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Why was Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze snubbed by gaming journalists?
- Thread starter Gonzo The Great
- Start date
BUNTING1243
Banned
Probably Gamergate.
But honestly probably because it came out so early, is on the Wii U, and is kinda divisive to begin with.
But honestly probably because it came out so early, is on the Wii U, and is kinda divisive to begin with.
Gonzo The Great
Banned
It has an absolutely phenomenal soundtrack and it didn't receive a single award from the mainstream gaming praise. I think that's worth talking about.
Dr. Black Jack
Member
A combination of these factors probably.
We had a good laugh watching the GameTrailers video review since whoever was playing it was worse than my then 5-year-old daughter.
Came out too early in the year and was, at surface value, not a very "large and hyped" game akin to the likes of Mario Kart 8 or Smash. Timetokill generally nailed it.
Tropical Freeze is easily my favorite Wii U game to date and stands as a forerunner for my favorite 2D platformer of all time. It has everything I could possibly ask for - amazing game physics with character mechanics that always dictate the game play, dynamic levels that are incredibly varied with no one level feeling the same, an impeccable difficulty curve that always teaches you through its design and is demanding but fair, incredible atmosphere with visuals and settings that are incredibly unique to it's namesake and have rarely been tried in games like these, fantastic boss battles, and finally, a fucking kick-ass soundtrack.
Everything that DKC2 did to it's predecessor, DKCTF does to DKCR. I absolutely adore everything about the game and it borders on being a masterpiece to me. Talk all you want about "GAF overhyping" or not, Tropical Freeze legitimately made an impact on me.
Tropical Freeze is easily my favorite Wii U game to date and stands as a forerunner for my favorite 2D platformer of all time. It has everything I could possibly ask for - amazing game physics with character mechanics that always dictate the game play, dynamic levels that are incredibly varied with no one level feeling the same, an impeccable difficulty curve that always teaches you through its design and is demanding but fair, incredible atmosphere with visuals and settings that are incredibly unique to it's namesake and have rarely been tried in games like these, fantastic boss battles, and finally, a fucking kick-ass soundtrack.
Everything that DKC2 did to it's predecessor, DKCTF does to DKCR. I absolutely adore everything about the game and it borders on being a masterpiece to me. Talk all you want about "GAF overhyping" or not, Tropical Freeze legitimately made an impact on me.
TheMoon
Member
I did. Are you assuming I didn't? I also played DKC1, DKC2, DKC3, and DKCR.
Tropical Freeze is a good game, but you can't really say it's ambitious.
IdreamofHIME
Member
I gave up half way through, annoying and not fun.
Rogue_Ledr
Banned
I'm sorry, I just have to vehemently disagree. DK: TF is one of the smoothest, tightest and most expertly crafted games I've ever played, it supports a variety of controllers and playstyles, and the music is GOAT-tier.
Sorry, but I agree with him. The game is good, but it was no Mario 3D World.
StriKeVillain
Banned
This I agree with. I can't give the game enough praise.
It'll probably wind up as my game of the generation.
Astral Dog
Member
Its a very decent game i don't see the problem with the Metacritic score, some people trashed it for not being Metroid though.
Personally it felt too similar to Returns, besides the soundtrack, the game is just...there, a solid 7.5
Personally it felt too similar to Returns, besides the soundtrack, the game is just...there, a solid 7.5
I never liked the platforming in the Yoshi games, but Yoshi's Island sure looks good so I'll give it that
Seriously, DKCTF is phenomenal, and for me it's the best 2D platformer of all time, that much was clear as soon as I started it but playing the level Bopopolis cemented it as such, what a crazy level! The music, the visuals, man what a ride that game was! I don't think it was snubbed, no doubt I couldn't help but laugh when GB took the piss out of the soundtrack but all in all I think that it's one of those games that gets its fair share of praise and the people who love it, love it a lot and sing it's praises all the time. It came out early in the year, on the Wii U and to be fair 2D platformers today aren't the media's darling like they were in the heydays of gaming. Plus, I think both Bayonetta 2 and MK8 not only stole the light award wise for Nintendo, but also seemingly filled in the yearly quota for Nintendo games getting awards for 2014 Yep. Still a fantastic game though.
SerTapTap
Member
Not exactly an "award game" unfortunately. It's pretty great but there's few things you can do to get people to give awards to a 2D platformer sequel these days. I love it but I don't think it quite stands out enough to win over people not already interested in the genre/series
This guy gets it
This guy gets it
axisofweevils
Holy crap! Today's real megaton is that more than two people can have the same first name.
Cutesy mascot platformer.
Requires a lot of skill to complete.
Released on the least popular console this gen.
Requires a lot of skill to complete.
Released on the least popular console this gen.
I'd say TF was better than Rayman easily.
