Donkey Kong Jungle Beat

Donkey Kong Jungle Beat is a platformer for the Nintendo GameCube and Wii starring Donkey Kong. It is controlled with the DK Bongos. During the game's boss battles, the bongos control Donkey Kong's fists.

This was one of the first of the non-arcade Donkey Kong games not to be made by Rareware. After they left Nintendo and joined Microsoft, Rare lost control of the Donkey Kong series due to the fact that it was trademarked by Nintendo.

Donkey Kong Jungle Beat was different from the Donkey Kong Country series in that none of the old characters or drones made an appearance. Also, the personality of Donkey Kong was altered, as he was made from a generally peaceful ape into a much more aggressive anthropomorphic animal.

Story
The basic story of the game is not actually revealed, however the Instruction Manual hints most of the story. Donkey Kong is on a quest to become the King of the Jungle. To achieve this exalted status, he must journey across many seperate kindoms, defeating the kings of each one, thus eventually gaining ruling power over the whole land. It appears that Donkey Kong is also on a quest collecting bananas and crests.

Main

 * Donkey Kong
 * Party Monkeys
 * The Kings

Animal Buddies

 * Hoofer
 * Flurl
 * Orco
 * Helibird

Controls
The controls of this game are different from most 2-D platformers. Hitting the left bongo repeatedly will send send Donkey Kong running to the left, and hitting the right will send him right. To jump straight into the air, the player must hit both bongos at once. To jump diagonally, the player must hit the bongo in the direction he wants to jump, while using the other bongo to run. When swimming, swinging, and riding Animal Buddys, the controls are made much more simple.

Levels
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat contains 18 'Kingdoms', all of which are named after fruit. Every Kingdom contains two standard levels followed up by a boss battle. The only two Kingdoms that stray from this pattern are the 'VS. Kingdoms', which each only have one level and then a boss battle.


 * Banana Kingdom
 * Orange Kingdom
 * Watermelon Kingdom
 * Apple Kingdom
 * Strawberry Kingdom
 * Pineapple Kingdom
 * Lemon Kingdom
 * Grape Kingdom
 * Cherry Kingdom
 * Peach Kingdom
 * Melon Kingdom
 * Durian Kingdom
 * VS. Cactus King
 * Pear Kingdom
 * Lychee Kingdom
 * Chili Pepper Kingdom
 * Star Fruit Kingdom
 * VS. Ghastly King

Bosses
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat's bosses come in four species, and each species has a different fighting style. The species are Kongs, Rocs, Hogs, and Tusks.

Kongs

 * Dread Kong
 * Karate Kong
 * Ninja Kong
 * Sumo Kong

Rocs

 * Scruff Roc
 * Fleet Roc
 * Hard Roc
 * Thunder Roc

Hogs

 * Rogue-Hog
 * Mo-Hog
 * Bloat-Hog
 * Gloat-Hog

Tusks

 * Turret Tusk
 * Grave Tusk
 * Torch Tusk
 * Double Tusk

Wii Version
A remake of the game for the Wii in the "New Play Control" selection has been announced, and is currently only released in Japan. The game is played with the Wii Remote and Nunchuck, offers a wide-screen mode and there were several changes to the levels as well. Gimmicks and enemies may be found at different places, and there are completely new levels as well.

Trivia

 * This was the first videogame to be rated E10+ by the ESRB.


 * Mo-Hog is clearly a pun on the word Mohawk.


 * Hard Roc could possibly be a nod at the famous restaurant chain Hard Rock Cafe