Donkey Konga review

PS2 games such as EyeToy and Singstar have been hogging the limelight. Now the time has come for Nitendo to try, but is a funny controller and a 500 pound monkey enough to win over the crowd?

Even the theme from Mario Bros isn't the original.

Karaoke, dance mats and webcams – being in the spotlight is in, and consoles are becoming the centre of events. TV shows like X-Factor and Pop Idol cleared the way for Singstar for PS2, but you would have to have a serious drum fetish to leap out of your chair at the mentioning of Donkey Konga.

The package contains the game and a set of congas – a controller made specifically for the game. The custom bongo controller isn't required to play the game, but it is essentially what the game is about, since Donkey Konga really just is another rhythm game with the mat replaced by the drums. And even though it is fun, it is not as good as Singstar.

The game is developed not by Nintendo, but by Namco, following the union announced between Nintendo and other major developers at E3 a couple of years ago.

Spank the Monkey

Spank the Monkey! No wait, banana... Argh!

The concept in Donkey Konga is simple. Choose a difficulty, choose a song and stay with the rhythm. On the screen a rhythm is displayed with four variants for you to follow – either using a regular controller or the enclosed congas. The latter is made up of two lightweight, but solid pieces of plastic, two large rubber-coated switches and a built-in microphone.

As mentioned earlier, Donkey Konga is a traditional dance mat game with drums instead of a mat. The screen shows a melody and a rhythm to drum to, left drum, right drum, both drums together or a clap.

The origin of the species

It's time to get down and boogie.

There are plenty of options in Donkey Konga – all of Nintendo’s classic multiplayer modes, which really make the game work, and the single player mode which does nothing but train you for the great clashes with your friends.

There are three levels of difficulty, the hardest one the player has to unlock for themself. The difference is the number of beats you will have to follow and the speed at which they arrive.

There are also a selection of mini-games to unlock, but most of the time these are too lousy to be worth the effort.

Plagiarism

Hey! That's Queen!!! Or is it?

The songs in Donkey Konga are largely well-known classics, but unfortunately not as performed by the original artists. This removes some of the fun of it all, as it simply is not the same drumming to a rhythm of someone who pretends to be Queen rather than Queen themselves. Nintendo calls it "Nintendo versions of known tracks" - I call it "being a cheapskate."

That said, the songs are well chosen. Nothing really new, but all the tunes have been specially selected for the European market, a thing that benefits the game no end. The tunes are mostly very inviting to drum to, at least once you have recovered from the initial shock at the rather strange concept of it all.

The tracks:

Canned Heat
Alright
Don't Stop Me Now
Lady Marmalade
99 Red Balloons
I Want You Back
Tubthumping
Back For Good
September
Richard III
Cosmic Girl
Louie Louie
The Loco-Motion
All The Small Things
Oye Como Va
You Can't Hurry Love
Dancing In The Street
Para Los Rumberos
Wild Thing
The Impression That I Get
Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)
Busy Child
Hungarian Dance #5 in G Minor
Turkish March
Super Smash Bros. Melee Opening
Donkey Kong Country Theme
Rainbow Cruise
Super Mario Bros. Theme
Legend of Zelda Theme
DK Rap
Donkey Konga Theme

Drums, Please!

There is a mode where you simply pound away until you're exhausted.

Donkey Konga is a funny little gimmick and quite a good party game, but that is all. In itself, it quickly wears out its welcome, even if multiplayer does stand the test of time somewhat better. This, however, demands an investment in more drums, since these are the funniest aspect of the game.

The game is still ok though and having Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat lurking in the horizon makes Donkey Konga the more attractive – Jungle Beat will be a traditional platform game using the drums as the controls of Donkey Kong – one of the favourites of your's truly at this years E3 in Los Angeles.

Source: Boomtown DK
Translated by: William Bjarnø (Dworkin)