Donkey Konga 2

[Dyne]

The Gamecube forum would be dead if it weren't for Zelda.

So I just picked this up with two sets of bongos. The EB guy suckered me into it; the deal was: get the Konga 2 pack, and get an extra set for free. So I said, what the hell, I'll pay $15 extra for two more bongos. I have 3 bongos now.

Anyways, the game is great. It improves on Donkey Konga 1 in a lot of ways. The only song I really like in the set list, initially, is La Bamba. I really like how the sound sets from Konga 1 are transferred over to Konga 2 if you keep them on the same memory card.

The music list is more.. poppy/rocky and I'm indifferent to it for the most part, but there are some good songs. I just don't think a lot fit with the bongos, of all instruments. But hey, at least they got rid of Diddy's Ditties and Campfire Medley. Those were downright godawful.

The addition of Dixie is nice and it's good to see the rest of the Kongs have been included. The background changes are good but I kind of miss the jungle-feeling. I can't wait to try the Band mode with some other people.

[Crash]

they gave you an extra set of bongoes? wtf I didn't get an extra set of bongoes.

[Dyne]

Yeah, it was just a special they had this week. I guess they had too many.

[DarrenMcLeod]

So, would you recommend I get Donkey Konga 1 or Donkey Konga 2 for me to play with my girlfriend?

[GameMaster]

Can someone explain to me the differences between:

- Donkey Kong Jungle Beat

- Donkey Konga 1

- Donkey Konga 2

Do you recommend I buy them all or just one?

Also Dyne, I noticed you had Viewtiful Joe 2 listed in your 'Now Playing' a while ago. How was that? Is it a must-buy or a weekend rental?

[Dyne]

Ok, gladly.

Donkey Konga and Donkey Konga 2 are both rhythm-based games, while Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat is an adventure game with no real rhythm-based gameplay. But both involve the bongo accessory.

The Konga series is basically a Bemani-type game. See arrow, press arrow at the right time. Konga relies on four different actions - left bongo (yellow circle), right bongo (red circle), both bongos (pink circle), and clap (white with jagged edges.) It doesn't really get too difficult at all but it's fun to play with other people, primarily ones who don't usually play games.

I've played Konga 2 enough to realize what's changed. Well, the songlist is really.. trying to be cool, but it fails. Konga 1 is much more suited to bongos while Konga 2 is more focused on hooking the pop/rock people. Konga 2 doesn't seem like it's about the bongos anymore, and that makes me sad. Like I said before, the only song I really like is La Bamba. In Konga 1, it was a much more diverse range of music - you had your latin bongo-type music, a few pop songs, some really lame songs, some video game tunes, and a few miscellanious. Konga 2 is.. all pop, techno, hiphop, and rock. So that's your core gameplay right there. I would definitely recommend Donkey Konga 1 to people who are regularily gamers. DarrenMcLeod, my first instincts in your case would be to go with Konga 2, but I realize you would be playing it too. Hmm. I'd check the songlists for both to see if anything really jumps out.

Jungle Beat's one of those weird innovative Japanese games. Tap right bongo to go right, tap left bongo to go left, tap both bongos to jump, and clap for attacking enemies/collecting bananas. It makes sense when you play it, and it's also pretty fun. I like it a lot.

Oh, and Viewtiful Joe 2 is a pleasant surprise. I should've given impressions earlier. But I would gauge a purchase on how much you liked Viewtiful Joe 1: it's really about the same amount of gameplay goodness and a little more. If you bought VJ1 and were satisfied, don't hesitate to buy VJ2, because it's going for really cheap now. On the other hand, if you really want to save $10 or so dollars and just want to blast through kids mode in a weekend, that's fun too.

[DarrenMcLeod]

Can someone explain to me the differences between:

- Donkey Kong Jungle Beat

- Donkey Konga 1

- Donkey Konga 2

Do you recommend I buy them all or just one?


DK Jungle Beat is a platform game, similar to Donkey Kong Country, except you play it with a set of Bongos, and a big part of it is beating highscores, and getting Gold Crests. It's a whole lot of fun, but also a whole lot of noise. Be prepared to have everyone in the house hate you while you are having a blast.

Both Donkey Kongas are rhythm games, so you're hitting a drum at the same time as the indicator says, similar to Dance Dance Revolution and games like that. Donkey Konga 1 has Nintendo themes and Latin music, while Donkey Konga 2 went for a songlist of mostly American pop tunes (Good Charlotte, REM, etc). I haven't played either, but apparently they are only worth a purchase for multiplayer).

I think Donkey Kong Jungle Beat is well worth the money. It's one of the most unique games I've ever played, and is incredibly addictive.

EDIT: Dyne beat me :(