Donkey Kong's just wanted to be liked for so long. The erstwhile villain to everyone's favorite plumber, Donkey Kong decided long ago that if you can't beat him, you might as well join him - or, emulate him, in the case of Donkey Kong Country.

Donkey Kong Country looks great in HD; Dixie and Cranky Kong add a few new wrinkles to the mix

Feels way to similar to previous entries; Controls are still sluggish and imprecise; Frustratingly drawn-out boss battles

I love Donkey Kong Country . I always have. Ever since the first game came out on the SNES in 1994, I have been a strong supporter of the series; I even loved Dixie Kong's Double Trouble , despite its toony aesthetic and childish main character.

My primary memories of the original Donkey Kong Country – comprising two of the SNES' best games, and a third that I can't help but view through rose-coloured shades – are memories of extreme frustration.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze will inspire a range of reactions. Fortunately it's not exactly a wide range of reactions, so we can probably just run through them one by one. Let's start with those of you who haven't played Donkey Kong Country since the days of the Super Nintendo.

It looks fantastic, with the extra grunt of the Wii U creating a sense of spectacle. The worlds are vibrantly coloured and rich in detail, with a hyperactive camera that swooshes outwards as explosive barrels fire you into the screen. The game is at its best when it explores one-shot gimmicks.

The latest in this line is Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, from Retro Studios. A sequel to 2010's Donkey Kong Country Returns, the switch to new...

Tried-and-tested mechanics; Addictive Time Attack; Charming visuals

Fails to use the Wii U's USP; Plays it safe

It was nice of Donkey Kong Country to return and all that, but the act is already starting to feel stale. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, coming out on Feb. 21 for the Wii U, is the follow-up to the Wii's Donkey Kong Country Returns, which was the first entry in the franchise since the days of...

Tropical Freeze might not have the novelty factor of its predecessor, but it's still a great platforming experience; Levels offer plenty of challenge, with lots of extra lives and checkpoints to keep you from becoming totally frustrated after each of your (many, many) deaths.

Each boss fight acts like it's the final encounter of any other game; They all feature multiple stages with different patterns to memorize, which means that they're all very, very long.

Retro Studios have done an astounding job resurrecting the spirit of a franchise's history while creating something new to add to the legacy. If you liked Donkey Kong Country Returns, this game is improved in every possible category, from a stellar soundtrack and graphical fidelity, to the variety...

Nintendo brought back its popular Donkey Kong Country franchise for the Wii in 2010 with Donkey Kong Country Returns . It was so well received that the publisher ported it to 3DS in 2013.

Donkey Kong Country in 1080p; 'Nuff said, New secondary characters add unique ways for Donkey Kong to make his way through stages, Tons of additional content to collect will have you attempting to master this difficult game

Difficulty is high compared to most side-scrolling platformers; Lack of Wii U GamePad specific mechanics; Local multiplayer only

Retro Studios has demonstrated once again that it can take a treasured Nintendo franchise and keep it relevant, with modern thrills and retro nods expertly combined. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze utilises the Wii U's graphical capabilities beautifully, with levels both stunning in design and...