Johnny vs. Donkey Kong Country Returns & Tropical Freeze

[@SomecallmeJohnny]

Funky's making me feel something. For 18 FREE meals with HelloFresh plus free shipping, use code SCMJ18 bit.ly/3TRS0zY

[@TravisPilgrim]

If you have time you should finish returns 3D. It has an entire secret bonus world that wasn't in the 3D version of the game. It was a nice surprise when I was completing the game a 2nd time.

[@Twilight17Petkoton]

Johnny doesn't let Link have a gun to stay with the Bow and Arrows but No guns! You forget Shadow the Hedgehog.

[@zenone9698]

@SomecallneJohnny you should review xenoblade series.

[@TortillaPizzeria]

🫵🤨📸

[@Twilight17Petkoton]

@zenone9698 Yeah after Johnny is done with Bayonetta 3 first then the Xenoblade series.

[@sussy3778]

Cranky being the most popular with Speedrunners instead of Casual audiences really makes his whole character go full circle.

[@sonic5993]

Thats actually a genius way of seeing it

[@Da_ComputerMonster]

Show 'em how we do it back in '81!

[@sussy3778]

@@Da_ComputerMonster He learned everything he knew with Master Scrooge McDuck

[@geoffreyhamm3436]

his cane bouncing bonus makes him my favorite kong to pick when theres an option

[@legendarycryptid2629]

He can also attack underwater, so he can kill those damn sharks.

[@modestheliolisk]

Tropical Freeze honestly has some of the most creative levels and worlds out there, especially the giant jungle fruit processing factory

[@FutaYuuta]

Juicy Jungle is one of the best worlds in any platformer game

[@53Spawn]

I was not and will not ever prepared for the emotional tension that is Scorch n Torch. Everything about that level is PERFECT.

[@doomdimensiondweller5627]

In that world. You see one level where the snowmads are harvesting the fruit. Another where they juice it and it functions as the water level. Then they turn it into popsicles. No one cared about the internal flow of the cartoon penguins making popsicles but they were sure to put attention to detail in it.

[@tsyumamatsuthehavenofguard32]

Now if only I could find a copy that doesn't cost me an arm physically. ...I like my physicals sorry

[@Duskool]

@@doomdimensiondweller5627 They put so much thought into the worldbuilding and the level themes and how the places look like they could actually function in-universe and it's all so great. The Snowmads are so underrated as a group.

[@legendarycryptid2629]

Thanks to that Hello Fresh promo, I'm just imagining DK trying to go to a grocery store and going apeshit because he can't buy all the bananas.

[@scarletshadowzz]

heh... apeshit... because he's an ape...

[@jonathanwilson7949]

He's got a banana hoard, though.

[@D-Up242]

@@jonathanwilson7949 ThErE cAn *NeVeR* b eNoUgH *B A N A N A S*

[@kevinmoran8077]

Ha! Apeshit

[@Personoflordlycalibur]

@jonathanwilson7949 gotta eat something in the meanwhile whenever it's taken for the 86th time

[@kingbash6466]

What I always appreciate about both Returns and Tropical Freeze is how grounded the the levels are despite the fantastical geography. Most platformers usually have floating platforms sticking out, and while that's not a problem for me personally, I love how in the new DKC games, every part of the level feels connect to some sort of terrain. It's even better when you're playing through the more destructive levels where the environment shifts and changes how you expect to tackle the platforming.

[@hippotripo6145]

Kongtext

[@kimaster5893]

The levels are very kongtextual

[@squirtluigi]

I loved how in the first level of each world you actually started in the previous world's design and (sometimes) gradually shifted to the new style

[@Kronosdoesshit]

@@squirtluigi Continuity's a beautiful thing sometimes

[@hippotripo6145]

@@Kronosdoesshit *Kongtenuity

[@mattdog1000000]

Tropical Freeze lets you play as individual Kongs without DK in its hard mode. But I do believe to unlock hard mode, you have to beat all of the Secret Temple stages. It's great for replays though.

