brickarts295
Member
Never Forget
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The Dismissal of Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze
- Thread starter AquaWateria
- Start date
1) Based on what I've seen nostalgia typically hurts ones enjoyment of dkctf. Retro's and Rares DKC games are completely different in focus and atmosphere.
2) Different genres and also wrong.
Schopenhauerian
Member
Shiggy and Father_Brain have suggested (here and here) that Miyamoto and Kelbaugh's statements -- which indicated that Retro themselves wanted to work on DKC again -- were likely just a form of PR spin, presumably aimed at the type of narrative you describe.
But while that type of narrative does indeed exist to some extent at places like GAF, I am skeptical of the notion that Nintendo itself would have perceived that type of narrative as widespread/problematic enough to merit a coordinated response from Miyamoto and Kelbaugh, which is why I'm still inclined to view their statements (from September 2013, indicating that Retro themselves wanted to work on DKC again) as straightforward, rather than as a form of PR spin.
A lot of people seem to be suggesting the number of platformers on the system played a part, but I don't believe that to be the case. If another studio was making DK:TF we wouldn't have heard a peep about it.
I think it's more of a 'Wind Waker' scenario. Nintendo fans wanted an exclusive 'mature' game on the Wii U instead of old ports of third party games. If Retro unveiled a non-platform style game with cartoony visuals, I believe there still would've been a backlash.
I think it's more of a 'Wind Waker' scenario. Nintendo fans wanted an exclusive 'mature' game on the Wii U instead of old ports of third party games. If Retro unveiled a non-platform style game with cartoony visuals, I believe there still would've been a backlash.
Yeah, I'm not convinced that Retro made those statements to effect some PR spin. With that said, I'm not sure we can conclude anything at all from them. Retro is not going to go on record saying "we didn't want to make this game but we basically had to."
Again, that doesn't mean Retro had to. I'm not alleging that. Just that all of these PR statements mean little.
The Horror the horror
Banned
Nintendo usually gives its off-site studios and partners leeway.
Rare had gotten plenty of freedom back in the day, MonolithSoft does whatever it wants, no one tells TPC what to do really, and I'm sure Retro enjoys similar accommodations.
Metroid Prime is considered one of the best games ever, so why not play that instead of getting angry that a new one isn't being made?
timetokill
Banned
The idea that platforming is oversaturated when there are exponentially more shooters released every year is still baffling to me.
Also, the idea that platformers are "easy" to make, or that Retro didn't really want to work on a sequel to their best-selling game to date, are similarly bizarre to me.
Also, the idea that platformers are "easy" to make, or that Retro didn't really want to work on a sequel to their best-selling game to date, are similarly bizarre to me.
Um.... i have something against this game that it is hard to express
The 2d games are great when you have that moment that you feel that you are doing something great and you are overcoming the hardship of the platforming stages.
You have that at dk tropical freeze, but the enemies and last levels feels so bland. Sometimes it feels like playing the best levels of a franchise but theres a lack of cohesion. Its the same problem i had with dk returns.
The first three worlds are magnificent. Amazing! But in the end, the freezing enemies.. it feels soulless. Its like... i dont care about these monkies, because this enemies are stupid.
I believe that most people have no idea who the heck are the enemies. 2d platforms need a caractural, funny and strong bosses/enemies. The enemy design is so poor that it takes away the interest about playing the game.
The 2d games are great when you have that moment that you feel that you are doing something great and you are overcoming the hardship of the platforming stages.
You have that at dk tropical freeze, but the enemies and last levels feels so bland. Sometimes it feels like playing the best levels of a franchise but theres a lack of cohesion. Its the same problem i had with dk returns.
The first three worlds are magnificent. Amazing! But in the end, the freezing enemies.. it feels soulless. Its like... i dont care about these monkies, because this enemies are stupid.
I believe that most people have no idea who the heck are the enemies. 2d platforms need a caractural, funny and strong bosses/enemies. The enemy design is so poor that it takes away the interest about playing the game.
Doug Heffernan
Member
The title of the game sounds like a delicious beverage. Now I'm thirsty.
Yeah DKCR has really boring enemies and the ones in Tropical Freeze are stupid looking but not in a funny way.
thechristoph
Sir!
I did not like this game. The timing, or the feeling of momentum, or something felt way off.
