I just played Donkey Konga!

[LiquidX01]

Ya I gave it a shot at EB's kiosk thinking OMG Im gonna look like a fool playing this in front of everyone in the mall but I was like F*** it. To my surprise it was actually fun and addictive, just sucks I cant really afford to spend money on games until after November since Im spending over $200 in that month alone. :o

[Psycho Mantis]

i tried it at funcoland and it was fun! I also think donkey kong jungle beat looks cool. I'll get donkey konga when I can.

[Habeeb Hamusta]

I think the game is weak. It's repetitive and boring. Nothing too special there.

[tholly]

I think the game is weak. It's repetitive and boring. Nothing too special there.

blasphemy i say ... blasphemy

[MarioAllStar2600]

I think the game is weak. It's repetitive and boring. Nothing too special there.

I will agree this game like most rythm games gets repetitive. But it is still alot of fun and a good game. The kongas make it so fun.... if it was on a controller it would blow. But that's why everyone buys it. When the game does get played out though the second player mode will always kick! I can't wait for some extra bongos, multiplayer will revive the game when it eventually becomes boring.

[ubersaurus]

Man, this game is sweet. I'm getting better at it, only problem is that the controller keeps thinking I'm clapping during those drawn out drumming parts.

[Lady Jaye]

Just got it last night at work. It's a great game. It's simple yet a lot of fun... And Steve was looking at me play and made a comment about the influence of the Clapper on the game. :D

Seriously, though, it is worth it. The mike is a bit sensitive to outside noise (I sometimes barely touched my hands and it registered as a clap), but I haven't played around with the settings.

What's great with Bemani-style games like that is that you can play only a few minutes or for hours, alone or with friends.

And I do agree that some of the higher level songs are really tough!!! All in all, I don't regret getting it at all, and it was about time there was a Bemani-style game on the GameCube!!!

BTW, the box is trilingual (English, Spanish, French) so that it could be simultaneously shipped throughout North America (usually, Nintendo of Canada takes care of the copies for the Canadian market, but it's possible that the niche market of this game made it more logical to have one style of packaging for both countries). Heck, you guys are seeing a French GameCube manual for the first time? It was the first time I've seen one in Spanish. :D

[downfall]

Aww man.

I so want this game.

But I also want a DS.

I have the money saved for a DS right now too, but I could just as easily spend some of that on Donkey Konga.

:(

[Mayhem]

To those complaining about the mike, go into Options. There's a slider available to change the sensitivity of pickup. It is set rather low, and I moved mine up several notches.

[pixelsnpolygons]

Nope. Can't say that I have. I'd like to though. I'm more interested in the other upcoming game for use with the bongo drums.

[Oobgarm]

To those complaining about the mike, go into Options. There's a slider available to change the sensitivity of pickup. It is set rather low, and I moved mine up several notches.

I actually found it easier to tap the side of the drums rather than clap. Plus it not as noisy if you're looking to cut back on the neighbor/roomate/family noise annoyance factor.

[slip81]

Picked this up yeasterday for my girlfiend because she plays it everytime she comes across a kiosk. I wasn't too interested in it a first, but after I played it to make sure it worked I was hooked. Konga is damn addicting, eventually I I'll have to spring for another set of bongos so we can play together.

[neturalgamer2692]

This is the best Music Game Ever. The Music selections Rock! and DDR better move over because Donkey Konga is the future of music games 8-)

[sisko]

Meh.

My girlfriend and I popped this in today and meh. The game does provide some very difficult challenges, but what is with that blasted music?!

On the Road Again?
She'll Be Comin Around the Mountain?
Loco-motion?
Bingo?
Itsy Bitsy Spider?

Those in combination with the many boy bands make me feel like I am stuck in a horrible Radio Disney loop.

Hopefully Taiko Drum Master has much better music.

[Crush Crawfish]

It looked pretty fun, but I hope the music selection isn't complete garbage. I have very selective tastes in music. Tell me, does it have any Game music or J-pop? If not then I might pass on it.

Anyway, I really hope it has "Banana Phone" by Raffi. Can you imagine how funny that'd be? Ring, ring, ring banana phone....It's BANANULAR, dammit!!!! LOL LOL

[sisko]

Pulled from IGN:

# All the Small Things
# Bingo
# Busy Child
# Campfire Medley
# Dancing in The Street
# Diddy's Ditzies
# DK Rap
# Donkey Konga Theme
# Hungarian Dance #5 in G Minor
# I think I Love You
# Kirby Right Back at Ya
# Like Wow
# Louie Louie
# Mario Bros Theme
# On the Road Again
# Oye Como Va
# Para los Romberos
# Pokemon Theme
# Right Here Right Now
# Rock Lobster
# Rock This Town
# Shining Star
# Sing Sing Sing with a Swing
# Stupid Cupid
# The Impression That I Get
# The Legend of Zelda Theme
# The Locomotion
# Turkish March
# We Will Rock You
# What I like About You
# Whip It
# Wild Thing
# You Can't Hurry Love

Taiko's drum master list pulled from playmoreconsoles.com:
-- Licensed Rock/Pop: ABC; American Girls; Are You Gonna Be My Girl; Bowling for Soup -- Jimmy Neutron Theme; Girls & Boys; I'm A Believer; Killer Queen; Lady Marmalade; Love Shack; Material Girl; My Sharona; Rock the Dragon (Dragonball Z Theme); Slide; That's The Way (I Like It); The Impression That I Get; Toxic; Tubthumping; Walking On Sunshine

-- Classical: Beethoven's Symphony No. 5; Carmen Prelude; Foster's Medley; Hungarian Dances No. 5; Symphony No. 25 in G Minor; William Tell Overture

-- Namco Original: Don Rangers; Dragon Spirit; Katamari on the Rocks; Ridge Racer; Soul Calibur II Brave Sword, Braver Soul; Taiko March; The Genji and the Heike Clans

Actually, Taiko's list doesn't look all that great either....

