Donkey Kong Jungle Beat

This game isn't like rhythm masterpiece Donkey Konga, which also uses the Bongos controller. Donkey Kong Jungle Beat isn't a musical game at all. It's an exciting, high-energy action game that uses the DK Bongos controller in a completely unique way. (Two versions of the game will be available: one with the DK Bongos controller, and one without, for those of you who already have Donkey Konga.)

Many Moves

Free from buttons, we took Donkey Kong on a relaxing stroll by tapping on the right bongo. Relaxing, that is, until about two seconds into the mountain level. DK jumped on the back of his pal Hoofer, a wildebeest, and a massive snowball followed. The faster we tapped the right bongo, the faster DK and his mount went. But the snowball didn't slow down. So we tapped faster and faster until we gave the snowball the slip. Later in the level, we again were chased, this time by a legless green creature that swam through the snowball like a fish. However, we trailed the snowball this time. If we went too fast, we got crushed by the snowball. Too slow and we were snack food. If we clapped, though, we sent out shockwaves that gradually pulverized the snowball.

In the more traditional side-scrolling level, Donkey Kong moved right when we tapped right on the bongo. He moved left when we tapped left, and he jumped when we simultaneously tapped both bongos. When we clapped our hands, DK either beat his chest or threw a punch, depending on the situation.

For such a big ape, Donkey Kong spends more time airborne than an astronaut. He trampolines off high-wires, gets flung into the air by monkey buddies, swings from vines, grabs hold of and commandeers parachutes through windstorms. The levels dedicated to getting DK aloft give you a giddy, lighter-than-air feel.

One of the very cool things about this game is that a big Donkey Kong is almost always in the foreground. This exquisitely detailed, fully animated DK shows exactly what he's doing on his hair-raising adventures -- beating his chest, grinning mischievously, even free-falling, with his famous tie flapping in the wind. It's a great innovation that makes you feel like you're the famous gorilla.

The different jumping combos you performed with different bongo taps were very slick. Donkey Kong can sail through the air or jump straight up and pound down on an opponent. He can climb chasms by leaping from wall to wall with alternating left and right taps. Simultaneous taps make him swing from vine to vine.

Drums taps and claps also make flitting fairies suddenly congregate into steps and tiny mushrooms spring up into giant platforms that DK can then climb. Swim through sunken galleons, hurtle through volcano cones and, in short, bash your way through many more exotic levels, all beautifully imagined by master game artists.

Bosses

They're HUGE. It’s surprising how naturally the bongos fit into a traditional fighting scheme. Why hasn't anyone thought of this before? You can show a lot of finesse, ducking and feinting, and then unleash a massive, beast-battering blow against a giant ape, a monstrous boar-like creature, and a bird the size of east Texas.

Officially a one-player game, Jungle Beat invites manic cooperation. While you pound the bongos, have a buddy clap. By linking together moves to build up combo strings, you can collect more and more bananas. The more you collect, the better; you can earn bronze, silver, gold, and platinum crests on each level, and collecting crests will open up more and more levels. Of course, you'll want to grab crests solo. But there's something about a side-scrolling jam session that's just way cool.