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[TheFLYINGManga_Ka]

The actual review content of people that finally acknowledge problems that go beyond whether this is still a fun enough 8/10 map pack.

(Not to mention that a current 80% average on rankings is a huge drop and not freaking good)

What kind of games do you like? What games do you praise and consider worth getting? Are you into RPGs? Shooters? Sports? Old school?

Just curious.

 

[Vire]

I disagree. It's more like a showcase of how talented Retro is!

I think the Eurogamer review put it best:

The likelihood, then, is that people who played DKC Returns will find Tropical Freeze a little uninspiring. It's a superior game - it looks nicer, it's easier to control on the GamePad than it was on the Wiimote, and there's slightly more to do - but like a lot of Nintendo's recent sequels, that doesn't feel like quite enough. The craftsman has turned in a damn fine table, for sure, but the chances are you already have a table.

I don't want another table.

It's another competent well made version of a game I have played a thousand times. It's just not something I'm going to go, for the lack of better word, apeshit over. My point is, that time could have been better spent developing a new original intellectual property. Retro is comprised of some of the best minds in the industry, give them a chance to make something wholly their own.

 

[braves01]

I'll probably get it when it hits $40 used, like I do with all WiiU games. WiiU games just don't compare to next gen stuff, especially the classic Nintendo platformers.

The NSMB and DKCR series compare very favorably to the older titles because they are generally much better games.

 

[Chubzdoomer]

To me, this is kind of like New Super Mario Bros. U or, to a lesser extent, Super Mario 3D World. Some folks will love it because they played the predecessor and and want more of it, and others will be disappointed because it isn't different enough to feel like a brand new experience. I'm among the former group of gamers. I beat Donkey Kong Country Returns and had a blast all the way through. In fact, I was a little saddened that it went by so quickly, even if it was a pretty difficult game and had a really tough boss battle at the end. Therefore, I view Tropical Freeze as a welcome continuation of DKCR -- nothing more, nothing less. And really, such continuations are fine so long as the quality of the games remains high and the developers don't fall into a creative slump as they continue to churn out the same types of games every other year.

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

I don't want another table.

It's another competent well made version of a game I have played a thousand times.

Most sequels are more of the same.

Did you want another table of Mario Galaxy 2???

And on your last point... no, no you have not played a Retro platformer a thousand times.

 

[Mauricio_Magus]

I'll probably get it when it hits $40 used, like I do with all WiiU games. WiiU games just don't compare to next gen stuff, especially the classic Nintendo platformers.

I'd say it's the other way around, I haven't seen a single game of the other consoles that is as good as Pikmin 3, Mario 3D World, and TW101 and worth the 60 bucks.

It will happen, but right now the library on the other next gen machines is meh, which is to be expected tbh.

 

[TheFLYINGManga_Ka]

I think the Eurogamer review put it best:



I don't want another table.

It's another competent well made version of a game I have played a thousand times. It's just not something I'm going to go, for the lack of better word, apeshit over. My point is, that time could have been better spent developing a new original intellectual property. Retro is comprised of some of the best minds in the industry, give them a chance to make something wholly their own.

Eurogamer gave the first a 9. But they claimed TF is the better and more superior game.

In my opinion, it's much easier to make sequels to a action adventure, shooter, or RPG for example, but to make a traditional side scrolling platformer that exceeds a predecessor that's universally praised, now that's hard!

Which is why it shows how talented Retro is. They could've easily phoned it in like New Super Mario Bros. 2, but they didn't.

 

[DjRoomba]

What on earth...

Something wrong? Alright in all fairness it might not be cos hes old and miserable, Gamespot might just be after the clicks

 

[Gummb]

I think people are just getting tired of perfunctory, by the numbers Nintendo sequels and it's finally showing in the review scores.

I just can't help but feel this game is a tremendous waste of talent.

Perfunctory?

Do you understand what an insult that is to Retro Studios and platformers in general? It is true that platformers are among the oldest of game genres and that Nintendo capitalized on their success to where they are now, but that does not mean that it takes little effort or creative energy to create. If the reviews are right in saying that every level is unique and you can describe them each individually, then that is a an explosion of effort and creativity. Set pieces, designs, atmosphere, characters, environments. It's hard enough for most platformers to get functioning jumping mechanics down let alone utilizing them at the level that Retro has.

