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Kong Bashing

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: July 03, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Donkey Kong has been one of those very few characters that has really brought down the house so much since his beginnings from Nintendo. Nevertheless, he keeps coming back for more, and even better too. When Donkey Konga came out for the Gamecube last year, it was alright, but not nothing to rave about. But so many, just missed a return to his classic era from the Donkey Kong Country days for the Super Nintendo. Yet, that was captured awhile ago, but there just wasn't anything for Gamecube owners to beat on. However, that has definitely all changed with the pounding of the bongo drums.

Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, is a wild and wooly game, where Kong must try to collect bananas and beats to unlock new worlds and challenges. The game features over 40 different levels to unleash, including boss levels with Hogs, Kongs, and gigantic birds. The graphics are amazing, and really portraited as a return to the style that made Donkey Kong Country a sensation. The control however is a mixed point for some. You can actually play the game without the bongos, by using the regular Gamecube controller. But, that really is a little more difficult to manuever Donkey Kong around. The specialty bongos from the Donkey Konga game, really hit the spot to control our hero around. It is much easiier to use those against so many bosses and wild nutty characters in the jungle. The music is also very upbeat, and definitely makes you want to go ape over.

Although you can get the game seperately, I really suggest you buy the game with the packaged bongo controllers. Unless you have either one of the Donkey Konga games that included those bongos, then this would be alright. This game right now is arguably one of the most innovative games ever developed by Nintendo. For anybody who happens to be a Gamecube owner, add Donkey Kong Jungle Beat to your collection and bongo the night away.

Graphics: B+

Sound: B

Control: C+ for using the Gamecube controller: A- for the specialty bongo controller

Fun & Enjoyment: B 1/2+

Overall: B+

Dance to the Jungle Beat

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: March 17, 2005
Author: Amazon User

So we've entered a whole new genre of game play. One that throws out the hand-held controller and replaces it with...BONGOS. I first heard Nintendo was making this game and laughed about it. Well, my mind was changed once I played the game. No, this isn't a game with an in-depth story, or any story for that matter. No, it's not a difficult game you will spend hours upon hours before defeating. This game is one thing and one thing only, fun. And you will have fun playing it, I promise you that. It takes a bit to get used to this Bongo style of game control, but how original.

If you're looking for a game that you can lock yourself up in your room and not return for a few days until you have defeated it, look elsewhere. But, if you're looking for a game that you and all your friends (if you have any) can pull out for a good laugh and a few hours of fun. This game will deffinitely accomplish that much. As I said before, this game isn't difficult...game play wise, but it does take some skill and coordination.

I will warn those who will play though, this game requires a lot of clapping that makes your hands sore, and at points you are to hit the bongos as fast as you can, which will make your shoulders and arms very tired. Needless to say it is all worth it. One other thing, this game is quite beautiful graphically and has some very well done levels and environments.

So go ahead, try something new, play the bongos, play donkey kong, laugh, play, live, and most of all, don't be so skeptical about these silly new gaming ideas.

Innovation and a cool, deep combo system

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: April 27, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Now if only this game will be popular enough to produce a sequel. It should be, for how good it is.

This game is the most innovative game I have seen since Katamari Damacy for PS2, innovation including but not limited to the cool bongo controller. As for me I don't have the bongos, but even with a standard controller the controls feel fresh. The game only uses four buttons, and that includes directions. And it works. Its control is spot-on, and is just a joy to play.

To advance in this game you collect crests of multiple colors, and before long you will find that to advance you need to take advantage of one of this game's biggest assets - its beat system. The 'beats' you collect work as both your score and your life meter. The cool thing about them is the combo system. Combos multiply the beats you pick up by how many tricks you have done, and a combo doesn't end until DK lands his feet firmly on the ground. Many of the stages are designed so DK doesn't have to land for a long time, making for some thrilling combos. Just pick up a banana and you earn 1 beat, but pick it up along with other bananas as part of a combo, and you may earn much more.

Using combos to earn the most beats you can in each stage, and the crests you earn for doing so, are what give this game tons of replay value. And using the combo system is just so fun that it keeps you wanting to come back for more. Some of the stages (maybe all of them, I don't know) let an expert earn many, many more beats even than you need for the best crest, while some stages are challenging enough that I, having played the game A LOT, still have not come close to the best crests.

