Funky Kong is newly playable in Tropical Freeze’s Nintendo Switch Funky Mode.
The original Wii U version of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze lets players control Donkey Kong with a partner Kong, including Diddy, Dixie, or Cranky. The 2018 Nintendo Switch edition adds Funky Kong as a playable character through the optional Funky Mode.
Funky Kong’s design makes the game more forgiving. He has five hit points, can double-jump, hover briefly, stand on spikes, and breathe underwater indefinitely. He normally travels alone rather than using a partner Kong.
Funky Kong had appeared in earlier Donkey Kong games, often providing vehicles, shops, or equipment, but he was not a standard playable character in the original Tropical Freeze release. Swanky, Tiny, and Kiddy Kong are not the character introduced as the Switch version’s solo helper.