Go Ape In Gorilla Warfare

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday November 26, 2007

Eliot Fish

Donkey Kong promises a swingin' time for all, writes Eliot Fish.

DK JUNGLE CLIMBER

NDS

$69.95

3/5

It's been a long time between banana smoothies for old Donkey Kong and pals but he's finally back for more monkey business in this simple yet addictive puzzle-packed platform game.

The touch screen function is sadly ignored but DK Jungle Climber makes good use of the DS's vertically stacked screens. Action can begin down on the bottom screen and quickly move up onto the top screen, where these imaginatively designed jungle-themed levels continue to ramble.

The central play mechanic is Donkey Kong's ability to grab and swing on pegs that jut out of none-too-subtly placed walls. The shoulder buttons control Kong's left and right hands respectively, so you'll learn to move the big hairy ape by getting into a "grab-and-swing" rhythm. Holding on to a peg with one hand prompts Kong to swing around in small circles, giving you the momentum to fling yourself up or down to pegs or platforms just out of reach. Convenient barrel cannons also will shoot you higher than it is possible to swing, if you can manage to jump into them.

The aim, basically, is to collect as many bananas as possible. Some bunches are placed a mere swing away but generally you'll need to crack a deceivingly simple sequence of moves in order to nab the more fiendishly placed fruit. There are other alluring items to collect too, such as letters that spell KONG and gold coins. However, you can rarely grab them all on your first swing through, which makes the fun levels somewhat re-playable.

The game shines when you're required to use your brain and not just rely on quick reflexes, so it's disappointing that there aren't more decent puzzles. Unlockable mini-games provide a break from the banana gobbling action but they're nothing to go ape over.

ENDGAME DK Jungle Climber is typically enjoyable Nintendo platforming. It just lacks a truly compelling quality.