 

[VanWinkle]

Something wrong? Alright in all fairness it might not be cos hes old and miserable, Gamespot might just be after the clicks

Don't insult the guy just because he didn't like everything about a game you're excited for. No game is going to be loved by 100% of the people. That's how opinions are. They differ, and that's okay! It's good, even!

 

[TheFLYINGManga_Ka]

Don't insult the guy just because he didn't like everything about a game you're excited for. No game is going to be loved by 100% of the people. That's how opinions are. They differ, and that's okay! It's good, even!

I do agree a reviewer should be entitled to their opinion, but that review didn't explain it too well on why he thought the game was bad other than "I thought it was boring and dull and I like these other games better."

 

[TheSpaceBetween]

Shacknews gives it a 6...

http://www.shacknews.com/article/83140/donkey-kong-country-tropical-freeze-review-losing-a-peel

 

[Tathanen]

As you say, this is their third dual screen Mario Kart. But that's also part of the problem. If the GamePad cannot and will not offer compelling additions to Nintendo's existing stable, and Nintendo is unable or reticent to offer new ideas (beyond minigames) for the Pad, then why does it exist?

Well, I guess my counter for that is that I do consider these additions to be compelling. I like all that track and ranking stuff on the second screen in Mario Kart. But it's gotten to the point where the presence of that second screen is just kind of accepted and taken for granted. I just expect it to be there now, just like I expect graphics to not drip below a certain level as time goes on, or online features to be present. Dual-screens are now a "standard" Nintendo feature, and while they may not be a driving sales force, I feel like their systems would feel much more antiquated without them. At least, that's the feeling I get every time I have to manually pop up a map overlay when I play a game on a competing system, or have to type while moving a cursor around on a keyboard. That second touchscreen just needs to be there for the machine to feel modern.

Mario Kart has made its transition to the dual-screen paradigm already, so its further avenues for gameplay innovation lie more in the raw gameplay. Antigravity allowing for wildly more creative course designs, for example. Continued innovation in the series' online functionality, with Mario Kart TV. For this series in particular, the GamePad is old news, and won't be pushing much innovation beyond the global concept of off-screen play. Which, again, is what Nintendo has been focusing on in their marketing message anyway.

It's clear at this point that Off TV is not a worthwhile feature to most gamers nor does the Pad add anything to gameplay. So while an individual game like Mario Kart or DKC shouldn't be docked points for not using an optional feature of the hardware, each of these instances add up to make a compelling case against the GamePad's useless and arbitrary inclusion to the Wii U. And for that, it's worth discussion.

I don't think the GamePad is useless nor arbitrary, as I think I've summarized above. The presence of that second touch screen adds a large amount of value to the system as a whole, even if only used in rote and predictable ways. Of course, as you are making clear, this is not a universally shared opinion, particularly by people who are concerned with Nintendo's place in the marketplace. But that's kind of where my interest in the topic wanes. I'm far more interested in discussing the inherent value of gameplay or interface systems, and have little to no interest in whether people think they are marketable or will sell.

 

[Vire]

I do agree a reviewer should be entitled to their opinion, but that review didn't explain it too well on why he thought the game was bad other than "I thought it was boring and dull and I like these other games better."

Those seem like pretty good reasons?...

If a game fails to excite you, then why are you playing it?

 

[DjRoomba]

Don't insult the guy just because he didn't like everything about a game you're excited for. No game is going to be loved by 100% of the people. That's how opinions are. They differ, and that's okay! It's good, even!

Opinions are like assholes and hes entitled to his, but giving this game a 6 warrants criticism. Im merely reviewing his shitty review.

 

[CaVaYeRo]

Am I late? Mine for Gamereactor Spain:

http://www.gamereactor.es/analisis/84734/Donkey+Kong+Country:+Tropical+Freeze/

9/10

Lol @ the waste of talent comment. This is a freaking explosion, though I'd ofc love to see them trying another thing now.

