DK Jungle Climber
Dubbed Jungle Climber, rather than King of Swing 2, the latest Donkey Kong game is indeed a true sequel to the original. The same L and R shoulder buttons are used to maneuver and there have been many tweaks all across the board. Does that make for a better experience or will the gameplay inevitably wind up remaining frustrating and dull after extended play? The answer is both.
Before I get into the gameplay, I suppose I should let you in on what exactly is going on in this game and why Donkey Kong is swinging around to his heart's content. Basically he and some buddies were taking a vacation on Sun Sun Beach when they saw a giant banana hovering above a mountain. Imagine DK's surprise when the banana actually turned out to be an alien who suckers him into retrieving five crystal bananas. It's silly, irreverent, and what you'd expect from a game that came out ten years ago which is suppose what I find so refreshing about it.
Gameplay
The idea behind Jungle Climber is much the same as the original DK swinging game. Your main goal is to do what monkeys do best (not throwing poop) and swing from one side of the stage to the other. You accomplish this by leap from floating blocks or what have you by pressing the L and R shoulder buttons. It's unique, it's fun, and it's one of those games that will bring you back to the gaming days of yore.
Sure there are many fresh aspects to Jungle Climber and there are plenty of things that you've never seen before. However, knowing that this is the latest in a line of DK games, given the look you can't help but feel like you're thrown back to when Donkey Kong Country first came out. Rare's gem of a franchise has remained a fan favorite and with its DK Country sheen and simplistic, yet accessible gameplay this is a title to pay attention to.
One way this game will take you back is the sheer challenge of it all. Using your noggin to come up with a way to get from point a to point b is hard enough but throw in a little something called gravity and some enemies and you have quite the obstacle course ahead of you. With that being said there are some very flat-out challenging moments in Jungle Climber. There are plenty of bottomless pits and ways for Donkey Kong to die, be they fire, wasps, and falling pegs. Some boss battles were even tossed in for good measure and I'm sure you can imagine how annoying it could be, having to fight a boss AND concentrate on swinging. Let's just say you really have to be able to chew bubblegum and walk at the same time.
Thinking on your feet is a necessity for Jungle Climber and this is definitely a game that will give you a reason to turn it off and walk away sometimes. It's going to try you at times but in all fairness this is a good thing. Few games today make gamers use actual skill and a process of thought in order to be successful. It's ironic that a DS game would actually force you to do both.
While the game is straightforward, it's nice to know that there are some things added to spice things up. Mini-games where you have to catch bananas with a barrel for example help to break up the pacing. Having Diddy Kong available for use is a nice feature too since it's always fun to have the little guy around. The younger DK is essentially a way for older Kong to power up. You toss him around and send him to grab you stuff and he'll bring it back to you.
Despite the moments of frustration and random increases in difficulty, I do have to say that Jungle Climber is a very fun and addictive game; until you get sick of the gameplay. Constantly pressing the L and R buttons gets very old, very quickly. No matter how much variety may be squeezed into the cartridge, the fact that you essentially just press two buttons for the entire game doesn't allow it to last a long time. If you can get past that, you'll find a DS title worth playing and it's one that is both unique and creative. It's a throwback to the days when Rare worked on Donkey Kong Country and the big ape proves once and for all that he is the King of Swing.
Graphics
You know how I referenced this game to the Donkey Kong Country franchise? Well, the characters models and visual design of the title have been virtually lifted from the iconic classic. Compared to the King of Swing title it's a night and day difference in terms of the level of quality you can expect from Jungle Climber. Still, as nice as the game looks on the DS and as colorful as the presentation is it isn't as sharp as DK games from ten years ago. I suppose there is a little bit of give and take when it comes to a DS game but there was room for more development time with this title.
Sound
While the graphics impress somewhat, it's safe to say that the sound does not. The music grates on the nerves after a while. Although it's cute, whimsical, and fits the atmosphere of the game, it just doesn't feel right. The sound effects follow suit but will get annoying after a while as well. It's kind of funny considering Nintendo franchise games are typically known for their audio quality but this one just doesn't quite reach that bar.
Conclusion
If you're looking for a classic feeling Donkey Kong game that emulates some of the Country atmosphere then Jungle Climber may be what you're looking for. It's the quasi-sequel to King of Swing but really it's more of a revisit to the original obscure title. The L and R buttons translate well to the swinging mechanics and many creative points were added to expand upon that idea. The only problem is that with only two buttons the gameplay gets very tired quickly and the amount of frustration that can set in at times can get annoying. This is a fun, yet flawed entry into the DK franchise and it's one that fans should definitely take the time to check out.