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Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (GameCube)
Developer
Nintendo
Publisher
Nintendo
Genre
Platformer
Players
1
C3 Score
9
Reader Score (11 Votes)
9
9
9
Posted on 11.02.2005
Posted by Adam Riley (Adam Riley) 
Comments: 22 
Reads: 3257
Tags:
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, Nintendo, Nintendo, Platformer, GameCube
Posted by Adam Riley (Adam Riley) Comments: 22 Reads: 3257 Tags:
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, Nintendo, Nintendo, Platformer, GameCube
Find out more
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So what happens when a famous character gets moved in a particular direction and is then dropped by its newfound parents due to unforeseen circumstances? Well, Donkey Kong has been through such a turbulent situation and managed to somehow come out relatively unscathed. In fact, he is like a completely new simian. No more Rare, but he now has an affinity for the unusual, in this case banging on bongos in a kooky platform title. Perhaps the Rare influence still lingers after all...
The newly formed Tokyo group of Nintendo employees have gone on record of stating that Donkey Kong Jungle Beat really does not need a story line and who can blame them for saying so. Just look at it as the once villainous ape turning over a new leaf and aiming to become the King of Jungle again. Plain and simple
Unfortunately Donkey Kong Jungle Beat is not overly taxing, but there is a lot of scope for returning to previously completed levels to try and out-do your highest score, unlock hidden extras and gain those elusive gold medals at the end to open completely everything up in the game. Clearly practice from playing Donkey Konga is somewhat beneficial and can make the experience a rather simpler one, but even newcomers will become accustomed to the controls and find everything on the wrong side of easy. Do not be put off by the length of the game
One of the main criticisms aimed at Donkey Konga was that Namco had not used the power of the GameCube as well as they possibly could, with some classing the final result as little more than a Super NES title presented in a higher resolution. Clearly burned by these harsh words, Nintendo has stepped up to show that its latest home console can in fact house graphically impressive titles that make the gamer sit back and just go 'wow'. Jungle Beat does just that
There is one big thing that has to be remembered about Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat and that is that we are not dealing with your average platform title here, oh no. If you were in the mind that Nintendo had finally got round to creating the much-vaunted Donkey Kong Country 4: Donkey Kong World, then you will unfortunately be massively disappointed. However, put that disappointment to one side for a moment and try to keep an open mind
The platform action itself works wonderfully, but the boss fights are equally impressive, with your bongo skills being tested to the maximum on many occasions. For example, the first main boss you have to face places you in a Super Punch Out!! style situation. Trying to land hits on the raging beast in front of you s not as simple as banging as hard and fast as possible; instead dodging and catching him off-guard works best. Then there is one where you must stun the projectiles being launched at you, then catch them and chuck them violently at your opponent. This might sound simple, but with you hands aching and your heart pounding, Jungle Beat certainly gives you an exhilarating experience that many platform games lack nowadays, and for that Nintendo must be commended...
Unfortunately Donkey Kong Jungle Beat is not overly taxing, but there is a lot of scope for returning to previously completed levels to try and out-do your highest score, unlock hidden extras and gain those elusive gold medals at the end to open completely everything up in the game. Clearly practice from playing Donkey Konga is somewhat beneficial and can make the experience a rather simpler one, but even newcomers will become accustomed to the controls and find everything on the wrong side of easy. Do not be put off by the length of the game
Gameplay
8
Such a breath of fresh air for what could well have been a bog-standard platform romp. The range of moves granted using the bongos is superb!
Graphics
10
This is what a GameCube title should look like. Nintendo provides stunning 3D visuals all round, leaving Jungle Beat dripping with quality.
Sound
8
Brilliant sound effects that resound out from the TV add to the experience, and there are some 'nice' tracks, but the music is overall not outstanding.
Value
7
Not as long as expected for a Nintendo platform game, but there is a heavy amount of replayability within, so not all is lost. Shame about the lack of multiplayer...
9
C3 Score As a standalone platform game this might be seen as run-of-the-mill, but with that special Nintendo magical touch it suddenly turns into one of the major highlights on the GameCube and certainly one of the most impressive games of the year so far. With a free set of bongos thrown in for the standard price, this is one irresistible package!/10
Please post your comments below.