[@19Szabolcs91]

Eeh, idk, I really didn't like hard mode in Tropical Freeze. Unlike Returns, you get no checkpoints, and the stages are already longer. Also there is no reason to play anyone other than Dixie.

[@mattdog1000000]

@@19Szabolcs91 DKCR's hard mode was also a mirror mode, and it forced you to play as DK. It's fun to play as other Kongs, you get to see all of their unique animations, and have fun with their specific abilities, and I for one prefer playing as Cranky over Dixie, and heck, Diddy Kong is best for underwater stages.

[@HandheldGamer1991]

I also prefer scrooge mc i mean cranky kong :D

[@The94Venom]

Johnny paying the price for being a casual

[@tphofficial64]

Hard Mode isn't worth it honestly, they took the lazy path of just making it unfair for the sake of artificial challenge

[@Euanverse]

I absolutely adore Tropical Freeze, almost every level in that game is just bursting with creativity and the soundtrack is phenominal for what it is. It's pretty cool.

[@RingLeaderCircusSins]

20:01 Find Kiddy, where the f*ck did he go

[@fireair100]

Fun fact: Tropical Freeze has a unlockable Hard Mode that lets you control the Partner Kongs with needing to play Multiplayer...but it forces you to do a no hit run with no checkpoints of stages (Aka your Hearts are at 1, and the checkpoints are gone). Also Funky Mode still lets 2P play as the Partner Kongs.

[@k-leb4671]

I'd be fine with only having 1 hit-point (that's how it is in the SNES games anyway), but no checkpoints is bullcrap. No thank you.

[@diegomedina9637]

@@k-leb4671 Well... It's hard mode, you literally unlock it by fully completing every level with every kong letters, including the temple and World 9 levels, so the game expectes you to know the levels like the back of your hand (which you should at that point) in order to attempt hard mode in the first place. It's like complaining about Doom Eternal's master levels because some of them takes your weapons away.

[@PlayerZeroStart]

@@diegomedina9637 There are ways to make something more difficult without making it less fun.

[@diegomedina9637]

@@PlayerZeroStart Uhhhmmm it's actually pretty fun. Like I said, you unlock hard mode when you're already mastered every other single level, so you're well equipped for a no hit run.

[@PlayerZeroStart]

@@diegomedina9637 Having to start the entire level over again any time you make one mistake doesn't sound fun to me

[@tannerprice2018]

I love how the title card image has Donkey Kong jealous of Funky Kong getting the spotlight.

[@pedroangelsaezhernandez5347]

10:34 DIOnkey Kong is something I didn't know I needed.

[@crashingblow3753]

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like this is one of, if not the first time SMCJ ever had a JoJo reference. This part just had me laughing and crying with joy at the same time.

[@FletcherReedsRandomness]

What in the world was going on in David Wise’s head when he decided “I know what boss music a giant seal with a Viking helmet needs: guitar-shredding metal!”, and why can’t I think of ideas as brilliant as that?

[@WHTSNK_]

I hope you're doing well if you're reading this, Johnny. We appreciate you and your hard work

[@Deadknight237]

My thoughts every time I see Johnny on the sub box. Love this man

[@Akechi_The_Phantom_Detective]

@@Deadknight237 Same here! Nice to see our guy still sharing what he loves. Here's looking for a great 2023.

[@Road_to_Dawn]

20:02 “If found: That’d be nice.” LMAO

[@InKongnito81]

HELL YEAH BABY. Tropical Freeze is the greatest platforming game I've ever played, and one of the best games I've ever played in general. I'm so happy Funky finally got a chance to shine in a game that's NOT a spinoff

[@lionblaze0384]

DKC Returns taught me of my hidden talent. You see, this game has a screen where you can unlock and then listen to the music from each level. My family found that I could turn away from the tv, close my eyes, they could pick any song, and I could name the level name it came from. I still carry this skill today, though not towards those songs in particular anymore unfortunately. Anything on my playlist, though, and you've got it in 2 seconds guaranteed. I'll always appreciate DKCR for enlightning me to my useless special talent.

