Wii Games New Play Control Donkey Kong Jungle Beat Review
The Good Parts (4 out of 5)
New Play Control Donkey Kong Jungle Beat has amazing depth built around a number of kingdoms that you can explore, each with two levels and a boss fight at the end. The intensely intelligent level designs make going from start to finish and taking down your enemies for the banana-loving world a pleasure. There are so many ways to collect bananas that the replay value never ends. The bananas you collect during your journey through a kingdom determine the amount of life you have for the boss fight awaiting you at the end. Deep, engaging, and satisfying variety in all areas of development make this adventure one of the best New Play Control titles developed so far.
The Wii controls work well and are a lot more intuitive to use than other NPC titles I have played. They provide the player with improved control of Donkey Kong. You shake the Wii remote or Nunchuk to control Donkey Kong’s shockwave and punch attacks, the controls worked well with the motions required to execute the moves. All the wall jumps, vine swings, attacks, and flower spins were smooth and can be linked together in nice combos.
The Bad Parts (4 out of 5)
A few of the boss fights felt recycled at times and similar to earlier boss battles, but this is a minor problem that you might not even notice. A couple were too easy from my point of view. They should be the toughest battles of each level, not just as easy or easier that the creatures in the level.
Graphics (4 out of 5)
New Play Control Donkey Kong Jungle Beat was made by the same group that made Super Mario Galaxy and the production values show signs of their high quality work. Despite four years of shelf time, this production looks better than most new Wii titles. It includes a vast array of visually diverse levels.
The textures are brighter with more contrast for the eye to notice, the colors more intense and eye-grabbing, and the variety of great looking characters with a charming weirdness will be enjoyed by gamers of all ages.
The character animations are wonderfully smooth and consistent, creating chances for amazing combos that rock the senses while keeping you involved in the game play.
Keep reading on to the next page to learn about the games soundtrack, a few comparisons and the final summary.
Screenshots
Sounds (4 out of 5)
Donkey Kong makes noises that are usually cute and funny, but some are occasionally distracting and annoying after you hear them for the millionth time. The sound track has an enjoyable tempo that fits delightfully with the funny sound effects included to keep you involved in the action and thinking about what’s happening.
Playability (5 out of 5)
New Play Control Donkey Kong Jungle Beat is an extremely playable platforming game; all aspects of this title help to improve the playability in ways that enhance the entertainment value of the original game.
You collect bananas to unlock crests that you need to unlock extra hidden levels in the game, which extends the playability beyond the 11 hours of included content. You need 1,000 bananas to beat a level and unlock the 4 extra levels that have been included. Find ways to improve your banana-picking skills with combos that increase your bonus and chain combos together for even more fun. To get all the bananas you must find all the hidden bananas and master each levels specific mid-air banana grab combos. This will require replays, practice, timing, and skill to execute.
Compared to Similar Games (4 out of 5)
With other newer platformers like New Super Mario Brothers Wii and Donkey Kong Country Returns out there, how does New Play Control Donkey Kong Jungle Beat compare? New Play Control Donkey Kong Jungle Beat feels very unique, and sometimes more active than other games once you start shaking the remotes to make combos and defeat bosses. The banana-gathering mechanic is at the root of the game’s replayability, and will always keep you trying to outdo your last score, a feature that most other adventure platformers have lost. While New Super Mario Brothers Wii and Donkey Kong Country Returns are excellent games themselves, this game remains a classic, and will always be a good choice to slide into the console.
The Last Word (4 out of 5)
New Play Control Donkey Kong Jungle Beat feels new and fun. The level designs may seem predictable, but somehow still entertaining, engaging, and satisfying to complete. The depth of design in all aspects makes this game suitable for all ages and especially for players who love beautifully executed platforming game play. The total package is very challenging to finish and requires focus and concentration to master, which is just what the gamer ordered.