Buy Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
Reader Comments
1
L1 New Born
Now, this is a review I Completely agree with!
Good job Jesusraz.
...and I've got a Platinum crest on the orange kingdom! Woohoo! My highscore is 1292 beats, so there! :p
Good job Jesusraz.
...and I've got a Platinum crest on the orange kingdom! Woohoo! My highscore is 1292 beats, so there! :p
Operations Director, Senior Editor
What?! Bloody hell man! :eek: That some great bongo skills you have! *sulks* :sarcy:
:lol:
Thanks for the praise by the way - I just hope more people pick it up here in the UK...it only just entered the Top 40 this week...Better than King of Swing, though, which didn't chart anywhere at all!
Adam Riley [ Operations Director :: Senior Editor :: Cubed3 Limited ]
Word of Adam | Voice123 Profile | AdamC3 on Twitter
:lol:
Thanks for the praise by the way - I just hope more people pick it up here in the UK...it only just entered the Top 40 this week...Better than King of Swing, though, which didn't chart anywhere at all!
Adam Riley [ Operations Director :: Senior Editor :: Cubed3 Limited ]
Word of Adam | Voice123 Profile | AdamC3 on Twitter
L1 New Born
Thanks! My highscore at the last banana-grabbing section is only 56 though, I can't understand how you are supposed to get 100?
Next platinum crest-target: The Lemon Kingdom, in the second level you can score an insane amount of combos! :D
And yes, I really hope alot of people will pick this title up, Nintendo deserves it for making such a refreshing title!
[ Edited by Bartholomeus On 2005/2/11 21:06 ]
Next platinum crest-target: The Lemon Kingdom, in the second level you can score an insane amount of combos! :D
And yes, I really hope alot of people will pick this title up, Nintendo deserves it for making such a refreshing title!
[ Edited by Bartholomeus On 2005/2/11 21:06 ]
Hey everybody have seen my balls? They're big and salty and brown...
6368L100 C3 Master
Platinum? WOW! I'll have to try harder!
Anyway, it's a fun game, and while feeling a bit short, not more so then I expected. The problem is that it's hard to make the game hard with just the bongos- whihc makes the game seem short.
[ Edited by fenno2001 On 2005/2/11 20:35 ]
Anyway, it's a fun game, and while feeling a bit short, not more so then I expected. The problem is that it's hard to make the game hard with just the bongos- whihc makes the game seem short.
[ Edited by fenno2001 On 2005/2/11 20:35 ]
YOU HAVE JUST LOST THE GAME. Sorry. 
Where did YOU learn to fly?
6195L100 C3 Master
I got this game today. First 10-15 minutes was incredably frustrating... and then you get the hang of it - and once you get the hang of it its so second nature the controls are completely subconcious. Just like Sonic with its controls of just the D-pad and 1 button, simple controls can lead to a suprising amount of gameplay. And with 3 forms of input, left, right and clap - you can't get more simple.
Its a really clever idea, it all feels so new and fresh and satisfying to play, but whether its a true Nintendo classic or just a good game, I don't know, I'll have to play more to decide.
Also, slightly off topic, through buying this you get another set of bongos, so if you've already got Donkey Konga (and you really should), you can now play multiplayer - which I can't recommend enough; it is one game that truly appeals to all ages and tastes - well, most Nintendo games do, but here I've even got my non-gamer friends to have a go, and I had a job getting them off - especially if you can get 4 controllers its a blast. DKJB is single player only thoguh (thought I'd point that out), and dosn't have the same instant appeal to non-gamers that was hoped, IMO.
Heres hoping for many more games using these great controllers. :-D
Its a really clever idea, it all feels so new and fresh and satisfying to play, but whether its a true Nintendo classic or just a good game, I don't know, I'll have to play more to decide.
Also, slightly off topic, through buying this you get another set of bongos, so if you've already got Donkey Konga (and you really should), you can now play multiplayer - which I can't recommend enough; it is one game that truly appeals to all ages and tastes - well, most Nintendo games do, but here I've even got my non-gamer friends to have a go, and I had a job getting them off - especially if you can get 4 controllers its a blast. DKJB is single player only thoguh (thought I'd point that out), and dosn't have the same instant appeal to non-gamers that was hoped, IMO.
