I've been playing DKC1 (gift from D00D64), DKC3 GBA (loaned from my roommate), and DKCR simultaneously so the difficulty isn't really bothering me though I have seen plenty game overs in the latter two game. I got partway through the first world in DKC1 but forgot to save, I beat DKC3 but don't really feel like unlocking the lost world considering it IS a borrowed game, and I just made it to the cave world in DKCR.
I haven't seen any of DKC1's bosses, but I can say that the bosses in DKCR are a huge improvement over those in DKL1&2 and DKC3 GBA. I've been playing DKCR mostly in co-op which is responsible for a huge portion of my game overs, since you lose balloons twice as fast and have half the health. (you lose balloons three times as fast if you're playing with an idiot)
I'm sorry to see that there are no crocodiles this time around, but the tikis are a fresh addition and lend a sort of uniqueness to the title.