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> Results: DK: King of Swing
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by Cary Woodham
October 20, 2005
The first gorilla of video games, Donkey Kong, is back in the swing of things on the GBA.
Reviewed for GBA.
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Scroll down for our Kid Factor.
Just when Donkey Kong and his primate pals begin their Jungle Jam tournament, the no good reptile King K. Rool steals all the medals. Now DK must swing into action to get all the medals back and teach K. Rool a lesson!
DK: King of Swing looks like a typical 2D action game at first glance, but it sure doesn't play that way. For starters, you only use the L and R shoulder buttons to control DK. Hold down the L or R button and DK will walk in that direction, and press them both at the same time to make him jump. But you actually spend very little time on the ground, as DK mostly takes to the air, swinging from peg to suspended peg. Hence the name, King of Swing. The gameplay may remind older gamers of classic games like Crazy Climber and NES oldie Clu Clu Land.
By holding down the L or R button, DK will grab a hold of a peg if he is near it. Then he will rotate around the peg that he grabbed on to. You can then let go of the button to send DK flying in that direction, or you can grab another peg using the other shoulder button. You alternate pressing the L and R buttons to make DK climb, or hold both together for a second to grab two pegs and then release for a charge attack. The play control takes a little while to get used to, but once mastered, you'll be swinging in the air like, well, like a monkey! Levels take creative use of this swinging gameplay, and you may have to grab a lever or gear and turn it to activate a passage or move DK to another area. Grab rocks or bombs and release the button while swinging to toss them at enemies. Watch out for high winds as you climb up inside a desert tornado. Don't let go of the suspended pegs or you'll get blown away! Collect bananas to restore your health and hidden items like crystal coconuts and medals unlock other secrets, characters, and gameplay modes.
The cartoony 2D graphics are bright, cheery, and typical Nintendo. The game makes use of the Game Boy Advance's sprite rotation capabilities, but little details like DK's red necktie always dangling downward no matter which way he is swinging are nice graphical touches. The music features remixed classic Donkey Kong Country tunes as well as new catchy songs. There is quite an emphasis on multiplayer as well. Up to four players can link up and have climbing battles and races. If you are looking for a unique and challenging 2D action game, DK: King of Swing is your gorilla.
Typical of Nintendo, the violence is only cartoony and isn't anything to worry about. Reading is helpful for the tutorials but visual cues are also there to help young ones learn how to climb and swing properly. For such a colorful ﾑkiddy' looking game, it gets pretty challenging around the third world (those pegs falling down the waterfall still stump me), so younger and less experienced players may get frustrated easily. Other than that, Donkey Kong's newest game is a great portable challenge for the whole family.
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> Results: DK: King of Swing
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