Oh, and Metroid Prime fans, prepare to feel some sort of artistic-layout link

This is just awesome design-Wise.

 

[Ricky 7]

I think people are just getting tired of perfunctory, by the numbers Nintendo sequels and it's finally showing in the review scores.

I just can't help but feel this game is a tremendous waste of talent.

The last game sold like 6 million copies so you can't blame them for wanting to make a sequel.

 

[chadboban]

Am I late? Mine for Gamereactor Spain:

http://www.gamereactor.es/analisis/84734/Donkey+Kong+Country:+Tropical+Freeze/

9/10

Lol @ the waste of talent comment. This is a freaking explosion, though I'd ofc love to see them trying another thing now.

Oh, and Metroid Prime fans, prepare to feel some sort of artistic-layout link

This is just awesome design-Wise.

I see what you did there.

 

[Sanic]

Indeed

Yeah, If you're going to respond to Spieler Eins, you should probably go look up his thoughts on 3d World and realize that it's not worth it.

I have to say that I wasn't expecting quite this kind of a mixed reaction, if not a slightly lower average.

 

[Timmy00]

Definitely going to pick this game up down the line. I'm not the biggest fan of the donkey kong country games but this looks pretty fun. I just have other games in my backlog to beat first (need to start up wonderful 101 and finish 3D world) first.

 

[Mlatador]

The horn is symbolic of the fact that not only do non-Nintendo companies not seem to get anything out of the Gamepad, most of Nintendo's internal teams don't either. The horn is symbolic of the fact that the Wii U has been rejected by the market at large by a number of reasons that ultimately come down to people not seeing the value of the product, and Nintendo's response is to say "The Gamepad is great. We're going to release software that really leverages the Gamepad" and then to proceed to release a release that has the Gamepad as a black screen, a release that uses it as basically a secondary info screen to offload HUD stuff onto, and their only long-term horizon that uses the Gamepad well is the prospect of NFC, which other companies have done without the Gamepad for several years now. That's the issue.

No, if anything the "Horn" is a symbolic of the fact that there are some people out there who intentionaly use Mario Kart 8 to bash the Wii U and its Gamepad as a whole, but unfortunately in an incredibly ignorant way. Ignorant in the sense that they won't acknoledge the features that are literaly displayed besides the obvious "HORN" symbol and/or are already confirmed, namely:

- buttons to switch to an overview of the map
- displayed items held by every character, which in itself is pretty important for everyone who tries to master Mario Kart (so that you know what items people in front and behind you are holding, thus allowing you to act/react accordingly)

- not yet confirmed, but very likely I think: probably used to draw your on decals, since MK8 will have car-customization, much like MK7 but with "...a little more choice".

+ the fact that you will be able to use it for OFF TV play, and potential co-op features (which they have yet to reveal, but at least 2 player separate screen gameplay should be a given).

The horn argument is just of the place, because Mario Kart doesn't have to use it for more than stated above. I - and probably all those "horn critics", too - doesn't even know in what other way the second screen or the Wii U Gamepad could be used differently than what it's already used for, especially for a fun racer like Mario Kart. What is missing? What do people want? What else, besides of OFF TV play, displaying important information on the screen, improved cart customization convenience and Co-Op separate screen muliplayer should there be, in order to supstantially add "more" to the overall experience?

EDIT: Same goes for Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. It's a game that just doesn't need the Wii U Gamepad and I'm happy Nintendo doesn't force it's functionality onto it. This actaully proves that Nintendo will only use it where they see it fit. That, however, doesn't mean the Gamepad and it's cababilies are useless. Plenty of other games will use it in ways that actaully enhance them, just not Tropical Freeze.

 

[TheFLYINGManga_Ka]

Those seem like pretty good reasons?...

If a game fails to excite you, then why are you playing it?

I disagree in that those aren't good reasons. They're very unprofessional ways of explaining ones opinion.

I thought GTAV was boring but I still recognize that it's a really well made and good game and certainly wouldn't give it a 6.

I can say it's boring and get away with it because I'm just a consumer and not a pro reviewer who gets paid to review games for a living.