SomeRandomWeirdGuy
Member
It was for the Wii U at the time. We had more than enough colorful mascot platformers, and they were all either 2D, or of a similar philosophy to 2D platformers. I wanted evidence that Nintendo was going to push the Wii U with a varied library for varied tastes, and they simply didn't do that. Retro was perfect to do a darker toned game, which would have filled an empty niche for the Wii U, but instead they were making a 2D platformer on a console with far more than enough. It was disappointing, especially as a Metroid fan.
I bought the game that Christmas, loved it, and eventually beat it. It's a great game. But if Nintendo wanted the Wii U to actually succeed, it needed more than just platformers. It was a definite sign of the failure of the console as a whole.
I doubt I would play another DK game again - I didn't think it was that great at all.
I bought it because of because of all the praise, and achieved %100 on normal mode(I ignored the optional time trial mode).
I started Hard Mode with Dixie and played a few levels, then realized I didn't care for the game that much and sold it.
The difficulty was the best aspect about this game, but I didn't particularly enjoy much else.
The only two levels I had particular trouble with were the Rhinoceros level in World 2, Irate Eight, The fifth Kong level, and the Rocket ship level in the bonus world.
Bobopolis wasn't hard for me, but it was clever.
The worst level for me was the aforementioned ship one, because I didn't realize if you jumped on the ship, you retained your momentum.
I felt cheated, really.
It's ultimately too basic for me, even if it difficult - it didn't help that you were forced to play as DK I normal mode, who had absolutely no special properties.
Loading times were heavy, Coop was a unbalanced mess, and the Rocket Barrel levels and bonus minigames were repetitive and boring.
I actually thought the bosses were kinda fun, excluding the last one.
Fugu was my favorite.
I didn't care for most of the David Wise OST, I only remember three tracks now.
I'll admit is very solid for what it was, but I don't find it particularly memorable - not enough to recommend it anyone.
It honestly seems like a vocal minority of DK fans rush to defend this game as quickly as a voval minority of Metroids rush to to bash it.
Maybe I'm biased though, caused I'd take a New Retro Metroid game over a New Retro DK any day of the week.
I bought it because of because of all the praise, and achieved %100 on normal mode(I ignored the optional time trial mode).
I started Hard Mode with Dixie and played a few levels, then realized I didn't care for the game that much and sold it.
The difficulty was the best aspect about this game, but I didn't particularly enjoy much else.
The only two levels I had particular trouble with were the Rhinoceros level in World 2, Irate Eight, The fifth Kong level, and the Rocket ship level in the bonus world.
Bobopolis wasn't hard for me, but it was clever.
The worst level for me was the aforementioned ship one, because I didn't realize if you jumped on the ship, you retained your momentum.
I felt cheated, really.
It's ultimately too basic for me, even if it difficult - it didn't help that you were forced to play as DK I normal mode, who had absolutely no special properties.
Loading times were heavy, Coop was a unbalanced mess, and the Rocket Barrel levels and bonus minigames were repetitive and boring.
I actually thought the bosses were kinda fun, excluding the last one.
Fugu was my favorite.
I didn't care for most of the David Wise OST, I only remember three tracks now.
I'll admit is very solid for what it was, but I don't find it particularly memorable - not enough to recommend it anyone.
It honestly seems like a vocal minority of DK fans rush to defend this game as quickly as a voval minority of Metroids rush to to bash it.
Maybe I'm biased though, caused I'd take a New Retro Metroid game over a New Retro DK any day of the week.
Crimsonclaw111
Member
Interesting. I think TF is much easier because of the other two Kong characters.
TF is brilliant, but it shines the most in time trial mode. Play that, trying to beat the gold times, and tell me it isn't amazingly crafted.
Always-honest
Banned
Don't worry. It will be considered the greatest title ever when it hits the Switch. Like other WiiU games.
Mister Wolf
Member
At least after the sales numbers of Tropical Freeze Retro knows they shouldn't waste any more time with the franchise.
I didn't play it until recently and it was alright, liked it about as much as the other DKC games, but the thing is I didn't want another fucking 2D platformer from a team that's known for their 3D action adventure games. It was a complete waste and I hope Nintendo lets Retro work on something more substantial next time.
poodaddy
Member
Was incredibly fun to play as and overdue as a playable character? Yeah I agree.
Best game on the Wii U.
poodaddy
Member
How is it a waste if their 2D platformer is an amazingly well crafted game? How is a 3D game "more substantial"?
Liquidsnakeiv
Banned
One of my most-wanted Switch Virtual Console games
TheFuzz
Member
This comment doesn't make sense. The Wii U has a legitimate claim to a few of its titles being the greatest entries in their respective series. Being a total flop shouldn't discount how good software is. See: MK8.
