Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze Super Mario 3D World Release Dates

This morning's Nintendo Direct provided gamers with plenty of insight into what the Big N has planned for the remainder of 2013, and even a look at what's still coming to both the Wii U and 3DS next year. The Big N has previously confirmed at E3 2013 that both Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and Super Mario 3D World would be coming to the Wii U later this year, but the company has confirmed today that only one of these games will be making good on that promise.

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata announced that Retro Studios' Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze will be put on ice until next year to provide users with the best experience possible. Now scheduled to launch in February 2014, DK and his sidekicks Dixie and Diddy will be kicking off what Nintendo hopes to be a turnaround year for its Wii U console.

Based on our hands-on time with the title during E3, there's little doubt that the game will be worth the wait, and its delay was a possibility I even touched on prior to today's Nintendo Direct.

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Super Mario 3D World, however, is still on track to hit both retailers and the Wii U eShop just in time for the Holiday season. Iwata confirmed that the game will be arriving on November 22nd — the same day that the Xbox One will be making its grand debut. Ninty is hoping that this new Mario game will help the Wii U claw its way to the top this Holiday season, and the addition of new gameplay elements, 4-player co-op, and power-ups such as the Cat Suit should give it the ability to do just that.

Cherries will also be making their debut in Super Mario 3D World, and they'll be featured, surprisingly, sans Pac-Man. These cherries will multiply the characters on-screen and look like they make traversing incredibly challenging; if not chaotically enjoyable.

Overall, it's a bummer that Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze won't be making its intended release, but Super Mario 3D World should be able to tide gamers over. With yet another big game now scheduled to arrive on the Wii U in 2014, it looks as if Nintendo has a solid year ahead of it — although the price drop on the console could have a lot do with the company's immediate success.

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You can follow Riley on Twitter @TheRileyLittle.