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.

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.

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

Seeing everything there is to see in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is a privilege, not a right. While some platformers present their content to you on a silver platter, daintily spoon-feeding each level into your eager mouth, Tropical Freeze tells you to go out into the snow barefoot, run...

Great presentation; with lush graphics and charming music; Incredibly challenging; but never feels unbeatable; New Kongs encourage different playstyles

Will simply be too difficult for some tastes; Co-op play is a disappointment

Hardcore gamers can rejoice now that Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze has been released on the Wii U. Expect your favorite monkey characters (not rolling around in see through balls) to make appearances. Expect the intense difficulty from start to finish. Expect tough and long boss battles.

I'm a big fan of Mario and Donkey Kong games and this one doesn't disappoint. The action and new characters are entertaining.