65% of initial shipment sold

The Wii U failed to set the world on fire and as such, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze didn't sell exceptionally well. That isn't to say the game was a failure (it broke a million copies by quite a bit), but it sold worse than both versions of its predecessor (Donkey Kong Country Returns on Wii and 3??DS). On Switch, though, the game is a??lready doing better.

According to Dengeki Online, Tropical Freeze managed to sell around 90,000 copies in its fir??st week on sale in Japan. This is nearly three times what the Wii U ve??rsion did four years earlier. Put another way, the game has sold around 65% of its initial shipment, nearly doubling that of the Wii U original (which hit only 35%). Who says that Wii U ports are a bad thing?

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze sold th???rough 65% of its initial shipment on Switch in Japan [Nintendo Everything]

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And I have all the answers!

While taking a quick look through Twitter, I saw that My Nintendo currently had a quest based around Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. Put on the website t?o celebrate the launch of the Switch port, this quest tasks you with finding all of the KONG letters on the site. While it is a fairly easy quest, I figured I would solve it and then post all the answers to help you guys nab some quick coins. You sadly won't have much to spend them on, but looking at the pretty stylish website is cool enough.

If you'd like to solve this without a guide, then don't scroll down any further. Just head on over to the Tropical Freeze website and get hunting. For everyone else, here we go!

The first letter is on the very first page of the website. You'll probably have to be legally blind to miss it, but the K is sitting between a posing Funky Kong and some informati??on about the co-op mode (which is a blast).

Next, you'll need to navigate to the top of the page and select "Save DK Island." If you're using a 1080p monitor, you'll probably see the O without h?aving to scroll down. The letter is lodged into a frozen tree behind a portrait of the Snowmads. Just click the frozen letter a few times and you'll have two of the four letters down.

Ne??xt, scroll back up and select "Meet the Kongs." From here, you'll actually have to scroll down until you get to Diddy. Right next to DK's sidekick is a box that is jumping around a ??bit. Click it and your N will be ready for the taking.

Finally, scroll back up and click on "Buy Now" (how cheeky). This one I actually overlooked at first, but you'll see a barrel on top of the information box for the digital version. Click that and the G will get shot across the site. Na??b that and the 100 coins are y?ours!

In typical Nintendo fashion, there isn't actually anything Donkey Kong related to spend your coins on. You can nab some 3DS themes with Mario and Luigi's mustaches, though. I know that is the next best thing to Donkey Kong...Anyway??, this was a fun little diversion for five minutes and I'm hoping we'll eventually get some Switch related goodies to spend coins on. Maybe then these 100 co??ins will get put to use.

Nintendo of America [Twitter]

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We do get faster loads and less file size though

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is shaping up very nicely if this new footage is any indication. The game already looked fantastic on Wii U, but at this point the Switch's extra power ma??kes it really po??p.

Again, we now know that Tropical Freeze will debut for $60 on Switch compared to the Wii U's $50 price. We also know that it loads roughly twice as quickly on Switch, and that it takes up about half of the file size. Finally, there's a new Funky Mode that allows players to u?tilize Funky Kong in all his glory on top of Donkey, Diddy, Dixie, and Cranky.

Yesterday I half-joked that Nintendo should cut the price before this game launches and I'll keep campaigning for that. But I'll also be the first in line to replay Tropical Freeze as i?t's one of the best platformers of the past decade -- $10 Switch tax or not??.

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May 4

As announced in the Nintendo Direct Mini this morning, Tropical Freeze will hit the Switch in a few months.

No, Nintendo isn't calling it Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze POLAR EDITION or anything, just the plain old original title. It's the original game, with multiplayer and all (including portable multiplayer), with a new twist -- Funky Kong! He's a "chill" character as Nintendo calls ??him, w??hich permeates throughout his entire life philosophy and playstyle. Funky sports a double jump, hover, infinite rolls, and infinite corkscrews underwater -- he seems like an easy mode of sorts and looks really fun to play.