[@smugsneasel]

What I found with Donkey Kong Country Returns is that, though DK is weighty...oftentimes the best strategy for precise platforming is to just...go for it. And trust your instincts. Don't try to hesitate or correct yourself after landing, just...go. It worked out so well most of the time when I figured it out,

[@HandheldGamer1991]

I never had a problem with dk even On the 3ds i always knew how far he would go and where he would land. I still dont get how ppl have such a big problem with him and i agree with you. When you stop thinking about it to much and just go you will do better unlike if you try to correct your landing etc.

[@waywardlaser]

Tropical Freeze is probably the greatest 2D platformer I’ve ever played. Gave me a whole new appreciation for the genre after years of solid but underwhelming 2D Marios.

[@ericshwedo4033]

5:58 the pairing of Cliff with the Home Alone 2 clips had me rolling.

[@laggalot1012]

I'm not much of a (2D) platformer guy, usually, and I've never played the original trilogy for reference, only watched others play them, but I can say that I adore Tropical Freeze. It really, really impressed me, honestly. I think it controls like a dream (coming from someone who dislikes the feel of Super Mario Bros. games) and the levels are so wildly imaginitive, with super clean audio and visual presentation and holy moly, how did they cram so many unique (environmental) assets into this game??? Almost all the levels look and sound so distinct, I feel like you just don't get that with most platformers. Absolutely gets my personal recommendation and I'll gush about it every opportunity I get.

[@collinherrin4596]

In the return games when you have a companion such as diddy on dk you can roll infinitely. Don’t blame you for not knowing that as the game should’ve taught you. 8:25

[@Deadflower20xx]

To be fair I think they expect you to learn it naturally especially on that stage. Like obviously you're supposed to keep rolling right there and you should probably naturally learn that you can do so. I'm kinda surprised Johnny never figured it out lol, especially if he tried doing the time trials. It's like doing the roll-off-edge jump in DKC for the SNES, the game itself never tells you that, but there's so many letters and bonuses that require it that you learn it pretty naturally. You see a letter directly off an edge and think "huh...there's gotta be some way I can get that." and same in Returns with the roll, when you see a line of enemies too big for one roll "huh...there's gotta be a way I can keep rolling continuously"

[@collinherrin4596]

@@Deadflower20xx the difference is that there is absolutely nothing in the game that suggests you can infinitely roll nor is the infinite roll actually required for completion. I happened to find out by complete accident rather than me trying to test it out.

[@k-leb4671]

@@collinherrin4596 How does anyone not figure out the infinite roll? I remember knowing how to do it in my first playthrough as an 11 year old.

[@collinherrin4596]

@@k-leb4671 some call me Johnny didn’t figure it out. And it’s 100% possible to not figure it out as the game doesn’t require it and nothing suggests that you can do it

[@diegomedina9637]

Im pretty sure Returns tells you you can do that.

[@crashingblow3753]

4:35 The fact that you added Seth Rogan's laugh in this makes this even more perfect than it already is. Changing topic, I'm so excited for the Super Mario movie by Illumination especially because of Donkey Kong. Maybe it's just me, but I feel like DK's presence in that movie alone is a HUGE teaser for a Donkey Kong Country Animated movie. If the Mario movie ends up being successful enough, we may indeed end up with a DKC movie with Seth Rogan as the main star himself DK. I am very excited. Can't wait to see how the Super Mario Bros. Movie does and where do they go from there.

[@RosyTheRascal15]

David Wise returning to the DKC series as the music composer for Tropical Freeze was the smartest decision for the series after his long absence. Genius composer, I really feel his musical work for Star Fox Adventures is highly underrated.

[@dockingwater1713]

Another cool addition to Returns 3D is an entire extra world if you beat all the Temple Levels. In the Wii version, you just get 1 additional stage where in 3D, you get 8 brand new levels, each based off a different world plus the level from the original game at the end.

[@gamestation2690]

It’s not in 60fps like the Wii version, though.

[@dockingwater1713]

@@gamestation2690 I mean that was mentioned in the video so I didn’t think it was necessary to mention here. Same with the lowered resolution

[@EWOODJ]

@@gamestation2690 Doesn’t change the fact that it has extra levels. Saying that was really redundant.