I want to but I can't complain about the length; there are 32 platforming levels and 18 bosses. Actually those 18 bosses are 5 different bosses that repeat a lot, but that's alright; each time you meet one it has new moves to throw at you. The bosses are worth mentioning and were quite fun to learn, though only 1 of the 18 seemed difficult even at first. As for the length I want more, but this game's length is average or better; there is a lot to this game. But it is so good that I have played it tons, and now I want more. I beg Nintendo for a sequel. :)

The graphics are beautiful, and seamless as they switch modes and distances. The challenge isn't that great until you earn your way into the tougher stages, but the challenge of earning every crest has some very tough spots, and is still out of my reach (a good thing). I would say, with or without the bongos (your choice), buy this game.

Fun and Innovative; A Welcome Change!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: March 17, 2005
Author: Amazon User

It's rare that something this different comes along. There was Track and Field for the NES, the first to use a floor mat. There was the DS, which opened up a whole new world with the touch screen. Now there's Jungle Beat, a game which is truly innovative in every way.

Jungle Beat is a standard Donkey Kong platformer. It's side scrolling, and the goal is to finish the levels with the most banannas (referred to as "beats" in this title). Here's the twist: you control DK with the bongos.

The controls, strange as they may sound, are exceptionally intuitive. Left bongo moves left, right moves right, both top jump, clap to interact with the environment. Every stage has 2 "levels" and a boss fight. Once you beat that, your total remaining beats are measured, and you earn medals. the more beats, the more medals (with a possible 3 for each stage). As you earn more medals, you get more stages to play.

The concept is simple, but it is so much fun. If you already have Donkey Konga and the bongos, this is what you want.

The only down side to this title is it's only single player. A multi-player mode would have really enriched the experience.

GameCube owners should buy this game. There's nothing like it on any other system, and I doubt there ever will be.

A very entertaining action platformer from Nintendo...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: March 29, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I purchased Donkey Kong Jungle Beat with the Bongos the first day that it came out. After a few minutes of learning the bongo based controls I was having a good old time indeed. As strange as playing a Donkey Kong Country type game with bongos sounds, controlling Mr. Kong is actually a fairly intuitive and very fun experience. With a tap to the right bongo the character runs to the right. With a tap to the left bongo, Donkey Kong runs to the left. Hit both bongos and he leaps to the air, hit both bongos while in the air and Donkey Kong will slam to the ground. Add a clap or a tap to the side of the bongos and a shock wave radiates from Donkey Kong and stuns enemys, allows Donkey Kong to grab any near by banannas, as well as causes Donkey Kong to swing from the hands of friendly monkeys hidden in cleverly placed floating bushes. Even if it does take you a bit longer than others to figure out what it is that you are doing with a set of bongos in front of you, the game is very forgiving for the first few levels. The level system in place uses barrels as worlds. Each barrel that you unlock holds four levels named after various fruits. A level will include two sub levels and a boss encounter. The sub levels end when you bite into the large fruit at the end of the level, once you bite into the fruit Donkey Kong will enter the fruit and collect as many beats as you can beat on the bongos in a period of five to ten seconds. The boss encounters range anywhere between a boxing match with a fellow primate, to a pinapple throwing contest with a robotic elephant with a cannon for a trunk. There are 18 levels in all to unlock, and from what I noticed the levels get progressively harder to the end of the game. In order to unlock these levels, you will have to collect medals that can be aquired with a decent or amazing score after each level. In order to receive medals, it is your job to get the highest possible bananna, or beat score for each level, so that you may unlock the bronze silver gold and platinum medals needed to complete the game. A beginner will most likely start out by getting scores around 300 to 500 beats, which will get a bronze and a silver medal. In order to get the gold and platinum medals you will have to get beat scores of 800 and 1,200. So, to boost those beat scores through the roof you will have to take advantage of the very cool combo system available. Basically, the longer you keep Mr. Kong off of the ground, the higher your combo will get. Run straight ahead, jump off of a ledge, then bounce off of a wall, grab onto a vine, swing on the vine and jump off and catch a near by hovering bird and you will be up to a combo of four. The higher your combo is, the more the beats are worth. And since this game is all about collecting the highest beat score for each level, you will definitely want to learn how to rack up those beafy combos of ten or more. Graphically, DKJB is definitely a beautiful game. Each level is bright and colorful, which fits into the whole jungle theme that Nintendo was going for here. The game runs at a solid 60 frames per second which keeps everything running nice and smooth. All of the characters are very detailed and animated realistically. The audio is also done very well. Each level has a unique tune playing in the background that you may not notice due to the non-stop bongo playing. The sound affects are also done quite well. My only complaint with this game is the fact that it takes roughly seven to ten hours to complete the game the first time through, quite possibly less than this for seasoned gamers. Once you get the bronze through platinum medals for each of the eighteen levels, the game is over. There is no cool un-lockable content, and there are no mini games or anything to that nature available after the game is completed. Other than that slight dissapointment, I have had a blast with this game. Beginers enjoy DKJB because it is relatively simplistic to pick up the bongos and jump right into the action. Advanced players enjoy the game because of the awesome combo system that can easily bring your beat scores well beyond the 1,200 mark. I personally enjoy the game because it is very fun and puts a smile on my face every time that I play. It is a goofy and whacky game that only Nintendo could come up with, and I must honestly say that it does the trick. I have already gotten the bronze through platinum medals on each of the 18 levels and I do believe that I will continue to play this game, simply because it is so much fun. I would recommend picking Donkey Kong Jungle Beat up for yourself or anyone who enjoys video games in general, it is a blast to play!

