New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat Review for Nintendo Wii

New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat box art

System: Wii	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Nintendo	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Nintendo	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: May 4, 2009	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

Players will also find a pretty elaborate and enjoyable combo system in NPC! DKJB. For every move DK performs (ex: wall jumps, vine swings, attacks, flower spins, etc) without hitting the ground, he will increase his banana multiplier. This works really well and it is frequently possible to string together some very impressive combos that result in a healthy haul of bananas, since the multiplier only ends once you touch the ground. Besides functioning as your health when facing off against a boss, the bananas you collect in levels will unlock crests that are necessary for unlocking extra hidden levels that help to extend the life of this relatively short title.

New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat screenshot

I believe that is really the only shortcoming of NPC! DKJB: it is a little too short. Just blazing through the game's levels will probably only take around three to four hours, not counting the breaks you'll take throughout to give your arms a much-needed rest. Playing skillfully and trying to collect all of the game's crests and unlock all the hidden levels will probably double, perhaps triple depending on your skill level, the playtime, but it still feels a bit on the short side. This is probably due to the game being such an enjoyable experience. I mean, nobody ever complains about trips to the dentist's office being too short, right?

Perhaps one of the most amazing things about this game is just how well the visuals hold up. While this title was made by the same team that developed the beautiful Super Mario Galaxy, it is hard to believe just how well it compares to most current Wii titles. In fact, due to the constant deluge of lazily developed shovelware constantly flooding the system, this four year-old port of a GameCube title manages to be among the most visually impressive titles on the Wii. Still, you can expect to find a vast array of visually diverse levels full of small but striking details, great-looking and well-animated characters, and the kind of charming weirdness (ex: a plant with a giant chicken head) you'd expect from a Nintendo platformer.

If you never got a chance to check out the original DKJB, then you should definitely play NPC! DKJB. However, longtime fans of the bongo smashing original may have issues adjusting to this new version, or may even find that they miss their old peripherals while playing. For me, though, I think the change in controls is for the best and should allow a much wider audience to check out and enjoy this masterful title. While it may just be a port of a four year-old GameCube title with some tweaks and new controls, it is definitely one of the best playing and looking platformers on the system.

By Adam Brown
CCC Staff Contributor

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.5

Graphics
It may be four years old, but it still looks great, even when compared to most current Wii titles.

4.1

Control
The new analog stick controls work rather well, although you may occasionally have a few issues of missed swing detection when slugging away on the game's bosses.

4.2

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
DK's noises can get a tad annoying, but for the most part, the music and sound effects are great and fit the title perfectly.

4.2

Play Value
A little on the short side, but if you go for full completion, you'll get some additional hours out of it. Either way, it is definitely great while it lasts.

4.2

Overall Rating - Great
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

The Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers put Donkey Kong's actions right in players' hands. Players use buttons and motion controls to move through the game. When it comes time to box with bosses, players punch with both hands.

As Donkey Kong, players brave a jungle adventure by swinging, soaring, swimming and using acrobatic moves. But the goal isn't to run through levels as quickly as possible - the real skill lies in stringing moves together to travel like a daredevil, touching the ground as little as possible.

The game's imaginative worlds now have many areas partially redesigned to take full advantage of the new Wii controls. Newcomers will enjoy its fantastic jungles, dazzling caverns and wondrous seas, while fans of the original will discover fresh thrills as they take on the challenge of the new controls.