[@gamestation2690]

@@EWOODJ If you prefer to play DKCR on the go, does that mean you also prefer to play the original trilogy on the go?

[@gamestation2690]

@@MrHomelessHobos Never mind

[@OmegaHulk2010]

The puzzle pieces are for art and dioramas. You only need the K O N G letters to unlock the extra world. To keep rolling as DK with a kong on your back; you need to keep mashing the roll button, or in the wii's case shaking.

[@zdog3293]

I’m surprised Johnny didn’t mention the music during the rocket barrel. It’s so of the most bombastic and energetic music I’ve heard.

[@kimaster5893]

18:53

[@JcFerggy]

Information for later. The Donkey Konga games have unique soundtracks to US, PAL, and JP. If you have access to them through whatever methods, you should check out the songs we missed out on.

[@jonathanwilson7949]

I'm always glad to watch a Johnny video when I'm stuck inside playing video games because of a hellscape snowstorm, lmao.

[@sonicmario64]

If you're looking for something as a kind of alternative to "Donkey Kong Country", I highly recommend playing the indie game title "Kaze And The Wild Masks", since the gameplay is remarkably similar to that of the DKC games while also adding plenty of challenge despite it not being as long as the newer games in the series.

[@dyrr836]

I can't believe I've never heard of this game before, thanks for making me aware of it.

[@giygas_9577]

16:24 I was just waiting for Johnny to acknowledge that. 18:10 There's your inner Sonic fan showing itself, Johnny.

[@xgaming2427]

I sure hope there will be a new Donkey Kong game next year.

[@austinl8074]

Metroid Prime 4 and DKC 6 2023!

[@LordRotule]

They gotta end the Retro Studios DKC with a 3rd game with the Kremlings somehow. That would be perfect

[@getpape4126]

I hope for Mario odyssey 2

[@Da_ComputerMonster]

I usually don't Overly, Dramatically LONG for things as much as I use to, (I mean, stuff like Metroid Dread came out last year, so Im pretty well fed), But I look at my watch and think, _"Hey, a new Donkey Kong game would be Coo."_

[@awkwardsilence4427]

I also would love a Returns port to the Switch.

[@nvrmltice]

For years DKC2 was my favorite platformer ever but then I played Tropical Freeze and now I'm not so sure anymore. Seriously this game is crazy, the secret temples are insane and the music is godlike. I'm excited for a new DKC if it gets better than this

[@islandboy9381]

my ranking: DKC2 > Tropical Freeze > DKC1 > Returns > DKC3 lol

[@nvrmltice]

@@islandboy9381 mine is the same except 2 and Freeze are constantly swapping lol

[@jclkaytwo]

@@islandboy9381 mine is tropical freeze > DKC2 > returns > DKC1 > DKC3. all great games

[@k-leb4671]

Tropical Freeze is definitely the best in my mind. The SNES games are classic but Tropical Freeze has so much content and so much detail and isn't confined by the limitations of the SNES. Plus, the soundtrack is heaven.

[@youraverageyoshifan6070]

@@jclkaytwoman I’m seeing you everywhere

[@DementedDuskull]

19:50 Oh man, I had nearly forgotten about Donkey Kong's infinite penis joke material.

[@kimaster5893]

The jokes "expand dong" You could say

[@syndixel9857]

Tropical Freeze was such a fantastic time back when I played it years ago. I honestly rank it above DKC1 and 3, but tied with 2. Grassland Grove is my favorite track in the game and the level itself is one of my favorites in the game. The level design, the music, the platforming, you could tell the devs really went all out for this game. Whoever makes the next Country game has a lot to live up to but I have faith that they'll do the next game justice.

[@Rose-zy3si]

Another fun fact about the 3DS version of Returns: The secret world that you can access after collecting all of the Kong letters and colored orbs has an additional eight levels that are not present in the Wii version, with each new level being based on one of the eight worlds of the main game respectively. They are also rather difficult, and are immediately followed up by the one secret level the Wii version had.