Very creative idea!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: May 23, 2005
Author: Amazon User

When I got to play this game, I thought to myself, "Wow!" Basically you use a controller that looks like a bongo and you have to skillfully "play" the bongos to get through the levels. It's pretty fun and its funny when you get to the end of the levels, before the boss, and you have to eat the bananas (If you hit the bongos fast enough, it looks really funny IMO). But anyway, the game also looks nice to the eyes and for all the GCN owners out there, I recommend buying this game. It's really enjoyable and will keep you playing for a while.

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 7
Date: March 29, 2005
Author: Amazon User

COOL GAME! IT SOUNDS CONFUSING BUT ONCE YOU PLAY IT, WHOOHOOO!!! YOU CAN RUN, JUMP, WALLJUMP, RIDE, EVEN SONIC CLAP!!

This one is WORTH IT

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: November 19, 2005
Author: Amazon User

The reviews here are pretty right on. I must say, there are not many things I take time to write a detailed review on, but this one had to be done.

If you are like me, you buy or rent many games that are whipped within a week. My kids are 13, 6 and 4 and all of them love this game equally as much, AND -- it has so many new levels that it has yet to be boring and we've had it over 6 months. Even the levels they've already beat are fun to go back to and play all over again - to try to beat the high banana score or beat a time limit. Bottom line - WELL WORTH THE MONEY.

Nintendo does it again

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: September 19, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Who'd have thought that bongos (and clapping) would be a good interface for a platformer? Not me. I played this in a store and was hooked pretty quickly.

The interface is great - multiple taps on the left bongo to go left, right to go right, and both at once to jump, along with a few other combos. You clap which makes DK clap, which sends out sound waves in a certain radius that can affect other things.

So simple, yet so good. The multipliers with the fruits are a great device -- run over a banana and it counts as one, run over 5 and they count as 5, but jump into the perfect position to clap and collect them all at once and you can score 20.

So I'm clapping and banging on the drums and it's a total blast, and I realize I'm actually working up a sweat playing the game. And like most Nintendo first-party games, the gameplay is near perfectly solid, the gameplay is set up in that toally addictive Nintendo style where you don't want to stop.

Jungle Beat!!!!!!!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: April 15, 2007
Author: Amazon User

First I'm 13. I'v had this game since it was out and I like it a lot. It will not take more then a couple of hours to beat but when your done with the game you can try to beat you high scores. This game has plently of replay value and it's fun to play with friends. This game is not a must have but if you can get it for $20 you should buy it. If you own this game and you whant games other like it try Donkey Kong Country Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble

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