Unfortunately, it sounds like it suffered from the New Super Mario Bros U syndrome of looking and playing overly familiar to its predecessor despite apparently being better. Furthermore, like New SMB, Tropical Freeze had a similar title come out on 3DS months before, a port of DKC: Returns, which seems to have contributed to the DK Country fatigue. Speaking of DKC: Returns, the game got a lot of praise not only for being a good title, but also due to it marking the surprising return of a dead IP. Lastly, like it has been mentioned, some critics and fans were disappointed by Retro's decision to choose making DKC sequel over Metroid. However, it was somewhat surprising when we found out about Tropical Freeze at E3 2014 due to Nintendo's producer's comment from March 2011. He said Retro did not have any current plans to do a sequel to DKC: Returns as its first Wii U project, so the developer did not make up its mind on what to work on next , but of course, this was said only a few months after DKC: Returns had come out on Wii U back in November 2010. Eventually, Retro later revealed that it was indeed deciding on choosing between returning to Metroid or tackling a sequel to DKC due to its unused ideas that couldn't make cut in Returns due to its development schedule. We suspected that we could get a DKC sequel ,but Retro had also said that it would eventually return to Metroid sometime in the future, but of course, there's also the chance that it could work on a totally different projec,t so we could only naturally guess on what Retro would end up working on for Wii U.
This is fact.
It was challenging.
It was colorful.
It had great artistic direction.
The music was phenomenal.
I have an Xbox One and a Wii U. I can 't say those things about any of the Xbox One games I have played. Sunset Overdrive is probably the closest but it was far too easy.
As far as OP's question goes? I have no idea. Not enough skin or explosions?
It was colorful.
It had great artistic direction.
The music was phenomenal.
I have an Xbox One and a Wii U. I can 't say those things about any of the Xbox One games I have played. Sunset Overdrive is probably the closest but it was far too easy.
As far as OP's question goes? I have no idea. Not enough skin or explosions?
Yeah, it's lightyears ahead of Mario 3D World. I couldn't stop playing TF whereas I had to force myself to continue playing 3D World. The latter is an absolute snoozefest in comparison.
TF is one of the best platformers ever created.
Natureboy99
Banned
I played through to the ice world then something else took my interest. For me i enjoyed it but the bosses were too difficult, too many secrets most very difficult to find, and the loading screens were really, really, really bad. Really good music though. 8/10 is what I would give it personally.
Holy Order Sol
Member
The game is not overhyped, wtf.
The problem is paying attention to awards/the gaming press in the first place.
The problem is paying attention to awards/the gaming press in the first place.
is NOT, fuck the crying baby
DICKS AHOY
Banned
Spite due to the Cranky VGX fiasco.
Dr. Black Jack
Member
As someone who has to watch PBS Kids on a daily basis: hell naw
DarthWalden
Banned
There are all extremely valid complaints.
Rats Off To Ya
Banned
This guy knows what's up.
WrenchNinja
Member
Yoshi's Island fucking sucks
DK for life
DK for life
Ok.
paradise_circus
Member
rayman got 90+ scores and nsmbu (which is in my opinion a mediocre game) has the same score as donkey kong.
Never in a million years would I have believed a post might compel me to type out the rebuttal I am going to end this post with.
But here it is.
Get Good.
Perhaps the Order 1886 should try being a real game like Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze and it might get it.
This pretty much, it came out way too early in the year that other games just overshadowed it.
Felix Andrews
Member
People sometimes forget that taking an established, some might say unfashionable formula and 'simply' fucking nailing it is actually really hard to do.
Kacho
Member
Let's not get crazy here.
well rayman is a lot more accessible so that explains that
TheMoon
Member
It's one of the best games of all time, but there's three simple reasons it got (unfairly) overlooked.
1. Lack of sales: People don't want to give GOTY to a game that didn't sell because it doesn't drive clicks, and websites are all about driving clicks
2. Uninspired idea / reveal: No one was excited by Tropical Freeze. In fact, people were so non-plussed by it that 'fucking donkey kong' became a meme. This worked against the game.
3. As incredible as a platformer is, it doesn't have that 'AAAAA 300 million dollars HOLY SHIT KEVIN SPACEY' type wow factor and spectacle that other games have. All of the things that make it incredible are really gameplay things that you have to actually play it to get. That makes it a hard sell as GOTY as well. There may also be a prejudice that games like this are 'easier' to make. And you know what? That's probably right. But it shouldn't matter.
DKC:TF is the game of the generation so far and the greatest platform game of all time.
Mario 3D World does not deserve to lick DK's soles. Seriously. 3D World is one of the weaker Marios anyway, and TF is better than any single Mario game other than Galaxy 1.
1. Lack of sales: People don't want to give GOTY to a game that didn't sell because it doesn't drive clicks, and websites are all about driving clicks
2. Uninspired idea / reveal: No one was excited by Tropical Freeze. In fact, people were so non-plussed by it that 'fucking donkey kong' became a meme. This worked against the game.
3. As incredible as a platformer is, it doesn't have that 'AAAAA 300 million dollars HOLY SHIT KEVIN SPACEY' type wow factor and spectacle that other games have. All of the things that make it incredible are really gameplay things that you have to actually play it to get. That makes it a hard sell as GOTY as well. There may also be a prejudice that games like this are 'easier' to make. And you know what? That's probably right. But it shouldn't matter.
DKC:TF is the game of the generation so far and the greatest platform game of all time.
Mario 3D World does not deserve to lick DK's soles. Seriously. 3D World is one of the weaker Marios anyway, and TF is better than any single Mario game other than Galaxy 1.