[Crush Crawfish]

wow, neither of those really look worthwhile to me. And what the hell is the Dragonball Z theme song in Taiko? Oh well, at least that one has a song from katamari damacy...either way I think I'll pass on both, or at least wait till a price drop. :o

[Lady Jaye]

Even though I'm not a fan of all the songs in the game, I like the fact that it's varied. That way, the game can reach out everyone, regardless of age, of music style. It makes for a more family-friendly game than if it hadn't included kids' songs and the Pokémon theme and even some older 60s songs.

[Avenger]

although i love Nintendo...they need to shed their kiddie image, cuz it IS def partically their falt...puttin BIngo and stuff on Donkey Konga was a weird step, and the worst part about Donkey Konga is the music...which will make or break the game...thankfully the "good" songs are a blast...that said, im off to play more :D

[Jasoco]

I just finished Challenge on single player Monkey mode. 33 songs. I thought i'd never end. 1,318,679 points. I was doing my best and had the highest number of correct hits in a row sadly on "Like Wow". I'm ashamed that had to be my best song. LOL

"Shining Star" is one of my favorite versions, but I was sorely disappointed in the stupid choice for the version of "I Think I Love You". I wish they could have gotten the real musicians. Or at least used a better MALE sound-alike for that song. I hate when members of the opposite sex remake songs. Men shouldn't sing women's parts and women shouldn't sing the men's. Grr.. Keep the song like it was.

[Avenger]

i just finished challenge too...what a waste of over an hour...you dont even get coins or unlock anything...

[Jasoco]

High score, my man. High score.

[Lady Jaye]

That's how I find Donkey Konga to owe more to classic gaming than modern gaming: it's pretty open-ended (you can't actually "finish" the game), it's easy to learn, you can play it for 5 minutes or 2 hours, alone or with friends, and there's the presence of the high score board.

Again, for those complaining about the "kiddie image", I don't think that this game was made for hard-core gamers. There are already quite a few games on the market, on the GCN and elsewhere that cater to specific audiences. What's wrong with having a family-friendly game? I don't even have kids and I agree with this approach. If you really wanted a more "taking-ourselves-seriously" game, might as well mod a PS2 and import the Japanese Bemani equivalent to DKonga.

[bigdaddychester]

I've been wearing it out since Saturday afternoon. I'll agree with some thing said about the game....it can be repetiive and the song list may sound simple, (two year old really likes the Itsy Bitsy Spider!) but it has been a blast playing it. Downfall gave in and bought one also, so one night this week, he's gonna come over for some "Konga" gaming. No matter how much fun I had playing, I laughed and enjoyed it more when my wife started her "addiction". Can't wait to break this out as a party game. Not a bad choice for me since I normally don't buy new releases.

[digitalpress]

Believe it or not, I have a lot of experience with rhythm games. The many many nights of Guitar Freaks or Beatmania here have been personally witnessed by many a forum member. We've even got a high quality DDR pad and were playing DDR before there were any US versions. I went into Donkey Konga like this: "I didn't like Drum Mania... I'm not going to like this either".

I was wrong about that. Donkey Konga has that simple rhythm game logic that most rhythm games have. Simpler, actually. There are only four possible entries. That's GOLD to rhythm gamers. In fact, I found myself jumping over to the harder modes (what's with having to buy gorilla mode songs?) for a better challenge. It's no Guitar Freaks or Beatmania (which are clearly aimed at an older and more hardcore player) but it's good stuff!

The game is fun and I'm wagering that it's much more fun as a party game because I got bored pretty quickly playing solo after my wife bailed out of our Friday night game. We've got two DK Konga sets, I'm going to spring for two more so the parties can enjoy the four player action on the system that has been the hit at parties here.

So at NJ Classic XXX I'll let you know how this local crowd took to the game.

[downfall]

I've been wearing it out since Saturday afternoon. I'll agree with some thing said about the game....it can be repetiive and the song list may sound simple, (two year old really likes the Itsy Bitsy Spider!) but it has been a blast playing it. Downfall gave in and bought one also, so one night this week, he's gonna come over for some "Konga" gaming. No matter how much fun I had playing, I laughed and enjoyed it more when my wife started her "addiction". Can't wait to break this out as a party game. Not a bad choice for me since I normally don't buy new releases.

This is correct. I broke down and bought it. Didn't spend any money from my DS fund though, so I'm poor as can be until I get paid next time.

But man is it worth it!

I've unlocked almost everything after 3 days of non-stop (when I've actually been home) playing. It's really a very simple game, but that's the way it should be. I love the song selection as well, even though there are a few bad ones. So many of the songs are perfect for the game.

I'm only disappointed because each version of this game has different songs, but none of the versions have the amount I'm used to in a game of this type. The European version has exclusives, as do the Japanese versions. I would enjoy being able to play them all, and I don't understand why there aren't at least 10 more per game, but that's a pipe dream anyway.

Hopefully Nintendo will follow up this release and give us a version 2 with a ton of new songs and features.

And I'll probably throw a full review up on my site in a few days after we have our Donkey Konga party.