Donkey Kong Jungle Beat

Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
North American box art
Developer(s)	Nintendo EAD Tokyo[1]
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Director(s)	Yoshiaki Koizumi
Producer(s)	Takao Shimizu
Composer(s)	Mahito Yokota
Platform(s)	Nintendo GameCube, Wii
Release date(s)	Nintendo GameCube JP December 16, 2002 EU February 4, 2003 NA March 14, 2005 AUS March 17, 2003[2] Wii JP December 11, 2008 NA May 4, 2009[3] EU June 5, 2009[4] AUS June 18, 2009[5]
Genre(s)	Platforming
Mode(s)	Single-player
Rating(s)	ACB: G8+ (GCN), PG (Wii) CERO: A ESRB: E10+ PEGI: 3+ (GC) 7+ (Wii)

Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (ドンキーコングジャングルビート^?) is a Nintendo GameCube video game featuring the ape Donkey Kong and played with the DK Bongos. It was released in Japan on December 16, 2002, in Europe on February 4, 2003, in North America on March 14, 2005, and in Australia on March 17, 2003. In 2008 and 2009, the game was re-released in the New Play Control! series of revamped Nintendo GameCube titles.^[6] The Wii version of Donkey Kong Jungle Beat is somewhat changed from the original GameCube version, including new levels, modifications of old levels, and traditional controls that have the player use the analog stick to move and the A button to jump, unlike the GameCube version which required the player to beat the bongos to do both.^[7] This is the first game to be rated E10+ by the ESRB.

Gameplay

Gameplay involves combat, jumping, and counterattacking. While the traditional GameCube controllers are compatible, Jungle Beat uses a pair of bongo drums to control Donkey Kong's (DK) actions. Hitting the left drum causes DK to move left, while hitting the right drum causes him to move right. Hitting both drums at the same time causes DK to jump. Clapping one's hands or hitting the sides of the drums also causes DK to clap, which has various consequences depending on the situation.

This is a unique game in the nature of play; it is a platformer where the goal is not simply to get to the end of the level. The goal is to get as many points, or "beats", as possible. Beats are obtained by grabbing bananas during gameplay, and lost by getting hurt or falling. The player can obtain additional beats by performing combos while grabbing the bananas. For example, three combo moves will earn four beats for each banana collected. Combos can go as high as 30, meaning that 31 beats can be earned from a single banana. Time records can also be earned for stages and for racing sections of stages.

DK can perform moves such as backflips, the ground-pound, vine swinging, corner hopping, and wall jumping. He can also use other objects and animals in the game to add to the combo score. When performing "combo-moves", a counter is started, rising with each successive combo move acquired before landing. The combo counter is lost when DK is hurt or falls, and all beats are lost. If DK's beat count reaches zero, he loses and will have to restart the level. In the Wii version of the game, hearts represent DK's health instead of the beats, and there are extra lives and checkpoints throughout the level.

Clapping or making any other noise that the microphone in the Bongos picks up makes DK clap his hands. The hand clap produces two rings, a small red one and a giant green one. Enemies in the small red ring are usually defeated, and those in the larger green ring are usually stunned. Stunned enemies can then be jumped on and defeated by hitting the bongos repeatedly. Any bananas in the small red ring are grabbed in a chain, each incremented in value relative to the last (e.g., if three combo moves are done when DK clap-grabs 5 bananas, the bananas are worth 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8).

The level system consists of several "kingdoms". Each kingdom contains three platforming levels. The first two sometimes contain racing and puzzle elements, which the final "boss" stage contains a fight against a large enemy. The beats obtained in the previous two levels are used as health for the fight against the boss, and the aim is to beat the boss without taking too many hits, lowering your beat count. There are many different types of bosses, each requiring different tactics to beat. For example, fights with other gorillas are fought in a Punch-Out!!-style bout, while battles against elephants require throwing back bombs that they fire. The gameplay relies on rhythm elements, such as clapping at the right time to get all of the bananas in an area, or incapacitate a boss.

Between each level, there is a short minigame where the player must tap the bongos as fast as they can to earn extra bananas. The exception to this are levels in which DK rides a wildebeest, in which case the minigame is to either fly the farthest from a jump, or stay on high ground long enough to collect many bananas without touching the ground.

At the end of the kingdom, the total sum of beats (after deducting any damage taken during the boss fight) is tallied up. Completing a kingdom earns a medal, while additional medals are earned by achieving certain amounts of beats. Medals are required to play new kingdoms, which is determined by the number shown. Clearing all the kingdoms in a section unlocks the next set of kingdoms. Players can revisit earlier levels to try to earn more beats, thus earning more medals.

