DK: King of Swing (Game Boy Advance)

CNET editors' rating: 3.5 stars Very good
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Gamespot editors' review

• Reviewed by: Frank Provo
• Reviewed on: 09/16/2005
• Released on: 09/19/2005

Don't let the title fool you, DK: King of Swing isn't Nintendo's take on Dancing with the Stars. In fact, Donkey Kong doesn't swing-dance at all in the game, but he sure does dangle, twirl, and swing from a vast variety of pegs and peglike objects. Nintendo, best known for platform games like Super Mario Bros. and Donkey Kong Country, has set aside the traditional run-and-jump formula for the big ape's latest adventure, an action-filled puzzle game that challenges players to grab onto pegs and spin their ways through the jungles, monsters, and bad bosses of DK's lush world.

Swing from pegs, and launch DK into the air using only the L and R buttons.

Instead of spanning left to right, as the levels in a traditional platform game would, the majority of levels in DK: King of Swing start on the ground and move upward. DK can jump, sure, but the key to reaching the exit at the top of each level rests with your ability to grab onto, spin around on, and hurl DK off the many pegs, peg boards, and peglike switches that are situated between the floor and the ceiling. Nifty objects, such as rubber tires, barrel cannons, and bonus barrels, also come into play from time to time. The journey isn't a cakewalk, though. Situated on some of those pegs are alligator-like Kremlings, which swing around and try to knock DK off his handhold, and there are flying enemies, such as Zingers, Neckys, and ghosts, which fly back and forth hoping to chomp down on DK. To survive the trek to the top of the level, you'll have to swing over and past these nuisances without losing all three of DK's life points.

The most unique thing about DK: King of Swing is that the game is controlled almost entirely using the L and R shoulder buttons. Pressing the L button moves DK to the left and causes his left hand to grab onto things. Letting go of the L button causes DK to release his grip or to throw an object he's holding in his left hand. By the same token, pressing the R button will make DK move to the right or grab onto something with his right hand, while releasing the R button will make him release his grip or throw the object in his right hand. This control setup also makes it possible to swing hand over hand, monkey style, along a sequence of pegs by alternating the L and R buttons. Most of the time, you'll only find pegs and peg boards to grab onto, although there are levers and switches to pull every so often, not to mention the erstwhile rock that can get rid of an annoying mini-Necky with a well-timed throw. Pressing and releasing both buttons simultaneously will make DK leap in whatever direction he's facing, which comes in handy for jumping up to pegs or for jumping sideways onto a midair peg board. DK's leap also functions as a short-range head-pound attack for taking out certain enemies.

There's a tough boss battle at the end of each world.

Despite its innovative aspects, DK: King of Swing doesn't totally eschew the tried-and-true DK formula. At the end of each level, you'll face off against one of King K. Rool's henchmen in a typical boss battle. Vanquishing these powerful foes usually entails pouncing on their heads a few times or pulling them into spikes. These fights are certainly more interesting thanks to the peg-oriented gameplay and unique control setup, but in the end it still comes down to bonking the bad guy on the head until he's knocked out. And then there are the collect-a-thon aspects. Fans of Donkey Kong Country will remember collecting K-O-N-G letters and DK symbols on their ways toward a 200 percent completion score. In DK: King of Swing, it's the same concept, except with bronze, silver, and gold medals--and coconut crystals. Bananas are also a good thing to gather, as you can exchange 10 of them to refill one of DK's life points, or you can use 20 to activate a temporary "going bananas" state that renders DK invincible to enemies.

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  "What a disappointment!"

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