Sometimes a personal opinion can get in the way of a really well designed game. It happens all the time, which is why a second opinion is a good way to balance out reviews especially for a high profile release.

 

[Lotto]

I see a lot of great scores and a handful of good scores. This game looks fantastic.

 

[Vire]

The last game sold like 6 million copies so you can't blame them for wanting to make a sequel.

Yeah I don't necessarily blame them.

That may produce short term sales now, but imagine if Retro created a new IP that had the longevity and staying power of other Nintendo franchises. When you make a new intellectual property you aren't just making it for the sales of the first game, but in hopes that it will become a mega successful franchise that will last for years to come.

That's the problem with Nintendo right now though, they aren't willing to take chances and shake up the formula. A new DKC isn't going to suddenly spark the sales of the Wii U , it's a familiar and safe game that doesn't really rock the boat. It's not something that makes me feel like I need the Wii U right now.

I disagree in that those aren't good reasons. They're very unprofessional ways of explaining ones opinion.

I thought GTAV was boring but I still recognize that it's a really well made and good game and certainly wouldn't give it a 6.

I can say it's boring and get away with it because I'm just a consumer and not a pro reviewer who gets paid to review games for a living.

Sometimes a personal opinion can get in the way of a really well designed game. It happens all the time, which is why a second opinion is a good way to balance out reviews especially for a high profile release.

Games aren't reviewed objectively, they are reviewed subjectively. It's the personal opinion of the reviewer.

 

[Toxi]

Shacknews gives it a 6...

http://www.shacknews.com/article/83140/donkey-kong-country-tropical-freeze-review-losing-a-peel

Shacknews cons
-Doesn't use the Wii tablet
-Too difficult
-Unresponsive controls combined with difficult stages
-Hitbox dissonance
-Barrel levels require mashing and are frustrating

Interesting and a bit worrying, but it's nice to see they were looking right at the game controls.

Also...

while other times I would lose a life seemingly because an enemy barely grazed my toe.

Well no shit. If an enemy barely grazes you, they still touch you. Your toe is part of your body, aka your hitbox. You don't say "the hit detection was bad in this FPS because a bullet barely grazed my toe."

 

[Ansatz]

I think the Eurogamer review put it best:



I don't want another table.

It's another competent well made version of a game I have played a thousand times. It's just not something I'm going to go, for the lack of better word, apeshit over. My point is, that time could have been better spent developing a new original intellectual property. Retro is comprised of some of the best minds in the industry, give them a chance to make something wholly their own.

Hmm, it was three years since the last entry and the genre is barely represented in the AAA space.

I'm sure if you take a look at your own gaming library you will find worse examples of more of the same.

Did you play the Uncharted games? There are 4 of them now since 2007 with identical game design, I don't see the industry complaining about that.

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

Shacknews cons
-Doesn't use the Wii tablet
-Too difficult
-Unresponsive controls combined with difficult stages
-Hitbox dissonance
-Barrel levels require mashing and are frustrating

Interesting and a bit worrying, but it's nice to see they were looking right at the game controls.

Unresponsive controls in a Retro game???

I doubt that but only 100%.

 

[breakfuss]

Never forget gamespots skyward sword review, it's like they intentionally score the lowest so they can get clicks.

I remember initially being pissed at the SS review as well, but in retrospect, it was actually pretty fair. The controls were indeed tiresome and it ultimately it stands as the least impressive Zelda in recent memory. At least give Gamespot the credit of holding up the industry average and user scores against their own.

 

[TheFLYINGManga_Ka]

Hmm, it was three years since the last entry and the genre is barely represented in the AAA space.

I'm sure if you take a look at your own gaming library you will find worse examples of more of the same.

Did you play the Uncharted games? There are 4 of them now since 2007 with identical game design, I don't see the industry complaining about that.

Which is why I utterly shun and despise reviews that bring the whole "it does nothing new" or "other games do it better" so it's a bad game argument.

 

[Vire]

Hmm, it was three years since the last entry and the genre is barely represented in the AAA space.

I'm sure if you take a look at your own gaming library you will find worse examples of more of the same.

