Role Playing Game - MPN: DOLRGKGE
Strengths: Easy to get into
Weakness: Not enough songs
Personally I am never that interest in those music game, I always did badly. However Donkey Konga is different, in fact it is very easy to get into. The timing in this game is easier than some of the other music game, and for those that are good there are higher difficult you can chose. I only wish they are able to include more songs since they quickly get old.
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TopStrengths: great music very fun. the drums are great
Weakness: kinda short. no cheats its all how u play.
this is a great game for people who like music you'll be playin all night. it gets easy once you know how to play it.
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TopStrengths: fun, multiplayer
I really enjoyed this game with the exception of getting tired and sore hands beating on the bongos. Donkey Konga has a fair amount of songs available. Too bad you can't download new songs.
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TopStrengths: Great rhythm game, great fun in multiplayer, good song assortment
Weakness: Need to purchase multiple controllers for mutliplayer
Donkey Konga is a rhythm game for the non-DDR folk. The game involves a set of bongos, where at different points in the game, it will need to be hit on either the left, the right, both, or clap between them. There are a number of songs to play to, and a number of different minigames with them. Single player is enjoyable, though the real fun comes from multiplayer. Each player needs a bongo controller, and only one comes in the box.
Rhythm game fans who might not like DDR should look this one over.
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TopStrengths: Not that many. A fun party game, I guess
Weakness: Cheap feeling bongoes -> awkward controls -> not a good rhythm game
I thought this game might be fun, but it was not. At all. Most of the songs are pretty lame, and the controls seem off, likely due to the awkwardness of the bongoes. To me it seemed like the perfect milk of a franchise, and it feels so unpolished. It might be okay if you're really into rhythm games or Donkey Kong
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TopStrengths: Easy to pick up and play, diverse choice of songs.
Weakness: Animation is a bit weak.
Nintendo's mission as of late seems to be making gaming more easily accessible for the masses with simple (but fun) games. Donkey Konga fits the bill nicely, as the included Bongo controllers make for very intuitive play. As a rhythm game, Donkey Konga involves hitting the bongos and clapping in time with the music. It's great fun, especially when you add multiple players to the mix. Obviously, there's only so much depth in a game of this type, but it's very good for what it is.
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TopStrengths: Innovative gameplay, solid bongo controller, catchy list of traditional and Nintendo-related tunes, easy to pick-up and play, attractive to casual and non-gamers
Weakness: Perhaps a bit too easy, limited number of tunes, simplistic graphics, requires multiple bongo controllers for multiplayer modes
Donkey Kong had a rather limited involvement with percussion until this title came out a few years ago. You get a decent bongo controller with the package, but you'll need to spring for extra sets if you want to enjoy the game with other people simultaneously. (This can get expensive.)
Thankfully, the gameplay is pretty fun, and the song catalog includes 30-odd tunes most will enjoy along with a few Nintendo themed favorites. While the game play is inviting to both beginners and casual players, it can be too simple and easy to satisfy regulars, and you will run out of new tunes in no time.
Thankfully, Donkey Konga 2 and Jungle Beat have since been released, so you'll have other opportunites to put Nintendo's drums to work again. Just try to save yourself some cash in the process by bargain shopping. Donkey Konga 1 (game and bongos) can now easily be found new for $30 or less.
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TopStrengths: Awesome game, everything
Weakness: None
I love rhythm games to start with. This is BY FAR the best rhythm game I've ever played. Multiplayer is probably the best multiplayer fun I've ever had. I purchased this, then ran out and bought Donkey Konga 2. AWESOME games. BUY THESE.
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TopStrengths: Fun, easy to get into, great party game
Weakness: Not very difficult
Donkey Konga is a simple party game at heart. Pound the drums and clap to the beat. That's it. The game has a large variety of songs ranging from contemporary hits to older classics. A music game is only as good as the tunes included and the interface and there is a lot to like here for everyone.
Donkey Konga is a great game for a group of people to get involved with, it exudes a fun atmosphere and even the most jaded non-gamer can have fun banging away. The game continues its ease of pick up and play by having a low threshold of difficulty allowing almost anyone to get in and have fun. This does have a downside, as the upper tier of gamers will have no problem demolishing the game's overall ease of play, yet they'll still have fun.
Graphics are serviceable, neither outstanding or poor. But the game could have definitely used more visual punch. After all, visual splendor and flash are a large part of pop music and dance clubs. Sound is great, the game has covers of many bands popular songs. The covers aren't incredible, but more often than not do enough justice to the original versions. The breadth of the catalog is a strong point, songs like Rock Lobster by the B52s, All the Small things by blink 182, classic Nintendo themes and campfire favorites like Row,Row, Row, Your Boat are all here.