[@ShadowWarriorLuke]

16:26 There's an Expand Dong joke in there somewhere. Definitely a highlight of 2010, which says something considering Mario Galaxy 2, Sonic Colours and No More Heroes 2 all released that year, and that's just the Wii.

[@RainyDayDance]

probably the worst thing about returns is that when your in 2 player mode when a player dies it takes a life, but whenever only one player is alive and they die it takes two lives even if it already took one for the other players initial death

[@roiitzkovich4545]

Johnny vs DK Returns and Tropical Freeze. Now with the new Funky John mode.

[@hemispheres789]

I grew up with returns (which I love) but tropical freeze is even better. Creative level themes and designs (each stage feels so organic as opposed to the blocky levels of a mario or kirby game), an amazing soundtrack by david wise, and just the right amount of difficulty. It's a tough game to beat but it's not too much. When it comes to 2D platformers I really think it's one of the best out there

[@Duskool]

Looks like someone didn't pay attention because the second part of the credits has an amazing remix of Bramble Blast/StickerBrush Symphony

[@italomango]

16:50 aah, you see, John, DK and the gang can now ATTACK most things underwater, which means they gotta rewire their monkey systems back to needing oxygen, since the tradeoff for indefinitely holding your breath was not being able to attack underwater in the previous games. A common thing in primates. Nature is beautiful.

[@eanderson9599]

I’ve sunk well over 100 hours into both these games, some of my favorites from my childhood

[@jacobmonks3722]

What do you mean childhood? These games are ne- *checks date* Fuck.

[@Melkac]

How.

[@CentipedeChan]

This comment aged me like shit

[@SylentVoidkeeper]

*looks at my old rotting 23 year old hands thinking about how these games are old enough to be someone's childhood*

[@eanderson9599]

@@Melkac how have I sunk that much time? Fully completing these games with all the time trials takes a while lol

[@augustbornone]

SomecallmeJohnny of Dec 15, 2022 during his double reviews of Donkey Kong Country Returns & Tropical Freeze: Fuck, I'm never getting another Metroid Prime game, you can even see Samus' Gunship abandoned in one of the Jungle Levels, I can read between the lines...Pricks. SomecallmeJohnny of June 18, 2024, after seeing the Nintendo Direct that show cases Metroid Prime 4: Beyond: AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

[@rudeboyspodcast]

Tropical Freeze is not only one of the greatest platformers ever made, it's also one of the best games of all time. Damn shame it was stuck on the Wii U for so long, but once it got ported to Switch, it was open season for everyone!

[@theclown2257]

So I don't don't blame anyone for not knowing this because as far as I know the game doesn't tell you about it but if you have diddy kong in returns you can roll Infinitely as long as you keep shaking the wii remote. Same thing in tropical freeze but it's a lot easier in that game because unless you're playing with a wii remote, you just have to mash a button instead of shaking the controller

[@LalitoTV]

The game doesn't tell you about it because remember, this was released when manuals were a thing

[@ibilesfighter3.16]

​@@LalitoTVthat's stupid because SNES games knew manuals shouldn't be the end all be all to guides on games hence why some games had tutorials in the game

[@samuraistrike1]

Dkcr actually only requires you to time your jump when bouncing on an enemy same with tropical freeze

[@JohnSmith-wv5km]

18:54 bramble blast comes back in the credits, but only in the wii u version for some reason

[@abareamphibia6812]

Tropical freeze is my second favorite game in the dkc series with dkc2 still being my number one.

[@TheRavenArchon]

Tropical Freeze is pretty much a perfect side-scroller. I love it so much, and I was never really a major DK fan before. I heard so many good things about it being a master class is platformer design and finally decided to give it a try, and holy crap was it amazing.

[@Rabbitlord108]

Will say this. I'd be down for Lord Fredrik (Yes that's the name of the Snowmads leader) teaming up with K Rool in a possible third game. I'm a big fan of his design. Seriously love the anthropomorphic artic animal in viking garb (And I just realized they could pull a Crash Twinsanity by revealing the Kremlings have been frozen this entire time)

[@VGManiac456]

I had a blast going through Tropical Freeze; way more than I did with Returns which was already a positive impression. Enjoyed how every level felt different and unique, how the 6th World's levels are basically the themes of each of Returns' worlds, the Snowmads being more entertaining than the Tikis, the online leaderboards, playing each individual Kong in Hard Mode (really shouldn't be locked there though), the soundtrack and graphics...I'm just glad it isn't trapped on the Wii U because it really is one of the best games on that platform imo.