Heres hoping for many more games using these great controllers. :-D
It's not for you.
9329L100 C3 Master
17th of march???
Oh, I don't wanna wait!!
Goor review 'raz. :-D
Oh, I don't wanna wait!!
Goor review 'raz. :-D
Xenobladed
2790
L77 K.K. Slider
Jungle Beet owns, it shows why Nintendo is needed so badly in the industary.
Its not perfect by any means, but no game this unique can be,
Its not perfect by any means, but no game this unique can be,
Please give our little random review show a try;
http://randomreviewshow.com/index.html
We have special effects and umm...stuff...
http://randomreviewshow.com/index.html
We have special effects and umm...stuff...
1405
L60 Pikmin
I will get this... damn Ninty Australia never have any release dates listed...
L1 New Born
The first thing I did this mornig was starting up my Gamecube to play this game! (well, after getting up, washing myself, getting some clothes on, you get it
)
And I can now rather proudly say I earned another THREE platnum crests, making my total amount of crests 58!
Just wait till you get the hang of the combo system that's in the game - you'll love Jungle Beat even more! :D
)
And I can now rather proudly say I earned another THREE platnum crests, making my total amount of crests 58!
Just wait till you get the hang of the combo system that's in the game - you'll love Jungle Beat even more! :D
I Know You Are But What Am I?
1687
L65 Tails
I had the pleasure of playing this the other day; it is indeed fantastic fun, and it's the sort of novelty title that the Cube's crying out for. Seriously, it's almost impossible to imagine how the concept can work, but it just does. Guaranteed post-pub heaven.
And to think there were some people out there who thought the whole DK/bongos idea was the work of Satan.
And to think there were some people out there who thought the whole DK/bongos idea was the work of Satan.
L1 New Born
Sorry guys and gals, but I have another update!
My crest total is now 63, I have platinum crests on the first 9 kingdoms! I even had 1455 beats at one moment, but I lost 190 at the boss stage(Damn you Karate Kong!).
This game is fun x3! :
[update] I now have 64 crests, 10 platinum. And my highest amount of beats is now a whopping 1587 on the Peach Kingdom. (I started the boss battle with 1690 beats, I should be able to get 1700 next time :-D )
[edit] Allright, I succeeded in getting 1704 beats on the peach kingdom! Go me! Beat that Jesus!:lol:
[ Edited by Bartholomeus On 2005/2/12 18:10 ]
[ Edited by Bartholomeus On 2005/2/12 20:50 ]
My crest total is now 63, I have platinum crests on the first 9 kingdoms! I even had 1455 beats at one moment, but I lost 190 at the boss stage(Damn you Karate Kong!).
This game is fun x3! :
[update] I now have 64 crests, 10 platinum. And my highest amount of beats is now a whopping 1587 on the Peach Kingdom. (I started the boss battle with 1690 beats, I should be able to get 1700 next time :-D )
[edit] Allright, I succeeded in getting 1704 beats on the peach kingdom! Go me! Beat that Jesus!:lol:
[ Edited by Bartholomeus On 2005/2/12 18:10 ]
[ Edited by Bartholomeus On 2005/2/12 20:50 ]
290
L25 Kyle Hyde
I must admit that this game sounded weird to me and I didn't want to buy it. But after reading this review and this coments I've changed my mind, I will buy it.
Great review. :
[ Edited by Bz0 On 2005/2/12 17:47 ]
[ Edited by Bz0 On 2005/2/12 17:47 ]
Great review. :
[ Edited by Bz0 On 2005/2/12 17:47 ]
[ Edited by Bz0 On 2005/2/12 17:47 ]
Revolution is the solution.
Indeed
7625L100 C3 Master
I'll have to pick it up soon, just frantically trying to find time for finishing Tales before buying new games :
[ Edited by nin10do On 2005/2/12 18:46 ]
[ Edited by nin10do On 2005/2/12 18:46 ]
Barry Lewis [ nin10do :: General Writer :: Feature Writer :: Fountain of Industry Statistics ]
"We're mentalist psychic Scots, which means we can read your mind. If you're lying, your head explodes and we laugh."