People dismissed it because they are silly and Retro Studio is free to work on whatever game they want to work on.
Tropical Freeze sold 1 million copies and was on a toxic system, it would sell gangbuster if it was released on the Switch.
More so than any future Metroid game.
Tropical Freeze sold 1 million copies and was on a toxic system, it would sell gangbuster if it was released on the Switch.
More so than any future Metroid game.
Huge Succeeded
Banned
This team has proven their 2D design acumen to such an extent that it's what they deserve to be known for. I'd rather they developed a 2D Metroid than a 3D anything.
It's not about the quality of the game, it's the reaction. If you're getting THAT angry over a video game that you're going to use such overblown language and make it your mission to hate the game, then you should probably stop playing video games for a while because you've got anger management problems.
QuantumZebra
Member
TF sold 1 million???
I thought it bombed for some reason. Can I see the receipts?
It'd be depressing as hell if it did bomb. It really stands alone as the GOAT 2D platformer to me.
Huge Succeeded
Banned
the shit that someone says when discussing subjects of little real world consequence on the internet (like the quality of a video game) isn't always a reflection of who they are in the real world.
Yeah, this. It's extremely difficult and I stopped playing fairly early into the game. I don't have a high opinion of it, as a result.
Always-honest
Banned
The WiiU had some of the best games i've played this gen and ever. This was certainly one of them.
People missed out on those games. That's all i meant.
You post on a public forum where anyone can see your posts, it doesn't validate acting like you're a 12 year old on GameFAQS. It's 2017 and rampant fanboyism is far from the best way to contribute to a discussion. You look at an angry hate filled post and regardless of anonymity, you think "Wow, this person is kind of a dick"
It's all relative. Donkey Kong Country Returns moved 6.5M units on the Wii. The 3DS port moved 1.75M copies.
The Wii U definitely held software back, but you can't explain all of that drop away to differing install bases. Donkey Kong Country went from selling half of Smash on Wii to a fifth of Smash on Wii U.
daTRUballin
Member
I don't think you've ever read the legendary "Fucking Donkey Kong" thread then.
The drink has a unique taste depending on the person that drink it. It's either very sweet....or very salty.
TheFuzz
Member
Oh I read it wrong, sorry.
Danny Dudekisser
I paid good money for this Dynex!
There are lots of 2D platformers... plenty of which are already on the WiiU. There's really nothing like Metroid Prime out there. People wanted to see something unique like that from Retro.
Of course, Tropical Freeze went on to become my favorite platformer ever, so... I guess they didn't do too badly, regardless.
Of course, Tropical Freeze went on to become my favorite platformer ever, so... I guess they didn't do too badly, regardless.
I think that over time animosity between Metroid (prime) fans and nintendo grew too strong.
think of it this way: retro reached god-tier status with Metroid so basically Retro's fanbase is effectively Metroid's Fanbase, it goes hand in hand.
when DKCR was announced most retro fans were either confused or downright unhappy, because instead of getting a "beefy hardcore dudebro adventure/shooter" or whatever, they got a colorful 2D platformer....
that basically alienated the existing retro/metroid fanbase
what would have happened with Bungie if instead of Destiny, they'd had released a colorful platformer after building up a fanbase that is pretty much Halo fans only?? yep, most would have said "oh come one, fuck off, you gotta be kidding me".
so after alienating the fanbase, nintendo doubled down with another game in the series, which the fanbase, already bitter and angry, took as some sort of provocation. "oh you wanted something else? something more mature, epic and hardcore? how about another sequel to that game you didn't want in the first place, take that mother fucker".
there is a reason a mod in this forum wrote "another fucking donkey kong" when it was announced,
This is the first I've ever heard of there being a lot of criticism towards this game. I remember there being almost universal praise for it when it was released. I must've been a part of some very different communities than you lot.
Anyway, I personally found the game to be pretty boring when I played it some years back. I enjoyed Returns more in spite of the forced motion controls. Really, the only way the game managed to impress me was with its presentation - primarily the attention to detail and contextual design.
Anyway, I personally found the game to be pretty boring when I played it some years back. I enjoyed Returns more in spite of the forced motion controls. Really, the only way the game managed to impress me was with its presentation - primarily the attention to detail and contextual design.
poodaddy
Member
I...I want to read this thread.
nogoodnamesleft
Banned
Not rejected by me. Best DK game ever made.
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