platformer.

I also want to say that I agree on the difficulty. I didn't feel it was overly difficult and think it struck a good balance.
 
Dark_Castle

Dark_Castle

Member
Oct 27, 2017
7,147
Yeah it's great. One of the best platformer game of all time. Hoping for a new DK game by Retro Studios.
 

Deleted member 3017

User requested account closure
Banned
Oct 25, 2017
17,653
VDenter said:
I wish the level design was as strong as it was in Returns and that the game had a few more worlds but it is a fantastic game all the same.
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yeah, although I think TF is the better game, I loved Returns' shorter levels and I adore how connected the overall game world is, since everything takes place on a single island. The sense of "place" is great in TF, but it's even beter in DKCR. It's a brilliant game.
 

Dark Cloud

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
61,087
Yeah we've been saying this since 2014 lol. I get mad at the media with their scores for TF on Wii U and the soundtrack didn't get its due. It was the one game that needed to be ported.
 
Boy Wander

Boy Wander

Alt Account
Banned
Oct 29, 2017
2,126
UK
One of the main reasons that my Wii U is still plugged in. That and my as yet unfulfilled plan to replay Wonderful 101.
 
unicornKnight

unicornKnight

▲ Legend ▲
Member
Oct 27, 2017
13,169
Athens, Greece
I'm not a platform expert but it is one of my favorites along with SMB3 and NSMBU&Luigi
Durden said:
1. The difficulty. Which I honestly find the discussion around very odd. While it's a tough game, it never felt any tougher than DCK2 to me. And it certainly never felt unfair. I think it struck the perfect line of challenging but enjoyable platformers. Just like DKC2.
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I don't get it, I tried playing DKC2 after TF and it was still impossible to proceed in 2 or 3rd world. TF is challenging but it's a modern game. The difficulty is nowhere near original DKC trilogy.
 
raketenrolf

raketenrolf

Member
Oct 28, 2017
5,203
Germany
I don't think it's that great and I don't know why. Tried it on Wii U and Switch and while it's fun at first I end up just stop playing after a while. I don't think that the leveldesign is really that memorable. I also don't get the praise for that Savannah level. People got crazy because of that song but I think it's really nothing special.

I had more fun with Returns.
 
Joltik

Joltik

Member
Oct 25, 2017
10,762
Huh? I noticed this game is on sale at Best Buy for $45. Should I pick this up, even though the original DKC didn't really do anything for me and that's been awhile since I've played DKC2?

Actually, the last DK game I've played was way more than a decade with Jungle Beat. Liked that game even if I didn't get that far in it.
 
Rommaz

Rommaz

Member
Nov 27, 2017
6,264
Kitwe, Zambia.
It's really good. I only wish I liked the "look" more. I'm not saying it looks bad it anything like that but I don't adore the artsyle like some other 2D games and that makes me hesitant to call it the best overall.

Gameplay wise it's possibly the best I've played.
 
trugs26

trugs26

Member
Jan 6, 2018
2,025
Platformers are my absolute favourite genre. But for whatever reason, I don't really get why everyone loves the DKCR games. They're excellent games, but they never stuck out to me as "greatest of all time" like everyone proclaims them to be (especially with all the extended gameplay analysis videos on the games). They kind of have a bland feeling to them that holds it back from GOAT imo.
 

Dark Cloud

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
61,087
raketenrolf said:
I don't think it's that great and I don't know why. Tried it on Wii U and Switch and while it's fun at first I end up just stop playing after a while. I don't think that the leveldesign is really that memorable. I also don't get the praise for that Savannah level. People got crazy because of that song but I think it's really nothing special.

I had more fun with Returns.
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The level designs are very memorable. Who was it that called it bland in 2014? Gamespot? Lmao
 

Deleted member 46641

User requested account closure
Banned
Aug 12, 2018
3,494
Yes. It brings a level of polish and passion to 2D platformers that most other AAA games didn't do. Hell, it's better than Nintendo's own attempts at modernising 2D Mario.

Rayman Legends and Tropical Freeze feel like the only AAA 2D platformers to move the genre forward in recent memory. Yeah we get a hell of a lot of great indie platformers (Celeste is probably going to be my GOTY), but there's something amazing to seeing AAA levels of polish and craft in 2D platforming.
 
Devil

Devil

Member
Oct 25, 2017
2,656
Yes, it's almost perfect. I think it is definitely the best modern one since 3d graphics are a thing.

There are things I dislike though. Coop was not implemented as good as it could've been. The way you avtivate/deactivate the 2nd player via menu to be able to change their character which is sadly needed for many secrets. SP mode always gives you the choice INGAME which Kong to free from a barrel or just straight up gives you the one you will need. That's really annoying and unfortunate.

Some levels are also not well designed for 2 players but that's something that's hard to get right without getting rid of some fun ideas (animal buddies, mine cart, rocket barrel etc). Sadly some of the best levels like the K levels were almost unplayable in Coop.
 
elektrixx

elektrixx

Banned
Oct 26, 2017
1,923
I only finished Returns earlier this year, so I'm probably playing Tropical Freeze within the next few months. I'm sure it will be fantastic.
 
Fuchsia

Fuchsia

Member
Oct 28, 2017
6,640
It's absolutely one of the greats. Idk about greatest, but it's one of the greats. I love this game with all my heart. Beautiful art, beautiful and seamless level design, beautiful music... It's got it all.
 