This port will arrive on May 4.

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Allow me to break the ice

Donkey Kong Country Returns was one of my favorite platformers of the last generation. It h??ad charm, challenge, and most importantly -- it was a ton of fun. But one of my only hang-ups with the Wii versi?on was the lack of control options, and the forced implementation of Wiimote controls.

With that out of the way compliments of a host of controller choices and many more improvements, Tropical Freeze is somehow even better than Returns.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Wii U)
Developer: Retro Studios / Monster Games / Nintendo SPD
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: February 21, 2014
MSRP: $49.99

First things first, it must be said that the visuals look amazing in HD. All of that same visual charm is there from Returns, but the superior hardware of the Wii U accentuates basically ??everything that made that art style great. Backgrounds have new depth to them, enemies have even mo??re details and nuances added to their animations, and the game just all around looks better -- to the point where it's one of the best-looking games on the console yet.

It helps that even more care has gone in to nearly every facet of the game, which is exemplified in the carefully crafted idle animations. Donkey Kong will sit down and play actual 3DS games when standing still, and every supporting character has a different animation when riding on his back. It's hard to explain without seeing some of the more interesting levels in motion, but it's easy to see why it took Retro Studios so long to finish Tropical Freeze.

Fans of the original Donkey Kong Country series will also no doubt recognize the vastly superior soundtrack, thanks mostly to the return of David Wise -- the original DKC composer. Tropical Freeze sports a beautiful soundtrack that easily tops the original Returns, with a healthy mix of remixes and completely original tunes. Not every track is gold but the vast m??ajority are wha??t I'd consider "new classics." It's that good.

The story is still a little light this time around, but an all-new cast of villains is present in the form of the Snowmads, who I found to be a lot more interesting than the Tiki Tak Tribe from Returns. Consisting of a collection of animals from penguins to walruses, the Snowmads are as deadly as they are cute. Don't expect a whole lot more than the typical "take back your home" plot, but much like Mario, the focus is on the platforming -- which it del?ivers i??n spades.

I really have to give it to Nintendo this time around -- they listened when it comes to offering up a host of controller options. Whereas the Wii often forced players to acclimate to one control scheme, the Wii U allows us to try out a number of different controllers, most notably the rock-solid GamePad. Of course, if you prefer the Wiimote, Wiimote+Nunchuk, or the Pro Controller, you can use those too. In one fell swoop, Retro Studios has squashed my one major complaint with Returns.

This time around heroes Donkey and Diddy return, but with the extra addition of Dixie (who can rise vertically with her hair spin), and Cranky (who does his best Scrooge McDuck pogo impression). Just like Returns, player one can only use Donkey Kong, but with Diddy, Dixie, or Cranky on his back, he can use their special abilities, and he's? grante??d two extra hits.

Player two can pick from any supporting character at will, but can't take control of the main monkey. It would be nice to have the option to play as anyone other than DK while going a?t it solo, but given the fact that you can vicariously experience the others through group powers, it doesn't really detract from the experience.

The controls are mostly the same, focusing on grabbing, pounding the ground, or rolling, with the addition of the brand new Kong Pow attack. By collecting bananas, you can fill a separate gold meter and unleash a screen-clearing power. It's something I rarely ever used, but it's a fun addition to the game, and especially enjoyable to use when gaming with a partner. If it sounds overpowered think again -- because Tropical Freeze is in some ways more? difficult than its predecessor.

Although one would think that the pool of level diversity would have ran dry after all of the innovative stages in Returns, Tropical Freeze manages to deliver yet again. From giant trees erupting from the ocean floor, to a few clever vehicle gimmicks, to running for your life as you?'re caught up? in a giant Savannah tornado, the game's stages are as diverse as ever.