Donkey Konga delivers on a promise of a fun time banging away to music with friends and family. It could have had better graphics and music by original artists, but that may have made the price untenable. The bongos are well constructed and feel good to the touch and durable. The game is on the easy side, but does include many modes that vary the play. Fun stuff.
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TopStrengths: Fun music game, similar to Taiko Drum Master, conga controller is cool
Weakness: some of the music is lame, reeeeaaally lame
If you are a fan of music games, stop reading this review and buy this game. Now. Ok, now that the music game fans are gone, should the rest of you get this? Yes to some, no to others. If you want it for a single player game, but aren't really into music games a whole lot, rent it first. Also, little kids will definitely like a lot of the music in it more than adults (preschool/kindergarten level songs are common in this game). Definitly worth a trial, and the controller is half the fun. Also, the game is a blast with friends, so its good for parties.
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TopStrengths: Simply irresistable fun. Very fun multiplayer.
Weakness: A bit repetitive.
While a bit tough to swallow at full price, this is an extremely fun game. It can be compared with DDR, but the use of the bongos really does introduce a different playing mechanic. I think the bongos open up the experience to more people than DDR because *anyone* can sit and use the bongos--it is not as intimidating as having to get up and dance. A great aspect of this game is the fact that the bongo-hitting is well-timed with the music, making the controls almost intuitive after a while. This does not mean it is easy--far from it--but it is more satisfying than other rhythm games like DDR which I think are poorly synched to the music. The graphics are simple and straightforward, but very colorful and pleasant to look at. The music is a great mix that should allow for tunes that appeal to everyone--from kid songs, to classics of the 702, 80s, and 90s to songs from today's most popular stuff. Highly recommended.
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TopStrengths: Fun rhythm and music game, neat drum peripheral, good music selection.
Weakness: Wish there were more music. Graphics are boring.
Donkey Konga is a very fun game. The only real downside is the number of songs. There are a good number of them, and it's a diverse batch of music. But it doesn't take very long to get through all of them.
There is a little extra playability in that you must unlock the songs at their highest difficulty. This encourages the player to try all of the difficulty levels, and it gives you an incentive to play and replay levels to earn points to buy stuff. But, really, the only thing worth spending the points on is the harder music. There are bonus games and weird sounds, but I didn't really care about them.
Perhaps the best thing about Donkey Konga is the control. This is the one of the few music games where I never felt that the control was responsible for a mistake. The bongos are substantial, durable, and very responsive. Plus, it's really fun to play them.
The interface is a little wonky. I prefer Taiko Drum Master's implementation. I always feel like I'm bouncing up and down in menus trying to find the right one. It's not rocket science, but it is a little cumbersome.
It's a credit to the game that the song created for the game is actually good, and fun to play. The Donkey Konga Theme is a highlight, and demonstrates that a lot of thought went into the game and making it playable and fun. The Nintendo songs included are actually decent, and work better than the Namco songs included with Taiko Drum Master.
Music games are not known for terrific graphics. Donkey Konga's graphics are particularly non-noteworthy. There's little here that couldn't have been done by a Super Nintendo, and it's a shame that a little more pizazz wasn't put into them. Sure -- the important thing is the music. But Nintendo is known for the little details, and this detail, at least, is pretty far off the mark. It's like they decided not to bother.
On the other hand, like with many music games, you won't have time to notice the graphics. The drum hits will be speeding by, and your attention will be on them, not on any animated monkeys.
On the whole, Donkey Konga delivers what it promises. It just doesn't deliver that little bit extra, the above-and-beyond that people expect from Nintendo, the kind of polish they usually deliver. You won't be dissatisfied. But you will wish there was just a little more there.
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TopStrengths: Good gameplay, decent songlist, adequate controller.
Weakness: Even at its hardest setting, this game is easy.
Nintendo and Namco's Taiko team come together to bring us Donkey Konga, Nintendo's first rhythm game available in the US. Although it's not as good as many other members of the genre, DK is good enough to warrant a try.
Gameplay is quite simple: circles scroll from the right of the screen to the left, and when they hit your barrel, you have to hit the drums. Red circles denote right hits, yellow circles are for left, and purple ones are for both at once. That will become second nature to you almost immediately. There are also stars that mean you have to clap, which is recognized by the drums' built-in microphone.