OP
OP
Durden

Durden

Avenger
Oct 25, 2017
12,511
Joltik said:
Huh? I noticed this game is on sale at Best Buy for $45. Should I pick this up, even though the original DKC didn't really do anything for me and that's been awhile since I've played DKC2?

Actually, the last DK game I've played was way more than a decade with Jungle Beat. Liked that game even if I didn't get that far in it.
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Fuck man. I dunno. I mean imo, I would say it's one of the absolute best games you could get for 45$. But, you said you didn't really enjoy DCK. And this game is extremely similar to it in a lot of ways. You also pretty much said you preferred Jungle Beat, which is cool, but a totally different type of game.

I would say, if you have access to DCK2, try playing it again. If you still can't come back to it or just don't enjoy it, don't mess with TF. It's just not you're type of game. That's cool. I mean it's wrong, but it's cool.

But it's not cool. /s....I think. You should play Tropical Freeze if you like to be into platformers. It's essential. IMO....of course.
 
Hieroph

Hieroph

Member
Oct 28, 2017
8,995
Eh. It's good, especially for that first time spectacle, but it doesn't really hold that well in replays. There's really nothing under the shiny graphics and setpieces that would make you really go wow.

The music is very good but that's not a gameplay thing.
 
darz1

darz1

Member
Dec 18, 2017
7,075
Its weird how they made it work so well with the looseness of the character movement. Platforming is normally about precision, the tighter the better. But Tropical Freeze is about taking control of some off the wall primates who roll, jump and bounce around with speed and momentum that you somehow just make work. Its levels are designed around this movement that really feels somewhat unwieldy but entirely satisfying to master.
 
Dyle

Dyle

One Winged Slayer
The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
29,904
It's no Jungle Beat, but it's close. Definitely the 2nd best DK platformer ever although I don't care much for the weightiness of the physics
 
Kouriozan

Kouriozan

Member
Oct 25, 2017
21,071
Yes, yes it is, absolutely.
Without the Switch port, it would have gone unnoticed again, so I'm really glad they did it.
 
Aprikurt

Aprikurt

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Oct 29, 2017
18,775
I have no issues with this opinion whatsoever. Visually pops, music is gorgeous, and it provides both straightforward gameplay mixed with genuine challenge.
 
Pancakes R Us

Pancakes R Us

Member
Oct 27, 2017
8,336
Agree that it's a good game, but disagree that it's the second coming of platformers. I just didn't feel that it's one of the best of all time during my playthrough on Wii U.

EDIT: out of all of the DK platformers, I prefer the original three Country games.
 
Devil

Devil

Member
Oct 25, 2017
2,656
Hieroph said:
Eh. It's good, especially for that first time spectacle, but it doesn't really hold that well in replays. There's really nothing under the shiny graphics and setpieces that would make you really go wow.

The music is very good but that's not a gameplay thing.
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I completely disagree. The setpieces are not what make the game awesome at all, they just add to the fun. The game is incredibly replayable because of the great flow in gameplay and leveldesign.
 
OP
OP
Durden

Durden

Avenger
Oct 25, 2017
12,511
If you feel as though you've known this for years, that's great. I have too. But it doesn't change the fact that an incredible game deserves to be continuously praised, specifically that that game can continue to hold that opinion over time.

I'm sure soon enough I will make my yearly thread like I used to do at the old place preaching the fact that I firmly believe that Metroid Prime is the greatest game of all time. That shouldn't effect the fact that it very possibly could be.

Fuck. Prime and Freeze are both by Retro. I'm compromised. Time to go to bed.
 

Deleted member 7948

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Oct 25, 2017
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It's a good game but I prefer Rayman Legends and NSMBU.

I don't get the love TF receives on the internet and I've completed it 3 times (and stopped some other playthroughs once I hit world 4, fuck underwater levels).
 
Joltik

Joltik

Member
Oct 25, 2017
10,762
Durden said:
Fuck man. I dunno. I mean imo, I would say it's one of the absolute best games you could get for 45$. But, you said you didn't really enjoy DCK. And this game is extremely similar to it in a lot of ways. You also pretty much said you preferred Jungle Beat, which is cool, but a totally different type of game.

I would say, if you have access to DCK2, try playing it again. If you still can't come back to it or just don't enjoy it, don't mess with TF. It's just not you're type of game. That's cool. I mean it's wrong, but it's cool.

But it's not cool. /s....I think. You should play Tropical Freeze if you like to be into platformers. It's essential. IMO....of course.
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To be fair, I've played the DKC games way back when they were first released. While I wasn't that gaga over the first game, I thought the second game was alright.

I sort of want to pull the trigger on buying this game since I constantly hear praises of it from some people who wasn't that huge of a fan of the first Rare DK. Also, because I like platformers and it's a first-party Nintendo game on sale.
 
Hieroph

Hieroph

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Oct 28, 2017
8,995
Devil said:
I completely disagree. The setpieces are not what make the game awesome at all, they just add to the fun. The game is incredibly replayable because of the great flow in gameplay and leveldesign.
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The setpieces are one reason why I just get bored if I try to replay this. That "flow" just isn't there for me.
 
NotLiquid

NotLiquid

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Oct 25, 2017
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"Fucking Donkey Kong" carries a much different energy and implication to it after the game came out.
 
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