DK Bongo Blast
Encyclopedia
Donkey Kong Barrel Blast, known in Europe and Australia as Donkey Kong Jet Race, in Japan as , and prior to E3 as Donkey Jet and DK: Bongo Blast, is a racing game
for Nintendo
's Wii
video game console
, announced on May 9, 2006, and that year's E3 convention for the Nintendo GameCube
under the title of DK: Bongo Blast. The Gamecube version was ultimately cancelled in favor of a Wii release. The game was released for the Wii in Japan
and the United States
in 2007, and in PAL regions in 2008.
The game was originally developed to be controlled using the DK Bongos
for the GameCube; the left and right drums would steer in their respective directions, and rolling both drums accelerated. When the game was moved to the Wii, the DK Bongos were replaced with the Wii Remote
and Nunchuk, having the player shake the controller in place of hitting the drums. The game has faced with generally negative reviews from critics, criticizing the replaced bongo control scheme with that using the Wii Remote
, as well as the last-generation visuals.
where the player can handle the selected character using the Wii Remote
and Nunchuk, replacing the DK Bongos that initially were to be used. To speed the player must shake the Wii Remote and Nunchuk simultaneously, lift them to jump and use the motion sensor to beat rivals and obstacles and using items, while the character will be guided by the route of the tracks, including curves of automatically. Players can learn to race at Cranky's flight school where Cranky gives 8 lessons on how to play the game, acceleration, use of elements and Wild Move.
The main mode of play is a Grand Prix simullar to Mario Kart
, but some drinks are more or less circuits the usual amount. Also, like Mario Kart Arcade GP
, more than one track will take place in a given area. Three course DK Jungle, three are of course the sea and three are from the mountain. During Dynamite, two are of the Desert, two are from the snow courses, and two are of course Temple of Heaven. It is only a track in a course by itself, it is in outer space. Like other racing games, Barrel Blast includes a Time Trail Mode where players can choose this race on one track for the best time, and save data ghost.
.
On June 6, 2005 an issue of Famitsu Magazine reported that Nintendo was in development with a Revolution-bound sequel to the Donkey Kong franchise. The publication offered no details on the next-generation title. Nintendo appeared to be drawing on the majority of its big licenses to lure in next-generation gamers. Lending credibility to its Kong news, Famitsu also reported that new versions of Super Smash Bros., Super Mario, Legend of Zelda, Metroid, and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles were in development for Revolution, all of which were confirmed by Nintendo at E3 2005 before that month. The game was first announced at Nintendo's Japanese conference in 2006. The game was later shown to the public
at E3 2007 as named Donkey Jet and DK: Bongo Blast.
The game was originally developed to be controlled using the DK Bongos
for the GameCube; the left and right drums would steer in their respective directions, and rolling both drums accelerated. When the game was moved to the Wii, the DK Bongos were replaced with the Wii Remote
and Nunchuk, having the player shake the controller in place of hitting the drums. The player can also raise the remote and Nunchuk to jump, and use the motion sensing to punch opponents and obstacles, and to use items.
and IGN
gave it a 4.5 each, and GamePro
even called it the worst game of 2007. Based on 30 reviews, Barrel Blast garnered a Metascore of 45 out of 100 according to Metacritic. A number of reviews lamented the decision to replace the bongo control scheme with that using the Wii Remote, as well as the blatantly last-generation visuals (despite its being initially developed for the GameCube, hence the game's graphics).
It was criticized for "slow racing, shallow gameplay, and an overall boring experience" by IGN
. GameSpot
labeled the game a fifth-rate Mario Kart
clone. The highest rated Metacritic review, by Nintendo Power
, called it a "mundane racer". GameTrailers
criticized the game for its imprecise controls, lack of online mode, and the fact that the Bongo Controls were left out of the game despite the fact that GameCube controllers are fully compatible with the Wii. One of the few positive reviews of this game was featured on Wiiloveit.com, where the game was awarded a 23/30. It was commented that the game does deliver a fast-paced experience at a certain point in the game, "despite what critics are leading people to believe". At the same time, it was acknowledged that most people wouldn't go beyond the monotonous beginnings, not getting to see everything the game has to offer.
Racing game
A racing video game is a genre of video games, either in the first-person or third-person perspective, in which the player partakes in a racing competition with any type of land, air, or sea vehicles. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to entirely fantastical settings...
for Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
's Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
video game console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
, announced on May 9, 2006, and that year's E3 convention for the Nintendo GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
under the title of DK: Bongo Blast. The Gamecube version was ultimately cancelled in favor of a Wii release. The game was released for the Wii in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 2007, and in PAL regions in 2008.
The game was originally developed to be controlled using the DK Bongos
DK Bongos
DK Bongos are bongo-like controllers for the Nintendo GameCube video game series Donkey Konga, Donkey Konga 2, Donkey Konga 3, and Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat. There are two bongos, each shaped like a classic Donkey Kong barrel with a rubber drumskin fastened on top...
for the GameCube; the left and right drums would steer in their respective directions, and rolling both drums accelerated. When the game was moved to the Wii, the DK Bongos were replaced with the Wii Remote
Wii Remote
The , also known as the Wiimote, is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console. A main feature of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via gesture recognition and pointing through the use of accelerometer and...
and Nunchuk, having the player shake the controller in place of hitting the drums. The game has faced with generally negative reviews from critics, criticizing the replaced bongo control scheme with that using the Wii Remote
Wii Remote
The , also known as the Wiimote, is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console. A main feature of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via gesture recognition and pointing through the use of accelerometer and...