You can plug in up to 4 pairs of bongos at once for 4 player action, which can be a lot of fun if your friends have the game as well. If not, you can buy bongos separately, but a more economical solution would be to buy Donkey Konga 2 or Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, since they come with bongos for $15 more as opposed to the $35 you'd spend on an extra set.
The unfortunate issue with this game is that it's easy. Music games are supposed to have songs that are amazingly easy, nearly impossible, and everything in between. Even on its hardest setting, someone with decent coordination will have no trouble at all. Worse still, the hardest setting needs to be unlocked, song by song, and the currency for unlocking is only earned in the single player game. If you want to bee-line for the challenging stuff, you need to first spend time with the easier songs, like it or not, and you have to do it by yourself.
Despite those flaws, it's a fun game. If you're in the market for some rhythm action, but a Gamecube's all you have, go ahead and get this while you wait for Dance Dance Revolution with Mario.
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TopStrengths: Nice variety of songs to choose from, great party game (multiplayer)
Weakness: Not enough songs, single player can get boring
Donkey Konga is a game that is based of rhythm and music, similar to Taiko Drum Master. It comes packaged with a set of bongo drums for the player to beat on to mimic the beat of the music that is playing. There are four indicators onscreen to signal which action to perform with the song: left bongo, right bongo, both bongos simultaneously, and clapping your hands. Included in between the left and right bongos is a microphone that will pick up the sound of your claps. The more in rhythm you are with the song and the onscreen display, the higher your score.
There is a nice mix of songs you can choose from as well: Nintendo game themes (Mario and Zelda), classical music, rock, and children’s themes (Bingo); there should be something for everybody on the list and many of which will become your favorites. There are also different difficulty settings for each one as you increase your skill and rhythm.
The best part of the package is if you have more than 1 bongo drum set and play in the duet and jam modes with multiple people. I cannot tell you how much fun it is when you are all banging away trying to keep up with the song. People get out of rhythm and are sometimes frantic to get back on beat. It can be a lot of fun and laughs just watching multiple people try their hand at this game, let alone playing it.
Although the addition of new songs could definitely give this game a fresher experience (still awaiting Donkey Konga 2), this game is certainly a great buy for the Gamecube.
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TopStrengths: Catchy songs and 3 different difficulty levels. A fun multiplayer aspect to the game
Weakness: Some songs are extremely annoying and clapping is often difficult to pull of in the amount of time allotted.
This game very fun at first. However, once you have cleared all the songs on all the difficulty levels, there is not very replay left in the game except for multiplayer. Extra sets of bongos are quite pricey. The graphics are simple and not the best. This game is probably great for children while adults will find some of the songs to be overly simple and annoying.
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It was certainly an odd decision for Nintendo to take one of its most beloved characters and place him in a music game, but one needn't worry about this being a quick cash-in on a suddenly popular genre. Donkey Konga is the real deal. It's developed by Namco and based on the company's mega popular series, Taiko no Tatsujin, which will soon get a U.S. release under the name Taiko Drum Master.
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In the past, video games requiring any kind of physical exertion have either tanked or sold remarkably well. Just look at Alpine Racer and Top Skater. Both games siphoned mounds of quarters from the pockets of hapless gamers. Japanese arcades brim with all manners of oddities.
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Testseek.com has collected 4 expert reviews for Donkey Konga and the average expert rating is 75 of 100. The average score reflects the expert community’s view on this product. Click below and use Testseek.com to see all ratings, product awards and conclusions.
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Donkey Konga receives an overall TopTenREVIEWS rating of 3.14 out of 4.00. It is ranked the #1,989 game of all time, #34 game of 2004 for the GameCube and #155 GameCube game of all time. The rating and ranking is based on an average of 92 critic scores, awards and other criteria. To see a breakdown of the game ranking, read individual critic reviews, or see how other games ranked, click on the...
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Donkey Konga with Bongos
Strengths: Great music/rythem game! Fun with family and friends! Easy to pick up and play.
Weakness: Short song list, difficulty with the bongos
If you are a fan of Dance Dance Revolution, then this is a MUST get. This is an amazing game that requires the person to beat on certain areas of the drum(left, right, or both) and clap in order to pass the song. There are many songs and many different skill levels. However, the songs tend to get old and the song list is rather short. I had trouble with the bongos in my lap when I played some difficult songs. The bongos would move around and it was a little hard to get comfortable to be able to complete some of the much more difficult songs. All in all, this is a great game for anybody who enjoys DDR or Taiko: Drum Master. A must own in my book.
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