Did you play the Uncharted games? There are 4 of them now since 2007 with identical game design, I don't see the industry complaining about that.

I'd agree with you about the Uncharted games if that's all Naughty Dog was making, however it's a two team studio that just created a new IP last year.

I wouldn't have a problem with Retro making more Donkey Kong games if they were able to sustain that on the side in addition to something new. However, they aren't big enough for that.

 

[MikeXXIeaf]

I think people are just getting tired of perfunctory, by the numbers Nintendo sequels and it's finally showing in the review scores.

I just can't help but feel this game is a tremendous waste of talent.

I'll never understand this argument whether it be about film, music, or video games.

You are the consumer. You don't dictate what a studio chooses to work on. Take the game for what it is and keep the ball moving.

 

[Lunar15]

I don't remember DKCR having unresponsive controls. I mean, I'm pretty anal about that stuff, so I feel like I would have noticed. I couldn't imagine they would change the game's physics.

 

[AoM]

Shacknews gives it a 6...

http://www.shacknews.com/article/83140/donkey-kong-country-tropical-freeze-review-losing-a-peel

That's mostly because Donkey Kong himself doesn't always feel matched to the stages. Our hairy hero just feels sluggish, a serious detriment to handling such fast-moving obstacles.

This was less of a problem in the original trilogy because you were actually given the option to switch between kongs (i.e. always playing as Diddy or Dixie).

 

[Earendil]

I think people are just getting tired of perfunctory, by the numbers Nintendo sequels and it's finally showing in the review scores.

I just can't help but feel this game is a tremendous waste of talent.

Then why does CoD sell trillions?

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

Did you play the Uncharted games? There are 4 of them now since 2007 with identical game design, I don't see the industry complaining about that.

Those probably don't count to him as they weren't 2D platformers and they cost a billion dollars to make.

But yeah, the hypocrisy is as clear as day.

 

[dampflokfreund]

Never forget gamespots skyward sword review, it's like they intentionally score the lowest so they can get clicks.

Well, Skyward Swords low score was absolutely well deserved. Terrible Zelda game. Just takes everything we love about Zelda over board and instead put in motion controls.

 

[TheSpaceBetween]

Unresponsive controls in a Retro game???

I doubt that but only 100%.

Morph ball Wiimote flick and and nunchuck armor pull off occasionally suffered imput lag/unresponsiveness in Corruption. However, they seem to be the first outlet that has complained about controls so I am not worried.

Spoiler

Corruption is still the best Metroid Prime game.

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

Morph ball Wiimote flick and and nunchuck armor pull off occasionally suffered imput lag/unresponsiveness in Corruption. However, they seem to be the first outlet that has complained about controls I am not worried.

Spoiler

Corruption is still the best Metroid Prime game.

Spoiler

it's the worst of the three

 

[jnWake]

Unresponsive controls is like the perfect excuse for when you're not doing well at a game. If this game is really that similar to DKCR, then the controls shouldn't be a problem, it's just that the game is hard.

If not, just look at packattack DKCR speed runs. You couldn't do that on an unresponsive game.

 

[Vire]

Those probably don't count to him as they weren't 2D platformers and they cost a billion dollars to make.

But yeah, the hypocrisy is as clear as day.

See here.

Then why does CoD sell trillions?

I don't really even understand this comment. In what part of the post that you quoted did I refer to sales?

 

[Dr. Black Jack]

I don't care ONLY about if a game is fun. I care about if a game is fun, it's important to me that the game is fun, but I don't care only about that. Resolution is not just a bullet point. It can massively increase the image quality on your screen. I want my games to look crisp and clean on my 1080p TV. Yes, gameplay is more important than resolution, but this delusional black or white world you live in isn't realistic. I can care about multiple aspects of a game, and not because I want to brag about a high resolution or something.

So you're just looking for content to justify the money you

Spoiler

over

spent on your TV, got it.

Do you still play SD games/consoles?

 

[nullpoynter]

Something wrong? Alright in all fairness it might not be cos hes old and miserable, Gamespot might just be after the clicks

...or it could be that Gamestop just sucks. It's definitely not one of the sites that I frequently visit anymore.