, as well as the last-generation visuals.
Gameplay
Donkey Kong Barrel Blast is a racing gameRacing game
A racing video game is a genre of video games, either in the first-person or third-person perspective, in which the player partakes in a racing competition with any type of land, air, or sea vehicles. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to entirely fantastical settings...
where the player can handle the selected character using the Wii Remote
Wii Remote
The , also known as the Wiimote, is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console. A main feature of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via gesture recognition and pointing through the use of accelerometer and...
and Nunchuk, replacing the DK Bongos that initially were to be used. To speed the player must shake the Wii Remote and Nunchuk simultaneously, lift them to jump and use the motion sensor to beat rivals and obstacles and using items, while the character will be guided by the route of the tracks, including curves of automatically. Players can learn to race at Cranky's flight school where Cranky gives 8 lessons on how to play the game, acceleration, use of elements and Wild Move.
The main mode of play is a Grand Prix simullar to Mario Kart
Mario Kart
is a series of go-kart-style racing video games developed by Nintendo as a series of spin-offs from its trademark Mario series of platformer adventure-style video games...
, but some drinks are more or less circuits the usual amount. Also, like Mario Kart Arcade GP
Mario Kart Arcade GP
Mario Kart Arcade GP is an arcade-only iteration of Nintendo's Mario Kart series, developed by both Namco and Nintendo. Designed for the Triforce arcade board , players can race as one of eleven characters in twenty-four tracks...
, more than one track will take place in a given area. Three course DK Jungle, three are of course the sea and three are from the mountain. During Dynamite, two are of the Desert, two are from the snow courses, and two are of course Temple of Heaven. It is only a track in a course by itself, it is in outer space. Like other racing games, Barrel Blast includes a Time Trail Mode where players can choose this race on one track for the best time, and save data ghost.
Development
Unlike other Donkey Kong video games, Barrel Blast was not developed by Rare Ltd.. Instead, the game was developed by PaonPaon
is a video game development company based in Japan. Through a partnership with Nintendo, the company has developed DK: King of Swing, DK: Jungle Climber and Donkey Kong Barrel Blast...
.
On June 6, 2005 an issue of Famitsu Magazine reported that Nintendo was in development with a Revolution-bound sequel to the Donkey Kong franchise. The publication offered no details on the next-generation title. Nintendo appeared to be drawing on the majority of its big licenses to lure in next-generation gamers. Lending credibility to its Kong news, Famitsu also reported that new versions of Super Smash Bros., Super Mario, Legend of Zelda, Metroid, and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles were in development for Revolution, all of which were confirmed by Nintendo at E3 2005 before that month. The game was first announced at Nintendo's Japanese conference in 2006. The game was later shown to the public
Public
In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individuals, and the public is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociological concept of the Öffentlichkeit or public sphere. The concept of a public has also been defined in political science,...
at E3 2007 as named Donkey Jet and DK: Bongo Blast.
The game was originally developed to be controlled using the DK Bongos
DK Bongos
DK Bongos are bongo-like controllers for the Nintendo GameCube video game series Donkey Konga, Donkey Konga 2, Donkey Konga 3, and Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat. There are two bongos, each shaped like a classic Donkey Kong barrel with a rubber drumskin fastened on top...
for the GameCube; the left and right drums would steer in their respective directions, and rolling both drums accelerated. When the game was moved to the Wii, the DK Bongos were replaced with the Wii Remote
Wii Remote
The , also known as the Wiimote, is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console. A main feature of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via gesture recognition and pointing through the use of accelerometer and...
and Nunchuk, having the player shake the controller in place of hitting the drums. The player can also raise the remote and Nunchuk to jump, and use the motion sensing to punch opponents and obstacles, and to use items.
Reception
Donkey Kong Barrel Blast received generally negative response. The game is also very lowly-rated; GameSpotGameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
and IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave it a 4.5 each, and GamePro
GamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
even called it the worst game of 2007. Based on 30 reviews, Barrel Blast garnered a Metascore of 45 out of 100 according to Metacritic. A number of reviews lamented the decision to replace the bongo control scheme with that using the Wii Remote, as well as the blatantly last-generation visuals (despite its being initially developed for the GameCube, hence the game's graphics).
It was criticized for "slow racing, shallow gameplay, and an overall boring experience" by IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
. GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
labeled the game a fifth-rate Mario Kart
Mario Kart
is a series of go-kart-style racing video games developed by Nintendo as a series of spin-offs from its trademark Mario series of platformer adventure-style video games...
clone. The highest rated Metacritic review, by Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
, called it a "mundane racer". GameTrailers
GameTrailers
GameTrailers is a media website that specializes in video game related content. It provides free access to original programming , game trailers and recorded game play. Along with standard definition , many of the video clips are offered in a higher resolution .Users can upload videos, create...
criticized the game for its imprecise controls, lack of online mode, and the fact that the Bongo Controls were left out of the game despite the fact that GameCube controllers are fully compatible with the Wii. One of the few positive reviews of this game was featured on Wiiloveit.com, where the game was awarded a 23/30. It was commented that the game does deliver a fast-paced experience at a certain point in the game, "despite what critics are leading people to believe". At the same time, it was acknowledged that most people wouldn't go beyond the monotonous beginnings, not getting to see everything the game has to offer.
External links
- Official Site
- Donkey Kong: Barrel Blast at Nintendo
- Donkey Kong: Barrel Blast at Wii.com