Much like a traditional platformer, you progress through Donkey Kong: Jungle Climber by moving DK from one ledge to the next, ultimately ending up at a Goal Gate to clear the stage. It’s getting from Point A to Point B where Donkey Kong: Jungle Climber really sets itself apart from other platformers – and shines as a fun game.
Donkey Kong spends most of the game swinging from peg to peg, as if he were swinging from vine to vine. You use the L and R Buttons on the DS to make Donkey Kong grab and hold on to pegs with his left or right hand. After he grabs a peg, he continues to swing on it in a circular fashion. When you’re ready to make him swing from one peg to the other, you simply release the L or R Button, and Donkey Kong launches himself toward the next peg or ledge. Simple, right?
Just because the controls are simple doesn’t mean the gameplay is. Donkey Kong faces many enemies and obstacles on his quest to save an alien banana race from the clutches of the Kremlings. The leaps from one peg to the next can be quite difficult, but luckily Donkey Kong also brings his pal Diddy Kong along for the adventure. Donkey Kong can throw Diddy into the air to reach hard-to-access items and plough through enemies. Their teamwork is reminiscent of the Donkey Kong Country adventures, and you’ll need to keep Diddy out of harm’s way if you want to collect all the goodies and bonuses you’ll find in the game.
Much like DK: King of Swing before it for the Game Boy Advance, Donkey Kong: Jungle Climber is a unique gaming experience that shouldn’t be missed! -Nintendo
