The reactionary, twitchy autoscrolling levels seem out of place alongside the excellent exploratory platforming focus of the rest of the first four worlds. I know Donkey Kong Country’s mine cart stages are a series tradition, but I really wish Retro had cut the cord in Tropical Freeze and bid them farewell. Rambi the Rhino also returns in select levels, though fans may be sad to hear that Enguarde the Swordfish is nowhere to be found. Funky Kong’s chain of Fly and Buy stores allowed me to exchange coins for extra lives, items, sidekicks, and the assistance of Squawks the Parrot, who zeroes in on hidden Puzzle Pieces. The comparisons I’ve heard between Cranky’s movement and Scrooge McDuck’s distinctive Ducktales bounce are spot on. Pairing up with Diddy lengthens Donkey Kong’s horizontal jumps, Dixie’s propeller adds an extra upward boost at the apex of a leap, and Cranky uses his cane to hop around like a pogo stick, negating the effect of spikes. DK’s mobility is satisfyingly broadened by the special abilities of his extended family. The platforming is challenging but usually fair, with only a couple of annoying cheap falls scattered through the opening levels. I lingered in the gap, trying to decide whether the star shape appeared by coincidence or design, and as I hung there wondering, a secret unlocked. For a brief moment the shadowy leaves parted and seemed to form a perfect star in the negative space around DK. Descending a vine in a brilliantly shaded silhouette stage, my view of Donkey Kong was temporarily blocked by layers of jungle foliage pressed close against the foreground. Tropical Freeze’s level designers creatively integrate the artistic aesthetic into the exploratory mechanics. The pacing of most stages was measured enough to allow for thorough investigation, and I took advantage of it, finding ample rewards for my curiosity, including a tucked away rendering of Samus Aran’s Gunship. Puzzle pieces, collectible letters, bonus rooms, concealed coins, alternate exits, and scores of bananas were crammed into every imaginable nook and cranny. I was intrigued by the density of secrets hidden within the long linear levels. The engaging visual appeal of the environments highlights a world ripe for exploration.
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