No doubt influenced by the return of David Wise, a few stages are even centered around a musical theme -- much like Rayman Legends -- but a little more seamlessly integrated into the level rather than celebrated. Bosses are legitimately hard this time around -- so if you thought Returns had difficult encounters, you'??re going to have?? fun with this one. Fights can be lengthy but they're extremely rewarding, and there are a few bosses in particular that I was highly impressed with.

Tropical Freeze also re-introduces swimming to the mix, which is tastefully done with the combination of light swimming levels and stages focused entirely around the activity. Although I was a bit worried as to how these would play out, I'm pleased to say that they not only are some of the best stages in the game, but I'm left wondering why Retro didn't include them in the first p??lace. You'll have a dash attack and a fast swim button at your disposal, and a new layer of depth has been added by way of an air meter -- which needs to be periodically filled by grabbing bubbles in the sea.

Like Returns, Freeze is a lengthy title with plenty of levels to explore, all filled to the brim with content. It still has K-O-N-G letters and puzzle pieces to collect, it still has an extra set of bonus levels, and there are still time trials. Freeze also sports a few extras like capsule toys, and hidden "portal" entrances that unlock new stages, not unlike Super Mario World.

I didn't think it was possible, but Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze has topped Returns. It's an incredibly crafted platformer with an HD sheen and an insane attention to detail, and any fan of the genre owes it to themselves to experience it. With the addition of control options to the already proven formula, Retro Studios' rendition of Donkey Kong is pretty much flawless.

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Haven't been following the game? Watch this

In the months since it was first announced, I have warmed up to Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze considerably. Part of my initial reaction stems from disappointment over Retro Studios not getting back to Metroid Prime, but I've si??nce gotten over that. And it feels like every bit of news since has been positive, further pushing me in the right direction.

After seeing this overview video from Nintendo of Japan, that's it. I can't not be sold on Tropical Freeze any longer. Props in particular to composers David Wise and Kenji Yamamoto for making what sounds like an absolute joy of a soundtrack. Aquatic Ambiance, folks. It's coming back.

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How this 'sequel' improves upon the original return

When Retro Studios' Donkey Kong Country Returns released for the Wii in 2010, I was ecstatic. Since I was 13 years old when I played Rare's original Donkey Kong Country for the first time, I marveled at its solid platforming and varied level design. Returns proved to be as solid in gameplay ideas as the original franchise, and when it was re-released in 3D for the 3DS, I did not hesitate to purc??has?e it again.

Next month, Retro Studios is releasing a sort of sequel to Returns in the form of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. After experiencing a solid four-hour chunk of the game that gave me enough time to get to the very end of World 4, I am glad to report that Tropical Freeze won't be just another by-the-numbers sequel, but an engaging addition to the revamped franchise that adds some intriguing new mechanics while taking out minor annoyances of the original Returns.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Wii U)
Developer: Retro Studios
Publisher: Nintendo
Release date: February 21, 2014 (North America and Europe)

If you've seen any of the trailers for Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, you probably are familiar with the basic? storyline of the game. Donkey Kong and family are enjoying his birthday when a cold breeze from the north arrives, heralding the arrival of the Horkers of Skyrim...or at least sea lions and other arctic marine animals wearing Nordic equipment, known as the "Snomads." This serves as an intro to an adventure of island-hopping through six distinct islands, rife with platforming challenges and mine cart levels.

Also revealed at various shows such as E3 and PAX 2013, the cast of playable characters includes Diddy Kong and his signature jetpack move, Dixie Kong with her helpful ponytail hover, and now Cranky Kong with his walking stick that works rather similarly to Scrooge McDuck's cane in DuckTales. Each level varies with the characters on offer, though often the barrel containing them will be a multi-character barrel that switches between all three, giving you the option to choose how you want to ??approach a challenging part of a level. Cranky Kong's cane is especially helpful in areas where the ground is filled with spikes, though you do still have to time your jumps well so that you take no damage each time you land.