"We're mentalist psychic Scots, which means we can read your mind. If you're lying, your head explodes and we laugh."
Operations Director, Senior Editor
Glad people are liking the review - and great work guys on the positive comments about the game. Our aim is to get more people playing it!
Adam Riley [ Operations Director :: Senior Editor :: Cubed3 Limited ]
Word of Adam | Voice123 Profile | AdamC3 on Twitter
Adam Riley [ Operations Director :: Senior Editor :: Cubed3 Limited ]
Word of Adam | Voice123 Profile | AdamC3 on Twitter
That's Just Diabolical!
1812
L67 Ken
looks good :
Operations Director, Senior Editor
It's even more addictive than Donkey Konga - which is definitely a good thing! Far more replayability, as Bartholomeus will most likely attest to!
:
Adam Riley [ Operations Director :: Senior Editor :: Cubed3 Limited ]
Word of Adam | Voice123 Profile | AdamC3 on Twitter
:
Adam Riley [ Operations Director :: Senior Editor :: Cubed3 Limited ]
Word of Adam | Voice123 Profile | AdamC3 on Twitter
L1 New Born
It sure has! I only have to get platinum crests on three more kingdoms now, two of which are really hard to be honest. Still I also love replaying the earlier levels and getting even a higher beat total, probably due to those videos playing after you beat a kingdom.
Man, I'm in love with this game :
Man, I'm in love with this game :
Not The Search Box
8768General Writer
Nice review dude, me and Tempo got a brief play of this back on the Post-E3 tour last year, and it was great fun!
I just about got the hang of it after a few minutes of play, and it definitely left me wanting more, must remember to save up some money so I can buy it!
Cubed3 Staff [ Retro Editor :: Previews Editor ]
I just about got the hang of it after a few minutes of play, and it definitely left me wanting more, must remember to save up some money so I can buy it!
Cubed3 Staff [ Retro Editor :: Previews Editor ]
Flame On!
10185L100 C3 Master
Will pick this up off Play when I'm done with the other games I am going through at the moment, it sounds too good to be missed. Plus more bongos means more Donkey Konga action! Hope Odama comes with free bongos too.
Never get out of the boat. Absolutely goddamn right.
1031
L52 DK
WoW.... this game really has a wow factor. Only got it 24 hours ago but i totally hooked.
This is to the gamecube waht Sonic 2 was to the megadrive, an absolute blast.
the thing that really takes your breath away is the Graphics... simply awsome.
Found one little tip which might help increse scores, if you have two sets of bongos, get someone else to lend a hand on the end of level bananna grab. with two banging away you should get about 10 more banannas :
MKWii FC 4081-5636-6351 <<-- add me
SSBB FC 2707-3062-7319 <<-- add me
This is to the gamecube waht Sonic 2 was to the megadrive, an absolute blast.
the thing that really takes your breath away is the Graphics... simply awsome.
Found one little tip which might help increse scores, if you have two sets of bongos, get someone else to lend a hand on the end of level bananna grab. with two banging away you should get about 10 more banannas :
MKWii FC 4081-5636-6351 <<-- add me
SSBB FC 2707-3062-7319 <<-- add me
Operations Director, Senior Editor
Thanks for the tip Shagster and thanks for the praise in general guys - hopefully we'll help to keep this astounding game in the Top 40 for a few more weeks! :
And yes, the graphics left me drooling...
Adam Riley [ Operations Director :: Senior Editor :: Cubed3 Limited ]
Word of Adam | Voice123 Profile | AdamC3 on Twitter
And yes, the graphics left me drooling...
Adam Riley [ Operations Director :: Senior Editor :: Cubed3 Limited ]
Word of Adam | Voice123 Profile | AdamC3 on Twitter
L1 New Born
Hey, where are all the comments?
[edit] nevermind, they seem to dissapear for some reason. :roll:
[ Edited by Bartholomeus On 2005/2/24 14:01 ]
[edit] nevermind, they seem to dissapear for some reason. :roll:
[ Edited by Bartholomeus On 2005/2/24 14:01 ]
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