Not too long ago Nintendo announced that Cranky Kong would join Diddy and Dixie as playable companion characters for Donkey Kong in the Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. Many seemed to be somewhat underwhelmed when that was the only news that Nintendo let slip at the VGX Awards, but when is the news of a new playable character not great news for an established franchise? Potential new characters for Super Smash Bros. are always top of mind for many people so this news was good news.

Cranky Kong has been around as a background character since the beginning and now that he is getting into the fray he brings with his own set of special moves that allow him to bounce off enemies and obstacles using his cane. Not only that but a new feature in the game allows players, who collect 100 bananas in a stage, to execute a new move called the KONG-Pow, which turns all enemies on the screen into items.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze launches Feb. 21 in stores and in the Nintendo eShop.