One of the changes that I'm personally most pleased with in this latest iteration is the complete removal of the Super Guide, so players can collectively say goodbye to Professor Chops, the checkpoint pig popping up and annoyingly waving a flag to signal that you suck as a videogamer. In his place is a much more revamped shop, curated?? by none other than good old Funky Kong and his wifebeater/tight jean shorts combo and rad shades. In HD, you ca?n see his funky fur impressively well, and he kinda comes off as the awkward uncle who never really got past that phase in the eighties when being totally bodacious was in.

However, his shop is most excellent, as it carries two new colored balloons -- the green balloon that is essential for saving you from pitfalls at opportune moments in more challenging levels, and the blue balloon that helps you breathe underwater for longer. Another cool addition is a capsule machine that drops out a capsule for a few coins. Each capsule unlocks figurines that you can rotate and view in your Extras menu, including the cast of characters and enemies like the commonly-seen "Tuff Tucks" -- tossabl??e penguins with cute little helmets. The shop has a few other power-ups as well, including extra barrels full of monkeys so that you don't have to go into a level alone if you need that extra help.

Though there is no online co-op mode for Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, there will be online leaderboards that are dedicated to speed-running levels, as well as a single-playe??r Hard mod??e that unlocks after you beat the main game at least once. The representatives on hand were hesitant to divulge much information on what hard mode entails, though more information was promised in the near future.

In terms of level variety, Tropical Freeze has it in spades. The first island world, "Lost Mangroves," is a swampland with some really cool levels, including one of the first returns of the Donkey Kong silhouette levels. This tim??e around, if you're traveling with Cranky Kong, his stunning white beard is visible rather magnificently next to DK's bright red tie. The level itself is appropriately swampy, with brigh??t green hues and silhouetted huts.

After this world, you're traveling through a pastoral landscape with windmills and giant Alphorns (Alpine Horns) that you must jump across in some really great platforming challenges, as well as a Grasslands/Savannah island that is facing the elements half the time and also a re??turn to the underwater levels in "Seabreeze Cove." As one of the coolest levels I played in Island World 3, "Bright Savannah" involved out-running a windstorm that is tearing the level apart around you, so that your platforms are basically whatever may be blowing about in the wind at any given? moment. The game is filled with exciting sequences like this, and even when I lost about 30 of my balloons in one challenging area, I still had absolutely no urge to put the controller down.

As in Donkey Kong Country Returns and in the original franchise, each level contains tons of bananas to find, secret areas everywhere, "KONG" letters that open up secret levels, and of course the occasional mine-cart or rocket-barrel section. The musical scores of each level created by veteran David Wise are wonderful, with a great new standout found in level 2-1. The tune is "Windmill Hills," and it evoked the mood of the theme song to Cheers, with a bit of a folksy count??ry vibe. The wonderful score to the underwater levels is back and revamped, and I wished I could listen to it more at the event as I hea??rd it over the sound of other journalists playing on other systems.

Surprisingly, one of the biggest joys of Tropical Freeze are the boss battles. All of the bosses, including the Viking Sea Lion of the first island, are in no way slouches, and involve understanding their independent move-sets and weaknesses to lob things at them or jump on them and take them down. They also get more dangerous as you take them down, switching up their attacks in intelligently designed ways that keep you guessing at how to properly end them. One of the bosses actually made me think of boss levels in shoot-'em-ups that require you ??to avoid incessant enemy fire and find brief safe spots before implementing your attack.

There is one small concern that I feel it necessary to air, and that is in playing on the GamePad. As in all of the games before, grabbing onto things requires holding onto the bumpers while manipulating the joystick and jump button, and on t??he very wide GamePad this is immediately apparent as a recipe for some serious carpal-tunnel, especially since the game is such a challenging and relentless platformer. Furthermore, requiring you to hold down the grab button just feels awkward on the GamePad, and I found myself forgetting to do so several times on tough levels before I'd wise up.

