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N-Query
Can you play DK Jungle Beat with a regular controller?
Jungle Beat Length
I was wondering, now that you've probably played a lot of DK Jungle Beat, how long is it going to be. I feel like it isn't going to be that long, but I am hoping so much. Even, if you havn't played it much, what would be your guess.
Matt responds: Yeah. Ex-IGNcube editor turn Insider monkey turn video tool Fran Mirabella is down in Los Angeles and staying with me right now, and the two of us have pretty much devoted our nights to the US version of the game. I've beaten it several times over now. I can safely say that the DK Bongo-controller platformer is a lot of fun, but yes, it's damned short. There are a standard twelve levels in the game, each of them a few minutes long. Once you beat those, the title ends. It runs the credits, game over. You get the picture. That takes about three hours, maybe four.
But the game is not really over then.
DK Jungle Beat employs a medal system. And depending upon how many Beats -- also called bananas -- you collect, you either get a bronze, silver or gold medal for each stage. To get gold, you need 800 Beats, and often the only way to get that many is through a series of in-level combos. In other words, you have to know what you're doing. It's not always easy.
If, after you've gone through first twelve stages, you have amassed enough silver and gold medals, another kingdom will open up and you can explore another handful of stages. And before you can play the final one, you'll need to get a gold medal on every single level in the game, which will likely double your time with the platformer.
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat is still not a long game. Even after we got gold on every level and played the final stage, we had probably only invested about six hours into the platformer. But there's more to it than I initially thought, which is a pleasant surprise. And I guarantee you that you will have fun during the entire process.
Multiplayer Beat
Hey Matt, will DK: Jungle Beat feature some kind of multi-player? Co-op would be amazing!
Matt responds: Sadly, there's no multiplayer experience in the game, cooperative or otherwise. It's a missed opportunity, as far as I'm concerned. There are several gameplay types in DK Jungle Beat that really would have made for some find multiplayer matches. For instance, in some levels, you have to race a computer-controlled opponent through the entire makeup of a map. I would have really enjoyed the option to play this mode against a friend. Oh well. Maybe for the sequel.
The Roo
Just to let you know, that in that Craig-A-Roo pic by the reader, the kangaroo has his huge sack swinging around. Does Craig do this at work?
Matt responds: I really don't like to talk about it. What I will say is that we all wipe our keyboards down before we use them, as the Kraig-a-roo has dropped more tea bags than Lipton, if you know what I'm getting at. Enjoy your dinner.
Zelda and Revolution
I've noticed that everyone keeps assuming that Zelda Reborn will come out for Gamecube at the end of 2005, but has Nintendo even said anything about Zelda coming out for Gamecube? Also, I'm not sure about this, but I thought that they said that Revolution will be released before or at the same time as the competition. If Xbox 2 counts as competition, then doesn't that mean that Revolution will launch at the end of this year? And if it does, then doesn't that mean that Zelda could be a release game for Revolution? That seems like something Nintendo would do. By the way, before try to pwn me for being noobish if I'm mistaken, keep in mind that I might have missed some news where Nintendo confirmed the end-of-2005 release of Zelda and the mid-2006 release of the Revolution that everyone is taking as fact.
Matt responds: Nintendo has indeed confirmed an end-of-2005 release date for the next Zelda. It's also confirmed that the title is for GameCube and not Revolution. On top of that, Nintendo has in addition made it clear that it wants to launch Revolution to compete with its biggest competitor, which it sees as Sony with PlayStation 3. Incidentally, PS3 is allegedly scheduled for a 2006 release. So bearing all that in mind, we can safely assume that Revolution will debut next year, too.
Iwata: Differences of Opinion
Nintendo really can be committing suicide. Sure, games aren't all about upgrades, but they don't need to do crazy stuff to be fun. I don't want to play the next Metroid with my toes while trying to see if I can smell the difference between a dead space pirate and a dead Ing. I'm sure Halo 3 wont need any crazy **** to be awesome.
Matt responds: I expect that you're referring to Nintendo president Satoru Iwata's comments today. I'm sure there are a lot of readers who feel as you do. Then again, there are some who might find Iwata's statements today rather exciting. I've included another reader e-mail below that demonstrates my point. Check it out:
Matt, your news update today of Iwata's Interview with MCV was just what I needed to hear. I am now confident that Nintendo really believes its got something special with Revolution. They've given a big fat middle finger to the gaming industry. Third party developers will be forced to follow with respect or die. Its time to shed fear. Nintendo intends to pull off a major coup d'etat or die martyrs. I'm now officially excited. It's time to embrace change!!! Its gonna be a good war of Revolutionary proportions!! I'll Rally the troops and stay tuned for more reports for the frontline. Great work soldier, your the eyes and ears of this grass roots movement. "Operation Embrace Change" is now underway. Godspeed.
Matt responds again: First, let me note that this is surely a first in N-Query history. Not the reader letters, but the fact that I just wrote 'Matt responds again.' I can fill pages with useless observations like that. But onto my point, which is that readers seem to be divided on Iwata's latest comments. I fall somewhere in the middle. I'm happy that Nintendo is trying something new with Revolution, but I can tell you now that I won't be pleased if the console turns out to be a piece of plywood with some string around it. I've included a picture of such a creation simply because Google returned results on my search, which surprised me.
Please do me a favor and take a second to vote on Iwata's comments in the story's poll..
What the-?
Maybe this'll finally get me in the mailbag.
Enjoy.
Matt responds: Mission accomplished. By the way, Adobe's lawyers just called and asked me to issue you a cease and desist immediately.
DK Bongo-less
So, there's absolutely no hope for those of us without the Bongo drums to play DK Jungle Beat? I watched a movie demo at EB games today and it looks fun, but the bongos annoy me. (the real reason is i dont want to shell out $59 for a set of bongo drums i'll use on only one game). Anyways, great site, and all the Craig bashing makes me laugh. Same with Frangoat. Take care.
Matt responds: Well, it's possible, but I wouldn't recommend it. When you boot the game up using a standard GameCube controller, a message appears that reads: "To fully enjoy Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, it is strongly recommended that you play using the DK Bongos Controller." If you continue on, you can, in fact, play the game with the regular controller, but not like you'd expect. The controller merely simulates the DK Bongos. So to run, you have to repeatedly tap forward on the analog stick. (If you simply press forward, Donkey Kong will barely move.) Meanwhile, to punch, you have to tap the camera stick. And to jump, you hit the A button. Unfortunately, because there's only one A button, as opposed to two DK Bongo drums, you'll never be able to deliver punches as quickly as you would using the set. You'd really be doing yourself a disservice to try and play the game with the regular controller.