[@TheMarionick]

World 3's boss has a clever design choice: its cauldron is filled with bombs, but because the skull icons on the bombs face upward in the cauldron it looks like the cauldron is filled with skulls. That's an insanely sneaky way to cheat around the game's rating.

[@ryanwilson9555]

Donkey Kong Country Returns was my 1st dive into the DKC series as a whole. I have a bit of nostalgia for this game when it came out on the Nintendo Wii. I remember receiving it as a Christmas present alongside Sonic Colors and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (2010).

[@Borti_Ovi]

21:03 Don’t quote me on this, but I believe that was the case because Nintendo and Rare had a bit of a dispute back then, so Rare decided to use their original characters just to cease the issue. Shiggy wasn’t much of a fan of the first game, mind you. DK might’ve been the star of all three games if that spat wouldn’t have happened.

[@percivaldotburgers]

Having a really bad today, so I truly needed this video. Thanks Johnny

[@DesignDoc]

The Retro duology is a good time but there are just a ton of little things from the Rare trilogy that just make me prefer those games overall I think. That 90s rendered visual style really makes those games look like no other even if that look is dated. The amount of creativity in Tropical Freeze's stages is absolutely incredible though. Great games even if they're not my absolute favorites. That Bramble Scramble remix is incredible and it's a crime that it was only used as a tiny prelude to a freaking rocket barrel stage.

[@jaretco6423]

Glad I'm not the only one. As much as I enjoy the modern DKC games; more so with Tropical Freeze anyway, I always prefer the old school Trilogy.

[@ItsDeebs]

I originally played Returns on my Wii. But when I played it through again recently I used the Dolphin Emulator and used my Xbox controller. It is very easy to map the motion controls to any PC compatible game pads. The upscaled 1080p resolution and extra graphical enhancements of the emulator make the game look a lot better too. Any modern rig with a GTX 760 or better will run it fully enhanced without any issue.

[@Phantron]

there are cheatcodes for DKC-R which allow using buttons for the motion controls. TV, coop and 60hz are better than the 3D bonus levels, and on Dolphin you can even just hold down a button for the rolling!

[@247MrNiceguy]

To me, Tropical Freeze is the best 2D platformer I've ever played. I only just beaten the original dkc trilogy on my switch last year and I swear those games felt harder, but maybe it's just because I didn't grow up with those games lol

[@paulmoore5392]

Man, I always like DKC before, but damn, these 2 games made DKC one of my favorite gaming series ever. I played the Wii version of Returns and still loved it

[@CGB_Crash]

"Find Kiddie where the fuck did he go?" The Mario movie, believe it or not.

[@ashishbijumon269]

Nothing better than seeing a new video to watch while eating

[@thebladeofchaos]

From what I've heard, there were plans to have the Kremling Krew in DKCR3, including K.Rool. but Tropical Freeze didn't do well enough to allow a third game to come along. which I myself put down to 'it's on the Wii U' but that's personal conjecture

[@Torqegood]

Honestly it's sad your wii isn't functioning well because the controls were really fun. Everything just made sense and running through levels was great. It was so easy to get DK's roll stops short unless you have Diddy to extend it, the mechnic to jump off enemies...just everything flowed so well.

[@tombruncker7013]

Not gonna lie I might be only with this but Tropical Freeze is my favourite DKC game

[@Newtonip]

No need for the 3ds version to avoid the shaking control. There is a Gecko code that allows you to use the classic controller with the Wii version of DKC Returns. The floor slamming gets assigned to a shoulder button.

[@lightninstriker10]

If you want a better experience with Returns, there's a modded setup you can use with the Dolphin emulator that maps the motion controls to Classic Controller inputs making it practically indistinguishable from the 3DS version sans the extra levels, would very much recommend this as you get the good controls without sacrificing the framerate.