 

[Exile20]

The Wii U GamePad is not cheap to manufacture. So its not "a load of crap", its a big part of the system and its cost (and its failure, which is another topic all combined)

I dont buy consoles to play them on a small screen, i buy them to play them on my big TV, otherwise i would just play games on my 3DS, but glad you are enjoying the feature.

Please tell me you are not serious. So every game should be built around the touch screen?

That is like saying, well I bought a PS4 for the graphics so if a game that doesn't use all of the power of the system then the game and system is a waste.

Actually I hope dev start putting on the back of the box how much ram, cores, etc the game uses so I will know how much of the system is wasted.

Please stop or you will get me banned.

 

[TheFLYINGManga_Ka]

Yeah I don't necessarily blame them.

That may produce short term sales now, but imagine if Retro created a new IP that had the longevity and staying power of other Nintendo franchises. When you make a new intellectual property you aren't just making it for the sales of the first game, but in hopes that it will become a mega successful franchise that will last for years to come.

That's the problem with Nintendo right now though, they aren't willing to take chances and shake up the formula. A new DKC isn't going to suddenly spark the sales of the Wii U , it's a familiar and safe game that doesn't really rock the boat. It's not something that makes me feel like I need the Wii U right now.


Games aren't reviewed objectively, they are reviewed subjectively. It's the personal opinion of the reviewer.

I think Last of Us 2 is going to be more of the same. So according to Eurogamer or Gamespots reviewing process, it should be a 6 because it does nothing new.

Would you agree with them if this happened and that it's a bad game and a waste of talent?

Of course not, right?

My point being, a game should still be recognized for its quality and creation regardless of ones opinion. A reviewer who can't differentiate quality and ones taste isn't a very good reviewer, in my opinion.

 

[Gannd]

I'd agree with you about the Uncharted games if that's all Naughty Dog was making, however it's a two team studio that just created a new IP last year.

I wouldn't have a problem with Retro making more Donkey Kong games if they were able to sustain that on the side in addition to something new. However, they aren't big enough for that.

That is the in the same vane as Uncharted. The Last of Us is an evolutionary game. Retro has two teams so they are producing something else. Probably another Metroid game but I hope for a new IP.

 

[Vire]

I'll never understand this argument whether it be about film, music, or video games.

You are the consumer. You don't dictate what a studio chooses to work on. Take the game for what it is and keep the ball moving.

No, we pretty clearly dictate what studios choose to work on through sales.

Hence why DKC TF was made... the original sold 6 million copies. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I think Last of Us 2 is going to be more of the same. So according to Eurogamer or Gamespots reviewing process, it should be a 6 because it does nothing new.

Would you agree with them if this happened and that it's a bad game and a waste of talent?

I don't think they ever claimed that DKCTF was a bad game, they said it was refined and well made, just something we had seen before. If TLOU 2 was a similar as Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze is to the original, I would wholly expect it to get dinged in the same way.

I would be tremendously disappointed if The Last of Us 2 was just more of the same and didn't greatly expand on the mechanics.

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

No, we pretty clearly dictate what studios choose to work on through sales.

Sarcasm???

If this was true, there'd be no Platinum Games.

 

[TheSpaceBetween]

I think the Eurogamer review put it best:



I don't want another table.

It's another competent well made version of a game I have played a thousand times. It's just not something I'm going to go, for the lack of better word, apeshit over. My point is, that time could have been better spent developing a new original intellectual property. Retro is comprised of some of the best minds in the industry, give them a chance to make something wholly their own.

If you've played other games like Retro's DKC I would certainly love to play them.

Spoiler

it's the worst of the three

Spoiler

Not even close. I actually love them all equally for different reasons but I feel bad that GAF shits on Corruption the most so I always say it's my favorite .

 

[ThoughtsOfSpeaking]

Just an observation.

Its mostly european publications that have given DKCTF average scores. Why is that?

 

[MikeXXIeaf]

No, we pretty clearly dictate what studios choose to work on through sales.

Hence why DKC TF was made... the original sold 6 million copies. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Then why the "if only..." attitude? You're just raining on your own parade because you'd rather being playing another Metroid game.