After playing for about an hour on the GamePad I had to shake my hands just to give them a bit of proper exercise, and decided it was a good time to switch controls. Fortunately, several control options are available, including the Wii Remote by itself or the Wiimote and Nunchuk combo, though personally I would highly recommend playing? with the Wii U Pro Controller, as it just feels right in one's hands and is perfect for challenging platforming situations.

The biggest thing I want to stress about my four-hour playthrough is that even though Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze is very similar to Returns in terms of general gameplay design, it is shaping up to be a worthy successor due to its varied levels and smart changes to gameplay design. It also looks beautiful on a?? huge HD screen and the levels seem to? run silky smooth.

The challenge has also been increased in only the best way possible, so that deaths are never frustrating because of controls or other problems with level design, but simply because they ope?rate on that ??addictive "one more try" quality that only the best platformers achieve. I'll definitely be picking up my copy in February to see Donkey Kong and family through to the cold, bitter end.

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Screening next Thursday at Sundance

A few months ago, Nintendo held a Wii U video challenge, asking 30 of YouTube's top content creators to produce short videos inspired by Super Mario 3D World and The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD. After viewing all the selected videos, Nintendo selected the Hey Ash, Whatcha Playin'? team to work with fellow YouTube personality Freddie Wong on a short film inspired by Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.

The short film is set to debut at the Nintendo Chalet in Park City, UT during the Sundance film festival at 10:00am on Thursday, January 16, where visitors will also be able to play titles such as Wii Fit U and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds while hiding out from the cold.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (the game) is set to hit Wii U on February 21.

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It's up in the air whether or not he's playable

Shortly after confirming a playable Cranky Kong in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Nintendo has finally confirmed the existence of another character that was long rumored to be in the game -- Funky Kong. Nintendo hasn't said whether or not he'll be playable, or operating in a similar fashion to previous games where he simply facilitates the travel between? different worlds.

Since Cranky is o?ut adventuring, Funky could be manning the banana coin shop as well. Who knows! Either way it's great to see him in action again. Who's next? Candy or Swanky Kong?

Nintendo of America [Twitter]

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He's right there on the EU boxart

Although it isn't confirmed, if Cranky Kong is going to be the fourth final character for Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Nintendo isn't doing anything to hide that fact -- at least, in Europe they aren't. The European site Nintendo Town has uncovered an updated Amazon Italy listing for Tropical Freeze, and it very clearly depicts the crotchety old kong right on the b??ox next to his co-stars Donkey, Diddy, and Dixie.

Whatever the case may be, Tropical Freeze is expected to be released in a few months, so we'll find out soon enough. As a series fan, I just hope the fourth character brings something new to the ta?ble.

La jaquette EUR o?fficielle de Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze sur Wii U [Nintendo Town]

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'We need more time'

Considering how packed the November and December schedule looked for Nintendo, many fans expected a delay on at least one or two games. Well it seems as if Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze will be a part of that ??predicte??d plan, as the game has been officially delayed until February 2014.

I was really looking forward to it, but given how crazy my holiday season is going to be?? with two brand new consoles to play, I'm okay with it!

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David Wise and more!

I was thrilled but admittedly surprised that Nintendo took stage time to announce that David Wise, beloved Donkey Kong Country composer, would be working on the newly-announced Wii U title, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. After hearing this great news, I wondered what the fate of Donkey Kong Country Returns composer Kenji Yamamoto was.

We were able to confirm at the Wii U software showcase this morning that David Wise will in fact be collaborating with Kenji Yamamoto, whose name has been associated with the Metroid series (including Super Metroid and the Prime trilogy) in the past. Retro Studios audio director Scott Petersen will also be joining the team, bringing together the best of both music worlds: DKC of old and Donkey Kong Country Returns.

This is a?nother great title that is just begging for a soundtrack release. Will you be looking forward to something more along the lines of "Stickerbush Symphony" or "Aquatic Ambiance?"

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