[@BlazeHedgehog]

I've never been able to get in to DKC Returns. I thought maybe it was the motion control stuff, so I used the Gameshark code that lets you remap the motion to ZR on the Classic Controller Pro. Still didn't fix it. Bought it on the 3DS. Still didn't fix it. There's something about the game that feels really laggy, and whatever is wrong with it, it thankfully got fixed for Tropical Freeze.

[@melsevigny7279]

Haven't seen your content in a long time. So happy to see you in good shape Johnny. Seriously so happy for you.

[@PianistTanooki]

Bit disappointed that all that we got for Tropical Freeze was a brief six minute cliffnotes review. That game deserves way more than six minutes.

[@SwordgunnerM92]

I always find DK Returns decent platformer, but a solid return to the series. Tropical freeze tho? One of My favorite 2D Platformer there is

[@GAGtheReflex]

Love that Funky Kong is front and center on the thumbnail and Donkey Kong just can't accept his inferiority.

[@xSoporific1]

Played it last year, this game is so amazing, I hope Nintendo makes another DK game soon

[@herobrinesblog]

DKC returns is a mario game in world themes, but done way better. Its not a blocky level or a level with premade assets, each platform, each crook and crany they all look made for that area, they all are part of the environment, etc. And i love that

[@TMan5636]

4:34 I JUST realised Johnny gave DK the Seth Rogan laugh. Nice edit.

[@byronchandler5000]

Thank you so much for the years of entertaining gaming videos, Johnny. I wish you a very merry Christmas.

[@jaredtherock5692]

Just wanted to point out that this video is missing from the Vs. Playlist. Thank you for your time.

[@gtaylor1229]

That thumbnail for your review introduction screen with the Kongs… You can just see the amount of salt in Donkey Kong’s face 😂😂😂

[@rassilontdavros3004]

I can't believe the video I've waited literally half a decade for finally came out on the _one_ day my internet was down...

[@Total_Malarkey]

Can’t wait to get Returns for the switch! Nice graphics and button controls! Only took until 2025…

[@HEHEHE_I_AM_A_MASKED_WARRIA]

DKCR 3D, like DKC3 GBA, has an extra world (Cloud), with the Golden Temple now being that world's final level. Clearing the temple unlocks Mirror Mode.

[@homuraakemi103]

17:43 I’ve played Mario Kart Wii, so yeah, I could believe Funky’s secretly Xehanort…

[@ThatRedHusky]

The music. THE MUSIC. David Wise, please mix like, every game ever.

[@OmnicidalClown1992]

Tropical Freeze is my personal favorite out of all the Donkey Kong Country games. It's far from perfect, as there are plenty of brutal and difficult moments, and I really hate that boss battle against that pufferfish, but overall, I still had a good time. Especially the one on the Switch.

[@awkwardsilence4427]

I honestly love these games more than the original trilogy. DK himself feels more agile (just how quickly he can climb up the grassy terrain) and actually strong (despite us being told he was in other games I never actually felt it). And just with how much half the levels get absolutely wrecked as you make your way through it, it makes DK feel like an absolute wrecking ball with the simple objective of going forward no matter what gets in his way. Edit: Though I will admit that there’s a couple of major flaws in the games. The first of which being that the game never tells you how it’s odd way of bouncing off of multiple enemies works. That was something I had to figure out through trial and error, and until I did it was super frustrating _(especially_ in the bonus temple stages) to have the mechanic be so seemingly inconsistent when it wanted to work or not. The other flaw is _much_ worse, though is in a similar vein: having to press A (on Wii, and whatever the button was on Wii U/Switch) multiple times to get a rocket barrel started. While I now get it was purely to get it started, at the time it “taught” me that the way we were suppose to control it was by pressing the button multiple times instead of just holding the button to give it gas, with the speed of the button presses determining how high or low the barrel would go onscreen. That’s how I played the rocket barrel stages for all but like the last one or two, and it made those stages _10 times harder_ than they would have been if played properly. It wasn’t until one of the last ones (I think it was the one where that giant bat was chasing you through most of the stage), where I went from 90 something lives to an actual game over and restart and lost _even more_ lives to it, that I reached my wit’s end and was on the verge of giving up and so started doing long presses of the button in a defeated way…only to discover to my shock and delight/horror that that _worked._ I was delighted because it made the stage _so much easier,_ but was equally in horror that it took me _that long to figure out,_ after so many of these kind of stages and lives lost on this one particular one.

