- Diddy can hover
- Dixie can use her hair for a double jump
- Cranky can hop on his cane which keeps him from being hurt by spikes/thorns
- use this to take out spiked enemies as well
- activate each can bounce individually, rather than just holding down the button
- switch characters using the DK barrels
- some stages have barrels locked to a single character
- when in co-op, you're locked to the character you originally choose
- in co-op, one person always has to be Donkey Kong
- Jelly Jamoboree has you bouncing across jelly platforms
- green jelly helps you bounce, blue ones are switches
- a penguin in the background of this level will bounce on a switch jelly to shift platforms where you're playing
- 3-4 is Scorch and Torch, which has the entire level on fire
- throw water-filled fruit to put out fires
- 6-1 is Homecoming Hijinx, which is frozen over
- 4-2 is High-Tide Ride, a minecart level, which shows off the dynamic camera
- you can also switch between tracks on either side in this level
- item shop does return with Funky helming it
- each character has unique animations
- Cranky climbs vines one-handed, due to holding his cane in the other hand
- supports Wiimote/Nunchuk, Pro Controller and GamePad