Reception

Scores
Aggregate scores
Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	82.0% (58 reviews) [8]
Metacritic	80% (49 reviews) [9]
Review scores
Publication	Score
GameSpot	7.0 / 10 [10]
GameSpy	[11]
IGN	8.8 / 10 [12]
X-Play	[13]
Awards Entity Award E3 Game Critics Award: Best Original Game, 2004[14] Game Critics Award: Best Puzzle/Trivia/Parlor Game, 2004[14]

Jungle Beat was generally well-received, earning an 82% rating on GameRankings.^[8] Most reviewers considered it unique and fun to play but rather short given the retail price. It was praised for its wide appeal; possessing both a simplicity targeted at new gamers, and a complex, skill-oriented combo system to attract more hardcore gamers. IGN UK praised the game's graphics, saying "DK's fur makes StarFox Adventures' models look primitive".^[12] Criticisms include the game's short length, despite the replayability offered by the score system in levels.^[10] There were also complaints of repetitive boss fights, as the same four bosses are used several times throughout the game with limited features to distinguish them.^[10] One of the primary criticisms, however, was the lack of past characters and elements from Rare's DKC games. However, despite these criticisms it was rated the 95th best game made on a Nintendo System in Nintendo Power's Top 200 Games list.^[15]

New Play Control! re-release

Donkey Kong Jungle Beat was reformatted for the New Play Control! program, a brand of Nintendo GameCube video game remakes for the Wii. It was released on December 11, 2008, in Japan^[7] and later in North America and Europe on May 4, 2009, and June 5, 2009, respectively. It uses a combination of the Wii Remote and the Nunchuk instead of the DK Bongos (the DK Bongos are not compatible with the Wii version), using both traditional controls and motion controls. As well different modes in the remake, there are a few changes to the gameplay. Health is no longer determined by the amount of beats, but instead uses a more traditional heart and life system. Clap attacks are also directional as opposed to all around.

References

1. ^ "How Super Mario Galaxy Was Born". Iwata Asks: Super Mario Galaxy. Nintendo of America, Inc.. http://us.wii.com/iwata_asks_vol1_index.jsp. Retrieved 18 September 2010. 
2. ^ "Updated Australian Release List - 14/02/03". PALGN. 2003-02-14. http://palgn.com.au/1960/updated-australian-release-list-14-02-03/. Retrieved 2009-08-10. 
3. ^ "New Controls Have Donkey Kong Moving to a New Beat". Nintendo of America. 4 May 2009. http://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/KpcCm3unZNvkzP1iRojJ4VdWcQRm5Nwa. Retrieved 14 December 2009. 
4. ^ "In shops now: NEW PLAY CONTROL! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat". Nintendo of Europe. 5 June 2009. http://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/news/2009/peek_into_the_wild_world_of_new_play_control_donkey_kong_jungle_beat_14827.html. Retrieved 14 December 2009. 
5. ^ Salter, Ben (30 April 2009). "Nintendo AU Date Two New Play Control Titles". MyWii.com.au. MyMedia. http://www.mywii.com.au/NewsDetail.aspx?id=3445. Retrieved 14 December 2009. 
6. ^ "Wii release". Go Nintendo. http://gonintendo.com/?p=58026. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "New Elements for Play It on Wii Selection Titles". 2008-11-30. http://wii.ign.com/articles/929/929327p1.html?RSSwhen2008-11-12_050400&RSSid=929327. Retrieved 2008-11-30. 
8. ^ ^{a b} "Aggregate score at GameRankings". http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/920789.asp. 
9. ^ "Aggregate score at Metacritic". http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/cube/donkeykongjunglebeat. 
10. ^ ^{a b c} "Review at GameSpot". http://www.gamespot.com/gamecube/action/donkeykongjunglebeat/review.html. 
11. ^ "Review at GameSpy". http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/donkey-kong-jungle-beat/594468p1.html. 
12. ^ ^{a b} "Review at IGN". http://cube.ign.com/articles/595/595520p1.html. 
13. ^ "Review on X-Play". http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/reviews/882/Donkey_Kong.html. 
14. ^ ^{a b} "2004 winners". E3. http://www.gamecriticsawards.com/2004winners.html. 
15. ^ "NP Top 200". Nintendo Power 200: pp. 58–66. February 2006 

External links

• Donkey Kong Jungle Beat at GameFAQs
• Donkey Kong Jungle Beat at MobyGames