G@mers Reviews
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Game: DK: Jungle Climber |
DK Jungle Climber is the new game, from relative unknown developers, Paon Corporation. But does this mix of a classic franchise, and a relative new developer work? Or do we have another Wario Ware: Master of Disguise on our hands? DK Jungle Climber is the unofficial sequel to the GBA hit DK King of Swing. The game play expands on what was created in the GBA game, but add its own unique DS style twists.The game is very easy on the brain for the importers. The Japanese text is kept to a minimal, and in areas where text is displayed, videos on the top screen, as well as a flashing button guide, help the non Japanese readers get through. The first level is a training level, this training level teaches the player how to do the moves that you will be required to use in order to advance through the game. This tutorial takes the form of a series of short mini games, which are not only fun but do exactly what they set out to do, explain the controls and get the gamer use to the controls for that move.Once the training level is completed, you are eased into a rather easy level. You will also be offered help and advice again in the form of videos and text now and again through the level but you can choose to ignore this if you so wish. |
The game play again mirrors that of DK King of Swing. For those that have not played that game, it is quite simple. The game takes the form of a platformer but rather than just walk about, stomp on some enemy's, and grab some power ups, the game requires you to swing about the level using the L and R buttons on the DS. To begin with you only control Donkey Kong, this is done by moving with the D Pad jumping with B and grabbing using either L or R, once you have a hold of a hand hole you can swing in either direction, by using R to move right and L to move left. If you hold either of the shoulder buttons you then rotate in that direction round the hand hole you have hold of. The idea of the game is to get to the end of each level, along the way you will pick up some standard DK collectables. Back are the gold medals, 5 per level in this game. Also making a return are the bananas, and the K O N G letters, and while i have not completed the game yet, i can imagine that collecting the medals and K O N G letters will produce some unlockables. |
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The levels tend to take the form of just swinging between hand grips, you have grips that move, rotate, stay still etc... while the game play sounds simple and some would say boring, it in fact suits the series well and with the good control system the two blend together well after a few minutes play. |
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The game does in part make good use of the dual screens. This is done by throwing Diddy Kong to the top screen. Once on the top screen, any movements done by Donkey Kong are mirrored by Diddy. This does make clever use of the dual screens, but it is nothing that has not been seen before in other DS games such as Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time. At the end of each world you get a boss battle. These boss battles take a very familiar form of find the weak point and hit it. This is done by swinging, and then boosting, by tapping the X button with one or both shoulder buttons held. However some boss battles kind of defeat the object of the game, as you can just stand in a corner and wait for the boss to come near you eliminating the need to swing/climb. Also the boss battles also have a DK barrel somewhere in the level, meaning if you already have both Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong when entering the level you get a third chance, and with the early bosses having very low health to begin with it drops the difficulty right down. |
The graphics and sound, while well suited to the game, it is nothing that could not have been achieved on the GBA. Some may argue that is not an important point, however the game very much seams to have GBA roots. The game also boasts a small selection of mini games. These games are the games that are used in in the main adventure, to help teach new moves/controls to the player. However in it's own separate part, each game has 3 levels of difficulty. Once you beat the pre set high scores in each difficulty the next is unlocked. After the third difficulty is beaten an endless mode of that mini game is unlocked. |
The game also boasts a multiplayer mode, and with the replay factor of obtaining all the collectables in each level the game has a solid 15+ hours game play. In summary the game is a good all-round platform romp. The game does not push the DS in sound or graphics, neither does it use any of the DS's strengths to it's advantage. Many will be put off by the fact this is nothing new, all aspects of this game have been seen in others on the DS, while not a bad thing something could have been done to make the game slightly more individual. However what is on offer, is a fun, family friendly, sequel to the GBA game, that offers straightforward gameplay for the younger gamers and beginners, as well as plenty to do and collect for those that want it. Score 8/10 |
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