[@Rodanguirus]

This is something that I don't see brought up very much, and it definitely helps the games stand out from their platforming contemporaries.

[@awkwardsilence4427]

@@Rodanguirus Definitely! Though I did remember a couple of major flaws that the games had, and so I edited my original post to mention those.

[@alanherbethe7338]

Tropical Freeze is in my top 10 favorite games, second only to DKC2. I prefer the Wii U version because the music that plays during the credits is a remix of Stickerbush Symphony, sadly not present in the Switch version.

[@nobodyinparticular9640]

13:55 "Store's closing next year!" Yeah, but piracy and emulation is forever

[@LightFykki]

Really glad to see you doing the Donkey Kong month together with Dunkey

[@Busternutt69]

just ran into your channel while watching Zelda LttP and OoT reviews and dont know how ive never crossed your channel before. its cool youre still going 10 years after those reviews and youve got a new subscriber.

[@DavidDumbedDown]

This comment was made at 14:40 o clock

[@devonwilliams5738]

I've been playing DKC Tropical Freeze over the past few days, very solid game.

[@ToadPlayer64]

I’m still in disbelief that for a man with your passion for the original trilogy you just did your first play through of these. Glad you enjoyed them!

[@datalphalion]

Contrasting the initial reveals of DKC Returns and Tropical Freeze is pretty sad… but hilarious at the same time.

[@MasterArchfiend]

Johnny you are a blessing on a stressful day. Thanks for doing what you do and I wish you and your loved ones a Happy Holidays.

[@andreworders7305]

When you think about it, DK games weren’t gone that long. It didn’t even skip a console generation platformer-wise. The country games did skip the GameCube though.

[@Shantae1188]

If Bayonetta 3 is coming out by the end of the year, then absolutely MAKE SURE you grab the Picture Book and look for those keys. They only appear in postgame, and in a specific location in certain chapters. But it is worth it especially if you saw TGA this year.

[@carlbloke8797]

15:08 To be fair, Dixie did have SOME side gigs with being playable in Mario Hoops, Diddy Kong Racing DS and in Mario Super Sluggers. It’s not much but she had some work in between lol

[@legendarycryptid2629]

17:42 Got a good long laugh from that gag. The funkmaster is _always_ watching.

[@GamingAnimator1]

If you play the hard mode in Tropical Freeze, you can play as Diddy, Dixy, and Cranky by themselves. I'm assuming you didn't do that since you said you wish you could play as the kongs on their own right? XD

[@manospondylus]

I must disagree with you on Returns’ level themes being unoriginal. Especially the Cliffs were a really fun world, with its tar pits and most platforms consisting of dinosaur skeletons and other fossils. That definitely wasn’t in any previous DK game and I don’t know many other games that made fossil formations a world theme (yes, there are plenty of games with dinosaurs, but usually living ones)

[@kriswright]

I never really warmed to the Rare games, but the Retro ones are great.

[@Eric_Black134]

I've 100% completed both games at least twice each (none of the mirror mode stuff. I don't want to.) And I personally prefer Returns in this regard. My whole reason for this Is those secret exits in Tropical Freeze. It's so dang annoying playing the same level three times to unlock 2 more levels. ESPECIALLY when most of these secret exits are near the end of the stage. Even on the most speedy of playthroughs, that's 4-5 minutes a piece per level. If they were gonna bring in secret exits, I kinda wish they followed the example of New Super Mario Bros. Either cut some worlds in half with a shorter route or even let them skip worlds entirely. Also, DON'T PUT MORE THAN ONE IN ANY GIVEN LEVEL