10/06 Update: Since we no longer write for the Edmond Sun, this section is temporarily housing our podcast links for our iTunes feed. All of the columns are in the archives menu if you feel like exploring.

These columns (as well as the 'releases') come from weekly content that we write for the Edmond Sun, out of Edmond, OK (though we live in Chicago). This page contains the archives for said column, many of which are in their pre-published, unedited state. Some titles and editing by Brendan Sinclair.

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Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat - Review
Friday, February 18, 2005

Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat isn't just one of the best Gamecube available - it's arguably the best traditional platformer released since Super Mario World. In an amazing stroke of good fortune, a friend of mine imported a copy of the game (played with the same set of bongos you bought for Donkey Konga) which I was subsequently able to sit down with for a couple of the most entertaining hours of my life. So while I won't be able to retell what's sure to be a harrowing tale of missing monkeys and their bananas (the game was in Japanese, naturally), I'm sure the incredibly intuitive, immensely fun gameplay will make it to the US unscathed when it's released here in mid-March.

It's hard to compare Jungle Beat to any other game, ever, nevermind anything from this generation. The hop-n-bop, fruit collecting platformer's closest relative is probably the original Donkey Kong Country on the Super Nintendo, which obviously serves as the main inspiration for this game; there are even several homages to it in the form of revisited enemies, curiously nostalgic level design, and what I believe to be remixed tunes from the classic. The control input here is the main difference of course - instead of the SNES' perfect d-pad or the Gamecube's hit-or-miss button layout, you're given a very straightforward pair of bongo drums to bang your heart out with. Tap the left drum, Donkey Kong will run left. Tap the right one, he'll run right. Hit both together and he'll jump, and clap your hands to have him gather bananas, attack baddies, or do about a dozen other things. There are also plenty of slight variations on those things in terms of speed, rhythm, and timing, making every area feel new and every encounter unique. Though you're basically doing the same set of things over and over again, it never feels like it, and it never gets old.

The majority of the levels are broken down into three parts - an animal riding one, a regular platforming one, and a boss encounter. The riding levels typically focus more on speed or exact control - you'll be banging the right bongo like your life depended on it (and it will) trying to outrun a giant snow lizard, delicately maneuvering a bird through a maze of fire while hanging onto it's legs, and a whole bunch of other neat things I don't want to even come close to ruining. The platforming levels are much more traditional, going at your own pace while beating up bad guys and collecting bushels of tasty, tasty bananas. As I said, every area is unique too - you'll do a rapid drum roll to climb a giant flower, clap your hands to make jumpable mushrooms appear, and bop each drum alternately and with focused timing as you hop up the inside of two facing walls. The bosses levels are great too, even if there are only really three different ones, changed slightly for each of the sixteen-plus encounters. They make use of all the skills you'll learn throughout the stages, and some are truly challenging if you want to get through them without losing any of your precious bananas.

Perhaps the best thing about the game, which I briefly touched on before, is how incredibly intuitive it is. Watching someone else fly through the levels is a bit daunting, but once you get your hands on the bongos you'll discover the smoothest learning curve this side of eating a cheeseburger. Every time you encounter a new enemy, obstacle or challenge, there's about an eighty percent chance you'll figure it out on your first try. It thankfully doesn't make the game too easy though, as earning the best level awards and gathering the most bananas possible is still plenty difficult. Each new level is unlocked by earning medals, which correspond to how many bananas you come away with after each previous level. You can retry each level infinitely, but getting every last banana will take you weeks to accomplish. There are also a handful of mini-games which we couldn't even find (due to the Japanese menus), nevermind play; so there you go, even more new things to discover when you pick up this title.

Jungle Beat seriously represents some of the finest work in game design this generation. It's good for any length of time, it's deceptively deep, it's instantly rewarding - all of the qualities that make the more famous games of yesteryear like Pac-Man and Galaga the hits that they are. Besides showing what Nintendo's new Tokyo studio is capable of, it's truly a wonderful feat of fan service for all of the disgruntled Nintendo fans who only get a great new game every six months. Oh, and it has the best graphics on the Gamecube, and music as catchy as anything you'll hear out of a videogame system. Go the extra mile and spring for the system and a pair of bongos - if it's not the most fun you've had all year, find a new hobby.


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